After seven years of superhero goodness, Guys is over for good, and while there may be a few spin-off shows in the works, at least for now the carnage has been put on ice. However, regardless of whether or not fans liked the way things wrapped up, they'll almost certainly still be hungry for more anti-hero breakouts, and what better way to satiate that desire than by taking on the role of a powerful, repressed character in the game's world.
The 10 Best Superhero Origin Stories of All Time, Ranked
Between DC and Marvel, origin stories are the foundation of every great superhero movie, and the best ones are still watched today.
There are many different video game interpretations of what it means to be an anti-hero, some more grounded and others that lean heavily into a world of mutation, murder, and downright gore. The last one certainly fits The Boys much better, like the whole show, it feels like every other scene someone blows up or a superhero fight breaks out, even between those on the same side. So for those looking for some fast-paced action, they needn't look for the perfect game to fill the Homelander-shaped void.
We're talking about power fantasy, not just games that allow you to be “evil”. The latter will be preferred, but we will include one exception in the form of Batman.
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Start
Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.
Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)
Prototype
Morality is optional
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Shapeshifting abilities turn people into resources
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The chaos in the open world reflects the lack of barriers
Prototype is entirely built around the idea of a gun-toting anti-hero who operates outside of any moral framework and destroys anyone and anything in his path. Alex Mercer's powers allow him to transform his entire body into a demolition tool, capable of leaping over skyscrapers and hurtling down into the streets below, and no matter how many bullets are headed his way, there's virtually nothing that can keep him down forever.
More important than the power, though, is that the concept of anti-heroes comes through with the overwhelming sense of indifference that exudes as you hop around the world. I regularly found myself up against dozens of military units and civilians, but instead of caring about them, I just shot through them and went on my way. In many ways this mentality is very similar to many supes in Guysbecause instead of being pushed into a corner, they can effectively do whatever they want, unchecked and unlimited in their power and influence.
inglorious
Heroism of Another Kind
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Moral alignment directly changes the abilities and reactions of the world
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Few characters can compete with the player
inglorious it shows exactly how to incorporate two very different aspects of morality into a single experience. When playing as Cole MacGrath, every single action players take, from subduing enemies to harming civilians, affects their Karma score, moving them towards good or bad over time. But even if you choose to follow a righteous arc, it always feels like certain events are much more gray than black and white.
10 Games That Make You Think “Am I the Evil One?”
From random assassins to obedient puppets, these games will make you rethink your role as a hero and wonder if you were a villain.
After finishing the game on the good side, I went back and did it again, in reverse, and was surprised at how much of an impact the change in morale has on both the gameplay and the story. Your abilities change, cutscenes play differently, and the world reacts accordingly to whether you're a threat or a hero, entering the game's murky waters where it's not easy to choose. By the end, it is clear that no matter what path was chosen, sacrifices had to be made; it just depends on whether you prefer to lean into your inner rage or fight against it.
Saints Row 4
Parody of heroic fantasies
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Superpowers become satirical
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Movement and combat disrupt any level of balance
If there is one game that represents the superhero craze more than any other, then this has to be it Saints Row 4. The game does away with any remaining foundations in the series by making the player an absurdly overpowered hero capable of sprinting across cities and taking out enemies with ease, regardless of the consequences.
Rather than criticizing the dark side of heroism, it embraces hyperbole and strips away any remaining seriousness, leaving only pure absurdity. After watching a few seasons Guysi went back and replayed it and was honestly surprised at how similar the two IPs are, from the over the top abilities to the comedy that runs through the story and surrounding characters.
Batman: Arkham Knight (Special Mention)
The Nightmare Villains Fear
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Intimidation and fear of superhuman abilities
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Gadgets and tricks used to fight stronger enemies
Batman has long been the poster child for anti-heroes and Arkham Knight explores this territory to the absolute maximum. Your control of Gotham relies on strategy and psychological pressure rather than superhuman abilities, meaning that even when you're up against loaded enemies with borderline unnatural abilities, there's always a tactical way to overcome them, similar to how Butcher manages to outmaneuver and take out several vultures without needing any innate or granted abilities of his own.
The Boys: 5 Video Game “Heroes” That Make the Homelander Look Like an Amateur Villain
The Boys' Homelander is the definition of an evil superhero, but the video game also has its share of heroes who do more harm than good.
I've always thought this game was the best of the series and to watch GuysI saw so much of Batman and how he approaches the villains in Arkham in the group and their fight against the supes. At the end of the day, the play also provides a commentary on violence and heroism itself, debating whether it would ever be possible to achieve freedom and safety without using excessive force on those who threaten to disrupt them.
While Batman is wildly different from Homelander, they are both beings feared in their respective worlds to the point of being almost mythical. In Gotham, Batman is a monster that stalks the night.
Injustice 2
A level playing field for all
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Hero vs Hero action
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Iconic battles enabled in PvP
Lots of action in Guys centers around two superheroes battling it out, and that's exactly what it is Injustice 2 is all about. There's Superman, Joker, Swamp Thing and just about every other DC hero and villain you could ever want, all in one fighter that lets players fully embody the role of their favorite character.
I don't normally play fighting games, but I keep coming back for more, mostly playing as Green Arrow and Bane against friends and online opponents. Although it is true that Mortal Kombat 1 actually has Homelander as a playable DLC character, I'd argue Injustice brings more of the superhero-filled fighting dream many players will have, and with rumors of a third installment in the works, now is as good a time as any to jump into the game and master some moves.
10 RPGs where you are the anti-hero
If you're done with a noble, good-hearted hero of the people, this RPG with morally questionable protagonists is for you.
