Gangs are fairly prominent in the video game realm. They don't appear in every title, but there has been a significant number of them over the years, particularly in crime games like Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row. In fact, there have been enough of them that most have been forgotten. However, there are also several that are almost impossible to forget.
These crews can be memorable for a variety of reasons. They may have featured very prominently in an iconic game, or they may have left an impression when they did appear. Either way, these are the crews that gaming will never forget.
7 The Tunnel Snakes – Fallout 3
There are several different gangs in the Fallout universe - not to be confused with factions like the Brotherhood of Steel or the Minutemen. Most of them are raiders that the protagonist meets while roaming the wasteland. Yet, the most memorable gang is from Vault 101, and they're called The Tunnel Snakes.
Each member looks like a character from the movie Grease due to their leather jackets and 1950s hairstyles. On the back of said jackets, they have a cool-looking logo. And they act like typical high-school bullies. They don't have a large role in the game, but they make an impression in their brief screen-time.
6 The Joker Gang – Batman Arkham Series
There are plenty of villains in the Batman Arkham series, but The Joker is the most significant. He serves as a thorn in the Dark Knight's side throughout the series. However, he can't be everywhere at once. So, he needs help in setting up all the tricks he uses on the Bat. Plus, he occasionally needs some people to serve as cannon fodder to slow his nemesis down. That is why he has his own gang.
Each member dons silly clown makeup to look like their leader, but they're still an intimidating bunch. Well, they're intimidating to the average person. Batman easily dispatches groups of them at a time.
5 Tojo Clan – Yakuza Series
As you'd expect from a series called Yakuza, the games revolve around the famous criminal organization of the same name. Several opposing clans serve under the Yakuza banner. The main one in the games is the Tojo Clan. This is the group that contains several of the main characters. For instance, the series' main protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu, is an off-and-on member of the clan.
Typically, their goal is to make as much money as possible. But their focus sometimes switches to survival as plenty of enemies try to bring them down. Whatever they're up to, it usually serves as a significant part of the Yakuza games' narratives.
4 Team Rocket – Pokemon Series
In many of the Pokemon games, the protagonist regularly runs into people in fancy outfits with a large 'R' on their torso. These folks are members of Team Rocket, which is a villainous criminal gang that roams the Pokemon world.
As this is the Pokemon universe, they don't rob banks or boost cars. Instead, they attempt to steal the rarest and strongest Pokemon in the world. Theft isn't their only crime, though, as they often mistreat Pokemon, too. Thankfully, the protagonist always thwarts their plans, which minimizes the overall damage they do.
3 Grove Street Families – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
At the start of GTA: San Andreas, the protagonist CJ returns to his childhood home on Grove Street. Then he quickly rejoins the Grove Street Families. The GSF is a street gang that operates in Los Santos. CJ and his brother Sweet serve as the leaders, but there are plenty of members, from characters in the story to random NPCs walking down the street.
They do everything you expect from a traditional street gang, such as vandalism and robbery. But for most of the story, the GSF deal with even less honorable factions, such as their rivals, the Ballas, and Officer Tenpenny's corrupt cops.
2 Third Street Saints – Saints Row Series
The Saints Row series features all sorts of criminal gangs. The purple-clad Third Street Saints are the most memorable as they're the centerpiece of each game. As such, most of the main characters serve as members, such as Playa, Johnny Gat, Shaundi, and Pierce Washington.
The group changes a lot throughout the series. They begin as a typical street gang. Yet, they soon grow in fame and become celebrities. Then after saving America, they became The Cabinet of the United States and the first line of defense against an alien invasion. So, they certainly have an interesting history.
1 The Van Der Linde Gang – Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is all about the compelling downfall of the once proud set of outlaws known as The Van Der Linde gang. Arthur Morgan is one of the most prominent members of the crew and serves as the main character of the game. The leader, however, is Dutch Van Der Linde, who is incredibly charismatic. In fact, pretty much the whole gang hangs on his every word. The rest of the group is made up of people with differing backgrounds and moral compasses.
In general, their perpetual goal is to make money. As such, they are continually robbing trains, stagecoaches, and banks. Yet, they aren't pure evil as they also help people at times. Regardless of where they fall on the moral scale, they will never be forgotten.