Every video game needs a strong protagonist, but something that is easily overlooked is the power of a good companion. A well-written or interesting sidekick can make or break a game. Bringing others along on your adventure has always been a prominent feature in video games, but it has become a staple of modern story-driven RPGs.
From hyper-intelligent aliens to near-omnipotent AI, there is a wide variety of sidekicks in video game history. Some are so loved that they end up headlining their own games. Which ones really have the biggest impact on their respective games?
10/10 Companion Cube – Portal 2
It’s hard to talk about the best sidekicks in video games and not mention the Companion Cube from the Portal franchise. His name is Companion Cube. Portal can be a lonely game, and while there aren’t many lines of dialogue for this seemingly sentient Cube, having a helpful friend to carry you through some of the game’s more difficult levels can bring a sense of calm.
Portal 2, in particular, introduces a potentially disturbing lore about the contents of the Companion Cubes, suggesting that they are full of real people. If you overlook this fact, you can build a real bond with the Companion Cubes during the Portal games if necessary.
9/10 Sully – Uncharted
Calling Sully a sidekick might be a little inappropriate. Perhaps “mentor” would be more appropriate? Regardless, Sully has been at Nathan Drake’s side for years and is a beloved cast member of the Uncharted franchise. The two share Nathan’s love of treasure hunting and the talent for getting into trouble and make a perfect couple.
Sully puts his own interests first, but he really cares about Nathan. By playing the Uncharted franchise, you really come to love Sully for what he is and appreciate what he brings to the table.
8/10 Daxter – Jak & Daxter
Daxter has an interesting, if not tragic, backstory. That doesn’t stop him from being an indispensable member of the duo Jak and Daxter. A human-turned-OttselDaxter is one of the catalysts of Jak’s journey in the original game and continues to propel the story in the franchise.
Daxter serves as a heavy comic relief in the Jak and Daxter series, a role especially needed on the dark themes of Jak II and Jak III. Although Daxter is the headliner of his own spin-off game, his role is still primarily to aid Jak’s journey. There are major changes in Jak’s personality and role in the Jak and Daxter series, but Daxter remains a constant source of laughter and sass throughout.
7/10 Elizabeth – BioShock: Infinite
The BioShock franchise is known for its narrative twists and surprises, and BioShock: Infinite doesn’t stray from that path. Elizabeth Comstock plays a central role in the game’s story, becoming the playable character herself in the game’s DLC. Sailor’s grave.
She is a great sidekick for Booker DeWitt, the main character of the game. Elizabeth can be tricky on Booker’s side during the game, but her growth and companionship ultimately make the game what it is. You learn about her character, and in turn, she helps unravel the complicated past that Booker went through.
6/10 Garrus Vakarian – Mass Effect
Mass Effect games are full of companions and sidekicks, and it can be hard to decide which one is the best, but Garrus makes the strongest case. Garrus appears in all three major Mass Effect games and leaves a unforgettable impression both on the player and on the main character.
Very few of the minor characters in the franchise are as strong supporters of Shepard and their actions as Garrus. A skilled fighter and an intelligent member of the Turian species, Garrus is not only one of the best sidekicks, but also one of the coolest.
5/10 Yoshi – Super Mario
There are a few sidekicks from the Mario series alone that could have made it to the “Best Video Game Sidekicks” list, but none are as important to Mario’s journey as Yoshi. From Mario Party to Mario Kart – along with his own titled games – Yoshi is a major player in the Mario franchise.
Others have played the part of Mario’s sidekick, but Yoshi is the one who has stood the test of time, appearing in many main-series Mario games. What other character is willing to? sacrifice oneself regularly to Mario’s trip?
4/10 Clank – Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet and Clank are among the original PlayStation mascots and are still present to this day. The latest installment in the Ratchet and Clank series, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, received critical acclaim as one of the first games to truly showcase the PlayStation 5’s graphical capabilities.
Clank has appeared alongside Ratchet in almost every Ratchet and Clank main game and is as recognizable as the main character himself. Clank’s intelligence and skill often save the day and make him the fiercest ally of the famous Lombax.
3/10 Tails – Sonic
Sonic has one real sidekick, and that’s Tails. Named for his handy aerodynamic tail, Tails can hold his own when needed, but really shines when supporting Sonic. There are plenty of allies in Sonic’s long presence in video game history, but Tails is practically synonymous with the Blue Hedgehog.
The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. Tails appeared in video games, movies and TV shows and always supported his friend Sonic. As reliable as they are, and interesting in their own right, Tails is the baseline for a good video game sidekick.
2/10 Atreus – God Of War
Atreus is a relatively new addition to the long-running God of War series, but what he lacks in experience he makes up for in narrative impact. The events of God of War’s 2018 soft reboot revolve around Kratos fulfilling his new fatherly role and learning how to be a more lovable and nurturing figure.
Atreus earns his spot on the list of best sidekicks because his presence is the strongest catalyst for Kratos’ personality change, which takes him from a hard and hard fighter and develops him into a complex and emotional character.
1/10 Cortana – Halo
There aren’t many sidekicks as synonymous with a video game franchise as Cortana with Halo. Cortana has served as Chief’s Master navigator, strategist and friend. In fact, Cortana was the driving force behind Master Chief’s resistance to direct orders, leading to Halo 5’s controversial story.
Cortana has been both friend and foe to humanity, and with a long and complicated history in Halo’s lore, Cortana has become a mysterious figure in the future of the series. It’s unknown if we’ve seen the last of the AI, but time will tell.
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