5 Great Revenge Games to Play Before Ghost of Yotei, Including One That Divided the Internet

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Get ready for *Ghost of Yotei*, a new game about Atsu, a woman determined to get revenge on those who hurt her. While revenge stories aren’t new, they’re always captivating, and this one promises a fresh take. Revenge is a classic theme, especially in samurai stories, and there are plenty of fantastic games available now that can help you get into the mood for *Ghost of Yotei*.

Here are five well-known games featuring characters driven by revenge. While they might not be the absolute best in the genre, they’re excellent examples. With the exception of one, these games can be played on PS5, and many are also available on Xbox and PC. This list is especially helpful if you’re preparing to play *Ghost of Yotei*.

5) God of War 3

God of War 3 finishes Kratos’s long journey of revenge as he climbs Mount Olympus to kill the gods. The game is packed with huge, violent battles and really showcases the PS3’s capabilities, bringing Kratos’s anger to life. It starts with an incredible fight against Poseidon, which takes place while standing on the titan Gaia. Kratos brutally defeats Poseidon, smashing his head in and throwing his body off a cliff, ultimately causing all of Greece to flood.

Throughout *God of War 3*, the game features spectacular and over-the-top action sequences that highlight Kratos’ relentless rage. This ultimately leads to the downfall of Greece in an epic final battle against his father, Zeus. The story of Kratos’ revenge is powerfully told over three games, but *God of War 3* especially brings everything to a satisfying conclusion and paves the way for the newer *God of War* games on PlayStation 4 and 5.

4) Fallout: New Vegas

In *Fallout: New Vegas*, like other games in the series, the story starts small and personal before growing into a much larger conflict. You play as a courier in a post-apocalyptic Nevada, initially tasked with delivering a valuable platinum poker chip. However, you’re ambushed by a charismatic gangster named Benny, who shoots you and leaves you for dead. Luckily, a nearby doctor saves your life, and you set out to find Benny, reclaim the chip, and get your revenge.

Taking out Benny is just the beginning. While it’s a satisfying moment, the story doesn’t end with revenge. Benny is just a small piece of a much bigger conflict that quickly unfolds. You’ll soon discover the various factions fighting for control of the Mojave Wasteland and find yourself caught in the middle, trying to navigate the chaos and find a solution.

3) Max Payne

After a devastating personal tragedy – the murder of his wife and child by drug addicts – NYPD officer Max Payne joins the Drug Enforcement Administration. Driven by revenge, he vows to bring those responsible to justice, but his grief leads him to rely on painkillers. His quest soon plunges him into a larger conspiracy, and he finds himself wrongly accused of murder, forcing him to go on the run.

At its heart, *Max Payne* is a story about addiction, obsession, and the drive for revenge. While this quest for vengeance continues throughout the series, it ultimately reveals how empty Max’s life has become. By the third game, he finally finds a measure of peace and redemption through helping others.

2) Red Dead Redemption

I absolutely love the *Red Dead* games, and it’s amazing how much better the second one is! *Red Dead Redemption 2* actually tells the story of how John Marston became the man we meet in the first game. It shows how he was betrayed by his old gang and teams up with Arthur Morgan to take them down, eventually finding some peace with his family. But then, John discovers where Micah Bell is hiding – the guy who really caused everything to fall apart and led to Arthur’s death. It’s a gripping story!

Marston seeks revenge by killing Bell, but this act draws unwanted attention from the government. They force him to hunt down his former gang, the Van der Linde gang, setting the stage for the events of the first game. After completing their task, the government betrays and kills John, prompting his son, Jack, to seek vengeance against the agent responsible.

Both games explore a repeating pattern of violence and retaliation, suggesting these characters are destined to continue this cycle for many years. The overall story is quite compelling, and players who have experienced both games will likely find it deeply satisfying.

1) The Last of Us Part II

Okay, so *The Last of Us Part II* is a game that really stuck with me, mostly because it’s such a brutal and controversial story about revenge. It really shows you what happens when someone gets totally consumed by it. I was playing as Ellie, and her need to hunt down Abby – the woman who killed Joel, her dad – completely destroys her life. She ends up losing everyone she cares about, either because they get caught in the middle or because she pushes them away in her single-minded pursuit of vengeance. It’s a perfect example of how trying to get even just doesn’t work – it doesn’t bring back who you’ve lost, and it leaves everyone around you worse off too. Honestly, it’s a really powerful, if painful, experience.

Honestly, the biggest debate around *The Last of Us Part 2* isn’t really about the stuff people were saying online, it’s about how the game *ends*. After everything Ellie goes through – losing so many people she loves – she finally confronts Abby and nearly kills her in a brutal fight. She has Abby completely helpless, but at the last second, she stops. It really hits you that Ellie realizes revenge won’t bring her peace, it won’t fix anything, and it’ll probably just make things even worse. She sees that Abby and Lev are basically a mirror of her and Joel, and she decides she needs to stop the cycle of violence before Lev ends up just as broken and vengeful as they are.

Many players found the game’s ending deeply unsatisfying, and some even wished Naughty Dog had let them choose whether Abby lived or died. Because Joel’s death was so upsetting, some fans believed Abby’s death would have provided a more satisfying resolution. This topic has sparked years of heated debate online. Regardless of your opinion, few games have ignited such passionate discussion about complex themes like revenge and violence.

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2025-09-22 23:44