Revenge stories are a really good fit for video games. This is because, by design, stories about seeking out vengeance create room for intriguing gameplay. Hence, some of the best video games out there follow characters seeking revenge.
In the list below, we will be taking a look at some of the best video games based on revenge stories.
Top Revenge Stories In Video Games
Max Payne
Remedy Entertainment is known for a lot of innovative action games over the years. Namely, the Alan Wake series, which has gotten really popular over the years. But the title we are going to talk about today was one of the best revenge stories ever written in gaming.
Max Payne is a story starring the titular character, who is an NYPD Detective. His family is murdered in cold blood, and he is framed for it as a conspiracy. Max takes the matter into his own hands to exact revenge on those who put him in this position.
The main character of the game was actually modeled after the creative director, Sam Lake. He was also the writer for the game and went on to make the sequel. Good news for anyone trying to hop in: a remake of the original games is in the works at Remedy.
God of War
Not to be confused with the title of the same name from 2018, which follows Kratos in a Norse setting. God of War 2005 was a bold hack-and-slash game developed by Sony Santa Monica Studio.
It was directed by David Jaffe and is one of the best revenge stories in gaming, involving mythology. The game follows the story of a raging Spartan in Greece, Kratos. He serves the god of war, Ares, who wages wars against Athena.
Ares believes that in order to make the perfect warrior out of Kratos, he needed to be rid of his mortal ties. Hence, he tricks Kratos into killing his wife and child. This curses Kratos, forever burning their ashes to his skin. Kratos vows to seek vengeance, thus a long saga of game series surrounding the mad Spartan begins.
Dishonored
We talked about Dishonored several times in other discussions, but it needs to be talked about once again. Because, aside from being an amazing video game, it is one of the best revenge stories in gaming.
Created by Arkane Studios, who are known for some really popular titles in the gaming industry. You get to step into the shoes of a loyal guard to the Empress of the Isles in a steampunk world. But you are framed for a murder and have to go into hiding.
You have become a dishonored one who seeks vengeance for the murder and those who put you in that position. Dishonored is an impressive immersive sim that utilizes stealth and combat. If you haven’t checked it out yet, this is the right time to pick the game up.
Red Dead Redemption
Assuming almost all of the Red Dead series fans have played the second game first, they are pretty much spoiled on the plot. Because the first Red Dead is a sequel, story-wise. So, for those who are just getting in, you are about to play one of the best revenge stories in video games.
In Red Dead Redemption, you play as John Marston, an outlaw who is a hired gunman for the government. Since they have his wife and son under a hostage situation. John has to track down and take out his former gang members as well as deal with the police.
The revenge plot goes deeper, but going into that would be a spoiler. It’s better if we leave the rest for you to explore by playing the game yourself, as it is one helluva ride.
Asura’s Wrath
Asura’s Wrath is often called the asian God of War. This is just because Kratos did the whole taking revenge on gods story way before this game. But that does not make Asura’s Wrath any less of a fun experience.
We play as the ritual demigod, Asura, who is framed for the death of the emperor, and his wife is murdered. Enraged by all of this, he seeks vengeance upon the whole pantheon of gods while also on a mission to rescue his daughter.
The gameplay of Asura’s Wrath has players go through episodic cutscenes with a lot of interactive gameplay. Most of the combat is in third person, but incredibly hype inducing. It is a shame that the game is still stuck in the older console generation.
Sifu
Most revenge stories in video games on this list are going to be from high-budget games with publishers. But Sifu is probably the only outlier since it is an incredible title developed and published by Sloclap studio.
It is an incredible beat’em up game with rogue-like elements. Sifu sets itself apart from almost all the action games released in the past decades. It does this, but it’s incredibly well animated, interactive combat chain that makes players feel like they are in a movie.
The game follows a young martial artist on the path of vengeance against the ones who were responsible for his father’s death. The game has players go through checkpoints, but also has a bit of a supernatural element to it with a magical talisman system.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Despite a recent remake, it is a shame that the Legacy of Kain series has been lost in the modern generation of video games.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver is the second game in the titular series and follows the story of Raziel. He was a powerful lieutenant under the vampire lord, Kain. But then he is betrayed by his own leader and is left to die.
Now, Raziel has turned into a wraith after his death and must figure out a way out of this turmoil and seek revenge against Kain. The game has earned critical acclaim over the years for its artistic style and incredible plot that remains incomplete.
Shenmue
Speaking of video games with revenge stories that are yet to conclude, let us not forget about the Shenmue series. Originally licensed and created by Yu Suzuki, the franchise broke new ground in realizing how 3D combat should be.
It also revolutionized a lot of mechanics we see these days in a lot of video games, such as calendar systems. Shenmue follows the story of martial artist Ryo Hazuki, who leaves his home on a journey.
Ryo is traveling through Japan and China in the 1980s, looking for the one who killed his father. The series had unfortunately lain dormant for a long time. just when it was starting to find footing with the third entry.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
It is a shame considering what happened to the developers at Monolith Productions. But no one can steal away the fact that they made some of the greatest games. Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a product among those.
Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings mythos, the game follows the story of a Gondorian Ranger named Talion. He has merged with the wraith Celebrimbor and is now together on the path to seek revenge for their close ones.
The game is still cited as one of the best action games from the last decade, as well as among the LOTR mythos. It also revolutionized a new kind of gameplay system dubbed the nemesis system, which unfortunately stays patented.
Last of Us Part II
Sony Studios has a lot of video game stories that are based on seeking revenge. While this might be a very controversial entry but The Last of Us Part II is one of those along aside God of War 2018.
Developed by Naughty Dog studios and created by director Neil Druckmann, the series became a hit when it was first released on the PS3. Since then, it has gotten several re-released iterations and remakes.
The sequel follows the story of a grown-up Ellie who seeks to avenge the murder of Joel. While the way the game’s story went about that plotline is up for debate among the fanbase. Don’t let that turn you away from a really good and narrative-heavy video game series.
