Heroism is overrated. Some gamers simply want to murder, steal, and condemn themselves. Thankfully, not all games force players into morally good actions, some RPGs offer a glimpse of the bad side— usually through rude dialog, which is still mild. Other more extreme examples are set by more memorable titles that weren't afraid to portray the negatives.
Certain games allow for unmatched levels of moral ambiguity, letting them commit all manners of banditry, thus providing a definitive RPG experience. Those who are tired of saving the world over and over again only for the NPCs to not acknowledge their hero status might as well plunge their karma down several levels of hell in these video games.
8 Skyrim
- Release date: 2011
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Skyrim on its own doesn't exactly reward players if they choose to be bandits. Certain actions have consequences and the players could easily lock themselves out of cities if they murder and steal too much. But even that kind of playstyle is still viable in this age-old RPG.
With mods, however, being a bandit in Skyrim becomes even more viable or accessible. Granted, the base game still lets players do whatever they want, minus some unkillable NPCs, but mods let players experience the true repercussions, rewards, and representation of banditry.
7 Fallout: New Vegas
- Release date: 2010
- Platforms: PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360
Fallout 3 and Fallout 4 have plots that keep forcing the players into a good or morally laudable role. That's why for players who want a blank slate character as much as possible for a more believable transition into banditry, then Fallout: New Vegas is the more suitable game.
Players take on the role of a protagonist who was wronged by several men and is now out for revenge. It doesn't get more morally ambiguous than that and sets players up for a life of banditry in case they want more freedom in the RPG aspect of the game.
6 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
- Release date: 2020
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X, and Series S
Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is one of the most immersive and faithful representations of feudal life back in the Middle Ages. Thus, it lets players live out their dreams of being a lord, mercenary, merchant, and of course, bandit, among many other life paths back in the aforementioned time period.
It's one of the few RPGs that actually let players decide who they want to be instead of just railroading them into pre-set or predictable roles. If players want to raise an army that runs around the countryside, pillaging and murdering a rich, fat feudal lord's domain, then they're free to do so. That's assuming they can deal with the retaliation.
5 Red Dead Redemption 2
- Release date: 2018
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows, Stadia
Red Dead Redemption 2 is more of an action-adventure game but that doesn't mean it lacks roleplaying potential. Because it's a game about being a bandit, first and foremost. For those who haven't heard of the game, it takes place near the end of the 1800s when the US was mopping up the last of its outlaws with the encroaching civilization and urbanization.
Players step into the shoes of Arthur Morgan, the right-hand man of the Van der Linde gang as they try to navigate the civilized landmine that is North America in the late 19th century. It's not hard to commit banditry in the game— even most missions require players to break the law. But even without missions, players can still rob, kill, and kidnap people as they please; it's quite definitive as far as bandit roleplaying goes.
4 Tyranny
- Release date: 2016
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Classic Mac OS
Tyranny takes a bolder direction compared to most other CRPGs. It starts players off as a henchman of an evil conqueror who has already won against the heroes and good forces of the game world. As such, players are initially the villains of the game. They can then form their party and decide whether they want to keep doing evil stuff and following orders or rebel. There are more choices in-game of varying moral ambiguity.
But seeing as this is a piece about bandit roleplaying, then players will want to keep doing the bad stuff in Tyranny. They can be rob and kill peasants while also burning their homes and further oppressing them, no different than a common banditry, but legalized and on a larger scale.
3 Battle Brothers
- Release date: 2015
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5
Battle Brothers is similar to the Mount & Blade games except its focus is on letting players experience the mercenary life in a Middle Ages setting. The backdrop is a gritty, low-power fantasy world where players can decide where they want to go and who to fight.
For this, they will need a sizable army and thankfully, the game lets them recruit and draft members into their warband. Combat is mostly turn-based, but outside of that, the game has some heavy RPG elements and allows players to loot and pillage in a procedurally-generated world.
2 Kenshi
- Release date: 2013
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows
Kenshi is one of the oddest and most unique titles as far as online survival games go. It's set in a post-apocalyptic world where even the environment can kill players if they simply stand still. In Kenshi, players can do whatever they want from being a prisoner, a slaver, a wanderer, clergyman, trader, or just someone who enjoys the safety and confines of civilization.
For that matter, players can also become bandits here where they can murder other players and steal their limbs or their other possessions, organic or otherwise. There's no shortage of creative activities to do in Kenshi and banditry is just one of those.
1 Rubber Bandits
- Release date: 2021
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5
Now, for something a little more casual and doesn't necessarily require players to murder and rob people into poverty, then Rubber Bandits offers a more casual experience. It's a multiplayer game similar to the Fall Guys. In here, however, the player and three others will race against time to loot, hurt, and fight others as much as they can.
Whoever commits the most crimes will win. Think of it as a PG brand of banditry, just like how Disney portrays pirates in cartoons. Still, everyone's bound to have a good and happy time in this competitive casual game. Needless to say, this bandit game is something parents can play with their kids.