Updated at: 03-07-2023 - By: Leo Hall

Here’s the best games where YOU play the monster, the definitive list you’ve been looking for if that’s your preferred role.

Play enough video games, and you’ll notice that you’re almost always cast in the role of “the good guy,” the heroic protagonist who fights against the forces of darkness.

There are plenty of games where you get to play as a less than heroic “anti-hero” protagonist, but sometimes it’s fun to go all the way to the other extreme and be “the bad guy,” who is usually a monster.

Here, we’ll highlight the best PC/current-gen console games in which you play the role of the monster or other villain.

We will be adding more titles to this list in the near future, so be sure to check back, and if you want even more gaming suggestions, check out some of our other curated lists:

Dead By Daylight

PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and Personal Computer

Daytime Killingsis a cooperative online horror game with asymmetrical gameplay, in which four players (the survivors) must work together to escape from a fifth player (the killer).

The survivors’ primary objective is to reach the map’s exit alive by completing various tasks, such as fixing power generators that unlock a secret door.

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The murderer, meanwhile, is free to move about the map and investigate potential hotspots for remaining survivors by doing things like listening for the sound of a generator being repaired. Once a survivor is identified, the killer can employ a wide array of supernatural abilities to track them down and kill them.

When combined with the ability to free captured teammates and a diverse cast of villains, the result is a tense and exciting survival game.

Vampyr

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and Personal Computer.

Vampyris a third-person action role-playing game that lives up to Dontnod Entertainment’s tradition of producing polished, narrative-focused games. You play the part of Dr. Jonathan Reid, who finds it difficult to continue his normal life after being turned into a vampire.

Reid struggles with his career and his insatiable hunger for blood, and he is never quite sure how to use his newfound abilities.

The main character’s metamorphosis is the most rewarding aspect of this game. Since this is a role-playing game, however, the final version of Reid you achieve is highly dependent on the choices you make throughout the game.

You could take the high road and survive by drinking rat blood, or you could throw caution to the wind and saturate yourself in the blood of any passers-by.

Styx

Consoles/Systems: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Computer

The Styxgames are criminally underrated, most likely because the protagonist, a foul-mouthed and vindictive goblin named Styx, is so unlikeable.

Modern visuals and a passable plot set in the style of classic stealth games bring back fond memories.An Uneven Tale universe, both Lord of Darkness and Pieces of Shadowsees you taking charge of the goblin assassin Styx as he sneaks into forts, towns, and planes.

The character of Styx may have questionable and even villainous motivations at times, but his brash one-liners at his enemies’ expense will have you rooting for him in the end.

As an added bonus, Styx’s versatility and small stature make him an appealing stealth partner. He can temporarily become invisible, build deadly traps, and duplicate himself, to name a few of his many tricks.

Friday the 13th: The Game

Consoles/Console Systems: PS4, XB1, Switch, PC

Following the lead ofDaytime Killingsis a similar cooperative survival horror game to the classicDay of the 13thth films. Players (up to a maximum of seven) assume the roles of teenage camp counselors who, after being trapped at Camp Crystal Lake, must deal with a player-controlled version of the murderous Jason Voorhees.

While the player controlling Jason uses various supernatural abilities to stalk and prey upon the survivors, the survivors are tasked with gathering the supplies they need to escape.

The Game Is Friday the 13thstands out from similar games by expanding the number of ways the survivors can win, including escaping via boat or car, summoning the police, staying alive until the match ends, and even killing Jason.

The Wolf Among Us

Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Personal Computer, Android, and iOS

There Is a Wolf Among UsAdapted from the critically acclaimed novel,Fables DC Comics’ Bill Willingham-penned series. As Bigby Wolf, aka the big bad wolf, players explore the mysteries surrounding a brutal and bloody murder in Fabletown in this episodic adventure game created by the now-defunct Telltale Games.

The story unfolds over the course of five acts, and players have the opportunity to shape public perception of Bigby throughout each act.

Long-term consequences of Bigby’s dialogue and action choices determine whether he overcomes his negative reputation or gives in to his inner rage.

Predator: Hunting Grounds

Date of Publication: April 24, 2020

Sony PlayStation 4, Personal Computer

Release is expected later this year.Locations Used By Predators To Huntis yet another multiplayer asymmetrical game based on a popular movie. In this cooperative shooter, up to four players take control of a crack military unit that travels to far-flung corners of the globe in an effort to eliminate the Predator, a member of a race of aliens with superhuman strength and access to cutting-edge technology.

The fact that survivors don’t have zero agency sets this game apart from others like it. The soldiers have a wide array of weapons and equipment at their disposal, giving them a better chance of survival should they encounter the predator.

It’s all very reminiscent of the 4v1 multiplayer game.Evolvewhich, alas, closed its doors for good in the year 2018. We can only hope that IllFonic has solved the problems that plagued Turtle Rock’s game for so long.

Maneater

Date of Publication: May 22, 2020

PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and Personal Computer

Maneateris a forthcoming role-playing gameCombat Zonedeveloper Tripwire Interactive, in which you play as a deadly man-eating shark, one of the most potent apex predators.

To put it simply, “the GTA seriesby sharks”Maneater places you in the shoes of a defenseless young shark whose mother was killed by a human. You’ll learn to thrive in a dangerous environment where you’re not always at the top of the food chain by making strategic decisions about when to feed and when to run.

At this point, you are released into the game’s massive underwater open world, which is rife with hidden areas, tempting rewards, and dangerous foes.

It’s possible that, as you and your shark evolve and adapt to your surroundings, your shark will acquire beneficial mutations that will help you fight off other animals and exact revenge on humans.

Destroy All Humans! Remake

Date of Publication: To Be Announced

PS4, Xbox One, and PC

Expected to drop in 2020, coinciding with the franchise’s silver anniversary.Kill Every Last Person! Remakewill have players going back to an Xbox/PS2 classic from 2005.

Save 75% on Destroy All Humans! on Steam

You play as the wisecracking alien Cryptosporidium 137, or Crypto, in this late 1950s-set game, as he carries out his plan to harvest human DNA on Earth and use it to repopulate his species.

Kill Every Last Person! RemakeBlack Forest Games, a THQ Nordic studio, is working on a new game right now.The Woolies Are Fighting Back, Bubsy and Reduce Noise Levels.

The game’s original soundtrack and voice acting have been preserved, and the game’s third-person shooter perspective has been updated with new features and tweaks.

Carrion

Date of Publication: Not Yet Determined

Xbox One, Personal Computer

Carrionis a 2D horror game with a twist: the monster is being held captive by scientists who want to study its biology and behavior.

In its quest for vengeance against humanity, the monster eventually escapes from its containment unit and begins to roam the building via the ventilation ducts.

Recent rumors have suggested that the game will have Metroidvania-style gameplay, with areas unlocking according to the creature’s size.

The player can either “shed” parts of its body to reduce its size or consume more humans to increase its size. Phobia Game Studio is developing the game, and Devolver Digital will be publishing it.

Darkborn

Date of Publication: To Be Announced

System: To Be Announced

Darkbornthe former “Project Wight,” is an upcoming role-playing game developed by Swedish studio The Outsiders. The game puts you in control of a Grendel-like creature from a race known as the Darkborn in what is being called an “action-fantasy RPG experience.”

Your family member has been murdered by “The Pale Enemy,” a band of Viking-style marauders dedicated to capturing and torturing Darkborn at every opportunity.

After narrowly escaping the hunters yourself, your character sets out to exact revenge on them and learns why they hate the Darkborn in the first place.

Throughout the game, you’ll be able to improve your skills and see how previous generations of Darkborn lived. We’re crossing our fingers that The Outsiders can bring us news of a release date for the game before the year is out.

The Darkness

  • Publication Date: 2007
  • Platform:Playstation 3, Xbox 360

Lack of Lightfollows a rather stereotypical crime syndicate story in which the hero (or villain, depending on your perspective) Jackie Estacado is betrayed by his mob boss who is afraid of his rising influence. Fortunately for Jackie boy, his family tree conceals a demonic entity known as the Darkness that bestows upon its host a set of slick occult superpowers.

Hence, Into the Nightis more of a tale of vengeance, in which Jackie destroys his former boss’s business because he hates him. Players are free to kill dozens of mob soldiers in any way they see fit. Yes, it’s true that everyone is evil inLack of LightJackie, however, is a truly evil force that cannot be stopped.

Left 4 Dead

  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Platform:OS X, iOS, Classic Mac OS, Xbox 360, Android, and Microsoft Windows

Although the graphics may be dated because the game is quite old, the fact that it is made available for less powerful gaming platforms is a plus. After all,Dead End St.features a popular multiplayer mode that has been imitated by other games: cooperative play for four players. In it, you face off against waves of the undead.

In the game’s versus mode, up to four other players compete to wipe out the survivors by commanding waves of increasingly difficult and specialized zombies. Therein resides the game’s inherent diversity. Because taking on the role of the villains is usually more fun and challenging than that of the hero with a gun.

Manhunt

  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Platform:Xbox, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4

Another forgotten classic,Manhunt represents the dark side of Rockstar Games. The player takes on the role of James Earl Cash, a criminal who is coerced into providing footage for snuff films that glorify and celebrate murder.

Like The Nightmareeveryone in the world is a horrible person inManhunt except for Cash, whose graphic depictions of death can be both nauseating and disturbing. The violence is so extreme thatManhunt a Rockstar game that has been one of their least successful due to being banned in multiple countries.

Dead By Daylight

  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Platform: Games for PC (Microsoft Windows), PS4 (PlayStation 4), Xbox One (Xbox One), Switch (Nintendo Switch), Android (Google Play), iOS (Apple iOS), Google Stadia

Daytime Killingsfollows the path laid out byLeaving 4Deadand alters the classic four-player setup. Four players will act as humans, while the fifth will take on the role of the monsters. The monsters have an advantage of four to one thanks to their supernatural abilities, but the match is far from lopsided.

The monsters can even be well-known figures from popular culture, like Pinhead (HellraiserT.V.’s Freddy KruegerFrightful Tales From “Elm Street”Head of the PyramidHill of Silence), etc.  The monsters treat it like a feast as they gorge themselves on the defenseless humans and hack them to pieces.

Friday the 13th: The Game

  • Publication Date:2017
  • Platform:Sony Playstation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC

Have you ever pondered why Jason Voorhees isn’t among the list of infamous killers?Daytime Killings? He made his own cooperative multiplayer horror game, but he decided to play it solo. The setup is similar, but with more potential victims.

To get out of this situation alive, seven humans will have to play ducks. One player, meanwhile, will be proud to strut around as a machete-wielding brute while wearing a hockey mask.

Lucius

  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Platform:Specifically, a Windows system made by Microsoft.

Lucius is similar to in some waysVampyr except that the characters are forced down a bad road. The story follows a young protagonist, a boy who turns out to be Satan’s son. Therefore, Lucius intends to hurt and kill anyone who gets close to him, including his human family.

So, in this game, you play the role of Lucius and plot the deaths of his loved ones. That aspect makes it a puzzle horror game, as strategic planning is required to set up clean kills for Lucius.

Sea Salt

  • Publication Date: 2019
  • Platform:The Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Windows, Linux, and Macintosh

Similarly toCarrion, Sea Salt also enjoys the classic 16-bit graphics, which in no way detract from the game’s terrifying atmosphere. In To Season With Sea Salt,In order to complete the ritual and summon the Lovecraftian horror and bring about the end of the world, players take control of a horde of Dagon’s minions.

Unfortunately, the ritual is constantly disrupted by nosy locals, so the players must guide Dagon’s swarms and gather sacrifices in order to complete the summoning. There are a total of 16 henchmen, and they all play slightly different parts in their master’s grand and incomprehensible plan.

Maneater

Maneater is one of the more recent games that lets you assume the role of a monster; you take control of a young shark whose mother was killed by poachers. You don’t have to be a ferocious monster; just eat what you need to survive and knock down some signs. Or you can be who or what it is you secretly long to be. You have the option of transforming into a man-eating shark and wreaking havoc throughout all of Port Clovis.

It’s the type of open world chaos game where there is no real order to things and you can simply swim around as an apex predator killing everything in your path. The people of Port Clovis have seen a lot of monsters in their time, but you have to be the most terrifying one yet.

Destroy All Humans! Remake

Many were looking forward to the Destroy All Humans sequel because of the original’s popularity. Thankfully, the game lived up to its promise and developed into a lot of fun. You play as an alien who doesn’t give a hoot about the planet he’s been dumped on. After all, his mission in life is to collect human DNA so that he can start a new generation of his species.

In this game, you don’t get to be the bad guy, but you do get to wreck an entire planet. We find that close enough for our purposes.

Carrion

Carrion is a bit dissimilar to other games in which you assume the role of a monster, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to dive into. It’s a 2D game where you take on the role of a monster who has been captured and subjected to scientific experimentation by researchers interested in studying your biological makeup. Right up until you break out and go after the humans who wronged you.

You get to roam around a research facility and use special skills like shapeshifting to slaughter every human you come across. Although it remains a tactical game, its originality, fun, and satisfying anarchy set it apart.

Darkborn

When you first learn that you’ll be playing a badass monster in Darkborn, you might be surprised to find that you actually care about the protagonist, and even agree with some of their choices.

To put it simply, you take on the role of a “Darkborn,” a monster not unlike Grendel, whose kind were being slaughtered by “The Pale Enemy,” a human hunting party. They tortured and hunted these creatures, and now it is your job to wipe them out. Darkborn is an excellent video game because of its compelling narrative, gorgeous visuals, and fantastic monster protagonist.

Darkborn, The Monster Game From Battlefield And Payday Developer's New  Studio, Is On Hold - GameSpot

The Darkness

In The Darkness, you take on the role of Jackie Estacado, a young man who, on his 21st birthday, is bestowed with demonic abilities. When you become too powerful, the mob will cast you out of their operations. Then, you take your newfound strength and vengefully eliminate the criminals you once worked with in the shadows of the city.

Jackie isn’t much of a monster, what with everyone else in the game being pretty evil on their own, but the skill with which you dispose of mob soldiers and wield your power makes you the true monster of this warped game.

FAQS:

Is there a game where you play as a monster?

You are the villain here, not the victim.. Developer Phobia Game Studio calls Carrion a “reverse horror game” in which the player assumes control of a faceless monster. The goal isn’t to hide or flee; rather, it’s to strike out and develop as a player.

Is there a game where you play as a zombie?

In Stubbs, the UndeadThe player assumes the role of a zombie whose primary objective is to kill humans for the pleasure of eating their brains. Eating brains restores some of the player’s health and turns the victims into zombies who will fight alongside the player.

Which Elder Dragon is the largest?

Dragon King Dalamadur, the Serpent., the largest Elder Dragon of its kind, is serpentine. Dalamadur is able to easily burrow through the ground thanks to its enormous size and hook-like spines.