2025 was a fantastic year for video game narratives. From the explosive and world-ending stakes to the quieter moments, the best games of 2025 offered players a wide range of stories to fall in love with. But the catalyst for this love will always be tied to the characters that bring these stories to life: the heroes, the villains, the sidekicks—and everyone in between.
From the painterly melancholy of GOTY Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the upbeat chaos of Dispatch, this year’s standout characters resonated through vulnerability, resolve, contradiction, and care. Across historical epics, surreal horrors, mythic underworlds, and long-awaited sequels, these characters lingered not because they were flawless, but because they felt deliberate. Listed alphabetically by video game title, here are the best video game characters of 2025.
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Maelle - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Read The Best War Games’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Review
With Jennifer English’s big win at The Game Awards, Maelle has established her dominance as the face of Expedition 33. It’s easy to see why. The red-headed, pony-tail sporting 16-year-old faces the weight of the surrounding horrors with grace and determination: the gommage, her orphanhood, the impending doom of her ill-fated youth, and the sheer likelihood that her Expedition may end in tragedy. That is, of course, until she doesn’t. Maelle is a character who evolves throughout her narrative, often for the worse, as her grief becomes intolerable, but her logic, heart, and decisions all feel soberingly human—for those who come after.
Esquie - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
I never thought that a literal vehicle could be such a memorable character. Then again, when that vehicle is Esquie, all logic goes out the window. Esquie serves as a moment of comedic or tonal respite in a game otherwise full of heavy subjects. Unlike side characters that simply don’t land, his presence is welcomed by many players. This soft, teddy-bear-like character never feels forced. He is kind, empathetic, and delivers just the right amount of “wheeee” before the real “whooooo” kicks in with the narrative.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- April 24, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Sandfall Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Kepler Interactive
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, JRPG, Fantasy
Dollman - Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Read The Best War Games’s Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Review
Dollman could have easily fallen into one of gaming’s most tired archetypes: the omnipresent voice in the player’s ear, nagging, tutorializing, impossible to ignore. Instead, he becomes something far rarer—a companion defined by restraint. Dollman respects the player’s agency, even when that means watching them fail, struggle, and learn the hard way. That quiet design philosophy mirrors his tragic origin. His presence in Death Stranding 2 is subdued but devastating, carrying grief without spectacle.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
Chase - Dispatch
Check out Dispatch on Opencritic
“Keep up” is the catchphrase of Track Star, or as most Dispatch players know him, Chase. Most players won’t realize that this phrase aptly captures how they should keep up with Chase as a character. Full of wisdom, honesty, and swear words, Chase’s relationship with Dispatch protagonist Robert Robertson grounds the narrative emotionally. His superpowers are a refreshing take on superspeed, especially considering that he literally carries the effects of his heroism to a crippling point. Chase is also the moral backbone of the story. He will risk his own life to save those in need—regardless of whether he thinks someone is worth saving. And that, perhaps, makes him a real hero.
Dispatch
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
- Released
- October 22, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood, Crude Humor, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- AdHoc Studio
- Publisher(s)
- AdHoc Studio
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Point-and-click, Adventure
Atsu - Ghost of Yotei
Read The Best War Games’s Ghost of Yotei Review
Where Ghost of Tsushima’s Jin was defined by restraint, Atsu is defined by refusal. A refusal to soften, to compromise, or to inherit a code that was never hers to begin with. Atsu’s story is one of vengeance, but her appeal lies in her unfiltered resolve. Without the rigid framework of samurai tradition shaping her every decision, she moves through the world with an intensity that feels both dangerous and deeply earned. Atsu doesn’t hesitate; she reacts, adapts, and survives. Her grit gives Ghost of Yotei a sharper emotional edge, grounding its violence in anger, grief, and an unapologetic sense of self. She is not a symbol of honor lost or preserved. Atsu is a consequence, and she knows it.
Ghost of Yotei
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- October 2, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Language, Partial Nudity, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Sucker Punch
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
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With many impressive games under the RPG banner in 2025, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, The Outer Worlds 2, and more offer outstanding experiences.
Hecate - Hades 2
Check Out Hades 2 on Opencritic
A mentor can make or break a protagonist in a video game. Hecate lives up to that pressure with flying colors. The Witch of the Crossroads guides Melinoe throughout her journey against Chronos in Hades 2. Although the player doesn’t know much about her origin at first, they know three things: she’s constant, protective, and absolutely formidable. As the first boss Melinoe faces during her runs, Hecate goes beyond what it takes to ensure the player can kill Chronos. Hecate is voiced by Amelia Tyler, whose performance gives the character brilliant gravitas and otherworldliness befitting a Titan.
Hades 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Alcohol Reference, Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Publisher(s)
- Supergiant Games
WHERE TO PLAY
Hornet - Hollow Knight: Silksong
Check Out Silksong on Opencritic
Hornet’s transition from enigmatic rival to full-fledged protagonist is nothing short of remarkable. Where the Knight was silent, Silksong's Hornet is deliberate. She approaches every encounter with empathy first, extending patience even when it may not be returned. Yet beneath that composure lies a razor-sharp confidence. Hornet does not underestimate her enemies, nor does she overestimate herself; she meets opposition with realism, resolve, and, occasionally, a perfectly timed sliver of dry humor. Hornet feels fully realized: fierce, compassionate, and steadfast, even when everything around her collapses.
Hollow Knight: Silksong
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 91 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- September 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Team Cherry
- Publisher(s)
- Team Cherry
WHERE TO PLAY
Henry of Skalitz - Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Read The Best War Games’s Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Review
Henry starts off as a nobody. A blacksmith’s son who is forced into extraordinary circumstances, this son of Skalitz’s hero’s journey is deeply relatable. Yet, this knight of rusty armor embodies dichotomies. Henry is humble, righteous—yet driven by an intoxicating urge for revenge. Players follow Henry as he continues his quest for self-discovery amid a war-torn Bohemia, shaping historical events, alliances, and relationships. But wherever the player’s decisions take him, he’ll always end up a warrior worthy of bardic devotion.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- February 4, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
Hinako - Silent Hill f
Read The Best War Games’s Silent Hill f Review
Hinako stands apart from Silent Hill’ s line of haunted protagonists precisely because she is so ordinary. She is not trained, hardened, or exceptional. She is a teenager navigating expectations placed on her by family, society, and a 1960s Japan that offers her little room to breathe. What makes Hinako unforgettable is her emotional clarity. She is kind, stubborn, and quietly defiant, pushing back against a world that insists on deciding her future for her. The horror of Silent Hill f doesn’t just manifest in monsters or gore. It emerges through suffocating social pressures, gendered expectations, and the slow erosion of agency. Hinako’s relatability bridges that gap, allowing players to feel her dread, resentment, and fear even across vast cultural and temporal distances. Her story hurts because it feels plausible.
Silent Hill f
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- September 25, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Neobards Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror, Action
Hazel Flood - South of Midnight
Read The Best War Games’s South of Midnight Review
Games about the Deep South get easily lost in the media. And with 2025’s onslaught of amazing games, South of Midnight might be a hidden gem for many players. South of Midnight earns its laurels through its thoughtfully woven setting and fascinating lore, but its highlight is undoubtedly Hazel. Hazel Flood is a 19-year-old young woman who discovers magical powers that connect her to her ancestors. Hazel’s story is one of resilience in the face of grief, while also beautifully uniting the past and present.
South of Midnight
- Released
- April 8, 2025
- ESRB
- rp
- Developer(s)
- Compulsion Games
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5