Loot is a tried-and-true part of video games. Players accumulate resources to strengthen their characters or get a leg up on enemies. However, these riches only ever exist to further the hero’s exploits. Most games are about saving the day, after all. This gets tiring.
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Therefore, it’s refreshing when players meet someone who wants to raid, plunder, and steal valuable prizes for sheer greed or thrill. This echoes gamers' own mindsets; they want as much stuff as possible. That common ground makes thieves endlessly entertaining, especially when those characters are well-written and intriguing to boot. Now, who said greed is a sin?
7Yuffie Kisaragi — Final Fantasy 7
Players probably have a love/hate relationship with this Wutai ninja. InFinal Fantasy 7, Cloud and company encounter Yuffie while roaming the wilds. These encounters usually see her swiping their materia.
Luckily, she can use those talents for good once she joins the party. Her wealth of ranged and sabotaging attacks can do a number on enemies, and she executes those moves with a childlike enthusiasm that players can’t help but chuckle at. This plucky attitude has made Yuffie an honored part of theFinal Fantasy 7saga. She’s shown up in multiple games,always on the lookout for more materia. It’s hard to believe she started as an optional character.
6Zidane Tribal — Final Fantasy 9
AnotherFinal Fantasythief, this wily monkey boy headlines his own adventure. Zidane is part of a merry band of ne’er-do-wells inFinal Fantasy 9. Although always on the lookout for a big score, he’s not above helping those in need.
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Of course, he provides this help through his unscrupulous lifestyle. He shows this when he invites Vivi and Princess Garnet to share in his swashbuckling journeys, but this tendency also translates to gameplay. He can easily steal items from the toughest enemies in battle. Considering some items carry vital skills, this gift is invaluable. Zidane’s abilities and attitudeplace him among the more fun protagonists in the series. Oh, he also has a tail. That’s not something that shows up every day.
5Kasumi Goto — The Mass Effect Series
The secondMass Effectsees Shepard recruit allies from the galaxy’s seedy underbelly, so it makes sense that one of his crew would be a thief. Even by this game’s standard, though, Kasumi is an exceptional criminal.
That comes down to mastery of her craft. She wields her customized tech with unmatched precision, which lets her remain undetected even in the most high-security areas. However, a tool is only as good as the hand that wields it, and Kasumi excels in that area, too. Thanks to her sharpened instincts, she stays one step ahead of pursuers on any planet. Her line of work yields some dangerous figures, after all. Because of that, she’s slow to trust anyone, even Shepard. Once she finally does confide in him, it leads to an undercover op injecting some welcome novelty into the usual gunplay. Kasumi may be a DLC character, butshe proves just as engaging as the rest of the squad.
4The Cooper Gang — The Sly Cooper Series
Even the greatest thief wouldn’t get far without a crew. Thankfully,Sly Cooperhas an inseparable bond with his childhood friends, allowing them to hone their craft and develop a synergy practically unmatched in the criminal underworld. Owing to his family’s history, the titular raccoon is equipped with knowledge acquired over countless generations of master thieves. This makes for some unique platforming as he slips into any place unnoticed.
Anywhere he goes, though, his crew backs him up. Bentley the turtle is the brains of the outfit, outsmarting any security system. Murray the hippo fulfills the brawn role, accomplishing immense feats of strength. Together, these threecan pull off any heistand outplay the most merciless crooks the world over. More important is how they complement each other personally. The Cooper Gang has a brotherly dynamic developed from their time as orphans. One can always count on the others to raise him up. They may take shots at each other, but it comes from a place of love. This forms an endearing relationship carrying through four games.
3Rouge The Bat — Sonic The Hedgehog Series
Among several furry faces introduced inSonic’s sequels is this sultry bat. Rouge is always on the hunt for jewels and other valuables. It’s no surprise that she sets her sights on the Chaos Emeralds, especially the Master Emerald. This gives her an amusing antagonistic dynamic withKnuckles, which is ironic since they share gameplay styles. Rouge’s best moments are when she messes with people.
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That said, the thief eventually grows a conscience. Not only does she help stop Eggman, but she often provides a voice of reason and comfort to characters like Shadow. This leads her to occasionally work as a secret agent. It’s nice to know she’s using her skills for good, but that doesn’t mean she’s sworn off stealing. Rouge just can’t help herself sometimes.Sonicfans wouldn’t have it any other way.
2Nathan Drake — The Uncharted Series
Fans ofUnchartedoften liken Nathan Drake to a modernIndiana Jones, albeit without the teaching tenure. This explorer instead makes his living navigating the world of thieves and cutthroats. His love of history and talent for treasure-hunting put him on the trail of legendary artifacts across the globe. That means he must tangle with greedy parties who want to exploit those items for themselves.
Thankfully, Nate always outwits these villains with a narrow escape and a smart remark. Growing up on the street has given him the survival skills to dodge danger, though just barely. He usually makes it by the skin of his teeth,leading to many a self-aware quip or complaint. In the process, he’s become a refreshing and relatable protagonist in gaming. Drake wants to achieve greatness from his small beginnings. In players' eyes, he’s achieved that many times over.
1Team Rocket — The Pokemon Series
On top of theft, this also falls under animal cruelty. Team Rocket has plaguedPokemonplayers since the series' inception, stealing the pocket monsters of unsuspecting trainers and exploiting them for their own ends. This organization’s ambition knows no limit, leading them to become a global presence. They’ve dipped their grubby hands intonumerous regions, preying on more and more Pokemon.
These areasalso house other criminal empires, but none have left the same enduring impression as Team Rocket. Granted, some of that is due to their agents constantly appearing in the TV series. However, it’s also because their goal strikes at the heart of the franchise. These games are about collecting and raising Pokemon; Team Rocket specifically strives to undermine that.
