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Avenging a wrongful death, taking back what's yours, reclaiming lost property...who doesn't love a good revenge story? The world of gaming is teeming with them, and we've rounded up 25 of the best. Don't see the one you're attached to? No need to hatch a convoluted plan to get back at us, just leave it in the comments below. Here are the greatest revenge narratives in gaming. Seriously, don't try to get even with us if you don't like these picks, we've got battle armor that's begging to be put to use.
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25. Flower (2009)
Perhaps Flower is a bit too peaceful to be considered a worthy contender on this list, but never forget that not all instances of revenge must be violent. Flower is about retaking areas lost to pollution, darkness, and evil -- restoring purity. Think about it.
24. Ninja Gaiden (1988)
Ryu Hayabusa is fighting to recover his Dragon Blade, but it's obvious he's actually seeking to fell Doku, the Greater Fiend who destroyed his home village.
23. Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (1999)
Soul Reaver follows the actions of vampire-turned-wraith Raziel, acting as lieutenant to the vampire lord Kain. Kain kills Raziel, but Raziel is later revived as a soul reaver by The Elder God, to take his revenge on Kain and to collect souls.
22. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003)
Though plenty of plot threads in KOTOR come together to tell multiple stories, Carth Onasi's story is intriguing in that he wants to ensure his ex-commander is brought to task for betraying the Republic and bombing Telos.
21. Grand Theft Auto III (2001)
Claude's mission in life is to take revenge on Catalina, who ended up leaving him for dead back in Liberty City after a bank heist gone wrong. In a nutshell, at least, that's what you're driving for in GTAIII, and you might get sidetracked, but the way Catalina goes out is certainly impressive.
20. Crusader (1995)
The Crusader games are a series built entirely around the concept of revenge, following an elite super-soldier (Silencers) defecting from a tyrannical government (the World Economic Consortium) and turning to the Resistance after a botched mission. Having been asked to fire on civilians (thought to be rebels), the soldiers refuse and join the movement themselves to outwit the government in this dystopian future.
19. Grand Theft Auto IV (2008)
Niko Bellic comes to America after serving in a war in Eastern Europe, haunted by a traitor in his small army unit. After Niko narrowly escapes the anger from his boss when a smuggling run goes bad, he decides to set up shop in the USA to find the traitor from his unit and pursue the American Dream, while taking revenge in the process.
18. Xenoblade Chronicles (2012)
The sprawling tale of Xenoblade Chronicles is among one of the best RPGs on the Wii, also following a group of soldiers fighting for vengeance after a particularly honorless soldier wanting a priceless weapon for himself.
17. Saints Row 2 (2008)
Saints Row 2 is, interestingly enough, all about taking back what's yours and enacting payback on those responsible. From breaking out of jail to making sure those losers pay, Saints Row 2 is a decadent gangbanging tale of revenge.
16. Splinter Cell: Conviction (2010)
Sam Fisher is out for blood when he finds out his daughter was murdered (wink, wink) and Conviction is centered around the crusade to bring the culprits to "justice," Fisher-style. The coup de grace couldn't have blindsided you any more spectacularly, either.
15. Jak II: Renegade (2003)
This entry in the Jak and Daxter series took a darker turn as Jak found himself infused with Dark Eco, then took it upon himself to seek retribution on those who put him into that predicament in the first place. It made for one heck of a story, that's for sure.
14. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013)
Raiden's first solo adventure is a hack-and-slash odyssey that follows cyborg Raiden as he works under PMC Maverick Securities. Raiden is fending off enemy forces one day as his body is severely damaged and the premier of an unnamed African country is killed, one that he was guarding. Raiden is humiliated after the fight and out for blood, making Revengeance an unforgettable exercise in just that -- vengeance.
13. Phantasy Star (1987)
The original Phantasy Star begins as a quest in which players accomapny heroine Alis Landale on her mission to avenge her brother's death at the hands of ruler Lassic. A revolutionary game for its time, Alis is still an inspirational character even in modern times, and her story should be celebrated today as well.
12. Heavenly Sword (2007)
A fiery tale of revenge pits the capable Nariko against a king and his entire invading army, as well as a cursed sword that spells out doom for them both. Nariko's trials and tribulations culminate in a moving tale of revenge that will no doubt stick with you long after the game ends.
11. Fable 2 (2008)
Sparrow's loss of older sister Rose at a pivotal moment in-game was the motivation for many players to persevere and press on to the end in the hopes that one day her death may be avenged. Fable 3 built on these heartstring-tugging foundations further, but Fable 2 knew how to hit you right in the guy and make you sympathetic to the cause.
10. God of War (2005)
Kratos has always been the pinnacle of "revenge against those who wronged me," raging against the very gods who damned him. Not even when he rises to usurp Ares as the new God of War does the rage and the pain subside. Can you blame him? Of course not, but he's certainly not helping his case slaughtering all the innocent souls who get in his way.
9. Borderlands 2 (2012)
Technically the whole of Borderlands 2 is a revenge story, but Handsome Jack and Mordecai really step things up in their respective plot threads, Jack vowing to kill you after you put Angel out of her misery and Mordecai touting vengeance over the death of his faitful companion at the hands of Jack. It's certainly not pretty on either end of the spectrum.
8. Mass Effect 2 (2010)
The Mass Effect series is rife with instances where the core cast expresses innate desires to get even with those who wronged them, whether it's Liara and who imprisoned her, Jack and those who experimented on her, or humanity and the Reapers. Mass Effect is full of the same feelings of eye-for-eye justice you can easily point out in the rest of our contenders.
7. Asura's Wrath (2012)
While some games on the list tend only to dabble in tales of vengeance, Asura's Wrath is a tale of one man's dogged determination and drive to make those who took his family from him pay. And when Asura gets angry, he harnesses incredible strength. Let's just say you'd be better off never double-crossing the freakishly strong demigod.
6. Max Payne (2001)
What's a man to do when everything he holds dear is taken away from him in an instant? He gets even. The tale of Max Payne is a heartrending one through and through, and an exemplary adventure that showcases the lengths one goes to under duress. He becomes a cold-blooded murdering machine with an addiction to painkillers that can't be quelled -- and you certainly don't want to cross him.
5. Dishonored (2012)
Corvo Attano was once agent and bodyguard to Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, acting as Lord Protector, until one fateful day the Empress was murdered before his eyes, leaving witnesses to put the blame on an astonished Corvo. It's up to him to take matters into his own hands and clear his name amidst a city that would love to see him persecuted for his supposed crimes.
4. The Darkness (2007)
Jackie Estacado's beloved fiance Jenny Romano was murdered at the hands of "uncle" Paulie Franchetti, which catapulted the ex-contract killer into a world of pitch-black revenge and payback, having later on usurped the title of don from the Franchetti family after dispatching those who wronged him. And for a man who's just seen the last light in his dark would go out, revenge means total annihilation.
3. Red Dead Redemption (2001)
Without ruining too much of the story for those who haven't yet experienced the story (shame on you!) the tale of John Marston is a thrilling yarn spun around vengeance, the government, and the web woven around the grizzled cowboy's eventful life, culminating in some quite painful events.
2. Assassin's Creed II (2009)
Ezio Auditore di Firenze is the son of wealthy banker Giovanni. When Giovanni stumbles upon some secrets better left just that -- secret -- he is immediately arrested and executed, along with his brothers. Ezio is bent on avenging their murders and righting the wrongs committed after this heinous deed.
1. Shenmue (2000)
When protagonist Ryo Hazuki comes home to the family dojo one day to find his father battling with a peculiar man in a green silk Kung Fu gi, he's shaken up. He engages in battle with the man, Lan Di, after his father is defeated, but ultimately is unsuccessful in defeating the stranger and must watch his father die in his arms. Ryo vows revenge, and thus Shenmue begins.