1. Clyde the Ghost from Pac-Man

Ready for some deep Pac-Man lore? In the original game, Clyde would often change his mind and shyly beat a retreat when chasing Pac-Man. In the TV series Pac-Man and The Ghostly Adventures, Clyde’s caring personality truly blossoms. Hold on to your pellets: Even more spoilers ahead! (Photo: Namco)

2. Bowser

Bowser’s definitely a creepy princess stalker, a crime for which there’s no redemption. But in Super Mario RPG and Bowser’s Inside Story, he pulls his own weight when in saving the mushroom kingdom. He cares. He just has a hard time showing it. (Photo: Nintendo)

3. Min from Far Cry 4

If you play on the main path, the warlord Min comes off as quite the sociopath. But, at the beginning of the game, if you take his instructions at face value and wait 15 minutes for him to return, you open up an alternate ending where Min shows off his sweet side. (Photo: Ubisoft)

4. Knuckles from Sonic & Knuckles

In Sonic 3, Knuckles gives off a bad first impression as one of Dr. Robotnik’s henchman. But he’s really just a victim of the Eggman’s lying schemes. When he finds out the truth, he ultimately joins Sonic’s side. He never drops the snarling attitude, though. (Photo: SEGA)

5. The White Witch from Ni No Kuni

Cassiopea is practically the Walter White of Ni No Kuni. The White Witch broke bad for all the right reasons. When she cast the powerful Ashes of Resurrection spell, she only meant to help those around her, but ended up causing massive despair ... just, you know, without the meth. (Photo: Bandai Namco)

6. King Dedede from Kirby’s Adventure

It’s easy to miss the real story behind Kirby. King Dedede is the true hero, one who has gone to great lengths to hide the powerful star rod. But Kirby’s bumbling ineptitude almost destroys Dream Land when he assembles the device anyway and delivers it right into Nightmare’s clutches. (Photo: Nintendo)

7. Godot from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Trials & Tribulations

This prosecuting attorney with the flashy cyborg visor has a temper even hotter than the black coffee he gulps during trial. But once you learn of his undying love for Maya and Mia Fey, you can’t help but feel sorry for the fella and everything he’s endured. (Photo: Capcom)

8. Alister Azimuth from Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time

You’d think someone who practically killed Ratchet twice is irredeemable. But we know the real Alister to be a judicious rebel leader who prioritizes the salvation of the Lombaxes above all else, even his own life. (Photo: Sony)

9. Kessler from Infamous

The first Infamous title had one of the most surprising twists in video game history. Kessler may appear dastardly at first blush (the dude did kill your girlfriend after all), but what if his actions are really forcing you to develop your skills to fight the true evil ahead? (Photo: Sony)

10. GLaDOS from Portal 2

Like many real people who suffer hardships, GLaDOS’s personality undergoes a transformation through the tumultuous events of Portal 2. After the indignity of being stuck inside a potato, she finds it in her electric heart to help save Chell. (Photo: Valve)

11. Yggdrasill from Tales of Symphonia

This half-elf has a surprising backstory as a victim of racial intolerance. After his sister’s death in a war of expulsion, he goes on a civil rights crusade, which is totally understandable. He just takes it a wee bit too far. (Photo: Namco)

12. Idenn from Fire Emblem: Binding Blade

This shaman may take the form of a loathsome dragon in the final boss fight, but in her defense, her soul was destroyed more than 1,000 years ago and transformed into a demon. If you defeat her in hard mode, she recovers her soul and you get a glimpse of the playful divinity she used to be. (Photo: Nintendo)

13. The Masked Man from Mother 3

The Masked Man initially appears as a force of evil who will do anything to stop Lucas from succeeding. But his sacrificial gesture in the final battle paves the way for the destruction of the Pork Army. (Photo: Nintendo)

14. Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2

Maybe it’s time to revisit Jack’s legacy with a more generous eye. His original utopian plan to get rid of the bandits in Pandora was probably well-intentioned. Even the biggest monsters are heroes in their own stories. (2K Games)

15. Kitaniji from The World Ends With You

Following the likes of Handsome Jack, Kitaniji is another villain whose overwhelming love for a city drives him toward evil actions. But can you really blame him for loving a city as cool as Shibuya? (Photo: Square Enix)

16. Marauder Shields from Mass Effect 3

The final random enemy of your journey sacrificed himself so you wouldn’t have to see the game’s disappointing ending. The outpouring of love for Marauder Shields on image boards has given him the status of a modern-day folk hero. We salute our fallen comrade. (Photo: Electronic Arts)

17. Edea Kramer from Final Fantasy VIII

It's hard to think of a villain who has a gentler side than Edea. When you initially encounter her, she's a merciless sadist. But as the story develops you learn she's just possessed, and actually cares for destitute children in an orphanage. She's the Mother Theresa of evil sorcerers. (Photo: Square Enix)