10 Best Video Game Characters of the Century (So Far)

As video games accumulate decades of age, the number of memorable characters that leave a mark on our lives increases, just as the difficulty of comparing them doubles.

There are representations of all kinds, encompassing all sorts of stories, species, and ideologies, allowing the interactive medium to appeal to an ever-growing audience by enabling them to see themselves increasingly reflected in these adventures.

In fact, the last couple of decades have seen exponential growth for the vast majority of elements that make up video games, and their protagonists are no exception.

Therefore, in order to look back and appreciate the key figures in our modern history, I invite you to read this list of the ten best video game characters of the century (so far).

10 Joel Miller

The True Survivor

While I've never been a die-hard fan of The Last of Us, despite believing it to be a magnificent franchise, I can't help but applaud the impact Naughty Dog's work had on popularizing mature storytelling in video games among newcomers, and Joel Miller is largely responsible for that.

The way the game, through its cinematic excellence and coherent gameplay, puts you in the shoes of a grieving father who finds in Ellie a new reason to keep going is truly chilling, because it reflects a humanity that was rare for a big-budget production at the time.

Without glorifying murder, but at the same time, without trivializing the immorality of his actions, he's a complex and dichotomous figure who invites reflection thanks to the harsh situations he finds himself in.

Although he relinquished the leading role in the sequel, all his appearances are stellar and memorable, though his main contribution will always be demonstrating to the world that video games have nothing to envy in other mediums when it comes to storytelling.

9 Bayonetta

A Turning Point Icon

Female protagonists, unfortunately, have been the subject of controversy for many years due to a small yet quite vocal segment of the community, though characters like Bayonetta helped to spark a necessary conversation about their representation that really influenced the industry for the better.

Instead of being designed with the male gaze as its fundamental principle, her overconfidence, complete agency, immeasurable power, and constant satire constitute one of the greatest subversions the video game industry has witnessed this century, even when she falls into several of the clichés she mocks.

With a very distinct personality, a story that humanizes and explores her in depth, and an impressive ease of identification both artistically and mechanically, she's a cohesive character on all fronts, whose charisma is only matched by her ability to convey it in combat.

Mari Shimazaki did an extraordinary job designing a unique and unmistakable figure, and PlatinumGames did an equally exceptional job building an eternal battlefield to unleash her strength, elevating Bayonetta to the top within the genre in the process.

8 Master Chief

Humanity's Super Soldier

Even though he's a man of few words, Master Chief has been iconic since his first appearance in Halo: Combat Evolved, meaning he's been over 20 years at the pinnacle of video game protagonists.

While his mere presence is enough to include him on this list, as he's become an integral part of video game culture, it's also true that he earns his place thanks to his tragic lore and character development, given each new installment of the series has further fleshed him out.

His transformation from a simple super-soldier to a symbol of humanity within the interactive medium has been made possible by his enduring relevance, and very few characters in history can boast of having achieved such a long-lived feat.

Although his later years haven't lived up to his legend, Master Chief will remain an indelible mark on our history, and I hope to live long enough to continue accompanying him and his unwavering defense of the most virtuous values ​​possible.

7 Senua

The Explorer of Hell

We all remember Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice for how it established, very successfully if you ask me, the concept of AA projects, but also for featuring Senua, among the most unforgettable protagonists of all time.

Mental illness has never been a recurring theme in video games, neither in main nor side stories, but this immersive and audiovisually enchanting Celtic adventure captures it with impressive empathy, sincerity, and brutality.

Playing Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice is to experience Senua's psychotic episodes, the consequences of her severe traumas, and her steep and painful path to finding peace with her grief and rescuing the soul of her deceased partner, which creates a bond truly tangible with the player.

The connection that is generated between Senua and us, both by empathizing with her mission and by vividly experiencing what she does, is as outstanding as it is unique, since few video games in history have achieved such a strong bond with the player through stimuli.

6 Dante

The Coolest Debtor in the World

Not all characters have to be an amalgamation of human realities with which we can identify; sometimes it's enough to simply be the most astute, charismatic, and outrageous entity ever conceived, like Dante from Devil May Cry.

When you possess an aura of such magnitude that even the cringe-worthy cutscenes of the first installment or your emo episode in the sequel feel special, it's because you know you're dealing with a personality destined to transcend eras.

With no more development than the desire to fight his brother, pay off his debts, and eat pizza, he embodies an atypical yet captivating power fantasy, overflowing with charm, bad jokes, and a talent for aesthetic and gameplay stylization that has never been equaled.

It's impossible to separate Dante from what he conveys in terms of gameplay, just as it's impossible not to properly appreciate how he has influenced countless works across all forms of entertainment, precisely because of how unforgettable his presence on screen is.

5 Ezio Auditore

Prince of Assassins

Before Ubisoft embarked on a path of questionable essence, it was capable of creating one of the century's best video game trilogies, starring an Ezio Auditore who captured the hearts of all who played his respective entries of Assassin's Creed.

Witnessing his journey from a young man driven by a thirst for revenge to a wise and measured master is a wonderful experience, especially if you grew up alongside him through the years and, like a brother, both accompanied each other on your respective paths.

From his undeniable charisma to his silver tongue, capable of charming anyone and alluring any historical figure, he's a sensational embodiment of the traditional hero, empowered by the magnificence of his surrounding mythology and his connection to Desmond Miles.

Even though the franchise is no longer what it once was, Ezio Auditore remains a benchmark for modern video game protagonists, whose range, from crude street brawls to determining the fate of the world, is magnetic.

4 2B

Heart of the Deedless

Yoko Taro's proficiency in creating extraordinary characters is worthy of study, though I'd venture to say his most distinguished work, until the future proves me wrong, is 2B from NieR: Automata.

It's difficult to grasp her depth without venturing into spoiler territory, which I wish to avoid because, genuinely, discovering the reality behind her existence, as well as that of the other protagonists in this masterpiece, is glorious.

The myriad emotions you experience during her voyage, ranging from the most inescapable sadness to the most vibrant hope, are only possible thanks to her complex figure, with numerous superficial and profound layers that make her unpredictable yet relatable.

Although largely sustained by NieR: Automata's narrative structure, 2B's journey leaves absolutely no one indifferent, as the real challenge is actually not experiencing a sea of ​​sensations every time her story moves forward.

3 Arthur Morgan

Everyone's Favorite Cowboy

It's no coincidence that, alongside 2B, Arthur Morgan is part of this list despite only appearing in one game, as this hasn't stopped him from inserting himself among the most glorified characters of all time in fiction.

His role in Red Dead Redemption 2 is superb in every sense, showing us the facets of an outlaw with no future who embarks on the arduous journey of finding the righteous way or, at least, leaving the world without being remembered just for his misdeeds.

This transformation from a man without values ​​to someone who strives harder than ever not to be a burden to others resonates powerfully, especially because the cast of secondary characters and situations helps to reveal his true depth.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is undeniably a video game about the twilight of outlaws, but it's also an intrapersonal journey of an Arthur always on the verge of succumbing to his inner demons; a tension that materializes through a roller-coaster of feelings that bind you to him, even at a chemical level.

2 Geralt of Rivia

The World's Most Famous Witcher

Combining Dante's masculine power fantasy with Ezio's charisma and his own multifaceted nature, Geralt of Rivia, while not born in video games, is among the most recognizable and beloved names in the medium, and for many notable reasons.

The three installments of The Witcher have allowed us to accompany him through a plethora of such varied circumstances that we have come to know practically every facet that can be revealed of a sentient being, forming an almost familial connection.

His loves, traumas, desires, fears, qualities, weaknesses, beliefs, sins, curiosities... There's no manifestation of Geralt's consciousness that we don't know, considering the impressive number of dialogues and events CD Projekt RED has provided us to experience alongside him.

I know more about Butcher of Blaviken than about my uncles or my career, but that's because exploring all its facets in multiple playthroughs is supremely rewarding, especially taking into consideration that, despite being in RPGs, it never loses the personality that characterizes him when we introduce our own decisions.

1 Kratos

God of Hope

Counting his growth, iconic status, industry influence, standout moments, and timeless presence, I can confidently declare Kratos from God of War as the best video game character of this century.

If we focus solely on his Greek trilogy, he has more than enough merit to be on the list, though when we add his Norse expeditions, including the latest DLC, his journey finds its full and absolute meaning, with nothing lacking and nothing superfluous.

We have witnessed his vengeance, downfalls, and sins, but also his redemptions, battles, and blessings, spanning two decades of impressive hack-and-slash odysseys that, nevertheless, also stood out for their ability to portray a powerful yet broken man, rich yet empty.

Thus, the eventual inclusion of his maturation after the reboot, allowing us to see his more concrete paternal side—full of mistakes but eager to learn and continue being a better person and father—is what completes his story, worthy of being told until the end of time.

From beginning to end, he repeats the typical narrative structure, but does so with the utmost perfection. All his beginnings, all his developments, and all his endings are magnificent, and I don't think there is another current video game character who, like Kratos, represents what this beautiful art form is capable of.