Summary
Video game characters are often as important as the stories their respective titles are trying to tell, and in some cases, they can be even more important - or at least relevant to the point that their presence alone reshapes what the narrative is and can be. 2023 came and went, but it was one of thebest years for video gamesand the industry ever, featuring multiple colossal releases that are still leaving a mark and dominating online discourses. Among these massive tiles were a few that had amazing characters capable of winning players' hearts in very different ways.
While 2023’s Game of the Year,Bladur’s Gate 3, showed what a great CRPG can achieve with the right cast and incredibly dedicated developers, games likeAlan Wake 2elevated horror as a genre to new heights. Both exceptional titles in their own rights, and just some of the best titles 2023 had to offer, these games are great proof of concept of why character development and detail-rich stories can make all the difference in the industry. At times incredibly funny in otherwise serious games, and other times capable of delivering emotional lines to be remembered, protagonists and side characters alike are a crucial component of compelling video games. These are thebest game characters of 2023, listed in alphabetical order by their names.
Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
With Neil Newbon winning Best Performance at TGA 2023 and Astarion quickly becoming one of the most talked-about characters on the internet for months on end, it becomes clear that the impact this character has and has had so far is immeasurable. The recentAstarion with a gun memes spawned multipleBaldur’s Gate 3modsthat give the vampire rogue an actual pistol are further proof that the character has won over many fans. Astarion’s background and story inBG3make him all the more endearing, even when players go for dark runs where he becomes Vampire Ascendant, and all of them speak to the range of emotions one can feel when exploring every possible option for this fragile character.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
Cid - Cidolfus Telamon (Final Fantasy 16)
Final Fantasy 16’s Valistheais a unique place where political and magical powers can easily collide, and it’s often the people who pay the price. This landscape is what propels Cid, the dominant of Ramuh, to become a promoter of equal rights and someone who fights for the freedom of the Bearers and the land as a whole - and this is what drives Clive to join his cause. Cid is one of the best characters inFinal Fantasygames and one of the best of 2023, showing that regardless of his ability to summon his Eikon in battle, he will actively try not to because he doesn’t want superiority over his peers, and he doesn’t want unnecessary bloodshed. Cid is never a morally grey character, but rather someone who is reliable and noble, as well as someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Final Fantasy 16
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
Garl (Sea of Stars)
AlthoughSea of Stars' approach to dual protagonists is interesting, with Valere and Zale sharing some big similarities as well as differences, one could argue that thetrue main character is actually Garl. The “warrior cook” of the party, Garl is often the voice of the group and even has many story moments where he truly shines above all else, to the point that his death makes for a shocking moment that players may attempt to prevent, unsuccessfully.Sea of Stars' Garl shows that Valere and Zale needed his level of characterization, and his character arc is one of the most compelling of the year, let alone his starring game.
Sea of Stars
Set in the same world as 2018’s The Messenger, Sabotage Studio’s Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.
Harry Osborn (Marvel’s Spider-Man 2)
Harry Osborn wasn’t even in the firstMarvel’s Spider-Manoutside of the post-credits cutscene, but players could still discover several things about him through recordings and even his own journal. In Insomniac’s version of Spider-Man, Harry is very similar to Peter in many ways, with their relationship being strong and genuine, and their sharing a love for the environment and sciences. WhenHarry was revealed asMarvel’s Spider-Man 2’s Venom, players were worried this would pit him against Peter, but he even went to the length of trying to become a hero, inspired by Peter’s identity as Spider-Man, also launching the Emily-May Foundation to honor both his mother and his friend’s aunt, May.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
Karlach (Baldur’s Gate 3)
Often considered one of thebest characters inBaldur’s Gate 3, Karlach transcends that by becoming one of the best characters of the year thanks to her fiery passion for life in the face of terrible conditions and the very real possibility of seeing it all cut short. Even her failing heart, the threat of the tadpole parasite, and the tangible danger of Zariel’s hunters tracking her, Karlach never gives up on living fully and experiencing joy, bursting with life at every given moment. Karlach’s trauma still accompanies her everywhere she goes, but she can’t be contained as much as she won’t give up - and that alone makes her a fantastic addition to anyBG3party and playthrough.
Lorath (Diablo 4)
Voiced by the same actor asFF16’s Cid, Ralph Ineson,Diablo 4’s Lorath acts as a sort of narratorof the story’s events as well as the main companion during most of the players' journeys across Sanctuary, with Nyrelle being a close second.Diablo 4is not even Lorath’s first appearance in the series, as he played a role in the Reaper of Souls expansion forDiablo 3as well, but in the current timeline 50 years have passed and he is much older. One of the Horadrim, the last of his kind at the end of the game, Lorath is one of the unsung heroes of Sanctuary who rose from humble origins and became the most human character he ever could even when caught between a literal war between Heaven and Hell.
Diablo 4
Diablo® IV is the ultimate action RPG experience with endless evil to slaughter, countless abilities to master, nightmarish dungeons, and legendary loot. Embark on the campaign solo or with friends, meeting memorable characters through beautifully dark settings and a gripping story, or explore an expansive end game and shared world where players can meet in towns to trade, team up to battle world bosses, or descend into PVP zones to test their skills against other players – no lobbies necessary – with cross-play, cross-progression, and couch co-op on Xbox.This is only the beginning for Diablo® IV, with new events, stories, seasons, rewards, and more looming on the horizon.
Saga Anderson (Alan Wake 2)
Saga Anderson begins her story inAlan Wake 2as an FBI agent, but she manages to make a name for herself by becoming much more. Not only is Saga the most reliable narrator of the game, in the sense that the way she arrangesAlan Wake 2’s Mind Place and tells her own story is all thoroughly organized and linear, but she eventually becomes the co-author of her own story and reality itself alongside Alan. Even in the face of loss and supernatural forces, Saga stays true to herself and what she has fought for in her life, ultimately becoming an empowering force for players and other in-game characters alike.
Alan Wake 2
A string of ritualistic murders threatens Bright Falls, a small-town community surrounded by Pacific Northwest wilderness. Saga Anderson, an accomplished FBI agent with a reputation for solving impossible cases arrives to investigate the murders. Anderson’s case spirals into a nightmare when she discovers pages of a horror story that starts to come true around her.Alan Wake, a lost writer trapped in a nightmare beyond our world, writes a dark story in an attempt to shape the reality around him and escape his prison. With a dark horror hunting him, Wake is trying to retain his sanity and beat the devil at his own game.Anderson and Wake are two heroes on two desperate journeys in two separate realities, connected at heart in ways neither of them can understand: reflecting each other, echoing each other, and affecting the worlds around them.Fueled by the horror story, supernatural darkness invades Bright Falls, corrupting the locals and threatening the loved ones of both Anderson and Wake. Light is their weapon—and their safe haven — against the darkness they face. Trapped in a sinister horror story where there are only victims and monsters, can they break out to be the heroes they need to be?
Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)
Hogwarts Legacy’s Sebastian Sallowwants to save his sister Ann, who is perishing from an uncurable disease, and he thinks the Dark Arts and the Unforgivable Curses will help him. Although his intent is noble, he ends up being pushed away from his uncle when he discovers the path he has taken, which leads to a confrontation between them during which Sebastian ends up killing him with the Avada Kedavra curse. His sister discovers what he has done and destroys Salazar Slytherin’s Dark Arts book in order to prevent Sebastian from going deeper down this road. This event distresses him deeply, showing that even good intentions are not enough to fend off one’s inner demons, successfully depicting Sebastian as a deeply flawed character, but also a great one.
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
Turgle (Star Wars Jedi: Survivor)
Also known as the Prince of Pilfering, the Mayor of Misdemeanor, and the Sultan of Stealth, Turgle is one of the funniest characters to come out of 2023, quickly becoming a fan favorite online for his lovable personality. A writer in the making given he wants to put together a “Guide to Koboh,” Turgle isStar Wars' Outer Rim’s most notorious trouble-maker, getting involved withStar Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Bedlam Raiders to sell them fake artifacts, only to be found out and almost executed before Cal’s intervention. Afterward, the frog will share all sorts of facts and funny bits of dialogue with players, proving he has a big heart and that he must be protected at all costs.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
VASCO (Starfield)
WhileStarfield’s debut and reviews were not the best, with the game’s popularity dwindling even more in the months following its launch, it did have its great moments both in terms of story and gameplay. Maybe not the most meme-generating game of the year,Starfield’s VASCO was the protagonist of a funny clipwhere he suddenly punches a quest-critical NPC as she is delivering lines of dialogue, possibly due to a bug making him think she was a threat. Named after the famed explorer Vasco da Gama, VASCO fittingly takes the cake as one of the best companions inStarfield’s universe-exploring plot, even among Constellation’s ranks. VASCO is as much of a threat in combat as he can be a silly travel partner, and his robotic nature doesn’t prevent him from feeling exceptionally human-like, to the point that many players end up looking after him to ensure he’s safe.
Starfield
Starfield is the first new universe in 25 years from Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. In this next generation role-playing game set amongst the stars, create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery.The year is 2330. Humanity has ventured beyond our solar system, settling new planets, and living as a spacefaring people. From humble beginnings as a space miner, you will join Constellation – the last group of space explorers seeking rare artifacts throughout the galaxy – and navigate the vast expanse of the Settled Systems in Bethesda Game Studios’ biggest and most ambitious game.
