Summary
- RPGs, like Cyberpunk 2077, offer extensive character customization with voice-acted protagonists for immersive storytelling.
- Games like Diablo 4 and Fallout 4 introduced more dynamic custom character involvement in the story than previous entries.
- Hogwarts Legacy and Monster Hunter Wilds provide customization options for characters with voiced interactions in the game world.
When custom characters pop up in games, it’s usually in RPGs, especially Western ones. For example, anything involving Dungeons & Dragons or BioWare typically involves character customization. There have been some platformers, too, like the LittleBigPlanet series, but overall, RPGs are where this trend appears most often.
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These custom characters are often quiet to engage players more with the story, as if their player character was an avatar for the player themselves. Then there are the rare games that include custom characters who can talk and are actually involved in their story beyond a few text prompts. Let’s go through some fine examples with no spoilers involved.
8 Cyberpunk 2077
V Has Arrived
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
Cyberpunk 2077 was years in the making, and even when it launched, things still took a while to even out. Now, after many updates and an excceptional DLC, fans praise it just as much as CD Projekt Red’s other masterpiece, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
In Cyberpunk 2077, players can create a male or female version of V who talks constantly, from observing signs on the street to engaging in dialogue-driven conversations. V is given a lot of character, no matter what version players choose, since they are also guided by the ghost AI of the legendary Johnny Silverhand, played by the equally legendary Keanu Reeves.
7 Diablo 4
The Wanderer’s Pursuit
Diablo 4
- Released
- June 5, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Hack and Slash
Diablo 4 took a big leap ahead of other Diablo games by creating a more cinematic experience with its story. Players could customize their character’s looks beyond just choosing a class (finally), and they were referred to as The Wanderer.
They speak during cutscenes or while wandering the world. They don't talk as much as other characters, though, because if a story character is temporarily in the party, they usually speak on behalf of The Wanderer. It's still a big step up from previous entries in the series, even if it's just a tiny one.
6 Dragon Age: Inquisition
Third Time’s The Charm
Dragon Age: Inquisition
- Released
- November 18, 2014
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Dragon Age: Inquisition is the third entry in the series, one that many fans have decided is their favorite. Players can create their character based on race, gender, and class, which is typical of this fantasy series.
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Players will go through typical BioWare dialogue trees, and whatever option is chosen, their character will speak up, unlike the equivalent custom character in Dragon Age: Origins. They are a bit muted compared to the rest of the party, but players will indeed have a voice in the game's affairs.
5 Fallout 4
Leaving Vault 111
Fallout 4
- Released
- November 10, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Fallout 4 broke some boundaries for its franchise by introducing a voiced protagonist for the first time. The game starts with a male and female couple, both of whom the player can customize and then choose who they want to play. After a bomb hits, the couple and their son get frozen underground, and then the Sole Survivor, the player character, will exit Vault 111 to find themselves in the post-apocalypse.
Their character will speak up during dialogue trees, and another cool thing about the custom character system in Fallout 4 is Codsworth. Bethesda programmed this robot to recognize hundreds of names, so if the Sole Survivor speaks to him, chances are Codsworth will address players by their chosen name.
4 Hogwarts Legacy
School Daze
Hogwarts Legacy
- Released
- February 10, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy gave fans what they wanted after reading the first Harry Potter book: a chance to attend Hogwarts. Players begin their Hogwarts career by choosing a gender, creating their character, and then being sorted into a House, like Slytherin or Ravenclaw, which will dictate how their classmates will interact with them.
Male or female, the student will often mumble to themselves while exploring the world, battling villains, and interacting with NPCs. They are an active, curious member of the Wizarding World and aren’t just hollow avatars for characters to play as.
3 Mass Effect
The Shepard’s Tale
Mass Effect
- Released
- November 20, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The first Mass Effect is one of the earliest examples of a Western RPG giving players character creator tools coupled with a voiced hero. Granted, since this was an early example, any version of Commander Shepard may sound a bit robotic compared to other companions, which didn’t improve that much throughout the trilogy.
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However, this could also be a storytelling quirk, as the game was heavily inspired by Star Trek and most characters in that franchise speak with calm, articulated demeanors as well. Stoic or not, Commander Shepard is an iconic character who is beloved by many BioWare fans.
2 Monster Hunter Wilds
Time To Get Carving
Monster Hunter Wilds
- Released
- February 28, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
Monster Hunter Wilds is another game that took a bold step forward in many ways, like by voicing their lead Hunter, who players can customize with the typical options. They even get to customize their Palico cat companion, who also gets a voice.
The story is more involved than ever before, featuring a group of researchers exploring a new land and searching for a legendary beast called the White Wraith. The player’s Hunter won’t have much to add to conversations compared to other story characters, but they aren’t silent, which is the main thing.
1 Saints Row: The Third
Before They Became President
Saints Row: The Third
- Released
- November 6, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Saints Row: The Third is one of the best entries in the series and one of the best customizable experiences in any video game genre. Players will create their version of The Boss, from their looks to their voice. There are several male and female voices, like American and British dialects, and even a humorous zombie option.
Like the game as a whole, the character customization options are silly and over-the-top. Going through the game as a zombie is just as fun as playing as a cockney femme fatale and can even change the story context, which is a good reason to play the game multiple times.
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