History PragmaticVillainy / VideoGames

** A ''Cataclysm'' quest has one Dreadlord criticizing another for using blood ink in love letters to a [[HornyDevils Succubus]] simply because Night Elf virgins aren't easy to come by and he's wasting a valuable resource.

* ''VideoGame/BioShock1'': Frank Fontaine opened up soup kitchens within Rapture, not out of love, but to build a base of loyal supporters among the city's lower class.

** Colonel Moore is this. She is willing to put up with anything the Courier does because it will lead to winning the war, but she also makes sure [[KickTheDog to both slander the Courier and get Ambassador Crocker fired]] for doing things ''their'' way instead of hers (read: the KillEmAll method).

* ''VisualNovel/TheGreatAceAttorney'': The killer of the 3rd case in ''Resolve'' isn't opposed to a Not Guilty verdict for the defendant, if it means the trial ends before decisive evidence implicating themselves is found. Ryunosuke ends up delaying the verdict as he's about to win so the true killer can be brought to justice.

* ''VideoGame/YakuzaLikeADragon'': When Ichiban and his consorts confront Ryuhei Yoshino, patriarch of the Seiryu clan, about his subordinate running a scam that involves euthanising the elderly and skimming money from their pensions and families under the guise of running a nursing home, Ryuhei immediately punishes the subordinate involved. However, he does this not because of any moral objections, but because the subordinate has proven himself both treasonous (in keeping business from the boss) and incompetent (in letting Ichiban get into the Seiryu clan's inner sanctum). He also outright states that he does not consider this a favor, and blames Ichiban for costing him a subordinate.

** How Inquisitor Adrastia first warms Kaptin Bluddflagg to the idea of killing [[spoiler:Kyras]], who has no intention of endangering himself and his krew challenging a nearly PhysicalGod. If he obliterates the sector, what's left for the orks to fight and plunder? However, she also fails the trope by screwing up the negotiations when, having promised him a fight against three Imperial regiments at a time and place of his choosing, she refuses to add her NiceHat to the deal.

** [[CorruptPolitician Governor]] [[BigBad Laureano de Torres]] [[BlueBlood y Ayala]] in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIVBlackFlag'' is shown to be against slavery, only because it will fuel resentment and rebellion in the long run, rather than seeing it as immoral.
** For most playable Assassins in the series, killing civilians will give you a warning that "This ancestor did not kill civilians", and continuing to do so will saddle you with a [[NonStandardGameOver Non-Standard Desynchronization]]. This does not include Shay Cormac of ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedRogue'' after he [[FaceHeelTurn becomes a Templar]]... but it ''does'' include UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper in the DLC for ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate'', whose warning message is instead "Jack did not compromise his plans by killing random civilians". He's not ''opposed'' to killing innocents, but he has a plan, and if killing someone is going to make things harder for him, that's not part of the plan.

* ''VideoGame/EldenRing'': The final obstacle on the path to the [[OmnicidalManiac Frenzied Flame]] [[EvilVsOblivion is a projection of]] [[EvilOverlord Mohg, Lord of Blood]]. It's pretty clear that Mohg doesn't care about the people of the Lands Between, but if the Frenzied Fire gets its way, it'd probably kill him, and even if it ''didn't'', he'd have nothing left to rule.

*** The ThievesGuild has a "no killing" rule because leaving behind dead bodies draws attention and makes people more hostile (and getting rid of the bodies takes work and money), and they'd much rather be seen as a nuisance than a serious threat. Additionally, as they say, "a half-dead man can still make his payment, while a dead man pays no gold".

** Mr. House is not a nice man and freely says that he desires to become the region's dictator ([[InsistentTerminology he prefers]] [[DistinctionWithoutADifference "autocrat"]]), but he has no interest in power without a purpose and his theoretical plans for the Mojave would certainly benefit mankind as a whole. Likewise, he's merciless in dealing with people who have earned his ire or even have a ''chance'' of standing in his way, but in personal interactions he's usually just [[InsufferableGenius sort of condescending]], not showing any overt malice.
*** He's also smart enough to do something none of the other factions, Colonel Moore for instance, can figure out: Pay the Courier ''well'', treat him/her with respect after performing a job well done, and in many of the endings, affording the Courier every luxury he can, if only out of fear of the seemingly one-man/woman army bringing him down as well. Whereas others bluster, order, or outright threaten the apparent wasteland walking Titan, House (mostly) sticks to being straight-up professional and isn't afraid to offer praise for a job well done.
** House is this trope all over. His views on holding power are simple: Why bother wasting resources on oppressing his subjects when he can appease them and profit instead? He wants to exterminate the Legion because they want to raze Vegas and are insanely brutal Luddites, but he offers generous terms to the NCR if he defeats them. He wants you to stop the Legion from assassinating President Kimball because him being and politically ruined shifts the blame of the NCR citizenry away from Vegas, and he doesn't want you to kill Caesar because he would like the continued existence of the Legion to distract the NCR while he builds his power base (nonetheless if Caesar dies, House kind of accepts the world is better off without him anyway and moves on). He even pays you if you deal with the Omertas problem before he instructs you to do so, to not "disincentive your proactivity."

** Bowser. At times he helps the Mario Brothers and other people, only because he wants to be the only one to take over the Mushroom Kingdom. Also, since his goal is [[EvilVersusOblivion conquest and not destruction]], he'll assist the Mario Brothers so that others can't destroy what he wants to conquer.

* ''VideoGame/ShantaeAndTheSevenSirens'': Risky Boots gets a moment like this when she makes sure that [[spoiler:the sirens don't kidnap Shantae, knowing that if they try to backstab her, Shantae can and will take down.]] This is in spite of the fact that if she was taken, Risky could have never had to deal with her again. This is also the reason she doesn't go all out in their fights this game.

* In the ''Storms of Zehir'' expansion of VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2, the player encounters the yuan-ti up to their usual tricks of infiltrating human society and conquering it from within. At the end of the campaign, however, when you are finally given a chance to confront one of their key leaders, she explains that her intentions are strictly non-aggressive. The yuan-ti have seen time and again what happens when they try to conquer human society by force, and have decided this time that it would be far preferable to ''strengthen'' humanity and [[BenevolentConspiracy rule over a prosperous puppet state from the shadows, instead.]] Much of the plot simply involves them setting up a thriving merchant empire which is mutually beneficial to the humans and the yuan-ti ownership alike.

* ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'':
** Not so much a matter of avoiding morally reprehensible actions, but Agatio parts with his dignity in ''Golden Sun: The Lost Age'' and consciously plays the part of a [[DumbMuscle dumb]] [[TheBrute brute]] [[UnwittingPawn being manipulated]] by Alex because he knows that will ''get the job done'', though he makes it clear that he's actually a GeniusBruiser and [[TeethClenchedTeamwork not fond]] of Alex's [[SmugSnake attitude]].
** Considering the events near the end of the previous game, Agatio also seems to be much more tolerant of Felix not directly following their plans than his predecessors were. Though he's pretty rough about reminding Felix what's at stake, he doesn't turn on Felix until Felix acts against ''him'' on behalf of Isaac, and even then he bides his time until Felix has finished his part and [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness is no longer needed for the plan to succeed]].

* ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'' has plenty of VideoGameCaringPotential for VillainProtagonist Ayano to engage in her quest for Senpai's heart; rather than, say, MurderTheHypotenuse, she can [[MatchmakerQuest pair her rivals off with other love interests]] or befriend them and convince them to stop pursuing Senpai. Taking this route doesn't make Ayano any less of a sociopathic {{Yandere}}; it's simply less messy and risky than murder (although it's hinted that Ayano might learn to be a better person if she goes the PacifistRoute).

* ''VideoGame/YandereSimulator'' has plenty of VideoGameCaringPotential for VillainProtagonist Ayano to engage in her quest for Senpai's heart; rather than, say, MurderTheHypotenuse, she can [[MatchmakerQuest pair her rivals off with other love interests]] or befriend them and convince them to stop pursuing Senpai. Taking this route doesn't make Ayano any less of a sociopathic {{Yandere}}; it's simply less messy and risky than murder.

* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'': Gives us the SocialDarwinist villain group - Arachnos, but most noticeably it’s current leader, Lord Recluse is the main source of the trope for the group. Lord Recluse makes sure they maintain stability and law in the so-called ‘City of Villains’ encouraging people to embrace their darker sides to the point of even crossing Arachnos but with the understanding there are some hard fast rules, such as no killing unarmed non-aggressive civilians, no racial supremacy, no religion and NEVER EVER so much as raise your hand to one of the non-aggressive law-keepers - The Arachnos Arbiters; It’s not out of the goodness of their hearts or even honor civilians pay taxes so Arachnos need to watch out for them, racial supremacy conflicts with social Darwinism, Lord Recluse is a Demi-god, so worshiping a full god is equal to pledging yourself to a foreign power and the Arbiters are the ones who enforce the above rules and as they are non-violent they pose no bodily threat and as such Arachnos will mess you up BAD if you hurt an Arbiter. How bad? Well the Arbiter keep files on all villains in the country including date and location of birth. Why does this matter? Because Arachnos owns a time machine, they use it sparingly to avoid time-paradoxes but they have NO compunctions about going back in time, finding the pregnant mother of an Arbiter killer and kicking them down a flight of stairs to make sure the Arbiter was never killed! Demonstraiting pramatic enforcment of laws both legal and temporal, does not mean being afraid to be completely ruthless.

* ''VideoGame/CityOfHeroes'': Gives us the SocialDarwinist villain group - Arachnos, but most noticeably it’s current leader, Lord Recluse is the main source of the trope for the group. Lord Recluse makes sure they maintain stability and law in the so-called ‘City of Villains’ encouraging people to embrace their darker sides to the point of even crossing Arachnos but with the understanding there are some hard fast rules, such as no killing unarmed non-aggressive civilians, no racial supremacy, no religion and NEVER EVER so much as raise your hand to one of the non-aggressive law-keepers - The Arachnos Arbiters; It’s not out of the goodness of their hearts or even honor civilians pay taxes so Arachnos need to watch out for them, racial supremacy conflicts with social Darwinism, Lord Recluse is a Demi-god, so worshiping a full god is equal to pledging yourself to a foreign power and the Arbiters are the ones who enforce the above rules and as they are non-violent they pose no bodily threat and as such Arachnos will mess you up BAD if you hurt an Arbiter. How bad? Well the Arbiter keep files on all villains in the country including date and location of birth. Why does this matter? Because Arachnos owns a time machine, they use it sparingly to avoid time-paradoxes but they have NO compunctions about going back in time, finding the pregnant mother of an Arbiter killer and kicking them down a flight of stairs to make sure the Arbiter was never killed!

* Risky Boots from the ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' gets a moment like this during ''Seven Sirens''. Namely, [[spoiler: she makes sure that the sirens don't kidnap Shantae, knowing that if they try to backstab her, Shantae can and will take down.]] This is in spite of the fact that if she was taken, Risky could have never had to deal with her again. This is also the reason she doesn't go all out in their fights this game.

* ''Franchise/DragonAge'': Flemeth is a mysterious shapeshifting "witch of the wilds" and an EvilMatriarch besides, but she scoffs at the stories of her kidnapping and eating children. "Pah! As if I had nothing ''better'' to do!"

** In ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', the various Imperial characters, particularly Sith often tend to justify Light Side decisions this way. By the ''Rise of the Hutt Cartel'' expansion, Darth Marr and a Light Side Sith Inquisitor can both champion that the Empire should adopt VillainWithGoodPublicity as their public image, seeing it as the only way to help stabilise the Empire and repair the damage from the ongoing war with the Republic and infighting between Sith.

*** Darth Marr in general tends to operate on this, which makes him a ReasonableAuthorityFigure as far as Sith goes. He sees the anti-alien bigotry of the Empire as wasteful since it means ignoring potentially useful allies and largely tolerates the Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter as long as they're useful [[spoiler:though if the former used the Black Codex to go rogue from the Empire, he'll tell them that [[CantKillYouStillNeedYou were they not useful he'd have them executed]].]] He's also aware that the Sith Emperor is an OmnicidalManiac, meaning that he'll do anything to stop him, even [[EnemyMine temporarily allying with the Jedi and the Republic]].
*** Darth Jadus operates similarly to Marr, albeit in a far more psychotic manner. He avoids the more self-destructive traits of most Sith and acts as an avid proponent of EqualOpportunityEvil. If you manage to outwit him, he'll be willing to negotiate for a retreat whereas other Sith in his position would have went through a self-destructive breakdown.

* In ''VisualNovel/HeartOfTheWoods'', the BigBad, [[spoiler:Evelyn Fischer]], would rather have Madison and Tara leave Eysenfeld rather than uncover something that would compromise her evil plans, but she prefers not to take the risk of directly harming them and drawing suspicion to herself. Instead, she tries to intimidate them into leaving, and when that fails, [[spoiler:uses illusion magic to trick Madison into running after an illusionary Tara and freezing to death, (temporarily) disposing of a possible threat in a way that could plausibly be disguised as a natural cause of death]]. It isn't until the climax, when her plan is at its most crucial stage and the heroes are actively opposing her, that she takes matters into her own hands and tries to kill the heroes.

** ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords'' separates Dark Side acts into either psychotic StupidEvil actions or cunning manipulation. Kreia will essentially call [[PlayerCharacter The Exile]] a moron if they trend towards Stupid Evil, but will praise them for manipulation. The game also goes into further detail for Revan's motivations prior to the first game, describing him as a WellIntentionedExtremist AntiVillain.

* In ''VisualNovel/HeartOfTheWoods'', the BigBad, [[spoiler:Evelyn Fischer]], would rather have Madison and Tara leave Eysenfeld rather than uncover something that would compromise her evil plans, she prefers not to take the risk of directly harming them. Instead, she tries to intimidate them into leaving, and when that fails, [[spoiler:uses illusion magic to trick Madison into running after an illusionary Tara and freezing to death, (temporarily) disposing of a possible threat in a way that could plausibly be disguised as a natural cause of death]]. It isn't until the climax, when her plan is at its most crucial stage and the heroes are actively opposing her, that she takes matters into her own hands and tries to kill the heroes.

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

* ''VisualNovel/ApolloJusticeAceAttorney'': In the third case, the killer turned out to be smuggling a Borginian cocoon into the country, and killed an Interpol agent who was about to catch him. When accused of those crimes, he says that even if he managed to get the cocoon out of Borginia (which has extremely tight security and sentences smugglers to death), he would be hard-pressed to find a seller in the country in which the game takes place. According to him, he'd either risk being caught by Interpol, or his clients suspecting him of a sting operation. He's not wrong about this, but Apollo [[spoiler:manages to prove that he had a relatively safe client- the Chief Justice, whose son is in the hospital with Incuritis, a disease that only the cocoon can cure. The Chief Justice would have much to lose if the scandal became public, so he naturally would have no reason to betray the person who sells him the cocoon.]]

* This is the reason why "professional" pirates in ''VideoGame/EveOnline'' hate the more {{Griefer}}-like rat bastard ones. A professional pirate will trap your ship and make you a simple offer - pay them or your ship and capsule will be destroyed. If you pay up, they'll let you go, otherwise they blow you up and loot your wreck. The rat bastards will do the same thing, except if you pay up they destroy you and loot your wreck anyway. The professionals hate the bastards because they make people far less likely to pay up, which is far more reliable profit than looting wrecks (as what survives a wreck is random). Quite a lot of people in ''Eve'' refuse to ''ever'' pay ransoms for their ships simply because they don't believe in "honest" pirates anymore.

** The Garrets are willing to aid the Followers in fighting addiction in their customers because addicts cause more trouble than they're worth and scare off the more profitable tourist clientele. Granted, this also may touch on EvenEvilHasStandards since - bad reputation aside - they never do anything ''really'' bad in-game, and value a good reputation.

* In ''Kuroinu'', a pimp stops one of his SexSlave[=s=] from anxiously biting her lip- because he wants to get the highest price possible when selling her, and that particular sort of injury makes her less attractive/valuable.

* In ''VideoGame/MassEffect3'', Aria T'loak is a ruthless crime boss who ruled [[WretchedHive Omega]] until Cerberus threw her out. After you help her secure her position again, she turns around and throws every bit of support she can to you, because in her words "if the [[AbusivePrecursors Reapers]] win, [[EvilVersusOblivion it won't matter where I'm sitting]]." Most of humanity's allies are far more conservative with their support- only the Krogan leader Urdnot Wrex and the Geth can potentially provide more support to the war than she can.

* "Good" choices in ''VideoGame/{{Overlord}}'' are often framed as this. For instance, after retrieving a village's stolen food supply, you're given the option to take it to feed your horde--but giving it back to the villagers instead increases their productivity (represented in-game by a higher respawn rate for the sheep you kill to feed your basic troops.)

** ''VideoGame/PAYDAY2'' gives you two more good reasons: untied civilians will now help up players with the "StockholmSyndrome" skill (even giving them some ammo if the skill is aced), and police hostages can now be [[EnemyMine converted to your side]] - the ones with orange bulletproof armor in particular are really good meatshields because regular bullets cannot cut through their armor at all.