History GoodIsNotNice / VideoGames

** Asch from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' takes this trope UpToEleven. He works as a DoubleAgent in part of helping out the heroes by keeping them in the loop of the BigBad's plans. The problem is, he is a verbally abusive, ill-tempered {{Jerkass}} who prefers to [[IneffectualLoner work alone]]. His fiancé isn't one to be spared from his wrath, either, even if she is the only one who can draw an ounce of anything resembling [[PetTheDog compassion]] from this cold individual.

* The Colonial Assassins from ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRogue'' are guilty of acting like this, especially towards Shay. Remember, these were the "Heroes" we were suppose to root for, but their attitudes and sketchy plots make even the Templars of that time seem more trustworthy. In a way, this was a clever plot device, showing neither faction to be purely good nor evil.

* The New California Republic is a post-war federation with a democratic government, a strong military, safe territories, and a very high standard of living by post-apocalypse standards. They're dedicated to the ideas of liberty, justice, and rule of law. However, their military can get heavy-handed in their efforts to put down their enemies, their government is corrupt, and they do many morally questionable things over the course of the games, including hiring mercenaries to terrorize Vault City ([[KickTheSonOfABitch a racist, slavery-based city state]]), dealing with the Bishop crime family in order to annex New Reno, hunting down Enclave members who never took an active part in the Enclave-NCR War years after it is over, using 'enhanced interrogation' on prisoners, and occasionally shooting surrendering enemies. They're still by far the nicest faction in the series.

** The Eight (later Nine) Divines, aka the Aedra, pre-creation beings who aided [[GodIsDead Lorkhan]] in creating the mortal world, are almost universally seen as a benevolent force of good on Nirn. However, they've been known to cross this with GoodIsNotSoft. After learning that aiding Lorkhan had caused them to lose a significant portion of their divine power, they "killed" Lorkhan and tore his "divine center" (heart) from his sundered body. They cast it down into the mortal world he helped to create, forcing his spirit to wander. Later, when the Daedra worshiping [[OurElvesAreDifferent Ayleids]] enslaved the races of men and [[KickTheDog tormented them with unimaginable cruelty]], they allied with the leader of the humans (Alessia) to overthrow the Ayleids, sending her divine reinforcements ([[ALoadOfBull Morihaus]] and [[TheBerserker Pelinal]] [[FantasticRacism Whitestrake]]), as well as aiding in other ways, to ensure a human victory. It may not have been entirely benevolent on their part, however, as Alessia promised to make the Divines the primary religion of her new empire and followed through on this promise after the Ayleids were defeated.

** To a lesser extent is also [[TheHero Yuri Lowell]] from ''VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia'', who willingly commits crimes and notably [[PayEvilUntoEvil murders corrupt nobles who would otherwise be protected by the law.]] This quote from Yuri to Flynn (who was [[WhatTheHellHero calling Yuri out for the aforementioned murders]]) it up best:

-->Yuri: You can't deny that lives were saved because those bastards were put down! You'd rather tell people, 'sorry you have to die today, I promise we'll change things soon'?

** Archer's own lifetime shows [[DeconstructedTrope the problems with this trope]]: [[spoiler: Because he kept switching sides, treated everyone rudely, and never told anyone his reasons, [[RealityEnsues nobody liked or trusted him]], so he was framed for war crimes and sentenced to death by the people he'd fought to save.]]

* In the ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' series the heroes are the Umbra Witches, snarky [[DarkIsNotEvil crusaders of darkness]] who use powers gained by making a DealWithTheDevil to slaughter [[LightIsNotGood evil]] [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]], and however good they are for defending humanity they are not always very nice or polite. In ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta 2}}'' we also get introduced to [[spoiler:Loki, who is the pure good half of the former God of Chaos and overseer of humanity, Aesir. Despite being literally made of pure good, he's just as snarky, rude, and [[SirSwearsALot having a penchant to curse]] as Bayonetta, herself]].

** The [[Videogame/{{Fallout1}} first game]] gave us Set, leader of the Necropolis ghouls. Set is a massive {{Jerkass}} and openly contemptuous of everyone who is not a ghoul. However, as a leader, his rule is quite righteous and just. He doesn't take violent action against those who oppose him, provides his town with clean water, allows outsiders to roam freely during daylight hours, and refused to hand over the non-ghouls he claims to hate to the BigBad. All in all, his track record is far better than that of most wasteland leaders.

* Wess from ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}''. Constantly berates his son Duster for everything he does wrong. However, the two of them were the ones whose job it was to retrieve the Hummingbird Egg from Osohe Castle, and he does help Kumatora save Salsa from the even more abusive Fassad.

* ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' has its protagonist Reimu Hakurei, who is generally portrayed in official works as lazy, standoffish, greedy, and comically inept at her job as a shrine maiden. However, she's much better at her ''other'' job -- preserving Gensokyo's peace by protecting the Great Boundary and resolving any Incidents[[note]]large-scale chaos or upheavals that threaten the land[[/note]]. Even then, she has a tendency to beat the ever-loving crap out of anyone who gets in her way (including those who didn't have anything to do with what's happening) and has no tolerance for any Incidents, [[WhiteAndGreyMorality regardless of cause or motive]].

* Squall from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII''. [[CharacterDevelopment He gets better]], but still never becomes a paragon of niceness. Another Final Fantasy example is Shadow from ''[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI VI]]''.

* First appearing in ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys2'', The Puppet will viciously attack whoever makes the mistake of letting him out of his box. However, it is revealed in [[VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys3 the sequel]] that he was actually the BigGood all along, and was nevertheless a bit cranky from [[spoiler:being stopped from trying to save the souls trapped in the Animatronics.]] Lefty from ''VideoGame/FreddyFazbearsPizzeriaSimulator'' will also attack the protagonist if allowed into the pizzeria, however [[spoiler:Lefty is revealed to be a disguised Puppet, and it's strongly hinted that the reason the Puppet's attacking the protagonist is a case of mistaken identity.]]
* Gene from ''VideoGame/GodHand'' is a snarky, somewhat childish demon-hunter. His female protectee and love interest also shows traces of this trope.

* The ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' series has a number of these kind of characters:
** Shadow the Hedgehog after his HeelFaceTurn. His heart is in the right place, but he is aloof and apathetic which makes him come off as cold and uncaring towards other people. His ego and violent tendencies also rub others the wrong way.
** Knuckles the Echidna is also this. Even if he's on the side of good, his hot temper and hostile demeanor can make it difficult for him to get along with others. Despite this, he can be friendly, at least as long as he's in a good mood.
** Blaze the Cat started off as a cold and antisocial loner, but it only took Cream's influence for her to accept others, at least slightly.
* Zero from ''VideoGame/MegaManX''. He was GoodIsNotSoft for the first three games, but after [[VideoGame/MegaManX4 he has to kill Iris]], he goes through a HeroicBSOD and adapts a HiddenHeartOfGold.
* Baird in ''VideoGame/GearsOfWar'' is a complete JerkAss but he's still a loyal member of Delta Squad.
* Harpuia in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero''. He's an honorable, well-intentioned HeroAntagonist, but the only people he's ''nice'' to are his siblings.
* Cody from the ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' series, as he appears in the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series. After defeating the Mad Gear gang, he went on to pick fights for no good reason until he got himself thrown in prison. Even then, he not only continued to pick fights but would break out of prison for no reason other than boredom. While his former ally Guy believes he still has a sliver of good in him, Cody will just shrug and continue being a dick.
* Yuan from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is snarky, [[FigureItOutYourself impatient when the heroes need things explained]], [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder apparently changes sides without warning]]... and is doing everything in his power to save the world from the BigBad. [[WellIntentionedExtremist No matter who's in his way.]] In fact, it's a little iffy to label him "Good", except that [[spoiler:he ends up (somewhat reluctantly) on the party's side when it becomes clear that they actually might succeed... and that they're the only ones in the world with a chance]].
** Asch from ''VideoGame/TalesOfTheAbyss'' takes this trope UpToEleven. He works as a DoubleAgent in part of helping out the heroes by keeping them in the loop of the BigBad's plans. The problem is, he is a verbally abusive, ill-tempered {{Jerkass}} who prefers to [[IneffectualLoner work alone]]. His fiancé isn't one to be spared from his wrath, either, even if she is the only one who can draw an ounce of anything resembling [[PetTheDog compassion]] from this cold individual.
** Considering he's essentially a [[MoralSociopathy sociopath]], that he allegedly killed small animals as a child and scavenged corpses from battlefields, and that he's the MadDoctor who [[spoiler: invented fomicry,]] ''and'' that he's the one who [[spoiler: suggests Luke kill himself to dissipate the miasma,]] Jade Curtiss should count too. He also spends the better part of the game mercilessly snarking at people, even in their most mentally tender moments. He's ''really'' brutal to Luke after [[spoiler: Akzeriuth,]] and he's not much nicer to Guy after finding out about [[spoiler: the circumstances of Mary's death and Guy's condition.]] He's much more of a JerkWithAHeartOfGold than Asch is, though, but you still have to look really hard to find it.
* Doctor Magnusson from ''VideoGame/HalfLife2: Episode Two'' is temperamental, impatient, and arrogant. He's also capable, in his own way, of showing genuine gratitude.
** Some players actually find it surprising and a little heartwarming that the guy thanks you, because they know it took an almost superhuman effort for him to admit that he's grateful.

* Solid Snake of ''VideoGame/MetalGear'', especially in the first game, where he's a flirtatious asshole who bluntly tells you he can't be bothered getting to know you. In ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'', he ends up doing some very douchey things for very good reasons.
** Raiden becomes this as of ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''. He genuinely wants to protect the innocent and has a very soft spot for ChildSoldiers forced into fighting like he was. But he won't hesitate to dice other cyborgs to bits. He goes into full-on KnightTemplar mode when he finds out about [[spoiler:the children whose brains were removed and put into VR training to become cyborg soldiers against their will]], evoking his [[SociopathicHero Jack The Ripper]] persona and massacring anyone who stands in his way, including (albeit [[DirtyCop corrupt]]) police officers to stop the bad guys [[spoiler: and rescue the children's brains]].

* Some of your allies in the ''VideoGame/{{Suikoden}}'' series can come off as complete jerks who you nonetheless respect [[BunnyEarsLawyer because they're good at what they do]]. [[VideoGame/SuikodenII Shu]] and [[VideoGame/SuikodenV Zerase]] immediately spring to mind.
* Cenarius from ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}} III'' is shown to be rather rude, arrogant, and threatening [[StupidityIsTheOnlyOption so the player will be more eager to kill him]].
** The Night Elves' are another example. Rather than informing Grom that he's trespassing on their land (which wouldn't have stopped him), their solution was to launch a series of aggressive raids on the orcs. In fact, night elves' attitude in [=WC3=] was generally "shoot first, ask questions later".
** Maiev, leader of the Wardens, got an increasingly concentrated dose of this in ''The Frozen Throne''. She was utterly obsessed with capturing Illidan, her efforts [[HeWhoFightsMonsters gradually becoming more and more fanatical as time passed]].
* Freaking Marietta from the ''VideoGame/DeptHeaven'' series. She's a {{Jerkass}} KnightTemplar who spends much of ''VideoGame/KnightsInTheNightmare'' kicking little puppies, [[spoiler:killing you]], imposing {{Sadistic Choice}}s, and flat-out denying that [[SociopathicHero Meria]] has any right to be alive at all. The only way to get her to be ''even slightly'' kind to you is to jump when she tells you to, no matter how much it grates. She's also a guardian of order and has extremely strict good intentions, sort of. To the surprise of ''no one'', by the time of ''VideoGame/RivieraThePromisedLand'' [[ItWasHisSled she's already become a]] FallenHero.
* Jimmy Hopkins from ''VideoGame/{{Bully}}'' IS this trope.
* ''Franchise/BaldursGate'':
** Jaheira wouldn't let innocents come to harm and as a [[CharacterAlignment True Neutral]] druid, she has a deeply ingrained need to maintain balance in nature and in oneself – but she can also come off as stern, bossy and a bit of a know-it-all until one gets to her more vulnerable inner self.
** [[spoiler: Balthazar from ''[[VideoGame/BaldursGateIIThroneOfBhaal Throne of Bhaal]]'']] may the TokenGoodTeammate to [[spoiler: the Five, who's plotting their downfall,]] but he still seizes control of a city and rules it with an iron fist to do so, while not lifting a finger to stop the mercenaries he hired from bullying the townsfolk.
* If you choose to play non-lethal in ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' and ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided'', Adam Jensen is essentially Batman with alloy fists and muscles made of nano-fibres. You better believe some of the people you beat up with the non-lethal approach won't be okay afterwards... But then again, [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman they can get]] [[{{Cyborg}} augmentations, right?]]
** Arguably, being lethal as Adam Jensen is this trope to an even larger extent. Yes, you'll ''murder'' cops, terrorists and spec-ops, but it's in the pursuit of uprooting a domineering and controlling AncientConspiracy. What's a few deaths to that?
* Hakumen from ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'': One of the six legendary heroes who stopped the Black Beast. Is a dick. Not a total one, though. [[spoiler: He's an alternate timeline version of Jin, listed below. He's better than Jin in some ways and worse in others.]]
** From the same game, Ragna the Bloodedge has taken part in a [[OneManArmy one-man campaign of mass murder]] against the NOL, the body governing ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'''s world. He's also the closest thing that this CrapsackWorld has to a hero by being one of the few willing and able to take on the oppressive government and consistently shows that, despite his rough exterior, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold he's a good man]].
** If his [[TookALevelInBadass newly found levels in badass]] and [[PetTheDog dog petting]], plus his apparent HeelFaceTurn at the end of ''Continuum Shift'', are any indication, Jin looks set to become this. Probably a bit more emphasis on the [[JerkAss "not nice"]] part, though.
* Godot in ''Franchise/AceAttorney''. He's an outright jerk to Phoenix Wright in court, and the three 'targets' of his prosecuting are a sweet but hapless young woman, a sweet but hapless young man, and [[spoiler: a sweet but secretly conspiring with him young woman.]] However, [[spoiler: all of his actions in the final case were either to avenge Mia, take down Dahlia, or protect Mia's sister Maya.]]
** Edgeworth post-''Justice For All'' is an even better example, as his commitment to the truth [[BrutalHonesty doesn't always manifest itself in the most sympathetic ways.]] He wants the truth to come out, even if someone is hiding it for sympathetic reasons or if revealing it would have devastating consequences. However, there are hints of CruelToBeKind under his darker moments -- he himself lived with an AwfulTruth for fifteen years, and he didn't get free from it until he finally confessed what (he thought) he'd done.

* In ''VideoGame/DantesInferno'' the eponymous character has the choice to either "[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Absolve]]" or "[[VideoGameCrueltyPotential Punish]]" TheLegionsOfHell he battles as a FinishingMove. The bright and shining Absolve-based finishers aren't all that much less brutal than their scythe-based Punish counterparts.
* ComicBook/CaptainAmerica takes a dose of this in ''VideoGame/MarvelUltimateAlliance''.
-->'''Arcade:''' Captain America. I'd salute, but I think my arm is broken.\\
'''Cap:''' Don't be an idiot. Tell me what Doom is up to, or I really will break your arm.\\
'''Arcade:''' You wouldn't do that, that'd be torture.\\
'''Cap:''' After [[MindControl what you did to Jean Grey]], it wouldn't be torture, it'd be justice. Now tell me what Doom wants before I do something you'll regret.
* The Warden in ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' can be a good example. He or she can always choose the more Lawful Good options and save as many innocent people as possible while still being a {{Jerkass}} DeadpanSnarker to everyone they meet.
** The Grey Wardens in general fit this trope. While they seek to save Thedas from the Blight, they use rather questionable methods to do so. In particular, they refuse to tell their recruits about the [[BlessedWithSuck risks]] associated with becoming a Warden until after their induction, when it's too late to back out, and are willing to burn down Blight infected villages to prevent the Blight from spreading.
* Sam Fisher of ''VideoGame/SplinterCell'', according to the [[AllThereInTheManual manual]], has a strong belief in justice and freedom, a dark sense of humor, a disturbing amount of knowledge of ways to hurt people, and the scariest voice ever.

* Miranda of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfDragoon''. She's the First Sacred Sister of Mille Seseau, a combination of princess, general, and priestess for the people of her country. She's also chosen as the White Silver Dragoon, the holiest and gentlest of dragoon spirits. Too bad she's a [[{{Tsundere}} raging bitch]]. [[CharacterDevelopment She gets better]] as the game goes on, but her cynical business-first attitude puts her in stark contrast to her predecessor, [[IncorruptiblePurePureness Shana]].
* In ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2: Mask of the Betrayer'', Kaelyn the Dove is a just, noble half-celestial that tries to do good whenever she can. However, she is ''obsessed'' with destroying the [[FateWorseThanDeath Wall of the Faithless]], and is willing to do ''anything'' to tear it down.
* Malo of ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'' claims that even though he can't be a hero, he seeks to end the corruption and inflation in Hyrule Castle Town by bringing [[{{Pun}} heroic business deals]], but often acts blunt towards any unfortunate soul who crosses his path, insulting Link if he doesn't buy anything from his shop.
** From the same game, there's Midna, at least up until the first half of the game.
* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' games love this trope, the biggest example being the twist in ''The Lost Age'' that the "bad guys" we hunted down in the first game were trying to save the world. Several subplots involve other characters with good intentions but questionable methods.
* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'':
** Some of the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Princes]] qualify. As a whole, the Daedric Princes are divine beings AboveGoodAndEvil who operate under BlueAndOrangeMorality in line with their spheres of influence. However, they can certainly be seen as "good" or "evil" from the point of view of morals, usually depending on whether a certain Prince's actions benefit or harm mortals more often. Specific examples:
*** Azura, Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn, also known the Lady of Prophesy, encourages her worshipers to love themselves as much as they love her, and is very benevolent and protective over her greatest servants, as seen in her treatment of the [[PlayerCharacter the Nerevarine]] from ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''. However, she has no compunction against expressing her displeasure in very nasty ways, having a cruel and often petty streak toward those who defy her in any way. She is a fan of DisproportionateRetribution toward those who wrong her, such as ([[UnreliableNarrator possibly]]) cursing the Chimer race to becoming the ashen-skinned, red-eyed Dunmer after their leaders, [[PhysicalGod the Tribunal]], defied her. Later, in ''Morrowind'', she [[spoiler:guides the Nerevarine into casting down the Tribunal under the guise of guiding him/her in defeating [[BigBad Dagoth Ur]], whose source of power just happens to be the same as the Tribunal's]]. In the years that followed, as an indirect result of these actions, Morrowind is practically destroyed as a result of the [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion Crisis]], the "[[ColonyDrop Red]] [[ChekhovsVolcano Year]]", and [[SlaveRace the]] [[LizardFolk Argonian]] [[TheDogBitesBack invasion]]. The entire Dunmer way of life is disrupted, but Azura becomes even ''more revered'' by them as the center of their "New Temple" religion.
*** Meridia, a Daedric Prince whose sphere is obscured to mortals but is associated with Light, Beauty, and the Energy of Living Things, is another example. She is a noted adversary of Molag Bal, Daedric Prince of Domination and Rape, who might be the closest thing to a true GodOfEvil in the setting and whose actions are ''never'' benevolent toward mortals, which definitely makes her a lighter shade of gray in comparison. She also has [[BerserkButton an extreme hatred]] of anything undead or involving Necromancy, and wiping these things out is also typically beneficial to most mortals. However, she can very quickly cross into KnightTemplar territory regarding these things, is a {{Narcissist}}ic ProudBeauty, and will go through the FaceHeelRevolvingDoor with each appearance. In one instant, she'll be acting as the BigGood in defending mortal lives from hostile takeover by supernatural forces. Then in another, she'll be giving aid to beings who seek to overthrow the [[SaintlyChurch Nine Divines]] and enslave the races of Men.
*** Noctural, the Daedric Prince of Night and Darkness, also known as "Lady Luck", is another. Being the patron of thieves automatically makes her a few shades of gray darker, but despite this and her [[DarkIsNotEvil association with darkness]], she is usually quite benevolent to her followers. As long as they remain on her good side, they are gifted with "scoundrel's luck" and, for the highest-ranking followers, extremely powerful and useful abilities. She is also stated to be a WellDoneSonGuy toward them, offering little praise but pushing them to do better.
** The Eight (later Nine) Divines, aka the Aedra, pre-creation beings who aided [[GodIsDead Lorkhan]] in creating the mortal world, are almost universally seen as a benevolent force of good on Nirn. However, they've been known to cross this with GoodIsNotSoft. After learning that aiding Lorkhan had caused them to lose a significant portion of their divine power, they "killed" Lorkhan and tore his "divine center" (heart) from his sundered body. They cast it down into the mortal world he helped to create, forcing his spirit to wander. Later, when the Daedra worshiping [[OurElvesAreDifferent Ayleids]] enslaved the races of men and [[KickTheDog tormented them with unimaginable cruelty]], they allied with the leader of the humans (Alessia) to overthrow the Ayleids, sending her divine reinforcements ([[ALoadOfBull Morihaus]] and [[TheBerserker Pelinal]] [[FantasticRacism Whitestrake]]), as well as aiding in other ways, to ensure a human victory. It may not have been entirely benevolent on their part, however, as Alessia promised to make the Divines the primary religion of her new empire and followed through on this promise after the Ayleids were defeated.
** Lorkhan himself is in the old Nordic pantheon, where he is known as [[IHaveManyNames Shor]]. Shor is a "bloodthirsty warrior king", though to the {{Proud Warrior Race|Guy}} [[HornyVikings Nords]], this is a ''good'' thing.
** In ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'', the Vigil of Stendarr is a ChurchMilitant order dedicated to hunting down and destroying supernatural threats to mortal life, including Daedra, Daedra worshipers, vampires, lycanthropes, and others. The Vigil formed in the wake of the [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion Crisis]] with the goal of preventing any similar incidents. The Vigilants are very much a force for the greater good, but [[KnightTemplar they have no qualms with brutally killing any worshippers of malicious Daedra]]. They'll also forcibly confiscate Daedric artifacts and will readily kill anyone who refuses to hand them over, even those artifacts associated with the less malicious Daedric Princes.
* Jun Kazama from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is generally portrayed as pure; however, the second Tag game and the animated movie show she's NotGoodWithPeople. Case in point, Tag 2 allows a trick to select win poses, one being a positive one, a high five, a fist bump, etc. Even with someone who Jun should like she's pretty aloof. It also helps that she's [[OneWingedAngel Unknown]], who does something most find rather uncomfortable should you lose to her.
* Lightning from ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy XIII}}'' starts out this way, mainly because [[spoiler:since her parents' deaths]], she has had to put her emotions aside and thinks of everything like a strategy. She manages to soften up significantly after several events where her attitude causes others pain (mainly when Odin is first summoned when she has a flashback about her last words with Serah, and when she realizes she has encouraged Hope on his revenge path).
* Wess from ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}''. Constantly berates his son Duster for everything he does wrong. However, the two of them were the ones whose job it was to retrieve the Hummingbird Egg from Osohe Castle, and he does help Kumatora save Salsa from the even more abusive Fassad.
* ''VideoGame/FableII'' invokes this by having a Pure/Corrupt alignment scale in addition to the regular Good/Evil scale for player characters. Your character can become corrupt by doing morally reprehensible, but not per se "evil" actions (like drinking too much, having multiple spouses or charging too much rent), while remaining fundamentally good. The title for being both Good and Corrupt at once is "The Decadent". Conversely, a character can also be Pure Evil and obtain the title "The Fanatic" (Pure Evil is not what it sounds like, that would be the Corrupt Evil alignment, which awards the title "The Ghoul").

* Despite being a prime example of DarkIsNotEvil, Oswald from ''VideoGame/OdinSphere'' can still be cold and ruthless when the need arises. He ''is'' feared and hated throughout Erion for [[BlackKnight being a heartless butcher, after all.]]

* In the ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta}}'' series the heroes are the Umbra Witches, snarky [[DarkIsNotEvil crusaders of darkness]] who use powers gained by making a DealWithTheDevil to slaughter [[LightIsNotGood evil]] [[OurAngelsAreDifferent angels]], and however good they are for defending humanity they are not always very nice or polite. In ''{{VideoGame/Bayonetta 2}}'' we also get introduced to [[spoiler:Loki, who is the pure good half of the former God of Chaos and overseer of humanity, Aesir. Despite being literally made of pure good, he's just as snarky, rude, and [[SirSwearsALot having a penchant to curse]] as Bayonetta, herself]].
* ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends:'' Jayce, [[{{Magitek}} hextech]] [[GadgeteerGenius inventor extraordinaire]], is a hugely arrogant InsufferableGenius who tends to insult and look down upon those he considers less intelligent than him (that is, most people), and in his focus story ''A Quick Fix,'' he flat-out refuses to fix the broken toy of a heartbroken little girl because he considers her breaking it "stupid." On the other hand, he spends his time enforcing justice and [[{{Superhero}} fighting crime]] in his hometown of Piltover, armed only with his masterpiece invention, the cannon-hammer hybrid known as the [[SwissArmyWeapon Mercury Hammer]]. Funny enough, the story notes that the majority of Piltover's citizens see him as an [[IdealHero ideal]] HumbleHero, only to be disappointed by the man's actual mannerisms.
* Jarek from the ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' Nightfall expansion certainly qualifies. A former Sunspear himself, he's brought out of retirement to lead the Sunspears while Kormir, the real leader, is absent. To call him "arrogant" and "petty" wouldn't be much of a stretch, and he's still bitter that Kormir was chosen to be Spearmarshal instead of him. In fact, the only thing he seems to hate more than you are the bandits who keep attacking the villages. It seems fitting that his name is an anagram of "a jerk".
* ''VideoGame/RandalsMonday'': Kramer is not a nice cop by any means, but he is absolutely a good cop.

* [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} The Doom Guy]], especially in his [[VideoGame/Doom2016 latest incarnation]]. He is an absolute force of Good who is fated to rise up against Hell when it threatens to invade our universe. If you're a demon, he's also [[TheBerserker the]] [[TheDreaded last]] [[ImplacableMan thing]] you want to go against, as that will get your head split open with a clean shot in the best case scenario, and [[{{Gorn}} your heart being ripped out and forcefully shoved in your mouth]] in one of the worst. If you're a human... well, you're safe, but don't expect him to have any respect for you or hear you out, and if you have something he needs, he'll just take it off you like it was his all along.

** Knuckles the Echidna is also this. Even if he's on the side of good, his hot temper and hostile demeanor can make it difficult form him to get along with others. Despite this, he can be friendly, at least as long as he's in a good mood.

* Cody from the ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' series, as he appears in the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series. After defeating the Mad Gear gang, he went on to pick fights for no good reason until he got himself thrown in prison. Even then, he not only continued to pick fights, but would break out of prison for no reason other than boredom. While his former ally Guy believes he still has a sliver of good in him, Cody will just shrug and continue being a dick.
* Yuan from ''VideoGame/TalesOfSymphonia'' is snarky, [[FigureItOutYourself impatient when the heroes need things explained]], [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder apparently changes sides without warning]]... and is doing everything in his power to save the world from the BigBad. [[WellIntentionedExtremist No matter who's in his way.]] In fact, it's a little iffy to label him "Good", except that [[spoiler:he ends up (somewhat reluctantly) on the party's side, when it becomes clear that they actually might succeed... and that they're the only ones in the world with a chance]].

* The New California Republic is a post-war federation with a democratic government, a strong military, safe territories, and a very high standard of living by post-apocalypse standards. They're dedicated to the ideas of liberty, justice, and rule of law. However, their military can get heavy handed in their efforts to put down their enemies, their government is corrupt, and they do many morally questionable things over the course of the games, including hiring mercenaries to terrorize Vault City ([[KickTheSonOfABitch a racist, slavery-based city state]]), dealing with the Bishop crime family in order to annex New Reno, hunting down Enclave members who never took an active part in the Enclave-NCR War years after it is over, using 'enhanced interrogation' on prisoners, and occasionally shooting surrendering enemies. They're still by far the nicest faction in the series.
** In the ''Honest Hearts'' DLC, we have Joshua Graham, the former Malpais Legate (now a good guy again). While he truly cares for the tribals he's sworn to defend, he is a completely over-the-top PapaWolf who will (and has) gone to great lengths to prove that fucking with those under his protection will result in the Wrath Of God killing the hell out of you. [[spoiler: However, depending on how things play out, you can either encourage him to take this to it's logical, ultraviolent conclusion, or help him temper his ultraviolence for a good cause with a little mercy.]]
** The [[Videogame/{{Fallout1}} first game]] gave us Set, leader of the Necropolis ghouls. Set is a massive {{Jerkass}} and openly contemptuous of everyone who is not a ghoul. However, as a leader his rule is quite righteous and just. He doesn't take violent action against those who oppose him, provides his town with clean water, allows outsiders to roam freely during daylight hours and refused to hand over the non-ghouls he claims to hate to the BigBad. All in all, his track record is far better than that of most wasteland leaders.

** Raiden becomes this as of ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance''. He genuinely wants to protect the innocent, and has a very soft spot for ChildSoldiers forced into fighting like he was. But he won't hesitate to dice other cyborgs to bits. He goes into full-on KnightTemplar mode when he finds out about [[spoiler: the children who's brains were removed and put into VR training to become cyborg soldiers against their will]], evoking his [[SociopathicHero Jack The Ripper]] persona and massacring anyone who stands in his way, including (albeit [[DirtyCop corrupt]]) police officers to stop the bad guys [[spoiler: and rescue the children's brains]].

** Arguably, being lethal as Adam Jensen is this trope to an even larger extend. Yes, you'll ''murder'' cops, terrorists and spec-ops, but it's in the pursuit of uprooting an domineering and controlling AncientConspiracy. What's a few deaths to that?

** From the same game, Ragna the Bloodedge has taken part in a [[OneManArmy one-man campaign of mass murder]] against the NOL, the body governing ''VideoGame/BlazBlue'''s world. He's also the closest thing that this CrapsackWorld has to a hero by being one of the few willing and able to take on the oppressive government, and consistently shows that, despite his rough exterior, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold he's a good man]].

** The sequel shows that Paragon Shepard, while generally fitting the description of [[MessianicArchetype The Ultimate Hero]], won't put up with your crap either. Paragon Shepard in [=ME2=] better fits GoodIsNotSoft in contrast to Renegade Shepard, because Renegade Shepard can do some really downright malevolent things. Grunt sums up the Paragon mentality pretty well when he says "You offer one hand, but arm the other. Wise, Shepard." Paragon Shepard starts off nice, but if s/he has a reason to be pissed at you, s/he'll kick your ass just as hard as Renegade Shepard would.

** Also on Omega, if Shepard buys a drink from the Batarian bartender in Afterlife s/he nearly dies because the bartender poisons it. Afterwards you learn that you're not the first human he poisoned and certainly won't be the last if he continues. The Renegade response is to get the bastard to drink his own poison. The Paragon response is to incite a Turian bystander to shoot him for you--after all, he could easily start poisoning other races too.

** Also, in the Overlord DLC, [[spoiler:Shepard, no matter Paragon or Renegade, shows absolute disgust and horror at what Gavin Archer did to his brother in the name of Cerberus and the Illusive Man. In the Paragon ending, as Shepard angrily confronts Gavin for trying to shoot him/her, a Paragon QuickTimeEvent comes up to pistol whip him]].

*** Azura, Daedric Prince of Dusk and Dawn, also known the Lady of Prophesy, encourages her worshipers to love themselves as much as they love her, and is very benevolent and protective over her greatest servants, as seen in her treatment of the [[PlayerCharacter the Nerevarine]] from ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]''. However, she has no compunction against expressing her displeasure in very nasty ways, having a cruel and often petty streak toward those who defy her in any way. She is fan of DisproportionateRetribution toward those who wrong her, such as ([[UnreliableNarrator possibly]]) cursing the Chimer race to becoming the ashen-skinned, red-eyed Dunmer after their leaders, [[PhysicalGod the Tribunal]], defied her. Later, in ''Morrowind'', she [[spoiler:guides the Nerevarine into casting down the Tribunal under the guise of guiding him/her in defeating [[BigBad Dagoth Ur]], whose source of power just happens to be the same as the Tribunal's]]. In the years that followed, as an indirect result of these actions, Morrowind is practically destroyed as a result of the [[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion Crisis]], the "[[ColonyDrop Red]] [[ChekhovsVolcano Year]]", and [[SlaveRace the]] [[LizardFolk Argonian]] [[TheDogBitesBack invasion]]. The entire Dunmer way of life is disrupted, but Azura becomes even ''more revered'' by them as the center of their "New Temple" religion.

*** Noctural, the Daedric Prince of Night and Darkness, also known as "Lady Luck", is another. Being the patron of thieves automatically makes her a few shades of gray darker, but despite this and her [[DarkIsNotEvil association with darkness]], she is usually quite benevolent to her followers. As long as they remain on her good side, they are gifted with "scoundrel's luck" and, for the highest ranking followers, extremely powerful and useful abilities. She is also stated to be a WellDoneSonGuy toward them, offering little praise but pushing them to do better.

* Jun Kazama from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' is generally portrayed as pure, however the second Tag game and the animated movie shows she's NotGoodWithPeople. Case in point, Tag 2 allows a trick to select win poses, one being a positive one, a high five, a fist bump, etc. Even with someone who Jun should like she's pretty aloof. It also helps that she's [[OneWingedAngel Unknown]], who does something most find rather uncomfortable should you lose to her.
* Lightning from ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy XIII}}'' starts out this way, mainly because [[spoiler:since her parents' deaths]], she has had to put her emotions aside and thinks of everything like a strategy. She manages to soften up significantly after several events where her attitude causes others pain (mainly when Odin is first summoned, when she has a flashback about her last words with Serah, and when she realizes she has encouraged Hope on his revenge path).

* Marshall Yatish of ''VideoGame/{{Wildstar}}'', good ''lord.'' If you are a "baddie" and threaten his people or innocents, be prepared to be horrifically murdered, your comrades butchered, your camp burned to the ground, and your corpses strung up as a warning to any present and future "baddies." Keep in mind he is ''[[BadassAdorable a 3 foot high alien rabbit armed only with a spear.]]''

* The player character of ''Videogame/{{Dishonored}}'', Corvo Attano, even when played as a pacifist, will show no mercy to his primary targets. The fates he inflicts on them range from physically branding them as outcasts, to having them sent to work in their own mines for the rest of their lives, to handing them over to a stalker who plans to keep them as his sex prisoner. Mind you, they deserve it, but death almost seems a more merciful act at times.

** Shadow the Hedgehog after his HeelFaceTurn. His heart is in the right place, but he is aloof and apathetic which makes him come off as cold and uncaring towards people. His ego and violent tendencies also rub others the wrong way.
** Knuckles The Echidna is this. Even if he's on the side of good, his hot-temper and hostile demeanor can make others find him difficult to get along with. Despite this, he can be friendly, at least as long as he's in a good mood.

* If You choose to play non-lethal in ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'', Adam is Essentially Batman with cybernetics.

** Jaheira from the sequels, where it otherwise looks like she's not living up (down?) to her obligatory druidic TrueNeutral [[CharacterAlignment alignment]], is still a blunt know-it-all with no patience for people who don't happen to see things her way or who happen to annoy her through no fault of their own.

* Zero from ''VideoGame/MegaManX''. He was GoodIsNotSoft for the first three games, but after [[VideoGame/MegaManX4 he has to kill Iris]], he goes through a HeroicBSOD and adapts a JerkassFacade.

* [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} The Doom Guy]], especially in his [[VideoGame/Doom2016 latest incarnation]]. He is an absolute force of Good who is fated to rise up against Hell when it threatens to invade our universe. If you're a demon, he's also [[TheBerserker the]] [[TheDreaded last]] [[ImplacableMan thing]] you want to go against, as that will get your head split open with a clean shot in the best case scenario, and [[{{Gorn}} your heart being ripped out and forcefully shoved in your mouth]] in one of the worst.

* Jarek from the ''VideoGame/GuildWars'' Nightfall expansion certainly qualifies. A former Sunspear himself, he's brought out of retirement to lead the Sunspears while Kormir, the real leader, is absent. To call him "arrogant" and "petty" wouldn't be much of a stretch, and he's still bitter that Kormir was chosen to be Spearmarshal instead of him. In fact, the only thing he seems to hate more than [[ThePlayer you]] are the bandits who keep attacking the villages. It seems fitting that his name is an anagram of "a jerk".

* [[VideoGame/{{Doom}} The Doom Guy]], especially in his [[VideoGame/Doom2016 latest incarnation]]. He is an absolute force of Good who is fated to rise up against Hell when it threatens to invade our universe. If you're a demon, he's also [[TheBerserker the]] [[TheDreaded last]] [[ImplacableMan thing]] you want to go against, as that will get your head split open with a clean shot in the best case scenario, and [[Gorn your heart being ripped out and forcefully shoved in your mouth]] in one of the worst.

* [[VideoGame/Doom The Doom Guy]], especially in his [[VideoGame/Doom2016 latest incarnation]]. He is an absolute force of Good who is fated to rise up against Hell when it threatens to invade our universe. If you're a demon, he's also [[TheBerserker the]] [[TheDreaded last]] [[ImplacableMan thing]] you want to go against, as that will get your head split open with a clean shot in the best case scenario, and [[Gorn your heart being ripped out and forcefully shoved in your mouth]] in one of the worst.