This year has produced an unbelievable number of high-quality games. A large part of what made these experiences so fantastic was the characters we had the opportunity to pilot or interact with. For me, strong characters are one of the biggest contributors to a memorable game. When I look back on a game, I think about the friends I made, the enemies I defeated, and the people I helped.
Best Main Characters In Gaming History, Ranked
Audiences love their main characters in video games. Great protagonists shape the world around them while captivating the hearts and minds of players.
We’ve had no shortage of wonderfully written characters over this past year. From the verdant fields of the Sword Coast, to the dreary town of Bright Falls, to the varied biomes of Hyrule; we met some very interesting and engaging folk. Without further ado, these are the characters that have enthralled us over the past year.
Disclaimer:These rankings are based on a direct vote put out to DualShockers’ 100+ contributors, writers, and editors, not our individual reviews.
10Purah (The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom)
124 Years Young
The resolute Purah reappears inTears of the Kingdomto continue her work assisting Hyrule’s royal family. While she is surprised to see Link, players may have been more surprised to see Purah’s drastically different appearance. After perfecting her anti-aging rune, Purah graduated from her childlikeBreath of the Wildvisage to what she considers to be an ideal form — a young woman. She remains the Kingdom’s foremost scientific mind, inventing the eponymous Purah Pad that proved crucial in Link’s journey.
Linky… you’re not a ghost, are you?
Purah remains as dutiful as ever, helping Link rebuild the paraglider and sending him off on another adventure. Cynically, I would suggest that Purah owes her increased popularity among fans to her… altered appearance. Nevertheless, any character that appears on both sides of a massive time skip is bound to be a fan favorite.Tears of the Kingdom earned a 10/10 from DualShockers.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
9Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 4 Remake)
Legendary Himbo
Leon stole players’ hearts once more inResident Evil 4 Remake, reasserting himself as the definitive king of himbos. The federal agent descended upon Valdelobos to save Ashley Graham and did so with no shortage of mild frustration and biting one-liners. With his numerous appearances across the franchise, Leon is Resident Evil royalty. Kennedy is the perfect blend of funny, naive, proficient, and attentive — a complete charmer.
Where’s everyone going? Bingo?
The biggest appeal of Leon Kennedy isn’t his competence or soft heart, but rather how his emotions mirror your own while playing. A regenerator slinks out of a hanging body bag as you’re trying to pass by unnoticed? you may bet that both the player and Leon are letting out audible groans of frustration.Resident Evil 4 Remake earned a 7/10 from DualShockers.
Resident Evil 4
8Solomon Reed (Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty)
Bouncer By Night, Sleeper Agent… Also By Night
The frontman ofCyberpunk 2077’s renaissance story, Solomon Reed and actor Idris Elba brought a touch of charisma to Dogtown. Reed is the main driver of the plot inPhantom Liberty, exposing the player to the intrigues of the Federal Intelligence Agency. Uncovering Reed’s past and delving into his feud with Songbird was a pleasure; he was the perfect accompaniment to my exploits in Dogtown.
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Though Reed is an operative with a mythical reputation, he still interacts with the player affably, bantering and acknowledging the undesirable situation they’ve found themselves in. Reed seems to respect V’s accomplishments, which is foundational to the relationship between the two characters. It’s the capability of Reed combined with his down-to-earth attitude that makes the character so compelling.Phantom Liberty earned a 9/10 from DualShockers.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
7Saga Anderson (Alan Wake 2)
The Story Doesn’t Define You
The inclusion of Saga Anderson inAlan Wake 2was an adept choice by Remedy Entertainment. Anderson remains capable and level-headed in situations where even the titular character is prone topanic and clumsiness. Saga has received near-universal praise from fans as a result. After acouple of revelationsat the conclusion of Alan Wake 2 that I won’t get into here, it would appear that Anderson is going to have a larger role in the series' future than many might have anticipated.
You can not write her in. She’s my daughter, god damn it!
Agent Anderson displayed an extraordinary level of daring throughout her time in Bright Falls, surviving nightmarish attacks and defeating all manner of abominations in the process. Saga’s legendary tenacity allowed her to push through overwhelming adversity to solve the case and protect those she holds dear.Alan Wake earned a 9.4/10 from Dualshockers.
Alan Wake 2
6Clive Rosfield (Final Fantasy 16)
Oldest Child Syndrome
Final Fantasy 16’s Clive Rosfield is a truly heroic individual, bearing the weight of the world on his shoulders and persevering against incredible adversity. Rosfield wasn’t dealt the best hand in life and yet, though his optimism faded after subsequent setbacks, he never stopped putting others above himself. We follow Clive as he seeks to avenge his brother Joshua, learning a lot more about his troubled soul and the politics of Rosaria along the way. It would have been all too easy for Clive to turn his back on his fellow man, but despite everything he went through, he never lost his compulsion to help those around him.
I am a shield of Rosaria… and I will do my duty.
Clive is utterly without cunning; a traditional warrior in the vein of many of thepast Final Fantasy protagonists. Clive’s popularity is also boosted by voice actor Ben Starr who not only gives a fantastic performance but has also proven himself to be one of gaming’s good guys through his statements and actions over the past few months.Final Fantasy 16 earned a 9/10 from DualShockers.
Final Fantasy 16
Developed by Square Enix and released on the PS5 in 2023, Final Fantasy 16 sees shunned royal Clive Rosfield lead a journey of self-discovery in a world inhabited by Eikons. Learning the truth about his family and thwarting a powerful foe ruling the land of Valisthea is all in a hard day’s work for the protagonist, but he has a solid team of allies at his back, including Cid, Jill, and his trusty frost wolf Torgal.
5Miles Morales (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2)
Spider-GOAT
Morales is undoubtedly one of the most popular multimedia characters of the last decade, andSpider-Man 2’s iteration of the web-slinging superhero is no exception. How could you not love Miles? With his unassailable love for helping others and his can-do attitude, Miles Morales embodies everything Spider-Man should be. Despite his relative inexperience, Miles understands his immense responsibility and his duty to the people of New York City.
I’m the kid who knows people are looking up to me.
Even if the young hero hadn’t been bitten by that spider, the way he pursues his dual passions of science and music is very admirable, and we could all probably learn something from Miles in this regard. It’s the combination of Morales’ relatability and his courage that makes him such a beloved character.Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 earned a 10/10 from DualShockers.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
4Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Hedonism Personified
Astarion is perhaps the most polarizingBaldur’s Gate 3character on this list. His moral character is certainly questionable, displaying many times that he has little regard for the feelings and motivations of his traveling companions. While Astarion never really becomes less self-interested, he does grow closer to the party. It’s the sardonic delivery of voice actor Neil Newbon that sells Astarion, turning a villainous rogue into an amusing antihero.
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Toss a coin to your Tav.
As with any companion in Baldur’s Gate 3, there’s no shortage of thirst involved when it comes to determining the affections of the masses. The proud, acerbic vampire has charmed more than a few players with his penetrating wit. I won’t make the obvious innuendo here, but I will say that Baldur’s Gate 3 would be less colorful without Astarion, and clearly everyone agrees.Baldur’s Gate 3 earned a 10/10 from DualShockers.
Baldur’s Gate 3
3Karlach (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Too Fiery For Avernus
Was anyone surprised by the prevalence of Baldur’s Gate 3 characters on this list? Karlach received 19% of our overall vote, netting her third place on this list. This fiery and frenetic tiefling is cherished by many, and for good reason. Karlach is always bouncing from one thing to the next, bringing with her a foul mouth and boundless enthusiasm. Unlike Astarion, Karlach has a very clear moral compass, always looking to aid the disadvantaged and those down on their luck.
Better let the fuckers know I’m back, and this time, I’m not alone.
Karlach’s choice of class is astute as she possesses all the traits of a good barbarian — she’s passionate, provocative, and quick to anger. Karlach was so beloved by fans that Larian gradually made her ending more and more optimistic in subsequent patches. With the most recent epilogue update, Karlach fans are finally satiated by her new ending. While Karlach takes the bronze, she was only marginally beaten out by the next entry on this list.
2Shadowheart (Baldur’s Gate 3)
God’s Favourite Princess
Shadowheart is the third and final Baldur’s Gate 3 entry on this list, also earning 19% of the vote and narrowly edging out Karlach on a tiebreaker. I’ll take this brief opportunity to bemoan the fact thatmy favorite companionand Shadowheart’s best friend Lae’Zel was not popular enough to make this list. When we meet the half-elf cleric, she is completely devoted to the goddess of darkness, Shar, and you know what, she’s surprisingly amiable for a Sharran. Shadowheart is one of the most developed characters in Baldur’s Gate 3, playing a major role in the main quest.
You can’t cast a shadow without some light.
Shart is reticent at first, throwing biting one-liners at the player if they try and probe her feelings too deeply. She opens up over time, though, and becomes a loyal and steadfast friend. Shadowheart goes through significant character development throughout the game, rewarding players who support her and allow her to come to her own conclusions. Shadowheart’s journey of identity is one of the most gratifying parts of Baldur’s Gate 3, and one can see why she proved to be DualShockers' most popular character from Larian’s mega-hit.
1Alan Wake (Alan Wake 2)
It’s a classic case of ‘splitting the vote’ for Baldur’s Gate 3, as Alan Wake received 24% of the vote to become DualShockers' best video game character of 2023. Don’t get us wrong, though; he absolutely deserves it! InAlan Wake 2, we get to experience a different side of Wake as we follow him on his journey through the twisting passages of the paradoxical Dark Place. He’s been hardened by his time in this alternate reality, discovering unsettling facts about his psyche and his place in his own story.
The hero turns to look inside, is destroyed by what he sees, and is redeemed.
Wake has always been an introspective character, never expressing himself too forcefully unless angered by extreme circumstances. Despite facing hellish opposition, Wake drives himself forward with unwavering pragmatism. Like his counterpart Saga, Alan Wake shows fierce tenacity throughout, acting as the perfect instrument for the player to pilot through Remedy’s fantastic action-adventure.Alan Wake 2 earned a 9.4/10 from DualShockers.
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2023 was packed with incredible villains across a variety of genres. This list breaks down the best, most stand-out villains of the year in gaming.
