When you compare video games to other storytelling techniques, you come across a very clear concept that others don’t have: non-playable characters. These characters, who by nature are only in video games, may not be the main focus of the stories. But that doesn’t stop them from stealing the whole show. In this article, we’re going to talk about the side characters that have burned themselves into our memory. Introducing the 8 NPCs Who Deserve Their Own Game.
It is quite normal that the most talked about and loved characters are always our main heroes. After all, the stories are about them. But the moments that make those stories memorable usually revolve around well-written and designed NPCs. And we have to accept these unplayable characters as they are, because we cannot “manage” them. All the NPCs we remember already have glorious moments, but some have even gotten their own game in recent years.
Half Life Alyx is one of the best examples of this. It was amazing to take a side character who had been an NPC for 16 years and make her the hero of her own story. But there are many more great side characters that should get their own game. We could stretch this article to infinity. But since we don’t have the time stone, we’ll have to settle for 8 for now.
Baldur – God of War
The story of Kratos and Atreus quickly became one of the best games of all time. The majestic Norse mythology worked beautifully and gave us a long forgotten Baldur.
As the son of Odin and Freya and half-brother to Thor, this lean man deserves his own game. It will certainly be fun to play as Baldur, thanks to his powers. The idea of accompanying the fire of vengeance that has been burning in the northern lands for years makes God of War: Baldur Edition very potent.
Being an anti-hero that destroys enemies without feeling pain is simply an idea worthy of the God of War universe. Not to mention other abilities that will enrich the gameplay, such as the ability to jump very high and move quickly.
Andrew Ryan – Bioshock Franchise
Did someone say that this is the most successful NPC character ever created in the history of the game? Because we are going to talk about Andrew Ryan. Ryan, the creator of the great atmosphere of Bioshock, is an idea creator that is the envy of the whole world. The founder of Rapture, the hope of mankind, is a businessman who believes in the existence of the concept of utopia.
All his words in Bioshock deserve to be quoted. But what makes him so memorable is his story in the book Bioshock: Rapture, written after the games. It would be great to hear firsthand the story of this man who came to America from Russia, climbed alone from the bottom to the top, and went back to the bottom again.
“Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?”
Tommy – The Last of Us Franchise
I don’t know what you think of The Last of Us Part II, but there are a few points to remember to. All the story decisions Naughty Dog made were very brave. Showing what happened after the first game, and in such a disturbing way, also deserves applause.
We will keep Ellie and Joel in a different place throughout the series. But we didn’t praise Tommy enough, especially in the second game. Not even praise, we should give him a nice journey with a game.
He leads an entire community that has survived in the post-apocalyptic world. Considering the fact that he’s at least as good a shooter as Joel, it sounds great to play the interlude until the beginning of the second game.
Dandelion – The Witcher Franchise
Julian Alfred Pankratz, Viscount de Lettenhove, The Crimson Avenger, better known as Dandelion (Jaskier) is a poet, bard and of course, close friend of Geralt. He managed to endear himself to millions of people in all of The Witcher books and games. Then he became the most notable character after Geralt in Netflix’s series adaptation. Since he’s already a great musician, this also suits him well.
Dandelion’s adventures are not as violent as Geralt of Rivia’s, but they are no less exciting. It’s a great idea to experience firsthand the adventures of this man who lives by music, women, fame and fortune. After all, Geralt is not always by his side as he rushes from one adventure to the next.
I do not know exactly what the genre of Dandelion’s own game would be. Maybe it can be an unprecedented RPG where we improve our musical skills. Do we have to spend our experience points to Dexterity? Let the Charisma points be useful in this game.
Sullivan – Uncharted Franchise
After Mark Wahlberg’s terrible performance, you may not love Sullivan as much as you used to. But that must be the fault of the producers, who chose one of the worst casts ever. We still love this clever fortune hunter, businessman and father figure to Nathan Drake.
Since he appears in all the Uncharted games except The Lost Legacy, this character has always been portrayed very well. Therefore, you might think that he does not need his own game. But considering that it has always played to the forefront with its experience, we have to go back to the 30s of Sully.
As you may recall, we saw Sullivan in his youngest form in the third game. He was 40 then. Going back the 10 years in between sounds great, because the stories he tells sound so good.
Panam – Cyberpunk 2077
Despite all the performance issues and lack of content, it has to be said that Cyberpunk 2077 has an impressive concept. That’s the reason why everyone is so angry. The game’s potential was so great that it was a shame to waste it in this way.
What was not a shame was the catchy narrative despite all the negativity. The story of Panam is much more interesting in the game than other NPCs. This young woman, once part of the Aldecaldos clan, has later become a defender of her own freedom outside the Night City.
Although the history of Panam is somewhat covered, some points remain open. Therefore, we can embark on a new adventure in dry lands with a story expansion pack that will be released for Cyberpunk 2077.
Hank – Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human may not be among the most memorable games. But it undoubtedly has a special place for those who love Quantic Dream games. We had the opportunity to control many characters in this game, which is one of the most beautiful aspects of cinematic gameplay.
Unfortunately, not one of them was Hank. Although this 53-year-old veteran cop was created in the most cliché way, I say that in a good way. The idea of an old-fashioned cop having to work shoulder-to-shoulder with android cops in the near future was a very good one. Because of this, Hank’s place is much more distinct from the other NPCs.
Maybe not as a Quantic Dream game, but it would be great to play Hank’s youth. How he reacts to the changing world around him with technology while continuing to fight crime sounds like a very exciting story.
Tom Nook – Animal Crossing
If you want a raccoon in your life to tell you what to do, Tim Nook has the experience to successfully accomplish that task. As Animal Crossing’s leader, Nook will continue to give you quests throughout the game and help you develop your island.
Of course, he has many characteristics that make him memorable. But we want him to get his own game just because of his character. This cute raccoon, who drinks his coffee with lots of milk and a spoonful of sugar, is one of the funniest NPCs you’ll encounter in a game.
