In the rapidly changing landscape of contemporary gaming, the hero - whether selected from a medieval fantasy or post-apocalyptic environment - remains the fundamental element of an engaging story. Even if we clash swords in a tower, hero types serve as emotional touchstones and story engines. They're more than characters - we embark on a virtual journey and become that hero. This connection to the playable hero separates a good game from an engaging experience.
In this blog, we'll strategically identify and classify video game culture's most relevant hero types. From a rogue character type to a paladin character type, players can immediately connect, empathize, and invest time in a virtual world using similar hero types over one another.
Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell form the basis of archetypes and the hero's journey in the literary world. In terms of storytelling power, video games are now rivaling both films and novels, and archetypes and heroic journey structures have translated easily into our games, which, unlike the former two, give us the agency to step into these roles and make the role of the protagonist more personal and immersive. Not only do hero archetypes exemplify the story, but they also dictate specific game mechanics, tone, and perhaps even level design. This understanding allows us to understand and appreciate character-driven titles, especially within role-playing game characters, adventure games, and narrative shooters.
Examples: Link (The Legend of Zelda), Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn), Geralt (The Witcher)
This archetype represents destiny, mystery, and prophecy. The Chosen One is typically elevated to greatness, learning about its purpose through crisis and revelation. Whether that means pulling a sword from a stone or knowing a secret about their origins, this character embodies fate and legacy.
Why It Works:
From the start, players experience a sense of importance. The game becomes a journey of self-discovery, tapping into themes of identity and purpose.
Core Traits:
Examples: Joel (The Last of Us), Cloud (Final Fantasy VII), Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2)
These characters asked for the burden—they were thrust into it. Their ability to transform reflects strength. They begin selfish or indifferent, but their emotional arc strongly calls toward heroism.
Why It Works:
This archetype adds realism and depth. By starting flawed, the hero’s journey feels earned and human. Emotional storytelling in games often thrives on this model.
Core Traits:
Examples: Link (The Legend of Zelda), Gordon Freeman (Half-Life), The Vault Dweller (Fallout)
The mute protagonist serves as a blank canvas—literally. These heroes seldom articulate words, allowing players to engage entirely with the character's decisions and ethical compass. This design builds immersion, particularly in exploration- or puzzle-solving-based games.
Why It Works:
Silence invites player projection. The character becomes “you,” enhancing agency and emotional investment.
Core Traits:
Examples: Kratos (God of War), Max Payne (Max Payne), Jin Sakai (Ghost of Tsushima)
Usually shaped by loss, guilt, or revenge, the tragic hero operates in morally gray areas. The tragic hero possesses power but is broken and looking for ways to redeem themselves through violence, sacrifice, or service.
Why It Works:
These RPG characters lean into emotional storytelling, giving players cathartic arcs that explore grief, honor, and legacy.
Core Traits:
Examples: Trevor Philips (GTA V), V (Cyberpunk 2077), Corvo Attano (Dishonored)
Anti-heroes blur the lines between good and evil. They may kill, deceive, or prioritize self-interest yet still fight for a cause bigger than themselves.
Why It Works:
Players get to experience moral complexity. These characters challenge us to think critically about choices, outcomes, and morality in games.
Core Traits:
Examples: Isaac Clarke (Dead Space), Amicia (A Plague Tale), Clementine (The Walking Dead)
The underdog doesn’t start with power. They're vulnerable, overlooked, or outmatched, but they rise through grit and cleverness.
Why It Works:
It fosters emotional connection and rooting interest. When you overcome impossible odds, the victory feels deeply earned.
Core Traits:
Examples: Ezio Auditore (Assassin’s Creed), Sly Cooper, Handsome Jack (Borderlands)
Often clever, sarcastic, and sly, the rogue archetype thrives on stealth, wit, and unpredictability. They're fun to play and full of personality.
Why It Works:
They balance tension with humor and swagger. Whether in adventure games or shooters, they inject flair into gameplay and dialogue.
Core Traits:
Examples: Commander Shepard (Mass Effect), Master Chief (Halo), Ellie (The Last of Us Part II)
These are your classic commanders. Leaders, by necessity or choice, their actions influence entire civilizations or groups.
Why It Works:
They offer big-picture stakes and often force players to make tough decisions that affect others—perfect for choice-based games.
Core Traits:
Developers don’t just write characters—they build gameplay around them. Here’s how archetypes influence the overall design of game heroes:
This intentional synergy between role and gameplay elevates great titles from merely fun to truly meaningful.
Classic archetypes still dominate, but they’ve evolved:
Modern video games challenge and expand these archetypes, creating richer experiences through nuanced character development and branching narratives.
Different genres lean into different archetypes:
These archetypes help players quickly align with a game's tone and emotional core.
One of the most unique aspects of gaming is interactivity. In contrast to mediums with passive observers, the player's choices often dictate how the hero progresses. This is especially true when games incorporate RPG elements or moral decisions.
As players, we create these hero archetypes with our nuances.
Hero archetypes provide players the frame to experience victory, defeat, love, sacrifice, and growth. Even where the molds may seem like old hats, video games with the past, present, and future continue to mix and match their tropes and reconstruct them altogether.
In an age where players can relive the solemn duty of the silent legends of Hyrule to the emotionally exhausted survivors of post-apocalyptic dreams, the breadth of options and emotional depth of our gaming heroes is astonishing, and even more, options are quickly growing.
This content was created by AI