Stories of betrayals can be very interesting in video games, especially because narrative is an important aspect of this medium. We often see traditional villains being the norm for video games. But it’s more fun when the said villains turn out to be a character who was originally an ally.
In the list below, we take a look at some of the biggest video game betrayals of all time.
Video Games With Biggest Betrayals Of All Time
Albert Wesker (Resident Evil)
Kicking things off with a popular pick for one of the biggest character betrayals in a video game ever. Albert Wesker never really came off as the most trustworthy among the rest of the cast in Resident Evil.
We get hints of him being a shady character throughout the game, and it keeps building up to a point when it is finally revealed. Albert Weker turned out as one of the biggest villains in the franchise, even appearing in Capcom’s fighting games.
Originally, we are told the story that Wesker works for S.T.A.R.S. as a special covert agent, just like Chris and Jill. But we eventually learn that he was heavily involved with the Umbrella Corporation.
Big Smoke (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Grand Theft Auto San Andreas is one of the greatest GTA games, if not one of the greatest video games of all time. This was the first time a GTA game and its supporting characters were fondly imprinted into everyone’s memories.
The story follows Carl Johnson, who comes back home to his family on Groove Street to find that his mother has died. The whole game is based on the gang violence culture from the 90s.
At the end of the game, we find out that CJ’s close friend, Big Smoke, was responsible for the death of his mother. Thus making it one of the biggest video game betrayals of all time. This is particularly shocking since Big Smoke was one of the most lovable and funny among the cast.
Lance Vance (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
Let’s keep the ball rolling with another Grand Theft Auto game on this list. These games are essentially about a criminal character’s life, doing unlawful activities. So it is natural that people close to them are the ones who turn on them.
Other than Big Smoke, another betrayal that hits really heavy is when Lance Vance double-crosses us at the end of Grand Theft Auto Vice City. He was always watching out for Tommy’s back, almost like a brother. Unfortunately, it all comes crashing down in a showdown that references the famous Scarface film.
We also get to learn about Lance’s past and his older brother in Vice City Stories. This gives us a much-needed closer look at the character, making the betrayal hit harder.
Ada Wong (Resident Evil 2)
Another Resident Evil entry, and this time it is not the kind of betrayal that would straight up turn against us. But nonetheless, it hurt Leon S. Kennedy when he found out that Ada Wong was a double agent and was lying to him.
Original Resident Evil 2 is a game that not many fondly remember. It followed the events of the first game in a new setting, with a new protagonist, Leon Kennedy. Things turned dark on his first day at work as a cop.
He meets Ada Wong, a secret agent, and gets close to her. Later, it is found out that she was just there to steal the G-virus from the Umbrella Corporation. The Resident Evil 2 remake really helped popularize this otherwise forgotten story in the franchise.
Patches (Dark Souls)
Everyone who is a fan of FromSoftware’s games knows about Patches. When people see him in-game, the reaction is usually a mixture of anger and happiness. The character did not originally appear in Dark Souls, but in 2003’s Shadow Tower: Abyss.
He appeared as a helpful NPC originally who guides the players to useful treasures. Only to betray them and push them into a trap. This became a running trope in all the FromSoftware games.
The image of Patches that we have come to know as the popular iteration is from the Souls series. A bald funny-looking man, wearing knight armor and usually squatting. Once you see him for the first time, you won’t forget that face ever.
General Shepherd (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)
The Call of Duty series is generally looked at as a first-person shooters that have a thriving Esports scene in the West. But beyond that, the games have thriving storylines that are sustained by their campaign mode.
There’s a specific side of the Call of Duty fandom that plays these games for the campaign mode. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is considered to have one of the most important plot points. Because it follows one of the biggest betrayals in video game history.
The perpetrator was an important figure, General Shepherd. He served as the commander of U.S. military forces. But betrays Task Force 141 in order to avenge his men from the previous Modern Warfare title.
Akira Nishikiyama (Yakuza)
Out of all the other video game betrayals on this list, this one hurt the most. If you are a fan of the Yakuza franchise and have played through the games, then you know that feeling. Nishikiyama was a brother to Kiryu, and would walk into impossible fights with him.
SEGA’s Yakuza builds up its story meticulously through two games. We see a young Kiryu and Nishiki team up to tackle all their problems in Yakuza 0. They even had several heart-to-heart moments throughout the game.
But then the next chronological game drives a spike through our hearts. We see the characters become distant from each other. Nishikiyama loses his sister, and he grows bitter and jealous of Kiryu trying to chase and surpass him.
It all boils down to a climactic final fight between them that seals the Yakuza series as one of the biggest game franchises ever.
