Bravest Horror Protagonists in Gaming

Horror games challenge players to confront situations designed to terrify them, taking them to eerie locations drowned in the atmosphere, or presenting them with a shambling monstrosity that is either barely or not human at all. The player needs a healthy dose of courage to face up to these horrors, as does the character.

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Most Cowardly Horror Game Protagonists

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By  Amy Cowley

Certain horror stories may cast a young or inexperienced protagonist as the central force, making them very susceptible to fear. Other stories take the opposite route, casting a brave and heroic character who, even if new to worlds of horror, is ready and willing to step up to the challenge, giving the player the strength they need.

8 Laura Kearney (The Quarry)

A Natural Leader to Fight to Survive in The Quarry

While on their way early to summer camp as counselors, Laura and Max have a run-in with the local law, who warns them away from Hackett Quarry until its opening in the morning. Of course, the duo don't heed the warning and travel there while it's still dark, and while the full moon still shines bright. They soon realize that they were told not to approach until the morning, as there appears to be some kind of beast stalking the premises.

The first two playable characters usually die in the Supermassive horror universe, but this time, Laura and Max survive and are reintroduced later into the game. Laura remains as headstrong as she was at the beginning, proving that between her and Max, she is the one who calls the shots. She is also shown to be the bravest of the two, setting off on her own when she hears a noise in the woods, and her courage is even remarked upon by others, such as Dylan.

7 Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)

Even God Can't Shake Heather's Resolve in Silent Hill 3

Continuing the plot threads of the first Silent Hill game, Harry Mason's daughter is a strong-headed and independent teenage girl named Heather, and she's full of sass. After passing out in a mall, she finds herself in a strange otherworldly version of the place, filled with terrifying monsters. Though naturally unnerved by what she sees, she immediately picks up a gun to defend herself, rather than just screaming for help like most young girls would likely do in her place.

Heather demonstrates fearlessness throughout the game, interspersed by moments of vulnerability when thinking about her dad, who she is now on a mission to avenge. Even the rebirth of the Order's god can't make Heather give up, as she has the bravery inside her needed to get vengeance for her father's murder. As far as horror game protagonists go, Heather manages the perfect balance between realistic and courageous.

6 Sable Ward (Dead by Daylight)

Willingly Enters the Fog to Find Her Friend in Dead by Daylight

What with all the crossovers with existing horror game and movie IPs, there are plenty of courageous characters to be found in Dead by Daylight. From action heroes such as Jill Valentine to final girls like Laurie Strode, and even among the cast of original characters. One such character is Sable Ward, known as the best friend to Mikaela Reid who disappeared into a mysterious fog, causing Sable to look into her vanishing.

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This led Sable to know a mysterious fog took her away and became one of the very rare survivors to willingly enter the Entity's domain. Even now knowing what danger she could be placing herself in, and not even knowing if survival is guaranteed or not, Sable rushes in regardless, her care for her friend giving her the courage she needs.

5 Michael Munroe (Until Dawn)

Steps Up as the Psuedo-Leader in Until Dawn

Many characters in Until Dawn undergo transitions throughout the game, from Chris becoming the level-headed one between him and Ashley, Jessica showing vulnerability if she survives the encounter with the creature, and Mike going from a popular and arrogant jokester to a grounded, leader figure who is determined to get his friends to safety.

He fits the character role of one who would be first to die in a horror slasher flick, but instead, Mike becomes one of the characters with more longevity. He bravely chases after Jessica the moment she is snatched away, and then after the mysterious stranger straight into the sanatorium, armed with a gun and a healthy dose of courage. He transitions from one of the most unlikable characters to the hero, who is very much needed.

4 Sebastian Castellanos (The Evil Within)

Traumatic Events Have Made Sebastian More Fearless in The Evil Within

Beacon Mental Hospital became the next crime scene for police detectives, Joseph Oda, Juli Kidman, and Sebastian Castellanos, just as they were looking forward to finishing for the day. But as it is the scene of a mass murder, it is not a case that can wait, but the trio will surely wish they had passed this one up. After arriving, they are thrust into an otherworldly nightmarish place, populated by terrifying creatures such as Laura and the Keeper.

Despite the onslaught of horrors, Sebastian manages to keep a firm handle on his nerves, only usually uttering the odd bemused statement rather than voicing aloud his fear. His courageousness is displayed by hardly flinching when confronted with these monsters, even if he does have enough survival instincts to flee from the butcher monster at the beginning of the game. Traumatic events such as the loss of loved ones have hardened Sebastian enough to make him a fearless horror protagonist.

3 Leon S Kennedy (Resident Evil 2)

Though a Rookie, He Faces Up to the Horrors With Steely Determination in RE2

There is a veritable bounty of Resident Evil protagonists who make strong contenders for the bravest heroes, but Resident Evil 2's Leon S Kennedy might be one of the most overlooked yet deserving choices. As a young rookie cop, Leon likely wasn't expecting to do much on his first day on the job than push a few pencils, but entering into the zombie-torn streets of Raccoon City, he realizes his first day is going to be so much more than he thought.

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Seeing that not even the inside of the police station is secure, Leon takes it upon himself to gear up and fight against the monstrosities, even the terrifying and hulking Mr. X. Though young and inexperienced, he becomes one of the leading and brave heroes of RE2, traits which follow him through to the sequels he starred in.

2 Regina (Dino Crisis)

Neither Gore Nor Horror Can Faze this Heroine in Dino Crisis

An organization known as SORT dispatches 4 agents to extricate a renowned scientist who was thought to be dead, but has in fact spent years engineering weapons, but none of them could have been prepared for what his work exactly consists of. Not only has the scientist cheated death, but several prehistoric threats have risen from extinction, and are now the hunters of Regina and her team members.

It would be all too easy to run in fear screaming when confronted with terrifying dinosaurs, but instead, Regina demonstrates excellent bravery. The horrors, blood, guts, and gore do not deter her from being an ultimate badass, as she fights and shoots her way through the dinosaurs. Her unshakable will and her proven skills as an agent make her one of the bravest women to ever grace the halls of horror.

1 Chris Redfield (Resident Evil Franchise)

Arguably the Definitive Hero of the Resident Evil Franchise

Resident Evil has no shortage of courageous legacy characters, and one of the most prolific is Chris Redfield, who has had many appearances throughout the franchise, right from the very first game in the series. As a member of S.T.A.R.S., and eventually migrated to other organizations such as the BSAA to continue his work there.

Under every banner, Chris remains a stalwart and brave character, always prepared to jump right into the fray and uncover whatever conspiracy lies at the heart of the story. From the eerie Spencer Mansion to the scalding heat of Africa, and then even in the icy Romanian wilderness, Chris is rarely ever faxed by what is happening around him. Though his RE7 DLC is titled Not a Hero, every appearance by Chris is evidence to the contrary.

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From the torture of Doki Doki Literature Club to the eerieness of Resident Evil and Silent Hill, here are the scariest horror video games of all time.

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