Video games have birthed thousands of heroes many of which are the kind of people that fans can trust to do the right thing, and while many have to resort to killing, it's clear that it's not something they enjoy and is simply a means to an end.
However, occasionally players will take control of a hero that seems to revel in the killing and the carnage that they cause on their quest which can leave players wondering just how heroic they really are? Regardless of whether their actions were justified, if players took control of the other side, then many of these bloodthirsty heroes would be outright villains.
10 Ezio Auditore da Firenze (Assassin’s Creed 2)
It wouldn't be unreasonable for players to presume that a game called Assassin's Creed doesn't have the most merciful hero, and they'd be right to do so. Ezio is the protagonist in Assassin's Creed 2, Brotherhood, and Revelations where players follow him on his quest for revenge against the Templars who executed his father and brothers.
Ezio learns of his heritage and trains to become an assassin which is where his bloodthirsty side comes in. While Ezio is charismatic and caring, there's also a side to him that would cut down hundreds of men without a second thought. He's fiercely loyal to his family however, there's no denying that he can be brutal and unforgiving to those who stand in his way.
9 Booker Dewitt (Bioshock Infinite)
Booker Dewitt is the protagonist in Bioshock Infinite. He's a former soldier who's offered a deal to clear his debts in exchange for rescuing a girl from Columbia, where the game takes place. While in the army, Booker was responsible for the scalping and burning of Native Americans.
Booker's violent ways aren't limited to his backstory either as players will take control of him as he wipes out the people of Columbia while escorting Elizabeth. Plus, there's a twist at the end of the game that reveals Booker as even more morally corrupt than players already thought.
8 Max Payne (Max Payne Series)
One of the more tragic heroes in gaming, Max Payne is the man with nothing to lose after he's framed for murder and his family is killed. Max sets out to avenge his family and clear his name which sets him on his journey through the cold streets of New York on a one-man killing spree.
Max Payne is known for shooting armed thugs and diving through the air but while the people he kills are by no means innocent, Max still has a staggering kill count that will leave players scratching their heads whether he could come out of these situations with fewer casualties.
7 Joel Miller (The Last Of Us)
Joel is arguably one of the best protagonists in gaming history but calling him a hero would be a stretch. Players follow Joel on his mission to escort Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, to a group called the Fireflies in a bid to find a cure for the zombie infection.
However, despite the bond that grows between the pair, Joel is far from a good man. He not only lies and brutally kills people, sometimes in cold blood, but by the end of the game, his actions likely left many players wondering if Joel was actually the villain.
6 Mario (Super Mario Series)
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Mario is easily the most recognizable character in gaming and at first glance, he seems like your typical hero. But, while his games are kid-friendly, the titular hero is more disturbing than fans may realize.
Mario has killed thousands of creatures from different planets and galaxies throughout all of his games. Whether it's Goombas or one of Bowser's children, he has stomped on them, dropped them down bottomless pits, and thrown them into lava all to complete his goal. Mario might be trying to save the day, but it's clear that he has little regard for those who oppose him regardless of whether they're working for Bowser or just the native wildlife of whatever world he's in.
5 Doom Guy (Doom Series)
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Doom Guy is the mostly silent protagonist of the Doom series and there's no question about how bloodthirsty he is. Doom was the classic First-Person Shooter that made a comeback with the release of Doom (2016) which was well-received by fans, and it helped Doom Guy uphold his reputation as a ruthless killing machine.
While Doom Guy is a hero in that he's butchering demons and the undead, he goes about it in one of the most savage ways possible. The games are known for their violence and Doom Guy is the reason as he eviscerates and blasts away everything that moves.
4 The Postal Dude (Postal Series)
The Postal Dude isn't exactly a hero but depending on how players choose to navigate the Postal games, he can range from a guy in the wrong place, at the wrong time to an unequivocal psychopath who revels in the chaos he causes.
The Postal series (primarily Postal 2 and Postal 4) is up there with the likes of Grand Theft Auto and Manhunt when it comes to displays of outrageous violence and mayhem with a lot of these being caused by the Postal Dude himself. Whether it's using cats as weapon attachments or urinating on corpses, bloodthirsty isn't a strong enough word to describe this guy.
3 Claude (Grand Theft Auto 3)
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While many fans will immediately think of Trevor Phillips when asked about the most psychotic protagonists in GTA, Claude from Grand Theft Auto 3 is far more unbalanced. Trevor acts based on his emotions and lack of impulse control whereas Claude has a more calculated approach to his psychopathy and this is only heightened by his silent and unresponsive demeanor.
Claude doesn't speak which makes his violent actions feel all the more callous as he exhibits no emotion while committing heinous crimes. Claude is motivated by revenge and self-preservation as opposed to loyalty or power which proves to be some characters' undoing as many in the game underestimate and try to double-cross Claude which ends very badly for them.
2 Agent 47 (Hitman Series)
Agent 47 is everybody's favorite bald assassin and that's because he's an efficient cut-throat killer who always eliminates his target in style. Nothing is off-limits for 47 as he's killed people in every way imaginable from more traditional methods to some out-there executions that were probably a little excessive.
47 is a merciless killer and the only times he does display any kind of emotion is when he's setting up a kill with him often making witty remarks and on-the-nose euphemisms while in disguise, showing players just how much he enjoys toying with his prey.
1 Kratos (God Of War Series)
If there was a gaming dictionary and players were to look up the word bloodthirsty, then there would undoubtedly be a picture of Kratos next to it. Kratos is the most vehemently brutal hero in gaming history with his anger and lust for revenge driving him down a path that leads to him taking on the Gods themselves and succeeding.
While Kratos mellowed slightly in the more recent God Of War (2018) there were still times when he let that inner bloodlust take control much as it did for the original trilogy of games. Whether it was mythological creatures, Gods, or even the mighty Titans, none of them survived an encounter with Kratos as he beat them, sliced them, and tore them all apart with ease.