When it comes to video games, we have seen a great increase concerning matters of diversity.From LGBT gamesto more protagonists of color, it is great that games are catering to be more inclusive. However, that doesn’t mean diversity can win alone.
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For example, it’s great to have more black characters, but it’s also good to make sure those characters make an impact, through good writing, great performances and a good game to showcase their story. Whether it’s surviving the apocalypse or fighting the undead, these characters are both black and impactful in video games and have led to being great representation for black gamers everywhere.
8Alyx Vance (Half Life 2)
Alyx was first seen inHalf Life 2acting as the deuteragonist for the iconic title and later becoming the protagonist of her own game, the acclaimedHalf-Life: Alyx. Alyx is a feisty and determined young woman who has been a prominent figure in the fight against the Combine and becomes a helpful ally to Gordon Freeman.
Although there are hints to something more concerning her relationship with Gordon, she still stands out as a great character on her own as demonstrated in Half-Life: Alyx.
7Clementine (The Walking Dead)
The Walking Deadseries by Telltale Games is incredibly written and has a diverse cast, especially when it comes to deuteragonist-turned-protagonist Clementine. Fans got to witness her transform from a helpless child of the apocalypse into a formidable survivor.
Her character development takes place over years witha gripping story of lossand survivor’s guilt set in the hell-bent world of the zombie apocalypse. From cute to kind, from sassy to survivor, Clementine is definitely a character to be remembered.
6Carl Johnson (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)
Carl “CJ” Johnson is the iconic protagonist from perhaps the best entry in theGrand Theft Autoseries,Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. CJ comes back to his home in Los Santos after the death of his mother in a drive-by shooting, where he begins to reconnect with his family and attempt to take care of his street gang, Grove Street Families.
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Throughout the game Carl is presented as a funny, likeable and street-smart character who has a great dynamic with the unique cast of criminals and gangsters he comes across. But, most of all, he shows himself to be a loyal man. And in his fight against corrupt law enforcement, he definitely deserves to be the first black protagonist of a main Grand Theft Auto game.
5Nadine Ross (Uncharted)
TheUnchartedseries has mostly focused on the exploits of Nathan Drake, Elena Fisher and Victor Sullivan. However, things changed when it introduced the best villains yet: Rafe Adler and his companion Nadine Ross. Although Nadine was a fun addition to the game, being able to beat Nathan and Sam in hand-to-hand combat, she only really got to shine inUncharted: Lost Legacy.
Here, Nadine becomes a deuteragonist as she works with Chloe Frazer on a treasure-hunting adventure. Throughout the game, you learn more about Nadine’s past, her relationship with her father and the developing relationship she has with Chloe, all while being an all-around badass.
4Lee Everett (The Walking Dead)
The Walking Dead truly only started because of how fantastic a character Lee Everett was. A convict turned protector, he was the guardian of Clementine throughout all the first season and thoughhis story meets a tragic end, it’s hard to say he didn’t make an impression.
Lee has his own much more self-contained character arc and numerous emotional moments, from seeing his dead brother as a walker to slogging through a city of undead to try to find Clementine when she goes missing. He shows himself to be a caring and protective man who will go the extra mile to protect those he loves.
3Sheva Alomar (Resident Evil 5)
One of the most underrated protagonists of theResident Evilseries, Sheva Alomar appears as a new partner to Chris Redfield as they investigate a new bioweapon appearing in Africa. Throughout the game, Sheva goes above and beyond to be a dutiful and helpful partner to Chris, helping him defeat Albert Wesker and rescue Jill from the villain’s mind control.
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Though Chris offers her the chance to leave in order to save herself, she chooses not to. Her loyalty and perseverance is to be admired and makes her an interesting character who fans have been hoping to see in aResident Evil 5remake or in another game in the series.
2Marcus Holloway (Watch Dogs 2)
After the lukewarm reception ofWatch Dogs, it seemed like there was little chance there was ever going to be a sequel. But that’s whenWatch Dogs 2happened. The game took the series in a more comedic and fun-loving direction and that also includes its story, which introduces fun characters such as Wrench, Sitara and of course the lovable Marcus Holloway.
Marcus is a charming and charismatic man who stands by a moral code and even canonically only uses non-lethal methods to deal with enemies in line with DeadSec’s ideology. He has great chemistry with most of the other characters, especially Wrench, and has a fun sense of humour. Much like the game he’s in, he’s a breath of fresh air when it comes to the series.
1Three Dogg (Fallout 3)
How could you not love the radio show of Three Dogg inFallout 3? For a game whose atmosphere is heavy with grittiness and darkness, Three Dogg is a nice break from the horrors of the Capital Wasteland. However, he grows even more interesting when you get to speak to him and understand more about his goal of “the good fight.”
On top of that, having him be a character that comments on recent events in the game due to your actions is a great idea that helps make the character have a large presence over the game’s story. Overall, Three Dogg is a great, hilarious character, and it’s hard to imagine Fallout 3 without him.
