Summary
- Horror games are only as good as their main stars.
- Legendary status is reached by well-crafted characters like Mio, Ellie, and Alan Wake.
- Doomguy, Alan Wake, James Sunderland, and Leon S Kennedy feature among the iconic horror game protagonists.
Just as horror games are only as good as their main villain, they also need a protagonist that's just as good to balance the scales. As the player character, the developers have a duty to make these well-rounded characters that players want to control, and want to root for their survival.
Bravest Horror Game Protagonists
Bravery comes in many forms, as do monsters, but with these horror game protagonists leading the charge, players can strike back with heroism.
Well-crafted protagonists reach legendary status, and the horror genre has no shortage of them. These characters are easily identified even among non-horror fans thanks to just how iconic they are, becoming the face of the franchise they belong to just as much as, if not more, than the villains and monsters.
10 Mio Amakura (Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly)
The Protagonist of the Best Fatal Frame Entry
Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterly
- Released
- December 10, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M
- Developer(s)
- Tecmo
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox (Original)
Fatal Frame is one of the most beloved horror game series of all time, starring a different protagonist armed with the camera obscura to fend off dangerous ghosts, and gather hints about where to go or what to do next. Out of the entire franchise, the second entry Crimson Butterfly is often lauded as the best, starring twin girls Mio and Mayu as they stumble upon the lost village, and learn the truth about what the rituals done to appease the Hellish Abyss situated within the village.
One twin would strangle the other to death, a mighty coincidence seeing as twins Mio and Mayu have rolled up into town. Mio spends most of their time there trying to be a good sister, chasing after the wayward Mayu who seems to be under the influence of Sae Kurosawa, one of the twins of the past ritual. Thanks to the legendary status of this game, Mio has become iconic in her own right, becoming synonymous with the Fatal Frame franchise itself.
9 Emily Hartwood (Alone in the Dark)
The Earliest Noteworthy Female Horror Game Protagonist
Alone in the Dark
- Released
- 1992
- ESRB
- T // Animated Blood, Animated Violence
- Developer(s)
- Infogrames
Though not the first female game protagonist of all time, Emily is the earliest and most noteworthy female horror game protagonist, paving the way for others. Her first appearance was as a playable character in the 1992 Alone in the Dark, as players could choose between her and Edward Carnby. Both are searching for the piano in the Deceto mansion after the owner, Jeremy Hartwood, supposedly died of suicide, but the circumstances surrounding his death seem suspicious.
Best Female Survival Horror Protagonists, Ranked
These women managed to survive the most nightmarish situations imaginable, and for that, they've become icons within the survival horror genre.
As his niece, Emily searches for the piano believing a note is hidden within to explain his suicide, meaning her intentions are less selfish, marking her as a good-natured protagonist. But it is her very existence alone that makes her such an iconic video game protagonist, as she paved the way for female horror game protagonists to become more widely used, as many more were created in the 90s.
8 Isaac Clarke (Dead Space Franchise)
Isaac's Space Suit is Easily Identifiable
Dead Space
- Released
- October 14, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Visceral Games
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Sci-fi horror isn't as popular as other forms, so it makes sense the most popular series (Dead Space) would be more recognizable, reaching iconic status with an iconic protagonist to boot. Never quite capturing a break, Isaac spends the franchise in one extraterrestial location or another, such as the space station the Ishimura, Sprawl, or Tau Volantis's moon, suited and booted to face the dangerous and terrifying necromorphs.
Isaac's suit, and the bravery of his character, are both two of his most defining character traits that fans know and love him for. The Necromorphs are always nightmare-inducing, burt rather than running away or getting paralyzed by fear, Isaac arms himself to fight back, which does make him instantly more likable. Whenever thinking about sci-fi horror, these enemies and Isaac are likely what come to mind, making him the most iconic protagonist in his genre.
7 Ellie Williams (The Last of Us Part 2)
Picks up the Reins After Joel's Death
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Last of Us series is one much loved and celebrated since its initial release 2013, as it brought a new and refreshing zombie outbreak game which was just as much about humanity as the collapse of civilization. Joel was the playable protagonist of the first game, but the reins passed to an older and harder Ellie after his murder in the second game, an event that proved very polarizing among fans.
Ellie rose as a well-written character with flaws and complexities, deadset on hunting down Abby to avenge Joel's murder, even though Joel's death was also a result of vengeance. In the end, she breaks the cycle of revenge, sparing Ellie and returning to Jackson. Though Joel is iconic in his own way, Ellie might be even moreso due to the decisions she makes in the end, and her releasing her anger and hatred for Abby.
6 Doomguy (Doom Franchise)
The Headliner of Horror FPS Games
DOOM 3
- Released
- August 3, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence
- Developer(s)
- id Software
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox (Original), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation (Original), PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Doom is by far the most popular, and perhaps one of the greatest, horror FPS games of all time. In each entry in the franchise, players will suit and boot up as the Doomguy (Also referred to as the Doom Slayer), the moniker bestowed on this legendary character. Armed to the teeth with a variety of weapons, and a truly kick-ass soundtrack in the background, players would cut bloody and gory swathes through the forces of hell that constantly besiege them.
Though the Doomguy is faceless and, for the most part, voiceless, he is nonetheless iconic, as everyone knows exactly what he looks like and just what he is about: killing demons. He has become the face of horror-leaning FPS games, and even though who aren't really into games can probably identify him if they are shown a picture. While the majority of the Doom series was about over-the-top violent demon slaying, Doom 3 took a slower-paced approach with a stronger emphasis on horror. Yet no matter the game, the hordes of Hell have never stood a chance against the Doomguy.
5 Alan Wake (Alan Wake/Alan Wake 2)
The Legendary Writer is Also a Hero in His Own Right
Alan Wake
- Released
- February 16, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Remedy Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Xbox 360, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The flashlight-wielding fictional writer Alan Wake has become a horror icon, starring in only two games yet still making a mighty name for himself. He appears as the only playable character in the first game and one of two protagonists in the sequel, sharing the spotlight with FBI agent Saga Anderson.
Even when sharing the spotlight, Alan Wake is immediately recognizable and iconic video game protagonist, the name likely conjuring the image of a man wielding a flashlight. At his heart, he is just an ordinary man with no real combat experience, as he is a writer by trade, but this doesn't stop him rising to the heights of fame thanks to the success of the games he stars in, and his well-written personality. He wants to do what's right, and he wants to help those he cares about.
4 Jill Valentine (Resident Evil Franchise)
Capcom's Leading Lady Holds a Special Place in the Heart of Fans
Resident Evil
- Released
- March 22, 1996
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), Sega Saturn, Nintendo DS, PC
Resident Evil is as popular and beloved as it not only because of the quality of its games, but also the quality of its characters. Legacy protagonists such as Leon, Chris, and Jill have recurring roles just because of how well-written they are, and the fact that they simply deserve more roles, Jill in particular. Capcom have been rather neglectful of their eldest RE daughter, as she has been missing from the series timeline for quite some time now, but even if she doesn't rejoin the fight anytime soon, she is never losing that iconic status.
Seasoned member of S.T.A.R.S., frequent partner to Chris and just a straight-up badass, Jill has made a name for herself in every turn, for surviving the Arklay Mansions and putting an end to Nemesis, there is no end to Jill's survival skills and bravery.
3 James Sunderland (Silent Hill 2)
A Complex Character with a Tragic Tale
Silent Hill 2
- Released
- September 25, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Silent
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Xbox (Original), PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Though it was not the first game in the franchise, Silent Hill 2 is often viewed as the greatest, benefitting from improved graphics and a more personal story that touched on loss, grief, guilt, and moving on. Widower James receives a letter from his wife three years after she passed from an illness, inviting him to join her in their 'special place'--their favorite holiday destination: Silent Hill. James explores this once idyllic place to find it is haunted by monsters, fallen to ruin, and populated by only a few other people, such as Angela, Laura, Eddie, and Maria.
Most Complex Horror Game Protagonists
These horror game protagonists deliver some of the most complex storylines and performances in the genre.
During the games twelfth hour, players learn the shocking truth that James killed Mary with his own hands, with it left rather ambiguous if it was a mercy-killing or because he could no longer take it. It marks him as a rather tragic yet very complex character, and an unreliable narrator in his own story. Though Harry preceded him as a Silent Hill protagonist, James has become something of a poster-child for the franchise, along with the manifestation of guilt, Pyramid Head.
2 Chris Redfield (Resident Evil Franchise)
Chris Has One of the Busiest Careers Out of All the Characters
Resident Evil
- Released
- April 30, 2002
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom Production Studio 4
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube, Nintendo Wii
It would be remiss to discuss iconic horror game protagonists without mentioning Chris Redfield, who debuted in the first game in the series, and has since had many roles throughout the franchise, including Resident Evil 5, 6, and Village. He is by far one of the busiest characters, working with S.T.A.R.S. And the BSAA, continuing to fight against BOWs, and any group or individuals suspected to be creating or using them.
Chris is always a gritty, brave and yet determined protagonist that would die to save his team, or to accomplish his missions. Though he can be rather aloof, like his treatment of Ethan in Village, those who know him know how deep his loyalty runs. His sheer volume of roles are enough to land him iconic status, but the quality of his character also helps in this regard.
1 Leon S Kennedy (Resident Evil Franchise)
Leon Plays a Recurring Role Throughout the Franchise
Resident Evil 2
- Released
- January 21, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Platform(s)
- Sega Dreamcast, Nintendo 64, Nintendo GameCube, PC, PS1
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
The Resident Evil franchise has no shortage of iconic game protagonists, with series frontrunners like Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, and, of course, Leon Kennedy. The latter has starred in many of the games as well as animated movies based, cementing him as one of the most popular characters of all.
His career in Resident Evil started with the second game, in which rookie cop Leon is set to start his new job in Raccoon City, only to find it has fallen to the grips of a virus on arrival. His heroics led to his promotion by the time RE4 rolled around. As an agent under orders from the President, an older and more jaded Leon rescued the President daughter from a cult. His growth throughout the series cannot be overstated, and no matter what game he is, players can easily recognize who Leon is, and what game series he belongs to.
Best Survival Horror Video Game Franchises, Ranked
These survival horror video game franchises are some of the premier powerhouses in the genre. Here's how they stack up.