History NinetiesAntiHero / VideoGames

** The game lets you make these with all the SpikesOfVillainy costume pieces that are equally available to heroes. Though there's no real representative of them in-game (it has more of a [[UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks Silver Age]] flavor), the closest could be Hardcase, an AntiVillain.

* Tombstone from ''VideoGame/FreedomForce vs The Third Reich'', a series that is an {{homage}} to UsefulNotes/TheSilverAgeOfComicBooks, is a Nineties Anti-Hero. And he ''still'' fits into the game, because his overblown "dark and tormented" act makes him just as laughable as the rest of the cast.

* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'': As a series that started in 1992, ''Mortal Kombat'' in many ways embodies many elements of UsefulNotes/{{the Iron Age|OfComicBooks}}/[[UsefulNotes/TheDarkAgeOfComicBooks Dark Age of Comic Books]] particularly in the form of its [[BloodierAndGorier overt violence]] and gory [[FinishingMove Fatalities]], but also avoided being completely serious replications of those kinds of comics by including some tongue-in-cheek humor. These are two characters who exemplify this archetype:

* The Postal Dude from ''VideoGame/Postal2'' is essentially the epitome of this trope, embodying all the attributes, characteristics, and typical traits you would expect from such an AntiHero — including an [[DeadpanSnarker edgy and sarcastic attitude]], a rugged design, personifying {{badass}}ery, sporting CoolShades, and of course, his [[BadassLongcoat signature long trenchcoat]]. His level of "heroism", for obvious reasons, largely depends on how you choose to play him.

** Scorpion is an undead, [[PlayingWithFire fire-wielding]] {{Ninja}} who is a WildCard [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor who will assist]] whichever side is most convenient to his own agenda (of seeking vengeance against the murderer of his clan and resurrecting his fallen loved ones) and tends to be one of the most brutal fighters in the series, outdone only by characters like [[EvilOverlord Shao]] [[DropTheHammer Kahn]]. He's even [[ThePowerOfHate fueled by]] [[UnstoppableRage his unquenchable rage]]. ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'', however, presents him as being a {{double subversion}} of this trope due to being more reasonable after being [[spoiler:freed of Quan Chi's service as one of his revenants]] but also seeking to kill the sorcerer responsible for murdering his family and turning him into a revenant [[UnwittingPawn to perpetuate Quan Chi's schemes]] and [[AvertedTrope prevent]] [[KarmaHoudini the necromancer from continuing to commit any other atrocities]] even if it means [[spoiler:voiding any opportunity to free any other revenants from his curse]].

* ''VideoGame/DrakeOfThe99Dragons'': The titular Drake is a undead assassin with a black leather coat, a pale corpse-like skin color, uses an [[InfiniteSupplies infinite number]] of guns, always beats up and kills his enemies, and he speaks primarily in corny {{Badass Boast}}s with a [[GutturalGrowler raspy]], low-pitched voice. You may think he's a parody of this before realizing he was meant to be serious.

* ''VideoGame/DrakeOfThe99Dragons'': The titular Drake is a undead assassin with a black leather coat, a pale corpse-like skin color, uses an [[InfiniteSupplies infinite number]] of guns, always beats up and kills his enemies, and he speaks primarily in corny {{Badass Boast}}s with a [[GutturalGrowler raspy]], [[BadassBaritone low-pitched]] voice. You may think he's a parody of this before realizing he was meant to be serious.

** The Drifter. Got [[{{Retcon}} retconned]] from a mystic cowboy into a Cable-esque cyborg cowboy.

** The PRIMUS Recognition Vendors, mainly to display the 90's style [[AndYourRewardIsClothes costume unlocks]] they are selling.
** The ''Bag Vendor!'' [[FridgeBrilliance Because what kind of character would know more about pouches?]]

** While not exactly anti-heroes, quite a few villains get at least the look right. Amongst those are Hard Target, Leathal, Drago and the ascended fan creation Devana Hawke.

** Infernal could also count, being a demon-binding, [[DarkIsNotEvil evil-looking good guy]], but his {{backstory}} of coming from a HeroicFantasy inspired alternate dimension may be a jab at the overused MedievalEuropeanFantasy [[MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame MMORPG]] setting.

* ''VideoGame/DrakeOfThe99Dragons'': The titular Drake is a undead assassin with a black leather coat, a pale corpse-like skin color, uses an infinite number of guns, always beats up and kills his enemies, and he speaks primarily in corny {{Badass Boast}}s with a [[GutturalGrowler raspy]], [[BadassBaritone low-pitched]] voice. You may think he's a parody of this before realizing he was meant to be serious.

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'', Cloud resembles the Japanese version of this archetype, looking like a hero from a gory {{Seinen}} dark fantasy manga a la ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', while Barret is dressed like the Western version of the archetype, a huge mountain of muscles covered in pouches with a {{BFG}} mounted on his arm. Remake, however, also downplays this trope by emphasizing Cloud's dorkiness and social ineptitude, making it quite clear that most people are aware of the fact that his edginess is a fascade, and putting plenty of focus on Barret's wholesome relationships with his daughter, friends as well as his idealism, underlining that you cannot judge him by his cover.

* ''VideoGame/TwistedMetal'': [[MonsterClown Needles Kane]] (AKA Sweet Tooth), who debuted in the first game released in 1995 and was created by David Jaffe (also the director for the ''VideoGame/GodOfWar'' series), is a sociopathic BloodKnight serial killer who has no compunction to killing anyone in his way to getting at [[BigBad Calyspo]].

** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIIRemake'', Cloud resembles the Japanese version of this archetype, looking like a hero from a gory {{Seinen}} dark fantasy manga a la ''Manga/{{Berserk}}'', while Barret is dressed like the Western version of the archetype, a huge mountain of muscles covered in pouches with a {{BFG}} mounted on his arm. The remake, however, also downplays this trope by emphasizing Cloud's dorkiness and social ineptitude.

** ''VideoGame/Doom2016'' follows the trend set by ''Brutal Doom'' in that he's still as [[HeroicMime silent]] as he's ever officially been, and still exudes all of the brutality associated with him, though played ''much'' more seriously and taken UpToEleven. He does have soft spots and, as ''VideoGame/DoomEternal'' shows, is a total geek with a love for comic books, metal albums, and action figures. He's still a {{Determinator}} through and through though, completely dedicated to ridding the universe of demons... preferably with as much violence as possible.

** Another Kombatant who falls into this category on occasion is Raiden in his Dark Raiden persona. In this corrupted form, which debuted in ''[[VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception Deception]]'' ([[spoiler:and reappeared in [[TheStinger the last scene]] of ''MKX'' and ''VideoGame/MortalKombat11'' due to being exposed to the Jinsei that was tainted by Shinnok]]), the thunder god ceases to be the benevolent mentor he is known for and turns into a far more ruthless tactician who takes more aggressive measures to protect Earthrealm from foreign invaders, including the destruction of all the other realms, even those that were harmless to the earth itself. [[spoiler:When a ''VideoGame/MortalKombat2''-era Raiden is brought into the conflict of ''11'' via TimeCrash and learns of his future self's harsh, unrelenting nature, [[FutureMeScaresMe he doesn't take]] [[EvilMeScaresMe the news well]] and vows not to end up the same way.]]

* In the later 90s, ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' and ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII'' came out.
** Cloud Strife in the original ''VII'' was something of a DeconstructedCharacterArchetype version of this, attempting to act like this as a conscious affectation, and soon abandoning it. Played completely straight in most of his later appearances, especially in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' games and ''[[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren Advent Children]]''. He certainly [[http://semna4.webs.com/KH_Cloud_1.jpg looks the part]] in the first ''VideoGame/{{Kingdom Hearts|I}}'', not helped by the fact that his ''KHI'' design is based in part on Vincent, mentioned directly below.
** Also from ''VII'', there is Vincent Valentine. He wears a black leather outfit with a red cape and fights with guns, as well as turn into several sorts of monsters, most notably a demon. Personality-wise he is an aloof and distant anti-hero with a tormented backstory who is driven by revenge. Not to mention official artwork of him perching on top of a rooftop at night. This gets more pronounced in his solo game, ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', which expands on his powers and his angst, to the point of being seen as overblown according to part of the fandom.
** Squall Leonhart of ''VIII'' also plays this completely straight, but is given a FreudianExcuse in that he's been raised as a {{Child Soldier|s}} from the age of about 5 or 6. He, too, appears in ''Kingdom Hearts'', quiet and snarky as ever, but he seems to have opened up quite a bit (at least to Yuffie and Aerith). His disposition does improve greatly in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII'', where he's mellowed out (getting to return to your once-doomed home world and rebuild it is likely to do that) and acts as a BigBrotherMentor to Sora.