After selecting the best games of the last decade, we decided to dive deeply and remember the characters we liked the most.
It was an incredible decade for character design, where face-capturing technology has helped to improve the excellence of actors and voice actors. The quality of writing in games in terms of dialogue, characterization and action has improved immensely. The authors have begun to break away from two-dimensional action heroes, awkward buddies, and offensive caricatures to paint compelling people who inspire empathy.
The Polygon team has selected these favorites based on a variety of criteria, including characters that are transporting, persuasive, funny, original, moving, or unusual. We only allowed one character (or duo) per franchise, but it’s worth noting that many of the games listed below have more than one memorable character. We’ve mixed original characters as well as some that have been around for a while, but have made a particularly interesting contribution over the last 10 years. The list is displayed in alphabetical order.
Please do not hesitate to post your favorite characters from the last decade in the comments below.
Alex (Ochs free)
Alex is a teenager who makes his way to an island near their home with a small group of friends. Oxenfree is a great narrative game in which the player uses her reactions to help shape Alex’s personality. But whether she is optimistic and friendly or optimistic and sarcastic, she is always believable and assignable. As the game progresses, we hear about her brother’s previous loss and her feelings about his death. Alex is so convincingly human that staying in her life is truly a transporting experience.
-Colin Campbell
Allie (Ni no Kuni: The wrath of the white witch)
In video games, mothers are often portrayed as villains, or they are killed to catalyze the hero’s journey. Allie in Ni no Kuni: The wrath of the white witch is emphatically one of the latter group. She dies of heart failure after rescuing her son (the protagonist of the game) from drowning. Then he sets out in search of a doppelganger in a fantasy world. Although Allie comes from the long tradition of tragic mothers, she was described by the developer Level-5 in collaboration with Studio Ghibli with great tenderness.
-Colin Campbell
AloyHorizon Zero Dawn)
While Aloy apparently falls into the same category of “strong female protagonists” as Bayonetta and the early Lara Croft, the narrative world that Guerrilla Games builds around her in Horizon Zero Dawn prevents her from being a one-dimensional figure. Aloy’s education as an outcast of her tribe fills her with an unfailing sense of moral clarity in her quest to find out who she is. She is pragmatic but compassionate, strong-willed but open-minded. In a world of the 31st century, with its own norms and taboos, especially regarding gender, Aloy refuses to be told by anyone else how to live.
– Samit Sarkar
Batman and the Joker (Arkham series)
For over 80 years we have seen so much of Batman and the Joker. But the Rocksteady Studios’ Arkham trilogy gives us an intimate view of the couple. In Arkham Knight, the already dead Joker lives in Batman’s head and torments him with visions and dark thoughts. Rocksteady’s writing for those moments is one of the best games underlined by Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy’s appearances as Joker and Batman. We could have had something so boring of these two characters, but Rocksteady’s understanding of their mutual needs helped them blossom.
– Ryan Gilliam
The damn baron (The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt)
The Bloody Baron’s Quest Series is the outstanding moment in The Witcher 3. The Baron is charming enough, but turns out to be a terrible animal over time. The way the story plays with its terrible mistakes and you feel empathy without ever letting it off hook is gripping. Above all, his process gives us a better insight into the otherwise stoic and introverted Geralt. During the Baron’s trial, we see the Sorcerer’s heart, a rare treasure in Wild Hunt.
– Ryan Gilliam
Callie and Marie, The Squid Sisters (Splatoon Series)
Nintendo really took some anthropomorphized squid and turned them into pop sensations. Although I can not understand what they say when they sing, Splatoon’s representatives of great music are pop icons. Stay fresh!
– Julia Lee
Catherine de MediciCivilization 6)
All the world leaders in Civilization 6 are beautifully drawn and show a range of emotions, from submissive to angry. But my favorite is probably Catherine, whose appalling snobbery and haughty disregard of all things make it a pleasure to play against her. Katharina’s job is to spy on her enemies and imperiously whisper a glass of champagne to her foolish enemies. Even in defeat, she manages to look us in the face of barbarians who dare to cross their path.
-Colin Campbell
Clementine and Lee (the Walking Dead)
If you search YouTube after the final installment of Telltale’s The Walking Dead’s first season, you’ll find a miniature industry of players recording their own emotional reactions to the devastating finale. Lee is an escaped convict in the middle of a zombie outbreak who cares for a scared, vulnerable girl named Clementine. Later seasons show Clementine’s debt to Lee and the lessons learned from her trusted mentor. These are characters who are really loved by their many fans.
-Colin Campbell
Danny Williams (FIFA Series)
The biggest teammate in the field of sports video games. Danny Williams begins as a bite-sized opponent of player-controlled Alex Hunter in the FIFA career mode “The Journey”. Then both stand in the Football League championship on one side and it comes to a real bond, while both players try to get to the top Premier League. Daniel’s bravery is a mask for his obvious insecurity; In the field, he knows he needs others to be great. I played Hunter as a central attacking midfielder in Norwich City’s 4-2-3: 1 with Danny as a striker and was more than happy to help. In a match against Aston Villa, I got a perfect pass in the wing and I could have easily moved on and dusted the keeper. Instead, I paused, rolled the ball back a few steps and threw Danny a cross, which he took on – for a hat-trick. I would provide Danny with opportunities throughout the day, like grapes for a lover.
– Who is good
Delilah (incense clock)
Henry is the protagonist of Firewatch, but it is his invisible boss Delilah who delivers the most complex, intriguing and mysterious theme in the story. They are both lonely guardians of firewatching towers in the Wyoming wilderness. Rookie Henry reports anomalies to Delilah via radio. In conversations she is prickly, sarcastic and clever. She also has an alcohol problem. As the danger of the story grows, Henry begins to suspect that Delilah is hiding something. An examination of her lookout and an inspection of her belongings reveal more of her bizarre, slightly tragic personality.
-Colin Campbell
Delilah Copperspoon (Dishonored series)
Delilah Copperspoon, who is deliciously evil, begins her dishonored journey as the leader of a colorful, murderous coven. It is her backstory that illuminates her story. Delilah was once a sweet princess and longed for her father’s attention. After being convicted of a crime she has not committed, she lives a life of extreme poverty in Dishonored’s meager underworld. Delilah embraces the occult and returns to the center of power, wiser and full of supernatural wickedness.
-Colin Campbell
Dutch van der Linde (Red Dead Redemption series)
The Dutchman van der Linde began his career as a folk hero and revolutionary and ended it as a sad, broken man. Dutch can be read as a proud man trying to enter water in a world that has no room for him, or as a monster that distracts from his own cruel, violent moods with grand gestures and patriarchal pressure. His life is a series of closing doors, and the Dutch can not stop making compromises. He never quite loses his sense of drama and performance, even though everything else is worn down by time and civilization.
-Cass Marshall
Obsidian Entertainment
Edér Teylecg (Series Columns of Eternity)
Edér Teylecg, one of the very first characters I met at Pillars of Eternity, was my constant companion in this game. He is the spiritual center of the story and feels really relaxed all the time. I compare it to having Matthew McConaughey in your adventure party. In the original and sequel to Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, he is voiced by actor Matt Mercer, the man behind the Critical Role series. In fact, including the player character and the optional downloadable content, fill your entire group with different versions of Mercer.
– Charlie Hall
Edith Finch (What is left of Edith Finch)
For much of what remains of Edith Finch, we mainly see only the hands of Edith Finch. We see her dressed in hand-knitted gloves as she explores her childhood home, a sprawling, dilapidated mansion in Washington. Finch opens doors, plays with memorabilia and writes in her diary. What remains of Edith Finch is a retelling of the stories of a cursed family, filtered through Finch’s eyes.
– Nicole Carpenter
Elizabeth and Booker (BioShock Infinite)
Despite its exaggerated history and grandiose backdrop, Shooter BioShock Infinite gives us a memorable duo of Booker de Witt and Elizabeth, whose relationship unfolds as the game progresses. De Witt is a standard video game hero: a violent man with a dark past. But Elizabeth is more interesting. She is a magician held captive by a Protestant dictator. At the beginning of the game we see de Witt as a savior, but it soon becomes clear that Elizabeth has all the power. The time travel story allows us to see Elizabeth at different ages and see how her sense of morality adapts to the world around her as the somewhat two-dimensional personality of de Witt softens and deepens.
-Colin Campbell
Ellie and Riley (The last of us left behind)
Ellie is a tough young girl living the nightmare of a global pandemic. In The Last of Us, she teamed up with rugged anti-hero action man Joel. They make for a well-written, mismatched road trip duo. In the later episode, the narrative episode of Left Behind, she appears with Riley, a teenage girlfriend who joins a radical group of fighters. Riley is an impressive presence, but also a free spirit who confronts the world as she finds it. Left Behind is a precursor to the main game and explores the differences between the two girls and their closeness, as they inevitably have to split up.
-Colin Campbell
Elodie (Long live the Queen)
Long live the queen was the first graphic novel I ever played, and I was impressed with the complexity of the character sheet for Elodie. Her ascension to the throne is sudden and comes with the death of her mother. At the beginning of the game she is anxious, sad and overwhelmed, and she has very little time to become a kind of ruler. More than most of the stories about princesses, you feel the immense political pressure that underlies them, and at the same time you feel the responsibility to lead them through assassinations, court lessons and lots of intrigues.
-Jenna Stoeber
Emet-SelchFinal Fantasy 14)
The story of villain Emet-Selch was mysterious and a bit confusing until the expansion of Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers exposed him and showed who he really was: a guy who was just trying to reunite his divided world after his people of a god had been eradicated. When Emet-Selch let me into his brain and showed me the civilization he once belonged to, my heart sank when I knew that I could not sacrifice the universe in return for his happiness no matter how much I wanted it. There is really no sadder feeling than sympathizing with your longtime enemy.
– Julia Lee
Florence Yeoh (Florence)
Florence Yeoh, the namesake of Mountains’ Florence, is a stunning character that has an hour more impact on mobile gameplay than many of the characters I have spent many hours with. Florence is a game about connections, whether in friendship, in love or with the family. The design of the game – especially the clever use of touchscreen mechanics – gives these links a tactile feel that adds depth and nuance to Florence as we learn about their love, their lives and their concerns.
– Nicole Carpenter
Ghost (Destiny Series)
The characters of fate seldom speak, so that almost all representations and inner thoughts come through Ghost, the faithful shoulder angel of every watchman. Nolan North took over for Peter Dinklage in the original Destiny and continued the role in the second game. Fate can sometimes be very sinister and overly serious, but North’s ghost carefully threads the needle between the lifting and the knowledge that things are just becoming real.
– Ryan Gilliam
GLaDOS (Portal 2)
Originally created as a tutorial guide for Portal, the snarky artificial intelligence GLaDOS proved so popular with the development team that its role was expanded throughout the game. In Portal 2, it returns in even more vicious form, revealing a dark backstory that explains why it is so terrible. In the end, she gives an amusing story of salvation. She is so resilient that she has moved to other games, including Lego Dimensions and Bridge Constructor Portal.
-Colin Campbell
Goose (Unnamed goose game)
The goose became one of the biggest memes of 2019 because it’s a terrible little bastard. In Untitled Goose Game, the goose spends its time tracking, annoying and torturing the various citizens of an idyllic village. It has the evil of a child and the selfishness of an adult. The goose is very funny.
-Colin Campbell
Pretty Jack (Borderlands 2)
Handsome Jack represents the best of the Borderlands franchise. In Borderlands 2, he is constantly present throughout the game. The heroes will not be long in coming, without hearing him complaining, threatening and joking – and a long story told breathlessly by laughter, how to kill a poor soul with a spoon. The voice actress Dame Clarke sells even the most demanding dialogue and makes him sympathetic, no matter how cruel the content is. Pretty Jack has neither a bow nor a bigger point – he’s just a smug, theatrical ass, and though it’s fun to hate him, a part of me has been cheering for him to the end.
-Cass Marshall
Hannah (Your history)
Hannah is this video game rarity: a human character played by an actor with no technological overlay. In her story, Hannah is interviewed by policemen investigating her husband’s disappearance. Hannah, which is excellently played by Viva Seifert, is often contradictory in her answers. Her evasive nature is based on developer Sam Barlow’s research into real police interviews and the way that suspects try to fool very experienced investigators. The player researches Hannah’s testimony to decipher an exciting story of love and betrayal.
-Colin Campbell
Herschel Biggs (LA Noire)
Herschel Biggs, who was sent to the pasture of the LAPD, grumbles over the theories of Wonderboy Cole Phelps that some fires in this day and age are actually related to a bigger or more sinister plot. It just means more paperwork after all. But then, faced with the vile charred remains of a family, Biggs breaks out. He swears by the firebug that is making the conspiracy, simple marginal justice, but of course this case ends so much bigger. Like a sick man recovering his hunger, Biggs is again a crime fighter. And his moral indignation is the only tear of optimism that Film Noir is ready to shed: that the bad guys will be caught off the books or not.
– Who is good
Isabelle (Animal Crossing)
Isabelle is my best friend. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf she is the pure, helpful friend to Tom Nook’s thieving landlord eyes. But there is a sense of anger behind Isabelle’s sparkle that she omitted when exposed as Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Isabelle Protec, but more importantly, she attac. But since her debut in New Leaf she’s the mascot of Animal Crossing – a very real icon.
– Nicole Carpenter
Jack and Marguerite Baker (Resident Evil 7)
Some Resident Evil villains are monsters, and that’s what makes them memorable, like Mr. X or the Regeneradores. Jack and Marguerite Baker are human and that puts them in their own ranks. Marguerite tries to offer you hospitality while Jack serves as an immortal, protective patriarch of his twisted family. This affectionate mom and pop duo has turned into a pot of supernatural rage disguised as your new parent. The frightening concept sells the scenes of Marguerite’s wild sting, Jack’s relentless hunt, and the fear you feel when you sit down to a family dinner.
-Cass Marshall
Jane Shepard (Mass Effect series)
The first human specter, the fearless avant-garde and leader of the Normandy crew. Shepard steps out of the role of the silent RPG protagonist and takes the responsibility. The voice of Jennifer Hale really sells Shepard as a deadly Space Marine and a vulnerable protagonist facing impossible opportunities. Between the various party combinations and the Renegade / Paragon path, there is no shortage of incredible action movie set pieces, great one-liner films and heart-warming moments with friends, allies and even lovers. Mass Effect 3 may have ended the trilogy sour, but we’ll always have Commander Shepard.
-Cass Marshall
Kiryu Kazuma (Yakuza Series)
The gangster’s gangster, Kiryu Kazuma, is a criminal who adheres to a code of integrity. He takes the fall in order to protect his buddies, even if it means a long way inside. Kazuma is often charged with crimes he did not commit. He works hard to avoid unnecessary murders, especially in the world of yakuza rivalries. Eventually, he turns his talent into an orphanage and becomes a father. In short, he is a bad hero who invokes the ideals of self-assertion and duty.
-Colin Campbell
JoshUntil dawn)
Josh, played by Rami Malek, has to do most of the heavy lifting in Until Dawn. Josh is a worried young man emotionally disabled by the loss of his sisters. First, he sets out to play a joke on his friends. But when real monsters emerge, Josh breaks away from reality. It’s difficult to make a switch, and Malek really does. Some of the lines sound almost silly at the moment, but multiple play-throughs help cement Josh as a complicated young man who has been ruined by far more frightening things than the Before Dawn monsters.
– Ryan Gilliam
Junko Enoshima (Danganronpa series)
Queen of Despair Junko Enoshima has become an icon of pop culture over the past decade. Their influence ranges from a wild video game boss to a hub of numerous TikTok trends. Enoshima’s unpredictable behavior is difficult to understand, but her loud and rude personality and eccentric movements have made her one of the most famous characters in anime and gaming.
– Julia Lee
Kassandra (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey)
It is generally accepted that you should appear in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey as Kassandra and not as her twin brother Alexios. As the voice actor Melissanthi Mahut has said, the Spartan Misthios feels fully alive. She is brash, sociable and tender. (Not to mention that she flirts with Kassandra’s NPCs.) I blush every time.) Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is a huge game that spans the history and mythology of ancient Greece. But Kassandra is so damn charming, I like to spend more than 100 hours with her. I defy you, that you do not fall in love with her.
– Emily Heller
Kirsten GearyThe secret world)
MMORPG quest givers are often enablers. Kirsten Geary, the leader of the Illuminati faction for the supernatural horror game The Secret World, is breaking new ground. Geary is a corporate perfectionist type A, which is interesting enough, but moreover, she is genuinely funny. It takes a special kind of character to rip me to pieces for lack of profit and make me laugh in the same block of text, but Geary effortlessly manages to keep on doing it.
-Cass Marshall
Kratos (God of War)
Created in 2005 for the original God of War, Kratos has since traveled so far like no other video game character in depth and personality. In his earlier incarnation he oriented himself to ancient myths and showed bone-headed violence and amorality. In 2018’s God of War, he retains his skills as a warrior, but is now a father whose rough, loving approach to parenting denies a touching capacity for love and tenderness towards his son and a deep mourning for his deceased wife.
-Colin Campbell
Crystal Dynamics / Square Enix
Lara Croft (Tomb Raider Restarts series)
Only a few old-time figures have changed as much as Lara Croft. When she re-starred in three games, she lost her origins as a boy-gamer fantasy food of the 90s and emerged as a real person. Now she is dealing with a complex past life that shapes her world view. She shows surprisingly vulnerable insights as she reflects on her own life choices. Sure, she remains a stubborn male creation, frowning pretty, while mowing down enemies and occasionally being emotional with a letterbox. But she has come a long way.
-Colin Campbell
Lester Crest (Grand Theft Auto 5)
In a world of exaggerated crime fighters and robberies, the Grand Theft Auto 5’s Lester Crane offers a modest counterpoint. His mobility was hampered by a devastating illness, he drives no fast cars or shoots no cannons and he stays behind the scenes. But in a tale full of unstable, immature men with a painful past and uncertain future, Lester is a welcome presence. He’s a reminder of the real world outside of this unsustainable crime and picks up some of the game’s best bon mots. Lester’s sarcasm, vulnerability, pettiness and greed make him one of the most memorable characters in the game.
-Cass Marshall
Lily BowenFallout: New Vegas)
Lily Bowen is one of the most tragic companions of the Fallout series. Bowen is a formidable beast with a scary voice, and indeed a grandmother transformed by the Forced Evolutionary Virus. Her condition is an impossible dilemma: continue to take medication and lose the memory of her grandchildren whose voices she holds on a holoband, or retain the memory of her loved ones in the near future and eventually succumb to insanity. In any case, their final vegas finish will be a memorable and heartrending narrative.
– Who is good
Lincoln Clay (Mafia 3)
2K Games classic mystery archetype from the 60s has received a remarkable twist: Mafia 3: a black army veteran, Lincoln Clay, nihilistic and shocked by his trip to Vietnam. Its archipelago of New Bordeaux (basically New Orleans) is crumbling in a series of double crosses and reprisals, and the story unfolds as a classic revenge fable. But Lincoln’s fate depends on how much the player understood him or respected the truth that all Lincoln wanted was Sal Marcano, who was dead for betraying the Black Mob. Each outcome is a fair ending, regardless of whether the player sees Clay as a vengeful antihero or another crook who succumbs to greed.
– Who is good
Luca Cocchiola (Battlefield 1)
The shooter of EA DICE from the First World War decided for a series of human stories, which offered different perspectives on the carnage. Cocchiola is an old man who looks back on a battle in the Dolomites in which he tries to save his brother’s life. Although the action is pure gunplay fantasy, Cocchiola’s interwoven story feels both true and touching.
-Colin Campbell
Madeline (Celeste)
Madeline is the most reliable figure of the decade, at least for those who struggle with anxiety and depression. Her stubborn determination to reach the summit of Celeste Mountain, even though a part of Madeline tells her she can not, is a good metaphor for leaving behind insecurity and self-criticism. Ultimately, however, Madeline does not inspire because she destroys her demons, but because she embraces them. When she finally stops running away from Part of Madeline and joins her instead, both are stronger for it.
– Emily Heller
Mae Borowski (Night in the woods)
When Mae Borowski returns to her old hometown after college, she is motionless and uncertain about her future. Depression and worry are causing her problems. The city of Possum Springs is largely unchanged, highlighting the different parts – the classic feeling of returning home after a long time. It’s a unique feeling to be able to capture it in a video game, but when you look at things from Borowski’s perspective and comment on how they handle them, the strange brew of nostalgia, mood, despair and confusion catches. Borowski is not always sympathetic, but she is always assignable.
-Jenna Stoeber
Marcus Fenix (Cogwheels of the war 4 and Gears 5)
Since the debut of Gears of War in 2006, I’ve probably spent more time controlling Marcus Fenix than any other avatar in any video game. Over the years, the old man has definitely grown on me. What began as an exaggerated portrayal of a nonsensical infantryman has evolved into a much more nuanced figure, older and wiser. Gears 5 has a ridiculous story, but it was still nice to have Bender . I mean, John DiMaggio was there when I needed him.
– Charlie Hall
Marcus Holloway (Watchdogs 2)
While the first title in the Watch Dogs series examined how hacking could add a glaring look to the vigilantes, the sequel Watch Dogs 2 put these talents in the hands of a more committed and reliable protagonist. Marcus Holloway is representative of modern hacktivists who understand that the technologies we rely on are the tools that manipulate and oppress us. Unlike his serial colleague Aiden Pearce – a lone wolf resisting the system – Holloway is the leader of a movement. He is a rallying point that inspires and enables others to defend themselves.
– Jeff Ramos
Max and Chloe (Life is strange)
Life is weird is much more than a time travel fable. It is a study of two young women and their relationships with each other and the extraordinary people in their lives (shout to the brilliant waitress / mother Joyce). Like the humans in all great dramatic friendships, Max and Chloe are totally unlike each other. one is shy and hard-working, the other bold and rebellious. But they get the best out of each other and create an interlocking story of love and learning.
-Colin Campbell
Mira (Donut County)
Mira captures a strict kind of kindness that one sees of characters in no medium. BK is her friend, but he’s an asshole and Mira works a lot to make him a better man. Which, of course, he does not estimate nearly enough. Aber ich schätze Mira. Sie ist kalt, aber sie ist kein Schwächling, und sie hält an ihrer Moral fest, auch wenn sie schlecht getestet wird. Wenn Sie einen Arschlochfreund haben, können Sie sich wahrscheinlich auf Mira beziehen. Wenn du der Arschlochfreund warst und das Glück hattest, eine Freundin wie Mira zu haben, nimm dir einen Moment Zeit, um sie wissen zu lassen, dass du sie schätzt.
-Jenna Stoeber
Mama (Die Bindung von Isaac)
Es gibt keinen größeren Bösewicht im Universum von Binding of Isaac als Mom, eine missbräuchliche religiöse Eifererin, die mit hochhackigen Schuhen auf ihr Kind stampft. Und weil sie Mutter ist, kennt sie alle tiefsten, dunkelsten Geheimnisse von Isaac, was sie zu einer Meisterin der passiven und aggressiven Aggression macht. Zugegeben, es gibt härtere Bosse im Spiel, aber keine packen den emotionalen Wallop von Mama.
– Russ Frushtick
Monika (Doki Doki Literaturverein)
Monika möchte geliebt werden, aber der Dating-Sim-Teil von Doki Doki enthält nicht einmal eine Route für sie. Was machst du, wenn dein Lieblings-NPC keine Romantikoption ist? Monika nimmt dies selbst in die Hand, ist sich der Grenzen ihres eigenen Genres bewusst und wird zu einem der schrecklichsten Videospielschurken dieses Jahrzehnts. Sie manipuliert das Spiel selbst und zerschmettert schließlich die vierte Wand. Aber Monika lernt ihre Lektion; Sie erkennt, dass der beste Weg, den Spieler zu lieben, darin besteht, ihn frei zu lassen, was im Schlusslied des Spiels poetisch vermittelt wird.
– Petrana Radulovic
Nathan Drake (Uncharted series)
Der schlagfertige Actionheld Nathan Drake wird aus dem gleichen Stoff geschnitten wie unzählige Hollywood-Hauptdarsteller, von Clark Gable bis Harrison Ford. Er ist ein hübscher, moderner Freibeuter, dessen Sangfroid angesichts der tödlichen Gefahr James Bond beschämt. Er neigt dazu, Witze über die heiklen Situationen zu machen, in denen er sich befindet, und über die vielen verschlungenen Verschwörungen, denen er gegenübersteht. Er zeigt aber auch Loyalität gegenüber denen, die ihm nahe stehen.
-Colin Campbell
Eulenjunge (Eulenjunge)
Der stille Protagonist ist ein Standardwerkzeug für Spiele, mit dem sich die Spieler in die Geschichte einfügen können, ohne dass die Gedanken und Meinungen der Hauptfigur ihre eigenen beeinflussen. Während des größten Teils des Abenteuers, das der titelgebende Owlboy unternimmt, ist die Stille um ihn herum mit den Gedanken, Meinungen und Gefühlen anderer gefüllt, so dass Owlboy nur die Möglichkeit hat, seine Handlungen für ihn sprechen zu lassen. Da er ein stiller Held ist, werden seine eigenen Gefühle nie in Frage gestellt, da sich die Handlung um ihn dreht. Doch erst in den letzten Augenblicken des Spiels verrät Owlboy, dass er sprechen kann, und trotz der emotionalen Turbulenzen, die andere auf ihn ausgeübt haben, möchte er nur wissen, ob es allen gut geht. Mit ein paar Sätzen zerbröckelt die Fassade, die um ihn herum errichtet wurde, und das Spiel enthüllt einen Charakter mit einem der größten Herzen in diesem Jahrzehnt.
– Jeff Ramos
Paarthurnax (The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim)
Drachen sind mächtig und grausam. Und Paarthurnax hat sicherlich schreckliche Verbrechen in seiner blutgetränkten Vergangenheit begangen. Aber in Skyrim ist er ein Pazifist, der auf einem Berg wohnt, über seine eigene Natur nachdenkt und wie ein Mönch in der Vergangenheit mit seinen angeborenen Wünschen kämpft. Er ist eine Studie über Selbsteinschätzung, Reue und Erlösung.
-Colin Campbell
Pagan Min (Far Cry 4)
Die Far Cry-Serie war schon immer gut darin, psychotische, charismatische Bösewichte hervorzubringen. King Pagan Min ist der farbenfrohste und verstörendste aller Haufen. Er ist ein guter “lieber Anführer”, der die Himalaya-Nation Kyrat mit einer giftigen Mischung aus persönlichem Charme, unerbittlicher Propaganda, kriminellem Sponsoring und Brutalität regiert. Aber er ist auch voller innerer Traumata, die auf seiner gewalttätigen Vergangenheit (sein Vater war ein Drogenbaron) und einer tragischen Liebesbeziehung mit der Frau seines größten Rivalen beruhen.
-Colin Campbell
Parvati Holcomb (Die äußeren Welten)
Parvati ist die allererste Figur, die man in den Außenwelten trifft, und wenn man das Internet im Allgemeinen glauben will, ist sie auch die Beste. Die Fans haben einen Punkt. Parvati is painfully genuine, and serves as a lens through which the player discovers the game universe for the first time. Her quest line in that game also tells a wonderful and important story, one that ties back into the character’s writer on a very personal level. It also helps that Parvati is voiced by the extraordinary Ashly Burch.
—Charlie Hall
Player (Sunset Overdrive)
The main character in Sunset Overdrive — simply named Player — captures the hip, in-your-face attitude of the late ’90s, which is impressive for a game released in 2014. Even more impressive is that they’re never annoying. Sometimes they’re rude, or awkward at flirting, but that just makes them more relatable, never off-putting. Plenty of games make the main character vague and silent, to allow players to easily project themselves into them, but Sunset Overdrive bucks that trend, and hard. Player is snarky, meta-aware, occasionally confused, but always along for the ride, and honestly that’s what I strive for in life.
—Jenna Stoeber
Prince Sidon (Die Legende von Zelda: Atem der Wildnis)
What is it about this strangely buff shark man? While The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is full of unique, memorable characters, none seemed to capture the internet’s heart more than Prince Sidon, one of the fishy Zora people. Yes, he’s got a surprisingly well-defined jaw and a winning smile for someone who seems to be more shark than Hylian, but beneath those fins beats a heart of gold. Who else shows up to cheer you on during the long journey to the heart of Zora’s domain? Nobody. Sidon is relentlessly upbeat, but always reminds Link that he believes in him. That faith in Link is cemented after he lets you ride across the waves in one of the game’s most memorable sequences: a battle against one of the Divine Beasts that pelts the area with rain. His enthusiasm is so endearing that I hope he returns in Breath of the Wild’s sequel.
—Chelsea Stark
Ratbag the Coward (Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor)
Ratbag is a craven, dishonest traitor who allies himself with his people’s enemy in his climb to power, for which he has little aptitude. He’s a creature of low courage and even lower intelligence, though he displays a brute knack for survival. He has no problem betraying his friends once they have served their usefulness. He is also self-deluded and embarrassingly boastful. He is destined for the top job, though his inept rule ends badly.
—Colin Campbell
Sam Porter Bridges (Death Stranding)
Death Stranding’s hero is a porter who delivers goods across a post-apocalyptic America, connecting cities to a nationwide network. Sam is cynical about the world, yet he is prepared to be convinced otherwise for the sake of the woman he loves, so he sets out on his long journey in search of himself, and of her. Although he’s mostly a typical grizzled game-bloke protagonist, his character and personality are elevated by a superb performance from Norman Reedus, who imbues Sam with a humanity and need that’s rare in gaming’s leading men.
—Colin Campbell
Samantha Greenbriar (Gone Home)
Though Sam never actually appears in Gone Home (apart from a family photograph), she is the driving force behind the game. What initially seems to be a straightforward mystery story turns into a surprisingly real portrait of adolescent queerness. Sam’s personality emerges slowly and in snippets, like a developing photograph. The picture that comes through is of a funny and creative young woman with a tender and rebellious heart. Years after finishing Gone Home, I still think about Sam. I hope that she’s happy out there somewhere — in San Francisco or Portland, probably — making queer feminist zines with her wife and two cats.
—Emily Heller
Sans (Undertale)
This cheeky little skeleton makes his first appearance in Undertale by doing the shake-hands-and-fart thing. From there we get to know this highly likable chap, who just wants to get through life with as little hassle as possible while cracking excruciating skeleton puns. When he makes a joke, the camera zooms in on him while he winks. It never gets old.
—Colin Campbell
Scarlett and Finn (Blackwood Crossing)
Blackwood Crossing is one of the most underrated narrative games of the past 10 years. It’s the story of Scarlett, a teenage girl, and her troublesome younger brother Finn. Set on a train journey, the game’s various puzzles wonderfully allow us insights into the siblings’ relationship, which has been shaped by loss. The game takes place at a confusing time for the two, as Scarlett moves into adulthood, threatening to leave Finn behind. A genuine tear-jerker.
—Colin Campbell
Senua (Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice)
Senua is an ancient warrior who battles with mental illness. Throughout Ninja Theory’s thoughtful game, she struggles with her own psychosis, which she believes to be a curse wrought by demons. One of the voices in her head actually talks to the game’s player, and it’s often unclear if the things she sees are real or figments of her mental distress. Clearly, Senua was researched and written with appropriate respect for a sensitive subject.
—Colin Campbell
Shane (Stardew Valley)
I just started my second playthrough of Stardew Valley and I thought I could resist him, but no dice. Shane is an aimless, depressed alcoholic who stocks shelves at the local JojaMart. He hates his job. He hates me, initially, when I first move to Pelican Town. If I give him a gift of his beloved red peppers, he thanks me warmly. If I follow up with a second interaction, he’ll ask why I’m talking to him. But giving Shane a single gift initiates a surprisingly sweet courtship, where he’ll send me recipes in the mail and refuse to speak to me in person. I’m a sucker for this. Dates with Shane reveal layers of insecurities. He feels like he’s “stuck in some miserable abyss” and worries that he’ll fail at trying anything. Marrying Shane doesn’t “fix” him, but you can give him a home and some chickens to raise, and sometimes that’s enough in this dark world.
—Simone de Rochefort
Shovel Knight (Shovel Knight)
Not only is Shovel Knight a stylishly designed character that stars in one of the decade’s best retro-inspired platformers, he also represents something much larger than himself. Shovel Knight, created by Yacht Club Games, is a lovely symbol of indie successes for the decade. The character crossed over into countless other games, and even became a Nintendo amiibo while still ushering his game and its several spinoffs across numerous platforms. And he did it all while wielding a humble shovel.
—Chelsea Stark
Sojiro Sakura (Persona 5)
Persona 5 has a lot of characters, but the warm arc that Sojiro goes through — from seeing the protagonist as a young rapscallion to treating him like his own son — melts the heart. In a world where barely any adults can be trusted, Sojiro supports the Phantom Thieves and provides them adult advice they often need to hear. He also brews a mean cup of coffee and cooks absolutely delicious curry.
—Julia Lee
Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment
Spider-Man (Marvel’s Spider-Man)
Here’s the thing: Spider-Man has been around for a while. If you don’t already know that Spider-Man is a great character, it’s pretty hard to make the case in a short blurb. But suffice it to say, he’s terrific in the PS4 exclusive Marvel’s Spider-Man, where he got his first excellent video game in quite some time, capturing all of the magic and sass that makes Peter Parker the true King of Queens.
—Russ Frushtick
Stanley and The Narrator (The Stanley Parable)
Every video game starts with an unspoken agreement. We, as the player, fulfill the tasks the game sets upon us without questioning the process. The plot or a narrator leads us down a path, and we see it through to its end willingly. But what if we broke that agreement? What if we shattered the reality of the game and worked in direct conflict with the whole concept of the game itself? In The Stanley Parable, you can contradict the game’s narrator, who in turn does their best to steer your actions back to the tale it wants to tell. You can repeat this transgression in multiple ways, leading to dozens of endings that are dark, humorous, and paradoxical, and which toy with the very ideas of video games themselves.
—Jeff Ramos
Tracer (Overwatch)
Tracer has been a vital character for the Overwatch franchise. Not only is she the cover woman of a competitive shooter, but she’s a gay woman — and that’s been important for a lot of fans who may not have otherwise seen queer characters in blockbuster video games. Like plenty of other Overwatch heroes, Tracer is often portrayed in fan art, as fans have reclaimed the characters and made them their own.
—Nicole Carpenter
thatgamecompany
The Traveler (travel)
This beautifully designed avatar drifts across the sands of Journey, one of the most lovely games of all time. They — the Traveler is genderless — do not speak, but rather chirp greetings to other travelers they encounter. They spend solemn and touching moments with gods before reaching a notoriously emotional denouement atop a windy mountain.
—Colin Campbell
Trico (The Last Guardian)
Trico’s mishmash of cat, bird, dog, and deer was animated so lovingly that it was easy for many players to see a beloved pet in his large brown eyes. Below the surface there was something even more impressive, but also more intangible: his behavior. Ignore Trico’s whimpering, feed him only what’s necessary, and he responds at a leisurely pace. But if you are quick to comfort him when he’s injured and find every food barrel you can, Trico becomes an ardent companion, willing to overcome his mortal fear of stained glass in order to protect you from harm.
—Clayton Ashley
Konami
Venom Snake (Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain)
Venom Snake is one of the more complex characters in all of Metal Gear — an impressive feat, to be sure. The Big Boss character lost a lot with the switch from series regular David Hayter to celebrity voice talent Kiefer Sutherland. But Venom Snake makes the list because he isn’t the hero. He’s masquerading as the real Big Boss, unknowingly, and represents what a person can be if they’re told exactly who they are. There’s nothing special about Venom Snake, but he plays a convincing Big Boss. Like Venom Snake, we aren’t heroes, but we play them well enough.
—Ryan Gilliam
Willow Pape (Kim Kardashian: Hollywood)
Willow Pape is, hands down, the pettiest mean girl I’ve ever encountered in video games. From the moment she appears in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, she has a single-minded determination to destroy my reputation and career. Willow’s dialogue — from accusing me of flirting with her ex to starting rumors about me on Twitter — is so delightfully over the top and campy that I can’t help but get sucked into the drama. I’ve never cared about anything as much as Willow Pape cares about humiliating me. Thwarting her is more satisfying than beating a thousand Dark Souls bosses.
—Emily Heller
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