When people envision the traits of a hero in a video game, they often associate them with courage, selflessness, and overall kindness. However, it’s fascinating how some seemingly nice characters end up being villains, while others who initially appear unpleasant turn out to be heroes.
The notion of not judging a book by its cover holds true in the realm of video game characters. There are several examples of individuals who defy expectations and challenge traditional hero archetypes. These characters may come across as rude or crude, earning them the label of “anti-heroes.” Despite their unconventional demeanor, they still strive to do what’s right, even if they lack the typical heroic attributes usually associated with protagonists. Their primary goal is not to make friends or engage in gentle conversations, but rather to achieve their objectives through unorthodox means.
Number 1. Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt of Rivia is a witcher, a professional monster hunter who has been genetically and chemically enhanced to superhuman levels. He is tall, muscular, and pale, with white hair and piercing blue eyes. He wears a silver sword on his back and a steel sword at his side, as well as a medallion with the symbol of the Wolf School, the witchers’ guild to which he belongs.
Geralt is a complex and well-rounded character. He is often described as being stoic, cynical, and world-weary. However, he also has a strong sense of justice and a deep commitment to helping others. He is also a skilled fighter and a powerful sorcerer.
Geralt was born in the town of Rivia, but he was taken away from his parents at a young age and raised by the witchers of the Wolf School. The witchers are a group of professional monster hunters who undergo a series of dangerous mutations that give them superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes. Geralt underwent these mutations and became a witcher himself.
Geralt’s primary goal is to live a quiet and peaceful life. However, he is often drawn into conflicts and adventures due to his skills as a witcher. He also has a strong desire to find his place in the world and to make a difference in the lives of others.
Geralt is a skilled fighter, able to take on even the most dangerous monsters. He is also a powerful sorcerer, able to cast spells and brew potions. He is also a keen observer of human nature, able to read people and situations quickly and accurately.
Geralt is a strong-willed and independent individual who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in. He is also a loyal friend and a compassionate protector. He is willing to risk his own life to help those in need, even if they are strangers.
Geralt is a flawed character, but he is also a hero. He is a complex and well-developed individual who is sure to keep players engaged throughout the game.
Number 2. Kratos from the God of War series
Kratos is the main protagonist of the God of War series, a series of action-adventure video games developed by Santa Monica Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The character was created by David Jaffe, Cory Barlog, and Ted Price, and has been portrayed by Terrence C. Carson in all of his appearances in the games, with Christopher Judge taking over the role in God of War (2018) and its sequel.
Kratos is a Spartan warrior who was tricked into killing his wife and child by the Greek god Ares. In revenge, he killed Ares and took his place as the God of War. However, Kratos’s newfound power did not bring him peace, and he eventually turned against the other gods of Olympus. He was eventually defeated by Zeus, the king of the gods, but he survived and escaped to the realm of Norse mythology.
In the Norse games, Kratos is a father to a young boy named Atreus. He is trying to teach Atreus how to survive in the harsh world of the Norse gods, while also trying to keep his own violent past a secret from him. Kratos is a complex and conflicted character, but he is also a powerful warrior who will stop at nothing to protect his family.
Kratos is a physically imposing character, standing at over 7 feet tall and weighing over 300 pounds. He is heavily muscled and has a shaved head. His skin is pale, and he has a number of scars on his body, including the brand of the Ghost of Sparta, which he received after killing Ares.
Kratos’s primary weapon is the Leviathan Axe, a powerful axe that he can throw and recall at will. He also wields a variety of other weapons, including a sword, a shield, and a pair of gauntlets that allow him to shoot lightning bolts.
Kratos is a skilled warrior and a powerful sorcerer. He is proficient in a variety of weapons and fighting styles, and he is also able to use magic to his advantage. He is a ruthless and efficient killer, and he will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
Kratos is a complex and conflicted character. He is driven by a desire for revenge, but he is also capable of great acts of love and compassion. He is a powerful warrior, but he is also vulnerable to the pain of his past. Kratos is a fascinating character who continues to evolve and grow throughout the God of War series.
Number 3. Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series
Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the Tomb Raider video game franchise. She is a highly intelligent and athletic British archaeologist who ventures into ancient tombs and hazardous ruins around the world. Created by a team at British developer Core Design that included Toby Gard, the character first appeared in the video game Tomb Raider in 1996.
Lara Croft is a skilled marksman, climber, and athlete. She is also an expert in hand-to-hand combat. She is typically armed with a variety of pistols, shotguns, and submachine guns, as well as a grappling hook and a climbing axe.
Lara Croft is a complex and well-developed character. She is strong, independent, and intelligent, but she is also vulnerable and emotional. She is a survivor who has overcome many challenges in her life, and she is driven by a desire to explore the unknown and uncover the truth about the past.
Lara Croft has been praised for her positive portrayal of a female action hero. She is not sexualized or objectified, and she is shown to be capable and competent in her abilities. She has inspired a generation of gamers, and she is one of the most iconic characters in video game history.
Number 4. Nathan Drake from the Uncharted series
Nathan Drake is the main protagonist of the Uncharted series, a series of action-adventure video games developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. He is a treasure hunter and a descendant of the English explorer Sir Francis Drake. Drake is portrayed as a quick-witted and immensely lucky individual with a knack for surviving by the skin of his teeth. He is also known for his deep knowledge of history, having spent basically all his life studying it.
Drake’s first appearance was in the 2007 game Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. In the game, Drake and his partner Victor Sullivan search for the lost treasure of El Dorado. The game was a critical and commercial success, and Drake quickly became a popular character. He has since appeared in three more games in the Uncharted series: Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (2009), Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (2011), and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016).
Drake is a complex character who is both charming and flawed. He is a skilled thief and a natural leader, but he is also reckless and often puts himself in danger. He is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and an expert marksman.
In addition to the video games, Drake has also appeared in a number of other media, including comic books, novels, and a live-action film. The film, which was released in 2022, starred Tom Holland as Drake.
Drake is a popular character who has been praised for his charisma, humor, and sense of adventure. He is a role model for many gamers, and he has been credited with helping to popularize the action-adventure genre.
Number 5. Master Chief from the Halo series
Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, or simply Master Chief, is the main protagonist of the Halo franchise. He is a genetically engineered supersoldier, part of the Spartan-II program, and is considered to be the greatest warrior in the history of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC).
Master Chief was born on the planet Eridanus II in 2511. When he was six years old, he was abducted by the UNSC and subjected to the Spartan-II program, which involved extensive physical and mental augmentations. As a result of these augmentations, Master Chief is stronger, faster, and more durable than a normal human. He is also an expert in hand-to-hand combat and is proficient in using a wide variety of weapons.
Master Chief first saw combat during the Human-Covenant War, a galactic conflict between the UNSC and the Covenant, an alliance of alien races. He quickly proved himself to be a valuable asset to the UNSC, and he played a key role in many of the war’s most important battles.
In the game Halo: Combat Evolved, Master Chief is tasked with stopping the Covenant from activating the Halo Array, a series of massive weapons that could wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy. He succeeds in stopping the Covenant from activating the Halo Array, but he is presumed dead at the end of the game.
Master Chief reappears in the game Halo 2, where he is revealed to have survived the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. He continues to fight against the Covenant, and he eventually helps to defeat the Covenant leader, the Prophet of Truth.
Master Chief’s latest appearance is in the live-action Halo TV series, where he is portrayed by Pablo Schreiber. The series takes place in the early days of the Human-Covenant War, and it shows Master Chief’s early life as a Spartan-II and his first encounters with the Covenant.
Master Chief is a popular and iconic character, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest video game characters of all time. He is a symbol of hope for humanity, and he is always willing to fight for what he believes in. He is a complex and well-developed character, and he continues to be a fan favorite after all these years.
