A proper narrative is made up of protagonists, antagonists, and characters that support both.
While it’s supposed to be the protagonist’s show first and foremost, that’s not always how things go in the public consciousness.
Whether due to lovable character traits or distinct designs, some supporting characters manage to secure a big chunk of the spotlight for themselves.
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They live on in our memories, long after a game’s release, because something they did or said managed to make a firm impression on us.
In some cases, these supporting characters even manage to become more beloved than the protagonists or antagonists themselves.
11 Kim Kitsuragi
Disco Elysium
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In Disco Elysium, our protagonist Harry DuBois is far too much of a mess to handle the investigation all on his lonesome.
Thankfully, he has the assistance of RCM lieutenant Kim Kitsuragi along with him on the case.
Besides just being a generally pleasant and reliable person, Kim holds the distinction of being the lone voice of logic and reason guiding Harry’s somewhat… iffy perceptions.
This is rather ironic, considering Harry has a literal voice of Logic clamoring away in that head of his.
9 HK-47
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the protagonist purchases what appears to be a protocol droid to communicate with the Tuskans of Tatooine.
That droid, HK-47, was actually a skilled assassin droid, and quite proud of it, too.
HK-47 absolutely adores senseless violence, and would happily kill the protagonist if his programming didn’t prevent him.
That programming also forces him to keep his interactions cordial and professional, which leads to one of the most polite and affable sociopaths you’ll ever meet.
HK-47 will call you a “meatbag” to your face, then politely ask if there’s anyone you’d like assassinated, making him a great cohort for an evil playthrough.
8 Solaire Of Astora
Dark Souls
The world of Dark Souls is not a pleasant one, to say the absolute least, but it still has its bright spots.
One of its brightest spots is Solaire of Astora of the Warriors of Sunlight.
A big fan of Gwyn, Lord of Cinder, Solaire became Undead on purpose so he could seek out his “own sun” in Gwyn’s birthplace.
While his proselytizing can get a bit overbearing, Solaire is the closest thing you have to a recurring ally in the game, particularly if you do right by him in his questline.
7 Elizabeth
BioShock Infinite
In BioShock Infinite, Elizabeth is the girl that Booker DeWitt was originally sent to the floating city of Columbia to liberate.
Because Elizabeth has been sheltered all her life, she has a sunny, somewhat naive disposition.
This makes her a good counterpoint to Booker’s grizzled, cynical outlook, though the two end up rubbing off on one another over the course of the story.
Elizabeth ends up stealing the show in a slightly more literal way, becoming the de facto protagonist in the game’s Burial at Sea DLC.
6 Iron Fist Alexander
Elden Ring
Throughout the Lands Between in Elden Ring, there are Living Jars that will attack when approached with hostile intent.
The exception to this is the Warrior Jar, Iron Fist Alexander.
Alexander has the disposition of a classic gentleman knight, engaging in combat for the thrill and potential of bettering himself.
Granted, Alexander’s idea of “bettering himself” includes stuffing the discarded viscera of slain warriors into his body.
Still, if you can look past that, he’s one of the most cheerful chaps in the Lands Between, and a big hit with fans whenever he shows up.
5 Nick Valentine
Fallout 4
The roster of recruitable companions in Fallout 4 is packed with charming rogues, but the most charming one is none other than Diamond City’s resident detective, Nick Valentine.
A runaway prototype synth from the Institute, Nick has the memories of a pre-war era detective in his head.
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He’s got the voice and mannerisms of Humphrey Bogart with a face like a used leather chair, and boy, does he have that noir charm in spades.
Nick is one of your most important allies, helping you find Kellogg in the main story and providing some vital perspective in the Far Harbor DLC.
4 Dusa
Hades
In Hades, the many characters you encounter are either godlike deities or legendary figures from Greek mythology.
Dusa is neither of those, merely a disembodied gorgon head working as the House of Hades’ maid.
As the closest thing to a normal person in the cast, Dusa’s down-to-earth vibes make her a nice palette cleanser compared to the larger-than-life gods you usually deal with.
While she’s star-struck by Zagreus at first, she also ends up becoming one of his best friends, something he has very few of at first.
3 Loop
In Stars And Time
When playing In Stars and Time, the only other person in Dormant who’s clued into Siffrin’s time-loop predicament is the mysterious Loop.
For reasons they choose not to divulge, Loop knows quite a bit about Siffrin and wants to help him as much as possible.
They tend to go about this in a somewhat catty and obnoxious way, but you can tell that Loop’s desire is mostly genuine.
This proves especially true when Siffrin spirals after seemingly endless repetitions, and Loop does their best to console him.
2 Sans
Undertale
Sans is a character who needs no introduction. Even if you’ve never played Undertale, if you’ve been even a little tuned into gaming as a whole since 2015, he’s probably crossed your path at least once.
At least on the surface, Sans is a textbook lovable slob, traipsing around in his PJs and regularly ditching work to get a snack.
However, Sans has some particularly deep depths, carefully letting on that his lazy ways are more of a preference than a necessity.
Sans is one of the most dangerous monsters in the entire underground, and should you give him a reason to do so, he will prove that to you. Repeatedly, if necessary.
1 Goro Majima
Like A Dragon Series
Originally introduced as a wild card foil to Kiryu in the original Yakuza game, Goro Majima, AKA the “Mad Dog of Shimano,” is a man of both instincts and principles.
He is a bloodthirsty crook to an extent, but he only picks fights with those who can give him a run for his money, like Kiryu.
Over the course of the series, Majima shows that he has a personal code of ethics he won’t violate, mildly strange and inconsistent as it sometimes is.
It’s no wonder he finally made his playable debut in Yakuza 0, which showed us just how powerful of a man he is both in body and character.
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