Co-Op Games Where Players Take On The Role Of The Villain

Whenever we boot up a co-op game with friends, there is usually quite a clear sense of purpose that we are the “good guys” who must work together to fight evil, whether it is a band of adventurers exploring a dungeon, a group of survivors outrunning an apocalypse, or a squad of soldiers saving the day.

However, every now and then, a game decides to flip the script and, instead of being the shining beacon of hope, these cooperative experiences put you and your friends directly into the shoes of the antagonists.

In these universes, you are not the ones stopping the chaos, but the ones causing it! It is quite an unusual idea, I know, but it is just as fun – and we all need a partner in crime sometimes, right?

And I woke up feeling a bit of the “bad guy” energy today, so shall we remember some of the gaming experiences where we can grab some friends and create some mayhem? Here are 8 cooperative titles where you are actually the villain (or something in that line).

8 Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

Kicking Superman’s Butt With Friends

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has certainly had its fair share of ups and downs (sorry, Rocksteady, we still love you!), but you can’t deny that it has a solid hook at its core: putting you and your friends in the shoes of the iconic Task Force X.

The game allows you to embrace your villainous side by picking from a roster of quite morally bankrupt characters – ranging from Harley Quinn and King Shark to Deathstroke and Mrs. Freeze – to hunt down the world’s greatest superheroes, such as The Flash and Superman.

While you can play as a lone wolf, the four-player online co-op is what truly saves the experience for me (since we all know that the game did not perform that well).

Yes, it is true that the game doesn’t lean heavily into complex teamwork (or even competitive) mechanics, but if you treat it as a breezy, unpretentious action game to laugh through with your buddies, it is well worth a few hours of mayhem.

7 Rampage World Tour

Total Destruction

I feel that people have a little obsession with stories about giant monsters trying to create some chaos in the middle of civilization and in plain daylight – and Godzilla’s massive popularity is right there to prove that.

And the Rampage franchise taps directly into that idea, giving you control of an enormous monster with the sole objective of destroying everything in sight. And the best part is that you don’t have to do it alone!

For this list, we are going with Rampage World Tour, which marked its arrival on consoles after being a hit on the arcade. This one was actually the first co-op game I ever played that let me be the bad guy, and there is something incredibly therapeutic about turning off your brain and tearing down skyscrapers with a friend.

Even though it is an older title, it has aged surprisingly well, and it still carries that “couch co-op” retro charm that triggers a beautiful sense of nostalgia you just can't find in modern online-only games.

6 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Family Bonding Through Bloodshed

I know what you're thinking, and, yes, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre indeed is an asymmetrical horror game first and foremost, but hear me out: the most entertaining element of this title is the cooperation that happens between players.

That’s because the game splits players into a 4 vs. 3 match, where four survivors are trying to escape, while three killers are trying to stop them (permanently, of course).

And the co-op magic happens on both sides! When you play as a survivor and work together with other players, that exponentially increases your chances of success in an escape or even of surviving if you are found by one of the bad guys.

Being on the slaughter family side requires a specific kind of dark coordination, since the killers are outnumbered, so you can use your unique abilities combined to corner your prey more easily. It proves that a bloodthirsty family that stays together, slays together.

5 Among Us

The Art of the Double-Cross

Much like the previous entry, Among Us is also an asymmetrical hit that relies on the classic good guys vs. bad guys dynamic. However, the villains here are impostors hidden in plain sight, with the goal of sabotaging the ship and eliminating the crew without getting caught.

Whenever a body is discovered (or someone hits the emergency button), all players need to talk about what they have seen in order to discover the identity of the impostors before everyone dies.

So, at its heart, it is a game of bluffing, but it reaches a whole new level of complexity when you have a fellow impostor to coordinate with. Imagine having a partner-in-crime who can provide you with an alibi, lock a victim in a room with you, or even help you pull off a "double kill" to instantly end a round.

It perfectly captures that feeling of having a secret accomplice, making every successful lie feel like a shared victory!

4 PAYDAY 2

Tackling High-Stakes Heists Together

The PAYDAY franchise is known for putting players into the masks of professional criminals executing high-stakes heists, such as bank robberies and armored car hijackings, that are pretty challenging – and, most importantly, very fun to tackle with a crew.

And PAYDAY 2 literally remains one of the best small-team co-op titles ever made, offering a level of depth and skill variety that still holds up. It has so much diversity in terms of gameplay and skills (and a lot of mechanics that require teamwork) that it offers a unique experience on almost every mission.

Up to four players can coordinate to steal everything from cash and gold to fine art. The beauty of the game is in the choice: some heists allow for a perfect stealth run, while others inevitably turn into a guns-blazing standoff. And trust me, coordinating with your pals to secure the perimeter and escape with the loot is immensely satisfying.

While there is a newer entry in the series, PAYDAY 2 still boasts way more content and a tighter experience, making it the definitive way to experience the franchise.

3 Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed

Destroy All Humans! 2 - Reprobed is a remake of the cult classic that delivers exactly what a good remake should: it keeps the mindless fun of the original while polishing the visuals and the gameplay for the modern era.

Oh, and as the title suggests, you are the villain here, controlling an alien who deeply hates humanity and wants to see it annihilated. And you can have the company of a friend for that.

The remake includes a co-op option for both the main campaign and dedicated multiplayer modes, meaning it offers plenty of content that will keep you and your co-op partner occupied for hours – while you feel like the bad guys around here, of course.

The only downside is the lack of online support, being limited to local split-screen only. But if you are a nostalgic gamer like me, you might just find that to be a suitably retro detail that adds to the charm.

2 Untitled Goose Game

Double the Honk, Double the Trouble

Untitled Goose Game is a charismatic indie gem that puts you in the feathers of a mischievous goose whose only goal is to ruin a peaceful morning for a quiet village.

Basically, you spend your time ticking off a "to-do list" of petty crimes, like stealing a gardener’s keys, trapping a boy in a phone booth, or even causing a neighborhood conflict.

It was already a masterpiece of low-stakes villainy, but the developers later added a two-player mode that lets you bring a second goose into the fray. And trust me, everything is better with a partner!

Coordinating a distraction while your friend steals a sandwich or having a “honking duel” to annoy the locals is pure comedy! It is light, it is funny, and it is the ultimate way to be a tiny, feathered menace.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

Forging a Dark Legacy Together

Everyone talks about Baldur’s Gate 3 as a landmark RPG, but we don't talk enough about how exceptional the co-op experience really is.

When playing with friends, you each control your own character and take turns leading dialogues, combat, and pretty much everything – and it feels like a digital D&D session come to life, amplifying the possibilities for both exploration and battles.

Oh, and you do not have to be a hero. If you and your friends decide to walk on some evil routes and leave some trails of destruction (yes, Dark Urge, I’m looking at you), the game accommodates that beautifully. It is literally up to you!

Sure, it might take longer to finish the game when you have to align everyone’s schedules, but living out a dark, epic fantasy with your best friends is an experience that is completely worth the effort.