Summary
The silent protagonist is one of the most prominent and widespread tropes in the video game industry. The muted playable character has come in many distinct shapes and forms from the earlier era of Mario and Link to the more recent incarnations seen in Doom: Eternal.
Yet, for every video game where the silent hero suits the narrative, there are just as many instances where it doesn’t fit. Whether it be because a silent protagonist doesn’t make sense in a story-heavy game or the overall writing simply doesn’t justify it, sometimes the strong silent type isn’t the right play.
10The Junior Deputy
Far Cry 5
Ubisoft’s Far Cry games are known for many things. One thing it hasn’t usually been associated with is memorable protagonists. While Far Cry 3’s Jason Brody remains an outstanding exception, the other entries have somewhat slagged in that regard.
Far Cry 5decided to incorporate character creation for the first time in the series. While this makes the game feel more personalized, given the heavy emphasis on story and interaction with the captivating villain, The Father, having a silent protagonist wasn’t the right direction.
9Claude Speed
Grand Theft Auto 3
The Grand Theft Auto series is brimming with eccentric and controversial personalities, many of whom serve as your vessel to explore the rich cities Rockstar has constructed. But not all of the GTA’s protagonists are cut from a similar cloth.
Grand Theft Auto 3’s main character is Claude Speed, and unlike every other Rockstar protagonist, he never speaks. Although GTA 3’s exceptionally flexible gameplay sandbox takes center stage, in retrospect, it’s hard not to wish that Claude had even an ounce of the series' trademark charm.
8Gary “Roach” Sanderson
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Despite Call of Duty’s modern reputation as a soulless corporatized franchise, the series features many recognizable characters. Alex Mason, Captain Price, and Frank Woods are just some of the series' most iconic figures. Unfortunately, for as many great characters as they are, they are some stinkers.
It wouldn’t be fair to label 2009’sModern Warfare 2’s co-protagonist Gary “Roach” Sanderson as a stinker; he certainly doesn’t showcase much identity. In a game with several charismatic and beloved characters, Roach stands out as especially vanilla.
7Miles Upshur
Outlast
It’s easy to forget how huge 2013’sOutlastwas. Full of disturbing visuals and a myriad of jump scares, Outlast certainly left its mark on the horror gaming landscape. But for all its strengths, it does have some weaknesses.
One major weakness is Miles Upshur, who goes through this horrifying ordeal without uttering a single word. A silent protagonist in a horror game isn’t inherently negative. But when it’s evident that Miles could potentially resolve situations by just speaking, it’s hard not to be taken out of the experience.
6The Warden-Commander
Dragon Age: Origins
WhenMass Effectwas released, it completely changed the gaming terrain. Mass Effect’s protagonist, Commander Shepard, played a substantial role in the series' rise to gaming royalty. Between the radical dialogue system and marvelous voice work, Bioware designed an awesome protagonist.
2009’sDragon Age: Origins was another incredible gameby Bioware, but unlike Mass Effect, the protagonist is without a voice. Bioware didn’t take the same direction with Origin’s central hero as with Commander Shepard, and Dragon Age: Origins' Warden-Commander feels less remarkable.
5Gordon Freeman
Half-Life Series
Half-Life1 and its 2004 sequel are often regarded as two of thegreatest video games ever released on PC. Both games are masterpieces in engrossing gameplay, world-building, and level design. However, there is one significant difference between the main Half-Life titles.
Half-Life’s hero of the hour is Gordon Freeman, a scientist with a significantly higher kill count than word count. In Half-Life 1, Freeman’s silent nature wasn’t a huge problem, but with Half-Life 2’s increased focus on character interaction, Freeman’s tight-lipped disposition just feels too odd.
4Corvo Attano
Dishonored
It’s hard for a weak main character to impact a great game. If the gameplay is satisfying, the graphics are striking, and the writing is above par, it’s easy to accept a poorly written or bland protagonist. 2012’sDishonoredis one such great game that could’ve been even better with a voiced main character.
Corvo Attano’s silent nature is never properly justified. So not only is it hard to care about him, but Corvo does plenty of terrible things throughout the story. Without a voice or personality to latch onto, Crovo comes across as an awful person without much agency.
3Artyom
Metro Series
4A Studio’s game adaptation of Dmitry Glukhovsky’s Metro novels might be one of the most underrated game series in recent decades. The first-person action-horror hybrid expertly brings Glukhovsky’s work to visual life through captivating gameplay and outstanding writing.
However, unlike the books, Metro’s main character, Artyom, is mostly mute. He does talk during loading screens but never says a word outside of that. While it doesn’t ultimately detract from the experience, inMetro Exodusin particular, Artyom’s lack of dialogue can be a bit immersion-breaking.
2Issac Clarke
The 2023 remakeof the firstDead Spacewas a massive critical and commercial success. The remake not only updates a classic title for a new generation of hardware but, in some ways, improves upon the original.
One of those improvements is that protagonist Issac Clarke speaks throughout. While Clarke would subsequently be voiced in Dead Space 2 and 3, in the 2008 sci-fi horror masterpiece, he’s weirdly silent even in situations where he should really be talking, if not screaming, at the very least.
1The Playable Vault Hunters
Borderlands 2
Borderlands 2is easily one of the best first-person shooters of the 2010s. From its adrenaline-pumping gunplay, endless loot system, amazing writing, andone-of-a-kind villain, there are a few things that Gearbox’s magnum opus title doesn’t excel in.
As charming, captivating, and well-written as the main narrative is, the fact that you, aka “The Vault Hunter,” never exchange a dialogue with another character is disappointing. Sure, you’re selected Vault Hunter will occasionally shout out something in combat, but given how superbly written the story is overall, you almost wish for more.
