Summary
- Some video game stories follow human characters on galactic journeys, while others explore intricate extraterrestrial lore and battles.
- Strong female protagonists like Mantis, Eigong, Bel'veth showcase unique skills and rich backgrounds in upcoming games.
- Characters like Tali'Zorah, Liara T'Soni, and Ahsoka Tano from popular games are well-loved for their deep character arcs.
Video games are home to an array of otherworldly beings and alien races for the player to play as, encounter, or battle against. Some stories take a human character and show their journey across the galaxy, while other titles focus more on rich lore and backstories behind extraterrestrial races and their fight against humanity.
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Shooters, Metroidvanias, Souls-likes and more, there is no shortage of alien individuals to meet and greet, some being just as iconic as the games themselves. While it is true that some characters like Samus or Kerrigan could be considered aliens, their human DNA keeps them from the conversation, though they are still amazing female characters in their own right.
8 Mantis
It's Sleepy Time
Marvel Rivals
- Released
- December 6, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- NetEase Games
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
An empath at heart and a mighty support for any team, Mantis has been around in the Marvel universe for over 50 years and is now playable in all her glory in the action-packed mayhem that is Marvel Rivals. As a supportive character in the comics and movies, it makes perfect sense to see her slotted into the healer position, dishing out some insane buffs while holding her own in the damage department.
She has a lot of characters and a rich background that spans the entire galaxy, from being a potential exhibit for the Collector to joining forces with the Avengers to take down the toughest foes in the universe. And in the game, she brings all her quirks and funny personality to lead her team to victory with precise energy blasts and crazy healing output, culminating in the self-proclaimed undefeatable Soul Resurgence.
7 Eigong
Pushing It To The Limit
Nine Sols
- Released
- May 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- RedCandleGames
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer, Metroidvania, Soulslike
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
What a character and what an insane fight. Eigong gives the player one of the most challenging and heart-racing boss battles in all of gaming, combining all the previous tools and lessons learned and demanding precision and perfect mechanics to take down.
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With a mission for immortality and a knack for manipulation, she used her words to convince other council members to join her cause and stopped at nothing to get her way. Despite awakening the devastating Tianhuo Virus, she continues her pursuit, casting aside those without utility and abusing her powers to control the council and players, resorting to using the infection herself, which would have worked it if wasn't for the heroic sacrifice of Yi. She is the perfect villain but it would have been nice to see a few more interactions early on to build on her already fascinating story.
6 Kos
Or Perhaps It Was Kosm?
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
Named only by name at first and with an unknown origin or purpose, Kos is one of the most fascinating characters in all of Bloodborne. Found all the way at the end of the DLC with an insanely difficult fight against her child, she is already dead upon the player's arrival, a corpse of ghostly flesh that was violated, abused, and even worshiped by all manner of individuals across the world. A Great One in her life, the immense power and obscure reason for her existence, makes her fascinating and spawns endless curiosity for the player.
The most interesting part of her character is the references back in the main game, with Micolash speaking of her influence on Rom and repeating the same ghostly line as the player chases him through the halls of the Mensis. With so much attention placed on the Orphan, Kos herself is often forgotten about due to the spectacle of the fight, but with such a distinct appearance and horrifying setting, Kos should never be forgotten in all her otherworldly glory.
5 Bel'veth
Empress Of The Void
League of Legends
- Released
- October 27, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Riot Games
- Genre(s)
- MOBA
- Platform(s)
- PC, macOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
A nightmare in the lore and in-game, Bel'veth was created from a destroyed city and seeks to consume everything in her way and bring about an end to the world of Runeterra. With limitless ambition and power to go with it, she dashes around the rift in a terrifying fashion, growing in power with each takedown and transforming into a Lovecraftian nightmare straight out of a horror movie.
She takes some time to master on the rift, but can absolutely dominate any game with enough practice, bringing her swarm of voidlings to destroy the enemy base and overwhelm the opposing champions. With such a fresh and unique design, villainous characters in League are always welcome additions, and by writing such a compelling and evil character, she slots perfectly into the wider lore, bringing the potential for cataclysmic battles and insane encounters down the line.
4 Merrin
A Survivor And A True Friend
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
- Released
- November 15, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Merrin is a great companion and even better fighter, bringing a fresh set of gameplay sequences and cutscenes to break up the solo missions in the Jedi games. As a survivor of General Grievous' Massacre during the Clone Wars, she remained on her homeworld of Dathomir, encountering a Jedi master who manipulated her with false promises of vengeance for her lost sistren.
Eventually, she meets up with Cal who visits Dathomir, and she assists the player at several points in both games in combat and map traversal with her Nightsister Magick and aggressive hand-to-hand combat techniques. Its her no-nonsense attitude and desire for justice that makes her so likable and it is nice to see her find a happy ending after all the hardship she has faced.
3 Tali'Zorah
A Prodigal Mind
Mass Effect
- Released
- November 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
Tali'Zorah is an amazing squadmate and an even better engineer, having a wide technical skillet and competent combat abilities, which are shown off in all their glory across her appearances in Mass Effect. A member of the Quarian species, she sets out on a pilgrimage as a way of proving herself to her kind but gets caught up in several conflicts and encounters with enemies like the Reapers.
She is encountered by Shepard during a tense deal gone wrong and from there joins the crew, providing her services and abilities as a hacker and expertise in drone combat. A fan favourite companion in the series, she has a lot of emotional depth and there is plenty of variety when it comes to the choices the player can make regarding her story and how it comes to a close. Intelligence paired with a caring heart, Tali'Zorah is an amazing character and a perfect companion too.
2 Ahsoka Tano
Helping Anyone In Need
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Republic Heroes
- Released
- October 6, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2
A true survivor and a seasoned warrior, Ahsoka brings a lot to the table in her several appearances in the Clone Wars games, series, and even her own TV show. Her acrobatic fighting style and strength with the force make her an incredibly fun character to play with, adding some fast combat and rewarding attack combos that make the player feel like a true Jedi.
Formerly a Padawan of Anakin Skywalker himself, she continues the fight against the Empire, using her signature dual lightsabers to take on the armies of droids and rebel against the dark forces in the galaxy. Courageous, resilient, and a fighter for justice, she does everything she can to bring about peace and destroy the evils that plague the universe and provides some of the best cutscenes and dialogue pieces in the series with her no-nonsense approach and persistent attitude.
1 Liara T'Soni
The Perfect Companion
Mass Effect
- Released
- November 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
One of the most memorable and widely-loved characters in all of gaming, Liara T'soni brings all of her intellect and knowledge to the fight against the Reapers, aiding the player emotionally with her sincere kindness and genuine concern for those around her. As a squadmate in the first game, she brings her telekinetic abilities and powerful biotics to influence the battlefield and aid her allies in battle.
The reason she is so loved by so many, is the long and well-written character arc that she undergoes across the different titles. Starting out as a focused researcher, she transitions into a confident leader by Mass Effect 3 and continues to be an amazing companion for friendship and romance right until the end. Her pivotal role in the fate of the galaxy and consistent care for Shepard, makes her feel so human and relatable, despite hailing from an alien planet far far away.
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