In most video games, you step into the shoes of a mighty hero, the one destined to save the world and defeat an all-powerful evil. The narrative often revolves around your journey, challenges, and triumphs as you hone your skills, recruit allies, and ultimately rise to glory. Your choices shape the world, your actions determine its fate, and the story feels as if it was written just for you.
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However, some games take a different approach, subverting this familiar dynamic. These games place you in an important supporting role rather than casting you as the story’s focal point. While your contributions are crucial, the narrative isn’t necessarily about you. Instead, it unfolds around other characters, with you acting as a facilitator, strategist, or guide who helps drive their journeys forward.
Beware story spoilers.
10
Niko
OneShot
OneShot
- Released
-
December 8, 2016
- Developer
-
Future Cat
- Publisher(s)
-
Degica
In most video games, you assume the role of a character within the game’s world. OneShot, however, flips this concept on its head by casting you as The Player, a god tasked with guiding Niko, the protagonist, on their journey.
Your in-game name will default to the name of your computer. But when Niko asks for your name, you have the option to change it.
Although you control Niko’s movements through the game, the story makes it clear that Niko acts of their own will. They are fully aware of your presence, often breaking the fourth wall to ask you questions or engage in conversations. This dynamic creates a unique and deeply immersive experience, blurring the line between player and character and making you feel truly connected to the World of OneShot.
9
Kaede Akamatsu
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony
- Released
-
January 12, 2017
- Developer(s)
-
Spike Chunsoft
- Publisher(s)
-
NISA
You’d be forgiven for diving into Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony expecting to guide Kaede Akamatsu, the Ultimate Pianist, through another one of Monokuma’s twisted killing games. After all, the promotional materials heavily featured Kaede, and her design prominently includes an ahoge — a signature feature of Danganronpa’s protagonists.
An ahoge, which means foolish hair, refers to the large clump of hair that generally sticks straight out of an anime character’s head.
Imagine your surprise, then, when Kaede is unmasked as the very first murderer in the game, revealing she was never the true protagonist. That role belongs to Shuichi Saihara, the Ultimate Detective. Following Kaede’s trial, control shifts to Shuichi, who dramatically removes his iconic hat to reveal an ahoge of his own, cementing his role as the game’s unexpected hero.
8
The Prince
Little Briar Rose
- Released: December 2, 2016
- Platform: Windows
- Genre: Point-and-Click Adventure
Little Briar Rose is a charming retelling of Sleeping Beauty, brought to life with stained glass-inspired graphics. You begin the game as Prince Stephen I, courageously venturing into the enchanted briar patch to rescue Aurora. To reach the castle, you must assist various enchanted forest creatures by solving their unique problems.
The second Prince you play is modeled after Prince Philip from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
However, failure has consequences. If you cannot solve a puzzle, Stephen is transformed into one of the enchanted creatures, and you must continue the journey with a new Prince. Despite this, only Stephen holds the power to break Aurora’s curse. If you falter along the way, your ultimate goal is curing Stephen so he can fulfill his heroic destiny.
7
Audrey Redheart
Wandersong
Wandersong
2D
Platformer
Adventure
Indie Games
Rhythm
- Released
-
September 27, 2018
- Developer(s)
-
Greg Lobanov
- Publisher(s)
-
Greg Lobanov
In Wandersong, you play as The Bard, a cheerful and optimistic musician on a quest to save the world from being destroyed so that the goddess can start building a new universe in its place. Unlike traditional heroes who rely on combat, The Bard uses song and dance to overcome challenges, solve puzzles, and interact with the world. Your goal is to piece together the Earthsong by working with the mystical Overseers, all while maintaining your unwavering belief in peace and unity.
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All the achievements you collect in the game are related to Audrey’s actions rather than your own.
However, the goddess Eya has chosen someone else as the world’s savior: Audrey Redheart. In stark contrast to The Bard’s pacifist approach, Audrey is aggressive and combative, wielding her Hero title as a badge of superiority. She is arrogant, impatient, and determined to solve the world’s problems by force, choosing to kill the Overseers rather than hear them out.
6
Annie
ANNIE:Last Hope
- Released: April 6, 2020
- Platform: Windows
- Genre: Top-Down Shooter
In ANNIE:Last Hope, the world has been devastated by an invasion of glowing green crabs that turn people into zombie-like monsters. You begin the game as Jack, a highly-trained police officer, fighting to protect his girlfriend, Annie. Jack is the perfect protagonist: skilled at various firearms and a capable fighter.
However, after the first few levels, Jack is separated from Annie during an explosion. After being knocked unconscious, he is abducted by a mysterious organization. The game then skips ahead two months, and you take control of Annie, the true protagonist. As Annie, you embark on a mission to find Jack and uncover the truth behind the zombie outbreak, shifting the focus from Jack’s survival to Annie’s journey and the larger mystery at play.
5
Edith Finch
What Remains Of Edith Finch
- Released
-
April 25, 2017
- Developer(s)
-
Giant Sparrow
In What Remains of Edith Finch, Edith is the last surviving member of the Finch family, who are said to be cursed, with each family member meeting a strange and often tragic end. Edith returns to her family home, which has been preserved in time, to uncover the truth behind the curse. Each room in the house belongs to a different family member, and as Edith explores, she discovers their individual stories, told through interactive vignettes.
While Edith is the main character through whom you experience the game, the real story is not hers alone but that of the entire Finch family. Edith acts as a medium, uncovering the anthology of stories of her relatives, each one offering a unique perspective on their lives and deaths. The overarching narrative focuses on Edith’s grandmother, Edie, who plays a key role in how the family’s curse unfolds and in the circumstances of many of the deaths. The game uses Edith’s exploration to piece together these individual stories, ultimately revealing the tragic legacy of the Finch family.
4
Rig
Northgard
4.0/5
Northgard
- Released
-
March 7, 2018
- Publisher(s)
-
Shiro Games
- Developer(s)
-
Shiro Games
Northgard is a strategy game steeped in Norse mythology, blending resource management and tactical combat with a rich narrative. The first arc of Story Mode, Rig’s Saga, chronicles the journey of Rig, a deposed king seeking to avenge his father’s death and reclaim his rightful place. While Rig is the central figure in the story, he doesn’t become a playable character until after his story arc ends.
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Throughout most of Rig’s Saga, you lead the chiefs of various Northgard clans, each with unique abilities and play styles. As you traverse the unforgiving landscapes and unite the clans under Rig’s banner, your focus remains on mastering strategic warfare. It’s only in the climactic moments, after Rig has rallied the clans and confronts his father’s murderer, that he steps into battle as a bannerman.
3
Lyn, Eliwood, And Hector
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
- Released
-
November 3, 2003
Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade is a prequel to Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade, set 20 years prior. In this story, you play as a tactician discovered by Lyn on the plains of Sacae. Upon learning from knights Sain and Kent that she is Lady Lyndis of the House of Caelin, Lyn embarks on a journey to reunite with her estranged grandfather. As the tactician, you provide strategic guidance to Lyn and her companions, ensuring their survival and success in countless battles.
While your role as tactician is essential to the party’s victories, the narrative focus remains on Lyn, Eliwood, and Hector as they navigate their quests to thwart the looming forces of darkness. Your contributions are acknowledged as invaluable, but you do not directly influence the broader trajectory of the story, serving instead as a supportive guide for the game’s heroes.
2
Lillie
Pokemon Sun & Moon
- Released
-
November 18, 2016
In most Pokemon games, the player takes center stage as the hero who saves the world. In Red and Blue, you’re the one to dismantle Team Rocket’s nefarious operations. In Ruby and Sapphire, you must calm the mighty Groudon and Kyogre to prevent global catastrophe.
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However, in Sun and Moon, you take on a different role: the supportive best friend to the true protagonist of the story, Lillie. Initially an unassuming girl, Lillie bravely steals the legendary Pokemon Cosmog from her power-hungry mother, Lusamine, and spends the rest of the story trying to protect it. While you provide the muscle behind her efforts, the courage, decisions, and determination that drive the story come from Lillie, making her the heart of the narrative.
1
B-12
Stray
- Released
-
July 19, 2022
- Developer(s)
-
BlueTwelve Studio
In Stray, you take on the role of a curious and agile cat navigating a mysterious post-apocalyptic city inhabited by robots and plagued by mutant creatures. Your feline antics, climbing pipes, knocking over objects, squeezing into tight spaces, and curling up for naps are central to your exploration of this melancholic world.
But while the cat serves as the player’s physical avatar, the heart of the story lies with B-12, your drone companion. As you journey through the city together, B-12 gradually recovers fragmented memories, revealing the hidden truths about the city’s origin, its robotic inhabitants, and the events that led to humanity’s downfall.
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