Best RPG Protagonists With Set Backstories

RPG games feature a wide variety of good protagonists, ranging from characters with simple backstories that allow players to mold them as they wish, to heroes with predefined origins that deeply impact the narrative. This diversity enriches the gaming experience, offering multiple ways to immerse oneself in the story and forge a stronger connection with the proposed plot.

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While some players prefer to create and develop their own characters, others appreciate the depth of established protagonists whose stories directly influence the world around them. Through these origins, it's possible to add additional layers of meaning to the adventure, increasing the impact of how certain events are portrayed.

10 Harry Du Bois (Disco Elysium)

Discovering the Truth As An Amnesiac Detective

Harry Du Bois wakes up in a hotel room, intoxicated and without concrete memories of who he really is or what he was doing there. This amnesia places players in a unique position, where the discovery of the character himself is as intriguing as the investigation of the central crime that drives Disco Elysium.

As the story progresses, choices and interactions reveal fragments of Harry's life, allowing players to reconstruct his personality and motivations, often based on the chosen attributes. Through this narrative, the journey of Disco Elysium becomes more personal and impactful, immersing players in one of the most interesting RPG protagonists.

9 The Grey Warden (Dragon Age Origins)

Character Origins That Created One Of The Best RPG Protagonists

In Dragon Age: Origins, players can choose between different origins when creating the Grey Warden who will be the game's main protagonist, experiencing the final moments of each story before joining the order. These initial choices profoundly affect the narrative, adding layers of meaning to future experiences in the game.

For example, starting as a human noble adds emotional weight to the expansion DLC, where confrontations with the family responsible for the character's parents' death become more significant moments for players. Allowing this level of personalization enriches the connection between players and the story, making Dragon Age: Origins one of the best narratives ever produced by BioWare.

8 Geralt Of Rivia (The Witcher 3)

An Established RPG Character With A Deep Backstory

Despite being the final chapter of Geralt of Rivia's story, where players experience the conclusion not only of the trilogy that established CD Projekt Red as one of the most respected studios in the industry, The Witcher 3 also wraps up the events from the books written by Andrzej Sapkowski. This continuity offers a unique depth for players, creating an incredible universe.

Thus, Geralt's journey is enriched by literary references and the development of already-known characters, providing a complete and immersive experience. Decisions, often made based on the character's personality, allow players to actively participate in the fate of one of the best video game protagonists and also in the world of The Witcher 3.

7 The Dark Urge (Baldur's Gate 3)

Battling Inner Darkness In An Amazing RPG Story

Baldur's Gate 3 offers multiple narrative paths, allowing players to choose between characters without a defined backstory, like Tav, or opt for origins with complex pasts, such as Lae’zel or Shadowheart. However, the game's highlight is The Dark Urge, whose story is one of the best crafted by Larian Studios.

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Playing as this character, who can still be customized in terms of class, race, and appearance, players face a constant internal conflict, trying to resist the character's dark desires or fully embrace them. This dynamic adds psychological and moral depth to the experience, directly influencing interactions with other characters in this impactful game story.

6 Kasuga Ichiban (Yakuza: Like A Dragon)

The Rebirth Of A Yakuza Member In The Modern World

Kasuga Ichiban is introduced to players as a loyal member of the yakuza who is unjustly imprisoned to cover up the crimes of others. Before the main story begins, it's possible to experience moments from his past, understanding his dedication to the Japanese mafia during its peak across Japan.

Upon his release years later, Kasuga finds a transformed world where the yakuza's influence has significantly diminished. Now, the narrative follows the character's adaptation to this new reality, facing modern challenges with a good dose of humor while seeking his own path in Yakuza: Like a Dragon, making Kasuga one of the best protagonists in modern JRPGs.

5 The Nameless One (Planescape Torment)

An RPG About Multiple Lives And Identities

In Planescape: Torment, the protagonist known as The Nameless One is an immortal being who has lived countless past lives. Each reincarnation has left marks and memories that influence the current journey, and the attributes chosen during character creation allow players to relive fragments of these previous existences.

Players gradually uncover the mysteries surrounding The Nameless One's past, facing plot twists that challenge perceptions of identity and the morality of certain actions. This unique approach deepens the narrative, making the search for personal truth a central part of the experience in Planescape: Torment.

4 Revan (Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic)

The Sith Redeemed by Memory In One Of The Greatest RPGs Of All Time

In the early 2000s, BioWare was capable of producing incredible stories, and Knights of the Old Republic is an example where players explore a rich period of Star Wars lore, experiencing a story that set new standards for subsequent RPGs. The protagonist, Revan, is a unique character who initially doesn't remember his past as a powerful Sith.

The revelation that the character underwent a mind wipe and its impact on the narrative create moments of great impact for players unaware of this plot twist. As truths come to light, players witness and can influence Revan's transformation, making him a memorable and complex protagonist in the Star Wars universe.

3 The Courier (Fallout: New Vegas)

The Messenger Of An Unknown Destiny

Fallout: New Vegas is one of the most interesting games in the franchise's 3D era, largely because of The Courier, a character with an unexplored past but with enough elements for players to imagine. This is further detailed in the game's expansions, which provide new information, revealing events from the protagonist's life before accepting the mission to deliver the chip that triggers the known plot.

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This approach allows players to discover more about the motivations and experiences that shaped The Courier. The initial lack of information adds an element of mystery, while the DLCs deepen the connection between the player and the character in Fallout: New Vegas.

2 Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)

The Hero Forged By Initial Choices In An RPG Saga

In Mass Effect, players can select different origins and backgrounds for Commander Shepard, similar to the system seen in Dragon Age: Origins. These initial decisions affect certain dialogues and interactions throughout the saga, adding nuances to the experience without drastically altering the main narrative.

These variations enrich the Shepard's context, influencing how other characters perceive Shepard. Although they don't completely change the journey, these details offer an additional layer of personalization and depth to the protagonist's story in this impactful RPG game.

1 Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)

A Soldier With Fragmented Memories In An Iconic RPG

Final Fantasy 7 presents Cloud Strife, a classic example of a protagonist with a defined backstory before the game's start, a common practice in Square Enix's JRPGs. A former member of Shinra, Cloud has his memories confused with those of Zack Fair, profoundly affecting his identity and the many actions he takes throughout the game.

This mix of memories creates internal conflicts that drive the character's development. Cloud's journey involves discovering his true identity, adding emotional and psychological complexity to the experience in Final Fantasy 7, one of the most impactful stories in gaming.

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