These Video Game Characters Went From Supporting Players To The Lead Roles

Not every character in a game can be the main protagonist or antagonist. Some need to be side characters who play their role in the narrative but don’t carry it forward. Sometimes, they’re only there to be comic relief and add some levity to an otherwise serious game. Alternatively, they can be the opposite, and actually add extra drama to the experience. So, side characters come in plenty of different forms.

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If these characters are written well, they often become very popular and gain a cult following. Occasionally, developers respond to this by making them the protagonist in the sequel or prequel. Here are some of the best examples of characters who went from supporting players to leading roles.

8

Chloe Price

While Max Caulfield is a solid protagonist in the original Life is Strange, her best friend, Chloe Price, is a bit more compelling. She is the more complicated and flawed character between the two, after all. So, diving into her past in the follow-up game, Before The Storm, is a delight.

You get to witness her transformation into the pessimistic and unhappy teen she is in the first game. She doesn’t seem quite as cool in her own game, but you get to know her on a deeper level and see how vulnerable she is.

7

Zack Fair

In the original Final Fantasy 7, Zack Fair serves as a mysterious figure who appears in flashbacks. During the game, you learn that the protagonist, Cloud, has a faulty memory and sort of believes he is Zack. Or, at least, he adopts some of his memories and personality quirks. In reality, Zack was a good friend of Cloud and an iconic and badass hero.

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You get to learn more about the character in Crisis Core, as he serves as the protagonist in that game. So, you get to take a closer look at his past and get to appreciate further how awesome the character is. He’s a kind-hearted man with a strong moral code who’s an incredible fighter.

6

Rebecca Chambers

If you select to play as Chris in the original Resident Evil game, Rebecca Chambers serves as a side character and helps you out. She doesn’t get too much screen time in that game, but she proves to be a good character nonetheless.

In Resident Evil Zero, she serves as the main protagonist alongside convict Billy Coen. You get much more time to appreciate her in this game. In the process, you get to see that while she looks very innocent, she’s a strong and capable hero.

5

Luigi

Luigi is an iconic sidekick and a classic player two character. He typically helps Mario on his adventures in the main Super Mario games. In the Luigi’s Mansion series, though, the green plumber takes center stage.

Like his brother, he isn’t the deepest character and doesn’t speak a whole lot. Yet, he does showcase a bit more personality as a protagonist, as he is shown to be a cowardly hero, but a hero nonetheless. Despite his fear of the creepy mansion he’s roaming around and the ghosts within it, he still musters up the courage to save the day.

4

Clementine

While they’re called seasons, each season of TellTale’s The Walking Dead is its own game. The first of them features Lee Everett as the main protagonist, with little Clementine as a side character. After the first season, she becomes the main character of the series.

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Throughout the next few seasons, you see her get older and become an incredible zombie survivor. Seeing her grow up in front of your eyes is a unique experience and part of what makes her a special character.

3

Baird And Cole Train

Baird and Cole serve as perfect side characters in most of the Gears games. While the likes of Marcus and Dom are busy with the dramatic stuff, Baird and Cole add a bit of levity as they crack countless jokes.

However, both members of the iconic duo are put into the lead roles for the spin-off, Judgment. This means they have to carry the narrative a bit more, but they manage to maintain their personalities. Cole Train continues to be an over-the-top jock, while Baird remains the sarcastic brains of the operation. Therefore, they continue to be hilarious even when they’re the main characters.

2

Alyx Vance

Alyx is an important ally for you throughout Half-Life 2. In fact, she has more of a personality than the protagonist, Gordon Freeman, as he doesn’t talk. So, she’s arguably the most memorable character in Half-Life 2.

The character returns as the titular protagonist in the VR game Half-Life: Alyx. Unlike Freeman, she actually speaks as the protagonist. As a result, she manages to maintain her personality from HL2, which means she’s the same witty and likable character.

1

Goro Majima

In most of the Like A Dragon games, the unpredictable Majima is prominently featured as the main rival of the protagonist, Kiryu. His outrageous antics have made him one of the series’ most popular characters. The very first time you meet him in the first game, he’s already an over-the-top individual, which is why he’s gained the nickname Mad Dog.

In the prequel, Yakuza 0, he serves as one of the protagonists, allowing you to see a more serious version of Majima and everything he had to go through. It makes the character all the more compelling and sympathetic. His other stint as a protagonist comes in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, where you get to see him in all his outrageous glory. Both are great.

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