One Horrible Starfield Mechanic Makes Being A Bad Guy Nearly Impossible

screenrant.com:

As is often the case with role-playing games, grants players a variety of ways to play to create a more unique, tailor-made experience for each individual. Players can choose between dialogue options that can be diplomatic or confrontational, and combining this with other actions they make throughout the campaign can lead to great rewards or devastating consequences. However, one thing 's developers seem to want to prevent is playing the game as a bad guy.

Bethesda's past games have always had the option to be a bit more villainous. lets players commit a variety of crimes. These ranged from somewhat comedic, such as placing a bucket over an NPC's head so that they were oblivious as items were stolen — to more extreme crimes, such as desecrating the dead of Markarth alongside a cannibalistic cult. Joining The Dark Brotherhood was also a popular option for those with an evil disposition, with the group feared across Tamriel for their less moral code and assassinations. Therefore, it should be no surprise that some were keen to see what havoc they could wreak across 's Settled Systems.

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One questline allows one to go undercover for the United Colonies' System Defense (commonly referred to as SysDef) as part of the special division's goal of dismantling the space pirate group, The Crimson Fleet, and this is the closest they can get to a truly villainous playthrough. While on this questline, any pirates will be allies because they believe the player is one of them and will offer up missions, allowing them to be a bit more nefarious than normal.

For those wanting to roleplay as an undercover cop, missions can be completed non-lethally and with as few crimes committed as possible.