Games

The Best Companions in Video Games

Gaming is typically always better with company- at least, that’s what most folks would say.

Written by Candice "ItzCandyRox" King

5 min readPublished on 12.03.2020 · 08:07 UTC

While it may prove true at times, it can get a little tricky when it comes to single-player games. It can get lonely out there, which is exactly why I appreciate in-game companions so much. Here are some of the best characters in video games who are sure to be great company.

Elizabeth - BioShock Infinite

Elizabeth was one of the first examples of an in-game sidekick that was pretty useful. Whilst I would run around as Booker DeWitt shooting baddies and using my Vigors (mostly for Elizabeth’s benefit), she opted out of being the idle damsel in distress- often throwing you useful items or opening those dimensional tears to up your game in battle. On top of that, she was an endearing character that actually made me care about her and her wellbeing, which was simply the cherry on top of an already astounding game.

Atreus - God of War

Atreus is a pretty solid character in one of the greatest games of the generation. As your character’s son, he’s learning to be proficient in combat in his own right, and thus proves to be a highly useful asset in your journey through God of War. His skillset is also entirely different to yours, so it feels like a fitting complement to Kratos’ own fighting style. The bond between you two is a really enjoyable one to explore, and (minus one section of the game where he is particularly irritating) Atreus turns out to be a pretty sweet boy- you know, particularly for someone who is reduced to being called Boy all the time.

Cortana - Halo series

Cortana holds more substance than a lot of other video game characters, which is saying something for a character that is literally a substance-less AI. Cortana is by your side throughout the Halo series as a true friend and assistant to Master Chief (even pushing boundaries beyond that of a friend sometimes, which was admittedly kinda weird). From hacking to decoding and just being there for you, Cortana has done a lot in her time. I mean, she was so iconic that Microsoft adopted her as their official virtual assistant, so you could definitely say she’s been impactful.

Victor “Sully” Sullivan - Uncharted series

While the Uncharted series comes packed with buddies such as Elena, Chloe, Sam, and Cutter- none of them stand out quite like good ‘ol Sully. As your father figure and a bit of a wise ass, Sully was my personal favourite character in terms of personality and chemistry with Nate (sorry Elena). He’s always there for you be it to berate or support you and will rarely turn down the opportunity for an adventure- plus, he’s pretty competent for an old man. Without him, there would quite literally be no Nathan Drake, or at least not the one we know, so we owe him big time for that one.

Claptrap - Borderlands series

Love him or hate him, you can’t forget him- or get away from him. Despite the charm of numerous characters in the Borderlands series, Claptrap has managed to find a way to shine from the crowd. While his voice might occasionally make you want to stab your eardrums out, it becomes a familiar presence in the series that you somehow manage to grow fond of, as well as his silly quips and often-hilarious dialogue. He also calls you minion non-stop, which is pretty rich coming from a fairly useless robot. We’ll ignore that one time he tried to kill you if it means we get more Claptrap comedy in the future.

Ellie - The Last of Us

While the imminent sequel will see Ellie ascend from companion to main protagonist, we’ll never forget the ballsy 14-year-old girl that shone through as one of the best in-game companions of all time. The Last of Us is a story about zombies, but at its heart, it’s a story about Joel and Ellie- so naturally, the latter had to impress us. While her sneaking could have used some work, Ellie was welcome company in the bleak environments we found ourselves in, even making strides to help take care of us in certain parts of the game. She had a special way about her that helped to break through Joel’s tough shell, and proved herself like few other barely-teenagers could- and that’s why Ellie will be fondly remembered for years to come.

Your partner - A Way Out

Okay, so this is kinda sorta cheating because technically your partner is played by a real person, but that doesn’t change the scripted character in-game. Vincent and Leo were brought together out of necessity, and work together throughout the entire game. They each have a distinct personality with traits that contrast one another, so you’re sure to enjoy it regardless of who you play as (though Leo sliiightly wins me over with his brashness). After spending an entire game working together with another character with every little puzzle and combat segment, its hard not to form a bond with them- and for those of you who have finished the game, you’ll know that there was definitely a connection there whether you realised it or not.

Honourable mention: Sparx - Spyro the Dragon series

Sparx doesn’t get enough love. He’s Spyro’s best friend and a living, breathing health bar- this guy saves your butt way too many times to be ignored! He also sounds really cute when he’s chomping on butterflies, so throw some love Sparx’s way, will ya?