Board 8 > I rank video game characters [ranking with writeups]

(+) Yeah! (+)

60. Claire Redfield (Resident Evil)
Nominated by Snake
I have to find my brother.


Hard to get a bead on somebody like Claire. The Resident Evil series doesnt seem very character-driven it places ordinary people like cops, soldiers, investigators, etc. into paranormal situations and forces them to struggle out of it, and it doesnt have too much emphasis on character development. So Claire Redfield, who spends her first appearance looking for her brother Chris, mostly gets to act tough and fearless (as Snake put it) throughout. And thats fine, but its not really super interesting to me.

I like that according to Snake Claire has a strong motherly streak displayed via her helping young girls out of these traumatic events. Id rather see her in Marvel vs. Capcom games than her roided out brother, thats for sure.

59. Godot (Ace Attorney)
Nominated by NFUN
Blacker than a moonless night, hotter and more bitter than hell itself... that is coffee.


Godot is the principal prosecutor/antagonist in the third Ace Attorney game. He bears a grudge against Phoenix Wright and has an obsession with coffee. I was never super in love with this character. He always struck me as a bit of a tryhard not the character himself in canon, but rather how hes treated, like hes some hotshot expert. But Godot came off to me as inexperienced, making little blunders and losing control of the cases in a way Edgeworth or even Franziska wouldnt. That would have been fine, given that he was originally a defense attorney, not a prosecutor, and he also had little actual interest in prosecuting at times, but I dont think the game actually wanted me to think that.

Godot as a character was redeemed for me by the last case in the game, which perfectly brings the original trilogy to a close and ties everything up neatly. Godots motivations are laid bare, as is the extent of his singleminded revenge. It was neat.

Also uh can we never call women kittens please and thank you

58. Lea (CrossCode)
Nominated by Mega Mana


Lea is an avatar in the virtual world of CrossWorlds. Shes lost her memory and her voice, and she explores CrossWorlds in an attempt to get both back. Her lack of speech (apart from basic one-word phrases programmed into her) indicates that shes an avatar for the player as well, allowing the player to experience the game through her eyes.

I couldnt find much info on Lea the CrossCode Wiki isnt very expansive but I do like her design. Those horn accessories complete the ensemble nicely.

57. Senator Armstrong (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)
Nominated by Anagram
I'm using war as a business to get elected... so I can end war as a business! In my new America, people will die and kill for what they BELIEVE! Not for money. Not for oil! Not for what they're told is right. Every man will be free to fight his own wars!
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/a/af/ArmstrongPP.png/revision/latest?cb=20131228084459

I remember the days when an American politician driving the country to war under false pretenses, illegally working with corporations for personal gain, and positioning himself as a cartoon villain made for a fun, almost escapist story.

Just wait until the Republicans get their hands on nanomachines.

56. Hakuno Kishinami (Fate/Extra CCC)
Nominated by MasaomiHouzuki


Hakuno Kishinami (selectable as male or female) appears in several TYPE-MOON games. They are essentially a living embodiment of humanitys desire to live and fight death. Their Servant is drawn to them by this overwhelming desire. Together, they learn about each other and eventually win the Grail War. In later appearances, Hakuno can unlock the secrets in peoples hearts. They also overcome their desire to merely survive now they have a mission, a purpose.

The TYPE-MOON universe is inherently a pile of confusion to me. Ive tried understanding it but maybe its the language/translation barrier but a lot of what I read goes in one ear and out the other. Hakunos character is an interesting spin on the normal master in that they dont really have a strong character arc per se; they more exist in terms of interactions with other, more developed characters. Taking these two things in mind, its hard to have a real opinion on them. I do like determinators though, so thats a plus.

rwlh posted...

57. Senator Armstrong (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)
Nominated by Anagram
I'm using war as a business to get elected... so I can end war as a business! In my new America, people will die and kill for what they BELIEVE! Not for money. Not for oil! Not for what they're told is right. Every man will be free to fight his own wars!


I remember the days when an American politician driving the country to war under false pretenses, illegally working with corporations for personal gain, and positioning himself as a cartoon villain made for a fun, almost escapist story.

yeah, thirty years before the game came out
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55. Hero (Custom Robo)
Nominated by FL81
Im not going.


Normally a silent protagonist would place low on this list, but FL81 posted a video I found particularly funny. Worth a watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcSRgfpP9ko" data-time="

Also this character has some funny reaction faces (like the one FL uses on Discord). Thats enough for him to place higher than two Ace Attorney prosecutors!

54. Revolver Ocelot (Metal Gear Solid)
Nominated by Anagram
Alas, my finger must have slipped


I have never quite understood the Metal Gear Solid series. There are all these deep themes about war and humanity and nuclear proliferation and politics and love and all manner of stuff. But the plot and characters are often so goofy. I have to assume its an intentional dissonance on Kojimas part. Or maybe its not dissonant at all, Im not sure.

Anyway, Revolver Ocelot is one of the franchises most iconic characters, a quick-shooting cowboy who specializes in torture and handguns. Hes also a quadruple agent. Like, seriously. Hes always after some agenda or other, often only partially revealed through a cryptic post-credits phone call and only completely revealed at the end of the series.

I just cant take this guy seriously. He goes on Tarantino-esque tangents about guns, makes ridiculous hand gestures, and generally complicates the plot by several hundred degrees of magnitude. Thing is, Im not sure if Im supposed to take him seriously! This whole series straddles a line between deep commentary and batshit weirdness. So maybe Im approaching Ocelot wrong. Maybe hes pretty good after all.

53. Estelle Bright (Trails in the Sky)
Nominated by NFUN


Ill just come out and say what everyone is thinking: get a freaking haircut. Sheesh.

The Trails series is very popular among the Board 8 vgm crew (or at least it gets talked about a lot, which is not always the same thing). Ive not been terribly impressed with most of the music Ive heard from it, but fortunately for Estelle Bright, shes not a song.

Unfortunately for Estelle Bright, I have a sharp aversion to JRPG plottery. As I was reading a summary of Estelles backstory, the summary mentioned her mom, and I just knew the mom would be murdered by some sort of evil empire that raided her village. Eh, close enough. Estelle fights to honor the memory of her dead mom and to protect other people. This part I actually think is cool shes a Bracer, a sort of police force that patrols the lands and offers support. So its something somewhat different from the usual band of roving wanderers that JRPGs often feature.

As a character, shes tough and headstrong, but she has a girlish side too. Shes a bad cook, like so many anime girls. Shes very positive and tends to lift the spirits of those around her; even enemies are drawn to her radiance. But seriously that hair docks her quite a few points. Doesnt she get it in her face when shes fighting? I dont know why I have such a strong reaction but Ive felt that way ever since looking at a picture of her: its so impractical and goofy that I cant take her seriously. She does use a staff though. I like staff users.

52. Dhurke Sahdmadhi (Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice)
Nominated by hombad46
.........A dragon never yields. Even when wounded, a dragon bites down hard, and never lets go till its dying breath. It glares, it roars, and it latches its jaws firmly onto its prey till the bitter end. That's what lawyers do to get to the truth!


Reading Ace Attorney summaries is a very different experience from playing the game. I didnt really get a strong sense of Dhurkes personality apart from tough and caring, sort of like a prototypical father figure. I thought it was weird that he apparently stays channeled after dying for so long, like isnt there some sort of limit on this? Maybe Id feel more passionately about him if Id played the game, but he seems like an average mans man, not what Id call very interesting.

I also didnt like the song that was provided, which didnt help.

51. Iji Kataiser (Iji)
Nominated by Shonen_Bat


So is this game basically Metroid Fusion with a morality system? You play as a woman augmented with various combat abilities who takes guidance/orders from a cryptic male adviser. The difference here is Ijis struggle feels more personal: shes up against an alien race thats threatening to wipe out all of humanity, an alien race thats already killed part of her family. Iji can choose to show mercy to her foes, and the specifics of this decision can alter the games ending. If you make decisions that wind up leading to her brothers death, she has a mental breakdown and hallucinates him until the end. Iji (character) strikes me as a badass action hero type with some elements of humanity sprinkled in. And she uses NANOTECHNOLOGY, which means she can do literally anything, right?

Estelle's hair is great how dare you
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Drakeryn posted...

Estelle's hair is great how dare you

Also Estelle and Leah are both at least 50 places too low, RIP
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This topic has so many hot takes I need to call the fire department
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I wasn't expecting Hero to outplace meme characters like Godot or Senator Armstrong, so this is a pretty strong start!
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godot isnt a meme _`
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50. Lloyd Irving (Tales of Symphonia)
Nominated by Underleveled
I don't quite get it, but I got it.


Lloyd is your average JRPG protagonist: thickheaded but optimistic and loyal. These traits make him an effective party leader. Somehow. Hes a doofus, but his earnestness makes other people look up to him. Under the guidance of the mysterious Kratos Aurion, Lloyd matures and overcomes his naivete (though he never stops being a doofus). He would fit in just fine in your average shonen anime.

Im not normally a big fan of Lloyds character archetype, but hes the right balance of endearing and exasperating. Tales of Symphonia has a number of characters who fall neatly into JRPG archetypes, but they all play off each other well enough that its hard to really get mad at them. Its not like Lloyd would get mad at you, right?

49. Shuckle (Pokmon)
Nominated by FL81


I had to ask for an explanation for this mysterious random Pokemon. Turns out Shuckle has absurdly high defense, which makes it nigh impossible to subdue. On top of that, it even has a move that lets you swap attack and defense values, which means you can deal 700 million damage in one turn (when the largest HP for Pokemon is 1000). So its pretty OP.

Really though, Shuckle is this high because of Drakeryns cute fanart. Daww~

48. Vyse (Skies of Arcadia)
Nominated by Mega Mana
Impossible is just a word to let people feel good about themselves when they quit.


Remember when I criticized Squall for being sullen and moody and all that? On the opposite end of the spectrum we have Vyse, whos basically a JRPG lead in cheerleader form. Always optimistic and good-natured, Vyse gathers a disparate party mostly through his own force of personality. Hes full of inspirational quotes like the one above, which is very shonen anime of him.

Hes got a weird design. I never quite figured out the partially detached sleeves thing. Whats the point of that?

I dont know. I guess Vyse is fine. A character like a cheery go-getter, has to be written a particular way for me to like them. Vyse isnt bad. Hes not great. Hes fine. Were in fine tier. Have fun, pirate!

47. Niko (OneShot)
Nominated by Prody Parrot


I learned basically nothing about this character from their Wiki. Theyre a cat child and a chosen one who likes pancakes. Wikimonsters can opine for pages about Arles shoe size, but we cant get a plot summary of this game?

Oh well. Niko is cute. Theyre a gender-neutral cat child (kitten?) on a quest to save their world. They have a somewhat expressive face and too-big clothes. I like cats so I automatically like them a little more than I normally would.

46. Doug Rattman (Portal)
Nominated by Place
The cake is a lie.


Doug Rattman is a man thrown into unenviable circumstances. Always suspicious of GLaDOS, he is the sole survivor of her poisoning the Aperture staff. He hides into secluded areas across the facility, leaving artwork and cryptic messages for Chell to find. He also secretly works from behind the scenes to aid Chell in her own quest to escape the facility.

Not much is known about Rattman in the games. There is a supplemental comic that goes into some additional detail, such as that he relies on medication to maintain his sanity.

Its hard to rank somebody like Rattman, somebody whose main contributions to the plot happen off-screen. His ultimate fate isnt even revealed in Portal 2. Hes a bit of a mystery, and while that mystery makes him somewhat interesting, Id feel funny ranking him over characters who are more active participants in the plot.

play oneshot
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45. The Defect (Slay the Spire)
Nominated by GameBopAdv


I didnt understand a word of that Wiki but I read an automaton that has become self-aware and I instantly liked this character. Thats a trope I really enjoy, and thats enough to propel him above the fodder.

Also he has a card called Go for the Eyes, thats kind of cool.

44. Funky Kong (Donkey Kong)
Nominated by kateee
Lookin' good, Kongs! Buckle up and blast off, you're outta here!


Funky Kong is the hippest, hottest Kong on DK Island. Throughout the series hes operated a way for the Kongs to go back to previous worlds on the map (which is a curious feature of gameplay when you think about it), a weapons shop, and an item store. He does it all with style. He doesnt like adverturing apparently, preferring to let the other Kongs shine; hes happy playing a support role.

Any discussion of the Kong family simply must touch on Kong genealogy. Is Funky related to DK? They look virtually identical save for clothing. Would that make Funky Crankys son/grandson? If not, is Funky related to Diddy, like a cool uncle or something? What if hes Candys brother? Or what if hear me out hes just some schmuck who freeloads, crashing at DKs treehouse and eating bananas he doesnt pay for? Kind of like that friend we all have whos between jobs and just needs a place to stay for a few days. Yeah. Thats my Funky Kong headcanon.

But seriously, you had to literally pay in-game currency to return to prior worlds in those games. What the heck?

43. Bowser (Mario)
Nominated by MetalmindStats
I'm lightning in a bottle! I'm an earthquake in a can!


Bowser is a weird character. Some Mario games, like Super Mario RPG, give him all this personality hes gruff and blustery and I half expect him to mug for the camera in a wrestling arena. But some games, notably the main platformers, present him as this boring, stereotypical villain. Like, in Super Mario Odyssey he wants to kidnap Peach and marry her, but there are no jokes about this; he just kidnaps her and takes the worlds slowest airship ride to the chapel. If it were a Mario and Luigi game, wed get neat insights into Bowsers psyche and why exactly hes so fixated on this human woman. Because of the inconsistency, I cant rank him higher than this.

Although I do have to say, Bowser is hilarious in the Mario Party games. Hes such a troll, its almost delightful to go to a Bowser Space. So props for that.

Ive always found it interesting how Bowsers design has evolved from his weird-looking sprite in Super Mario Bros. to what its basically been for decades. Its a natural evolution, but I wouldnt have gotten his current look out of his old sprite.

42. Goro Majima (Yakuza)
Nominated by NFUN


NFUN linked me this video for additional information:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fkggnow9W0" data-time="

(he also linked me this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VD6__C2Ht6M" data-time="
but that seems less relevant)

That first video was really great. I feel like I learned a lot about Majima through it, like his ability to problem-solve through nonviolence. Pretty compelling.

Then I did a little more digging and I realized thats probably not an accurate depiction of this character at all.

Goro Majima is a member of the yakuza. He is known for his vicious fighting style (you know, like that video shows >_>), his temper (again!) and his somewhat skewed code of honor. He believes only he can kill the series protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu. Hes been both a final boss and a playable character, which is an interesting distinction.

I guess hes interesting. But after watching an admittedly great video that didnt seem too relevant, I wasnt about to read pages upon pages of plot summary. He can go here because hes probably funkier than Funky Kong.

41. Utsuho Reiuji (Touhou Project)
Nominated by FL81


Shes a bird girl with a nuclear reactor on her arm. Thats kind of neat. Her theme song is cool. I like her design (and I also like the fanart that was posted). Good enough for me!

With the left leg "the leg of decomposition" and the right leg "the leg of fusion", therefore by that which controls this, the right arm's "third leg" (control rod and fuel rod)[Ref. Needed], she is able to manipulate the ultimate energy, nuclear fusion oh

rwlh posted...

42. Goro Majima (Yakuza)

Majima in Yakuza 0 (where that clip is from, his introductory scene) is a very different character than Majima in the rest of the series. His half of Y0 is largely about how he ended up being the way he is.

Also, 24-Hour Cinderella is always relevant.
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40. Slak (Defender's Quest)
Nominated by azuarc


Here we have a Berserker who is so dense and thick-headed and obsessed with appearing masculine at all times that he doesnt wear battle armor. He doesnt wear a shirt. At one point he doesnt even wear pants! This is goofy bro (I call it goofbro) to the extreme. Slak acts as comedic relief in Defenders Quest, often writing random nonsense in Azras journals. He names his abs. (Naturally, they are all goofbro things.)

Why the party puts up with him, I dont know. He must be damn good in battle. Or maybe theres literally nobody else.

39. Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza)
Nominated by Place
Im no kind-hearted soul. I can take another name, and build a new life... But on the inside I'll always have that instinct, no matter how much I hate it. I'm yakuza through and through.


Kiryu is a member of a Japanese crime family. Though he often chooses violence over diplomacy, he has a big heart, particularly for children. He abides by an honor code. This has gotten him into trouble before.

Kiryu has had a number of adventures throughout the Yakuza series, including being framed for murder, multiple stints in prison, and a heck of a lot of fights. He has emerged from it all as a man who knows what he wants out of the world, and who isnt afraid to take it.

Its interesting to read about the differences between Kiryu and Majima: theyre both brutal in their enforcement, but Majima has a worse temper and is more unpredictable, whereas Kiryu is much more rational. Its no wonder they butt heads throughout the series.

38. Dolores Garcia (Renowned Explorers International Society)
Nominated by azuarc


I appreciate the info azuarc provided about Dolores, because the wiki is not super informative. Dolores is a masked luchador who likes to punch things. She found no one worthy of a challenge so she joined the Renowned Explorers and now she punches dinosaurs in the face.

azuarc gave me a multi-paragraph writeup about her shes pious and superstitious and kind of a dingbat (his words). I especially like how she does endless pushups at night while the rest of the team goes to sleep, and how shes apt to challenging villagers to dodgeball. Her in-game stats reflect her incredible focus and dedication to physical self-improvement. Everything seems tied into this idea, that shes devoted her life to fitness and fighting and physical challenges. Nice singular focus from the dev team there.

37. Nwabudike Morgan (Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri)
Nominated by MasaomiHouzuki
And when at last it is time for the transition from megacorporation to planetary government, from entrepreneur to emperor, it is then that the true genius of our strategy shall become apparent, for energy is the lifeblood of this society and when the chips are down he who controls the energy supply controls Planet. In former times the energy monopoly was called "The Power Company"; we intend to give this name an entirely new meaning.


An unapologetic capitalist and social darwinist, CEO Morgan of Morgan Industries is the logical extension of capitalism run unchecked. This is a man with ambitions to buy and sell planets, a man who looks at energy resources in terms of how they can benefit mankind but said benefit is couched in the structure of generating income, because money makes the world(s) go round. Greed is good. Morgan is ambitious hed like to live forever, after all, though hed settle for 500 years and hes willing to do what it takes to ensure he emerges on top.

There are other factions in Alpha Centauri, from technocrats to environmentalists to totalitarian regimes. CEO Morgan offers a way forward based around the principles of raw, unfiltered capitalism, a system that only works for those with the means to utilize it. Whether he succeeds or not is up to you.

Hes got a funny sense of humor, a trait many social darwinists lack.

36. Wolf O'Donnell (Star Fox)
Nominated by Great_Paul
Cant let you do that, Star Fox.


I enjoy the fact that Star Fox got a rival team in Star Fox 64, and that this team stuck around for later games (and Smash Bros. installments!). Wolf, leader of the team, is everything Fox isnt: cold, cruel, out for money and fame. Well, almost everything: hes a damn good pilot, like Fox.

While the specific nature of his rivalry with Fox is only hinted at, Wolf harbors a deep grudge against Star Fox, allying themselves with Andross to take them out. Even when theyre forced to work together, Wolf insists he and Fox will never be friends.

Wolfs a fairly straightforward character, the rival who occasionally has to team up with his bitter enemy. He even has shades of the only I am allowed to defeat you trope. I was pleasantly surprised to see him in Smash.

I like his character design. The eyepatch is a nice touch of grizzle. His furry goatee makes him seem older than he probably is, but certainly not wiser. He looks like hes seen his share of battles and scrapes, and hes come out of them but not necessarily in one piece.

35. Dante (Devil May Cry)
Nominated by ertyu0078
So, you're looking to play, huh? Alright, I guess I got some time to kill...


With his rugged good looks, playful demeanor, and sheer fighting skill, Dante must be quite the catch. Can you imagine what a date with him would be like? He would probably take you to a pizza place and you would be continually interrupted by demons and he would constantly show off ludicrous flips and sword combos and then hed take you back home and Dantes getting bigger bang bang bang pull his Devil Trigger. Hed insist on paying for the meal even though hes broke.

Dante is fun. Cheese with a wink and a nod. Hes always quick with a quip and a shrug, like its all a game to him. He gets serious sometimes, but in general his personality is more prone to goofing off. Does this make for the deepest character? Not really. But like I said, hes fun. Sometimes we need fun characters.

34. Mordin Solus (Mass Effect series)
Nominated by TheArkOfTurus
Have killed many, Shepard. Many methods. Gunfire, knives, drugs, tech attacks, once with farming equipment. But not with medicine.


Mordin Solus is the very model of a scientist salarian. A brilliant geneticist, he helped implement the genophage against the krogan to sharply reduce their fertility and eventually lead to their dying off. Though he puts on a veneer of intellectual consideration above emotional concerns, Mordin regrets his role in the genophage. In the third Mass Effect game, he personally takes steps toward implementing a cure for the krogan.

Mordin is very quirky. Hes very focused on cold logic, but he has a wry sense of humor. Hes known to bust out some Gilbert and Sullivan from time to time. He also doles out relationship advice to other crew members aboard the Normandy. Hes a nice spin on the Spock archetype, with a lot of charm to boot. His heroic sacrifice is also very moving.

33. Rucks (Bastion)
Nominated by Glacier
Now The Kid sees somethin' stranger still; his mind races. Did anyone else survive? Sure enough, he finds another. He finds me.


Rucks is both the narrator of Bastion and an ally to its main character, the Kid. Rucks is an old man who has had a hand in many aspects of the games backstory. As the Kid goes about the game, Rucks will literally narrate whats happening in a dynamic gameplay sort of way. His meta observations provide a lot of personality to the game.

There is also a bit of mystery about Ruckss relationship with the Kid, specifically whether hes the Kids father, or some version of the Kid from an alternate timeline. Either way, one gets the sense that Rucks knows more than he lets on. I like this mysterious omniscient narrator whos seen it all before.

That voice is simply to die for.

32. Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)
Nominated by Snake
All I know is that things are getting really screwy around here and I got a weird feeling it's got something to do with me.


Silent Hill games come up with creative ways to torture their characters and possibly their players too. Heather Mason at one point becomes pregnant with some half-formed version of God and has to fight it as a half-skeletal abomination and the animated gif of the jiggling pelvis made me want to barf. Thank you, Silent Hill.

Anyway, Heather is a normal girl on a mission to kill God. You know. Shes a pretty realistic character; she has no patience for the games Silent Hill plays with her. Shes out to comprehend the death of her father and woe be any demons or corpses or demon corpses who get in her way.

Like Claire Redfield, her personality seems more reactive to the scary events going on around her, so its hard to get a bead on her personality. I do like that shes strong and not a damsel in distress. Theres no love interest. Heather carries the game with her tough attitude and resilience. So I respect that.

31. Jorji Costava (Papers, Please)
Nominated by Glacier
Ok, ok. You no like passport, I understand. I come back again with better one.


Jorji Costava likes to pull one over on the inspector. Its often unclear if Jorji has all his documents, what his true purpose is in Arstotzka, and whether he truly has the inspectors best interests at heart. Jorji appears as a genial man who does not seem to mind being detained; indeed, he quickly returns with another attempt and frequently commands the inspector for doing a great job. In the end, Jorji even offers the inspector his own passport, claiming he can easily get another.

Jorji (which I pronounce Georgie) is mysterious. He claims to sell drugs over the border, but can you really trust him? He says he admires the job youre doing, but what are his true motivation? Hes certainly a shady character, but he claims to be on your side. Do you believe him? Are you supposed to believe him?

If you play SH3 her inner thoughts when you examine practically anything in the environment clue you into the type of character Heather really is. It's something you can only really get from playing though.
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Oh god how did I not notice this go up.

At least I didnt miss all my noms drop!!

30. Arthur (The Journeyman Project series)
Nominated by GameBopAdv


AI is usually pretty interesting in fiction (and in real life!). Arthur is an AI who seems somewhat childlike, just going off the Wiki page, but also helpful. He bonds with a man named Gage, and together they have various adventures in time, even traveling to Atlantis! And he eventually gets to wear a human suit and become mobile.

Arthur is also an accomplished painter, but his paintings were always attributed to his creator. That must suck.

It strikes me as odd that in the twenty-third century humanity is still struggling with AI. Arthurs creator taught him pop culture from our era, and he also worried humanity wouldnt accept Arthur if he were fully known. There are a lot of issues at play with Arthur: his worries about abandonment, his desire to belong, his fear of lack of acceptance. AI in video games often falls into either category of helpful servant or evil destroyer, so its nice to see an AI with some complexity.

29. Miles Edgeworth (Ace Attorney series)
Nominated by Underleveled
It's never easy... We claw and scratch for every inch. But we will always eventually reach that one single truth. This I promise you.


Okay so finally, an Ace Attorney character I like! Edgeworth is the star of the first game, stealing every scene hes in with his trademark confidence and style. His backstory with Phoenix helps humanize him, and then 1-4 happens and hes just stripped of all that confidence and style and brought down to Earth. The second game is worse without Edgeworths presence, though his small roles in that and later games are always highlights.

I dont think Edgeworth is the second coming or anything like this community seems to (hes the logo on Discord, for pitys sake), but I do think hes a well-developed character, at least in the main series. The Investigations games make him into an unstoppable chessmaster, which is kind of how he always was, but its less fun when youre playing as him.

Alternate quote: I object! That was... objectionable!

28. Putt-Putt (Putt-Putt series)
Nominated by GameBopAdv


A talking car and a small dog have adventures at the zoo, in the ocean, and across time.

Putt-Putt is a happy purple convertible who rescues a puppy named Pep in his first adventure. The duo then venture all over creation having fun and wholesome edutainment times. Because Putt-Putt has no arms, he interacts with objects through some sort of fishing rod from his interior.

This stuff is so goofy and I love it. The character originally started as a bedtime story and became this media EMPIRE, with multiple games and toys. Putt-Putt is proof to children that hard work and optimism can get you far in life.

27. Falco Lombardi (Star Fox)
Nominated by banshiryuu
Hands off my prey!


Falco is a lot of fun. He balances Foxs can-do leadership, Peppys sage wisdom, and Slippys fall-over-himself naivete (and I guess Krystal is there too) with a healthy dose of cynicism and complaining. He thinks hes the hottest hotshot on the team and he resents taking orders from anyone or busting his hide to save someone (usually Slippy) in a jam. Hes kind of a dick, really.

And yet theres something very likable about Falco. Its that Han Solo curmudgeony Ill help you, but its only in my own self-interest even though deep down Im a good guy archetype. Like, its impossible to imagine Falco ever betraying the team. Leaving the team? Sure, he does that. He comes back eventually, to swoop in and save the day heroically like any self-serving egotistical jerk would. But he still does it. When Fox needs him, hes there. When Peppy or Slippy need him, hes there. When the Lylat System needs him, hes there. When Kat needs him well, lets not get ahead of ourselves.

He also stars in a manga literally called Goodbye, Beloved Falco that chronicles what happens between Star Fox 64 and Star Fox Adventures. The title alone is terrific.

26. Makoto Nijima (Persona 5)
Nominated by MoonRunes
"I may be a phantom thief, but that's no excuse for me to start ignoring my presidential duties."


Hard on others but maybe harder on herself, Makoto Nijima feels compelled to excel no matter what. She knows she absolutely must do well in school to relieve her older sister of the burden of taking care of her. Despite being student council president, Makoto is highly unpopular for the perception that she doesnt do anything to actually help the students; in actuality, she feels powerless to do so. Joining the Phantom Thieves helps her develop a stronger sense of purpose and self-worth.

Makoto is very no-nonsense, almost robotic at times, though by the end of her journey with the Phantom Thieves, shes able to allow herself to have fun. Only a little though.

The idea of improving self-worth through friendship is a nice trope, and Makoto clearly benefits from being around a good support network. As this is a Persona game, friendship plays a huge role. But shes also able to find worth in her own actions, as a person, and thats perhaps a more worthwhile takeaway from the character: she becomes who she always wanted to be, on her own terms.

25. Kuja (Final Fantasy IX)
Nominated by pyresword
Mwahaha... So the curtain rises! Perfect, my canary. Let me show you the truth about your mother! First Act: The End of Ugly Desire. It's showtime!


After Sephiroth became so ravenously popular, I guess Square decided they would make an even more bishie antagonist for the next Final Fantasy game. (Well, next after FFVIII.) Kuja is effeminate and pretty, offering a delightful challenge to legions of insecure gamers to confront their toxic masculinity and oh wait hes the bad guy, yeah I guess theyll just delight in beating him up instead.

A nobleman and adviser to Queen Brahne, Kuja does not wear pants. Hes a narcissist who cant fathom the world existing without him, so, like any self-respecting JRPG villain, he decides to take down the whole world with him. He contrasts with Zidane, who acts goofy but has a big heart and is steadfast and loyal; Kuja only cares for himself and uses and manipulates others. Zidane puts the needs of his friends and the world over his own needs; Kuja, when he learns hes mortal, throws a tantrum and tries to blow everything up.

Kujas life is in some respects a tragedy. He was created to be a weapon of mass destruction, but he wasnt given the tools needed to succeed at that goal. He filled his underdeveloped heart with hate and turned that hate outward. He would have really benefited from some Oprah. Also maybe a pair of khakis or something.

24. Francis York Morgan (Deadly Premonition)
Nominated by banshiryuu
Did you see that, Zach? Clear as a crisp spring morning. FK...in the coffee!


Please, call him York. Everyone does.

Francis York Morgan is a special agent for the FBI who specializes in bizarre crimes. His work takes him to the small town of Greenvale, where he encounters an odd assortment of characters. He attempts to track down the mysterious Raincoat Killer, whos been leaving a trail of bodies behind. York is decidedly quirky: he has frequent conversations with an entity called Zach, for one thing, and he is also prone to tangents about punk rock and coffee. York has a habit of making those around him uncomfortable, though theyre sort of forced to put up with him because, well, he gets results.

York has a rather complicated backstory. When he was a child, he witnessed his father murder his mother and then commit suicide. The resulting trauma allowed an imaginary personality York to take over his initial personality Zach. He doesnt remember this until the end of the game.

Deadly Premonition is full of homages to Twin Peaks. York is presumably a send-up of Dale Cooper, who also loved his coffee. But York is an interesting beast. Not derivative, he offers a flavor of weird thats all his own. The clunky/janky graphics of the original game help with that, as York often gestures wildly and grins creepily. It also helps that, despite his idiosynchrasies, York is a fundnamentally good person, willing to put himself at great risk to protect people, socially awkward as he may be.

23. The Nameless One (Planescape: Torment)
Nominated by TheArkOfTurus
What can change the nature of a man?


The Nameless One is an immortal being who is cursed to awaken every tme he dies with no memory of his prior lives. He has a committed a grave sin and wronged many people in his past incarnations. How he specifically plays out is up to the player, but he goes on a quest to truly find himself and seek redemption.

The Nameless One is an unconventional character. He is not attractive. Hes not a blank slate for character creation. Hes flawed in many ways. He certainly fits the bill for an interesting character. Planescape: Torment is a game with a script longer than some books, so there is ample time for the Nameless One and his companions to interact with the immersive worlds they encounter.

He really should get some better fashion sense though. Animal skins and bones are so last millennium. One would hed become, like, The Fashionista Incarnation at some point.

22. Chiaki Nanami (Danganronpa 2)
Nominated by hombad46
No matter what kind of future it is... As long as you guys move toward it, I will never disappear. Everything that happened here...it won't be meaningless...


Chiaki is one of the most memorable students in Danganronpa 2. Surrounded by boisterous personalities and even a superpower or two, Chiaki holds it down as the Ultimate Gamer. Shes a friend and confidante to Hajime, offering wisdom in her typical calm, detached style. And she may be calm and detached, but shes passionate, and shell do anything to help Hajime out and help the rest of the students escape the killing game.

Thats why the truth about her is such a gut punch: shes an AI created by a character from the first Danganronpa, and shes revealed as the traitor and executed. Nevertheless, she returns to help Hajime when he needs her most. A true friend.

DR2 had some clunkers of characters, and Im not even sure Id remember all of them without a list. But Chiaki has always stuck with me. Shes proof that loyalty, curiosity, and friendship can triumph against despair.

21. Count Bleck (Super Paper Mario)
Nominated by Shonen_Bat
Of all things, you defend the heart?! Nothing could be more worthless...


The Mario series isnt really known for storyline experimentation, except for its RPGs. Super Paper Mario (which isnt technically an RPG so shhh) gives us Count Bleck, a tragic villain (!). Dedicated to extinguishing life on a multiversal level, Count Bleck possesses a tragic past thats telegraphed a ton but still has a few emotional gut punches. Blecks minions genuinely respect, admire, and love him (except Dimentio, but thats a whole different story). As Blecks grand scheme unfolds, and as he realizes the woman he loved might still be alive, he actually hopes the heroes defeat him. This guy is not a typical Mario villain at all. He also sports a stylish, starry cape and top hat, which is just extra icing on the cake.