10 Nintendo Switch Adventure Games Where You’re Actually the Villain

There are a whole host of adventure games on the Nintendo Switch family of systems, but not many of them put a villain protagonist center stage. Fulfilling the role of the villain can give you access to unique powers and weaponry, allow you to dismantle a world rather than save it, and bend narrative expectations for creative opportunities.

We've ranked the best adventure games on the Switch where you step into the shoes of the villain. Whether it's within RPG games, horror, platformers, or you want to simply cause as much mayhem as possible, there's plenty of evil to go around.

10 Untitled Goose Game

The Most Annoying Villain

In a once peaceful village, you play as a goose on the loose that's on a mission to cause as much mischief as possible. There are to-do lists to complete, tasking you with pranking villagers, trapping people in phone booths, making them fall over, and so much more.

As this particular adventure is a sandbox, the world is yours to turn upside down as much as you'd like. There are eight locations to explore, including gardens, the high street, and a pub.

Apart from the slapstick gameplay, what makes Untitled Goose Game stand out as one of the best Switch adventure games where you play the villain is that it supports two-player co-op. That means opportunities to team up and plan ways to ruin the days of the unsuspecting villagers, while doing double the geese honking.

9 Overboard!

You're the One Whodunnit

A murder mystery game with a twist, Overboard! flips genre conventions by assigning you the role of the murderer. The story is set on board the SS Hook, and you must go under the radar to decrease suspicion and get away with murder.

Engage in blackmail, drug witnesses, betray, steal, and eavesdrop in the ultimate game of deceit. Characters will gather clues, have suspects, and throw out accusations, so you need to use your villainous skills to frame somebody else.

Despite a single playthrough lasting no longer than 45 minutes, Overboard! has three endings to earn while you embark on this charming detective adventure.

8 Nefarious

Be the Boss Fight

In Nefarious, you progress through different kingdoms with the goal of kidnapping five princesses and escaping with them. Once you have a princess in your possession, you will be able to make use of their abilities. Princess Farah Day, for example, unlocks an infinite grenade supply, a speed boost, and higher jumping, which are all useful for pushing back against the heroes that will attempt to stop you. Your arsenal also consists of multiple ammo types for your grenade launcher and variation upgrades for punching.

This action-adventure platformer has two endings, one of which results in you taking over the world with a doomsday device you built using the princesses, while the other sprinkles in more story elements.

7 Braid

Time Changes

Braid is a puzzle platformer that allows you to manipulate time as you travel through intertwining worlds on your mission to rescue a princess. The puzzles are well-crafted and make up a significant proportion of the game, while the Anniversary Edition of the game redesigns classic puzzles and introduces new ones.

Although traversing dangerous worlds to save a princess doesn't sound particularly villainous, the game takes a dark turn, and the protagonist's true intentions aren't revealed until the final level of the platformer.

Even though you don't play like a typical villain, Braid is one of the best indie adventure games on Switch because it presents a story full of mystery and both endings reveal how evil you truly are.

6 Carrion

A Slaughterhouse of Terror

Branded as a "reverse horror game," Carrion puts you in control of a monster who has been imprisoned in a research facility.

There's something incredibly satisfying about tearing down the prison and consuming those who put you there. What's more, you become increasingly powerful as you progress by acquiring abilities such as Echolocation, which pings edible corpses, Photokinesis that allows you to bend light to create an invisibility cloak, and my favorite, Acanthosis, that sees you grow dangerous spikes.

If you want to assume the role of the villain as an unforgiving monster, Carrion is one of the greatest adventure games on Nintendo Switch to do just that.

5 Maneater

Jaws of Terror

In Maneater, you start your journey as a baby shark and grow to become one of the strongest predators in the ocean.

Expect to put up a fight against wildlife to survive seven regions, and even feast on humans to boost your power. The deep blue sea is also a joy to explore, containing loot to discover that allows you to evolve your shark. Evolutions for the body, teeth, tail, head, and fin are even obtained by defeating apex predators.

Maneater is able to scratch that bad guy itch due to how rewarding it feels to level up and shred through the seas, guided by a surprisingly interesting story.

4 Isekai Villain

Turning the Tides on Evil

Finding yourself reincarnated into the world of your favorite comic book may sound appealing, but here, you find yourself as a villain that is destined to die. To rewrite your fate, you must become the ultimate villain by establishing allies, defeating heroes in turn-based battles, exploring dungeons, and more.

Developing your own base for evil, smuggling, stealing, and growing your notoriety enables you to make this dark fantasy world your playground for your corrupt deeds.

I would consider Isekai Villain a must-play adventure game for those who enjoy JRPGs and want to carve through the pixels to shape their own unique villain story.

3 Destroy All Humans!

A Supernatural Threat

If wiping out humanity is on your agenda, then look no further than Destroy All Humans! You play as an alien invader, exploring vast locations in 1950s America, with the ultimate goal of taking control of the country. Along the way, you'll tear down towns, eliminate humans, and take to the skies using your UFO and jetpack.

Destroy All Humans! is not a difficult or demanding game, but it is the ultimate adventure for those who want complete destruction, wrapped in a comedic story that is memorable. Whether you're abducting people, using psychokinesis to control objects, or scanning minds, you'll make humans look like the weakest force on Earth.

2 LEGO DC Super-Villains

Building Blocks in the DC Universe

Forget Batman and Superman, it's time for the villains to shine in LEGO DC Super-Villains. Featuring classic villains such as Joker and Lex Luthor, the blocky open world houses plenty of action and secrets to discover.

The narrative, which adopts the lighthearted, comedic tone that the LEGO games series is known for, centers around the disappearance of the Justice League. The Justice Syndicate take over, but you soon discover they too want evil, and there's only space for one set of bad guys.

Unlike the majority of other LEGO games, I like that LEGO DC Super-Villains allows you to create your own custom villain. It makes your journey towards becoming an established member of the DC Universe go a long way.

1 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

An Untold Story From the Dark Side

As Darth Vader's secret apprentice, you will be able to use Force powers and impressive lightsaber combinations to take down the Jedi in various missions you embark on. Any Star Wars fan will already know what the Dark Side is capable of.

The combinations you can use in combat are satisfying, and Force Talents round off your villain, amounting to some serious strength. Specifically on Nintendo Switch are motion controls, offering a more interactive way to slay through any Jedi that crosses your path.

On your way to either the Light Side or the Dark Side ending, you'll immerse yourself in familiar Star Wars worlds, such as Cloud City, the Wookiee homeland of Kashyyyk, and the fungi-covered Felucia. No matter which ending you choose, the Sith are among the deadliest threats in the franchise, and you get to experience what it means to be a Star Wars villain.