I wouldn't say Kane & Lynch or Mafia or stuff like that is cutesy, but there are some that I find so despicably evil that I won't even promote them by mentioning their name. ;P

I agree that it kind of defeats the point to play "evil" when you do more or less the same things you would do playing "good" (e.g. fighting monsters, or other evils/mean opponents in self-defense), but I think the truth is that very few people would actually enjoy seriously doing truly evil stuff in games, regardless of the fact that it's "just" fiction.

It is portrayed as evil in Undertale.

(Genocide here consists of killing *every* enemy, including all random encounters until there's no more to fight in the area.)

Red Alert 2 Yuri's Revenge.

Grand Theft Auto (any).

Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines (bad choices).

Raiders! Forsaken earth

Smash bros?
Does that count?

I saw Shovel Knight posted, Plague Knight is the best one.

The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay. IIRC, you're a bad guy killing other bad guys to save your skin.

Saints Row series, of course!

According to its description, Tales of Beasteria (available on Itchio and Steam, afaik)

https://syukino.itch.io/tales-of-beasteria/devlog/227614/tales-of-beasteria-is-now-on-itchio

(Base price $6, currently 20% off)

(Game appears to be like Fire Emblem)

Let's get some power up in here. I'm tired of trippin' over bodies.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed games:

https://www.gog.com/game/star_wars_the_force_unleashed_ultimate_sith_edition.

https://www.gog.com/game/star_wars_the_force_unleashed_ii

You're no fun! Why not mention their names... nobody's judging you.

As to "few" people enjoying evil, I disagree. Burning villages and robbing travelers can be quite cathartic. As cathartic as killing tons of enemies as we do in almost all games?

Thanks, I'll check it out.

With Overlord, that is mostly the case in the 2nd game, where you fight an even greater evil cliché.

But in the first one, you are in it mostly for yourself, which is simply revenge on the people who left you for dead. You just decide if you want to be a tyrant to everybody around you to get your revenge or just keep straight to the task. You can finish the game with 0% corruption, but you are actually rewarded for doing evil deeds by looking more badass and your spells get more destructive/powerful. "Evil" choices usually also net you additional resources like gold or life force but the good ones give mostly nothing. But most important of all, you are not fighting some "greater evil". YOU can be the greater evil if you wish.

Now that sounds like a good idea! An evil game, but letting the player decide how evil they want to be. Railroads for good or evil aren't either, so giving choice is a good element IMO.