Characters in games, whether they are protagonists, antagonists, or even NPCs (non-player characters), play a vital role in shaping the player’s emotional engagement and immersion. Unlike traditional storytelling mediums like books or films, game characters interact directly with the player, sometimes even responding to the player’s choices. This interactive nature adds complexity to character creation and development in games, making it one of the most challenging aspects of game design.
Characters are often the heart and soul of a game. They are the vessels through which the story is experienced, and they act as the player’s window into the game world. The design of a character directly influences how players relate to the game’s narrative and how invested they become in the overall experience. Characters are not just avatars or figures on the screen—they represent the emotional core of the game and give meaning to the player’s actions.
Think about your favorite games. Often, what makes them memorable is not just the gameplay or the world, but the characters who populate it. In games like The Last of Us, for example, players become emotionally invested in the journey of Joel and Ellie, two well-developed characters with rich backstories and complex personalities. Similarly, in Mass Effect, players form strong attachments to their crew members due to the relationships they build throughout the series. This emotional connection enhances the overall experience, making the gameplay more meaningful.
The main character, is the one through whom the player experiences the story. In most games, the protagonist serves as the player’s avatar, a character they control and with whom they identify. A well-designed protagonist has clear motivations and goals, which help to drive the game’s narrative forward.
In movies and plays, there is only ever one main character. You might think this isn't true, but I challenge you to find a movie or play where two or more characters share the role of the main character equally. Even in an ensemble cast, we can always identify the main character by looking at whose choices shape the overall story. For example, in The Lord of the Rings, while many characters play important roles, the main character is Frodo because his decisions drive the central plot. In games, it’s possible to have more than one main character since the story has more time to develop compared to a single movie or play. However, in most cases—about 99% of the time—there is still only one. The best way to identify the main character is by finding who makes the key defining choice that propels the story forward. In The Last of Us who is the main character Ellie or Joel? What about in The Last of Us II?
When developing a main character, we need to clearly define two essential aspects: what the character wants and the struggles or obstacles they face. The choices this character makes should be driven by these core motivations and challenges, as they form the foundation of the character's development and journey throughout the story.
Types of Main Characters in Game Stories
Silent Protagonist The silent protagonist is a character who either has no spoken dialogue or communicates minimally throughout the game. This design choice allows the player to project themselves onto the character, enhancing immersion and personal identification with the protagonist. Silent protagonists are common in games where player agency is central to the experience. For example, Link from The Legend of Zelda series or Gordon Freeman from Half-Life are iconic silent protagonists who serve as blank slates for the player’s emotions and actions. While they may have defined motivations, their silence leaves room for the player to imagine themselves in the role.
Customizable Protagonist In many RPGs, players are given the freedom to customize their character’s appearance, skills, and often their moral choices. Games like The Elder Scrolls or Mass Effect feature protagonists whose personalities and actions are shaped by player decisions. These characters are flexible and adapt to the choices made throughout the game, giving players the feeling that they are co-authoring the protagonist’s journey. The customizable protagonist is designed to offer maximum player control, often blurring the line between character and player.
Voiced Protagonist A voiced protagonist, who actively engages in dialogue and expresses their own thoughts and personality, is becoming increasingly common in narrative-driven games. These characters are often well-defined, with complex backstories and distinctive personalities. Take Nathan Drake from Uncharted or Lara Croft from Tomb Raider. These protagonists are not just avatars for the player but fully fleshed-out characters with their own motivations, quirks, and emotional arcs. This design allows for more controlled storytelling, as the game developers can craft specific moments of emotional or narrative impact through the character’s interactions with the world and other characters.
The Chosen Hero or Destiny-bound Protagonist A classic archetype, the chosen hero is a character predestined to fulfill a grand purpose, often tied to saving the world or defeating a great evil. Characters like Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn or Geralt from The Witcher series fall into this category. These protagonists usually have special abilities, a unique lineage, or a deep connection to the game world that sets them apart. The tension in their narrative often arises from their struggle to accept or reject their destiny, which offers players the chance to engage in grand, epic storytelling.
Reluctant Hero The reluctant hero is a character who is thrust into a situation they didn’t ask for and may initially resist their role as the protagonist. This type of character is defined by their internal conflict and often presents a more grounded and human story. An excellent example is Joel from The Last of Us, who, despite his reluctance to be a protector, becomes emotionally invested in Ellie’s survival. These protagonists add depth to the narrative by highlighting themes of personal responsibility, moral ambiguity, and the emotional cost of their journey.
Anti-Hero Unlike traditional heroes, anti-heroes are morally ambiguous characters who may lack conventional heroic traits like selflessness or honor. Protagonists like Kratos from God of War or Trevor from Grand Theft Auto V are driven by personal motives, and often resort to questionable methods to achieve their goals. Anti-heroes are complex and layered, offering players a more nuanced and often darker perspective on traditional heroism. Their internal struggles and flaws make for compelling narratives, as they challenge the player’s sense of right and wrong.
Dual Protagonists or Ensemble Protagonists Some games feature more than one primary character, giving players control over multiple protagonists whose stories intersect and influence each other. In games like The Last of Us Part II, where players experience the narrative from both Ellie’s and Abby’s perspectives, or Resident Evil games, which often feature dual characters, this approach offers different viewpoints and adds complexity to the storytelling. Ensemble protagonists, as seen in Final Fantasy XV, focus on group dynamics, where no single character dominates the narrative, allowing for shared development and interaction.
Supporting characters play a crucial role in fleshing out the narrative and enriching the world of the game. They should not only serve functional roles—such as providing guidance, offering quests, or advancing the plot—but they should also contrast and complement the main character. These contrasts can highlight the protagonist’s strengths, weaknesses, or personality traits, while complementary qualities can help create a dynamic and engaging relationship between the characters.
For example, in The Witcher, Geralt’s relationships with characters like Yennefer and Dandelion both contrast and complement him in different ways. Yennefer’s strong-willed, no-nonsense personality contrasts with Geralt’s often detached demeanor, while Dandelion’s light-heartedness and humor serve as a foil to Geralt’s more serious nature. These interactions not only add depth to the story but also help reveal new facets of the main character through their differences and similarities.
Supporting characters should challenge, support, or even oppose the main character, creating meaningful interactions that drive both the plot and the protagonist’s development forward.
Protagonists can vary widely in complexity. Some, like Mario in the Super Mario series, are simple and iconic, with minimal narrative complexity. Mario’s motivation—saving Princess Peach—remains consistent across many games. On the other hand, characters like Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2 are far more nuanced. Arthur is a complex character with moral dilemmas, evolving goals, and an arc that changes based on the player’s choices.
NPCs populate the game world and help make it feel alive and immersive. They may provide quests, sell items, or share bits of lore and backstory with the player. While NPCs often have simpler roles supporting characters, they are still essential for creating a rich and believable world.
In games like Skyrim, NPCs play an important role in world-building. Even the simplest of characters, like a merchant in a village, contributes to the authenticity of the world. Some NPCs in games, however, stand out because of their memorable dialogue or unique roles in the story. For example, in Stardew Valley, many NPCs have distinct personalities that add charm and humor to the game, making interactions with them highly engaging.
The antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and driving the narrative tension. A well-designed antagonist is more than just an obstacle; they have their own motivations, which often mirror or contrast the protagonist’s goals.
Some games feature clear-cut antagonists, like Ganon in the Legend of Zelda series, who is an embodiment of evil. However, other games offer more complex antagonists, such as Andrew Ryan in Bioshock, whose philosophical beliefs and personal motivations add depth to his role as the enemy. These types of antagonists make players question the morality of their actions.
A story does not need to have a villain. Sometimes the best thing for a story is to have an antagonistic force instead of a character. If an antagonist is a character you may give them more power than if they were just an invisible force. If we are telling a feminist story, do we really need a male antagonist or does the patriarchy as a antagonistic force do enough for our story?
When designing characters for a game, it's important to consider how they will resonate emotionally with players. This is done through a combination of visual design, backstory, and personality traits. A character’s appearance, voice, and actions all contribute to how players perceive them. Let’s look at a few key aspects of character design for emotional impact:
Backstory and Motivation Every character should have a clear backstory and motivation. Even if these elements aren’t explicitly stated in the game, they inform the character’s actions and dialogue. For instance, in Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy’s backstory as an outcast shapes her personality, making her fiercely independent and determined. Her motivation to uncover the truth of her past drives the game’s plot, and players become invested in her journey because her goals are personal and relatable.
Relatability and Empathy Players are more likely to connect with characters who have relatable traits or struggles. For example, Celeste’s protagonist, Madeline, struggles with self-doubt and anxiety, themes that many players can relate to. Her journey to climb the mountain is both a physical and emotional one, and players become deeply invested in her personal growth.
Visual and Audio Design A character’s visual design is the first thing players notice, and it can say a lot about who they are. Whether it’s the distinctive armor of a warrior, the bright colors of a cheerful NPC, or the menacing figure of a villain, the visual design should reflect the character’s personality and role in the story. Similarly, voice acting and sound design can greatly enhance a character’s presence. A well-delivered line can make a character memorable, as we’ve seen in games like The Last of Us or God of War.
A character must be well-defined in order for voice actors, artists, animators, and other designers to bring them to life effectively. A clear understanding of the character’s personality, motivations, backstory, and emotional journey allows voice actors to deliver performances that align with the character’s essence, ensuring consistency and depth in their portrayal. Similarly, artists and animators need detailed character traits—such as posture, facial expressions, and style—to visually represent the character in a way that matches the narrative and tone. Without a well-developed character, these collaborators would struggle to create a cohesive and believable portrayal, potentially leading to a disjointed experience for the player. Well-defined characters ensure that every aspect of their presentation feels intentional and supports the overall story.