Many things can make or break a video game — Gameplay, graphics, story, and of course, the protagonist. Since we’re expected to spend the entire campaign with this person, it’s important that we like them. Over the years we’ve seen more and more Black main characters have their chance in the spotlight. How about we give them their flowers? Here are a few of the best Black video game protagonists.
Clementine: Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Growing up in the apocalypse is hard; it’s easy to see that, but doing so with almost everyone you care about dying and leaving you makes it 100 times worse. Clementine’s resilience in the face of grief, loneliness, adversity, and violence is admirable. Being that as players we watch Clementine’s journey from a very young girl to a young lady, we grow connected to her and want the best for her. Go on any YouTube video of a streamer playing TWD S3 and the comments are filled with watchers who are fiercely protective and loving towards Clem.
She’s one tough cookie and an amazing caretaker to AJ. Clem is proof that you don’t have to give birth to be a parent. She cares for AJ with the same level of love and devotion that any parent would show their child. She teaches him right from wrong, respects his boundaries, and makes sure others do as well, Clem fights to make sure that AJ is safe and cared for. TWD is ultimately Clementine’s story, and it’s a journey that gamers are happy to join her on.
Barret Wallace: Final Fantasy VII
It’s time to talk about everyone’s favorite ecoactivist and father, Barret Wallace. Final Fantasy VII is one of the most popular and applauded video games of all time. A lot of that love comes from the well-written characters that we get to know during the story, one of which is none other than Barret. He’s the leader of Avalanche, a group of ecoactivists whose mission statement is to protect the planet and educate people on the importance of responsible mako usage. It is the lifeblood of the planet, after all.
Barret is known for his imposing stature, his impressive speeches, and the strong love he has for the people he holds dear. One of those people is his daughter Marlene. This is a real father, a real man right here. Barret does a lot of things that are admirable and great, but the best thing, and the one that solidifies him as one of the best protagonists period, is being a great father to Marlene. There’s a lot of extra content in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, but if you get a chance look up Barret’s story in Before Crisis.
Franklin Clinton: Grand Theft Auto V
He’s just trying to make some paper and not get killed. That’s a relatable enough motivation. But Franklin is a lot more complex than that, and his story in GTA V is him finding that he does want more in life than just money. Franklin starts the game as a dissatisfied repo man with endless potential and driving skills that would put Baby Driver on notice. He’s recently broken up with his longtime girlfriend Tanisha, and he’s living with his new-age Aunt Denise. It’s easy to see why Franklin would want more out of life.
Through a strange turn of events, Franklin meets retired criminal Michael Desanta, and from then on Franklin goes on a journey of both self-discovery and elevation. It’s GTA so this is all done through the fine art of criminal activity, but there are gems there to carry with you in life, lessons of morality, loyalty, and knowing when to get out of the game. There are three endings you can choose for Franklin, all three lending to his evolution. The one that feels the most complete is the third ending, called Death Wish. Franklin teams up with Michael and Trevor to take down their enemies and come out on top together.
Miles Morales: Marvel’s Spider-Man
It’s so amazing to see people appreciate Miles Morales and gravitate towards him as a character. Yes, some people try and paint him as “woke propaganda,” but those are the gamers who think all diversity is bad and it’s better to ignore them anyway. Miles is a great character because he is allowed to be a fully formed and distinguished hero apart from Peter. He has his motivations and driving forces that make him a great Spider-Man. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s just a cool character period.
We’re in a bit of a Miles Morales renaissance period, with Sony’s Spiderverse movies taking the cinemas by storm, Miles’s appearance in the Insomniac games being well received, and Miles’s comics also receiving some love. The fandom has never been more open to Miles Morales, and that means the powers that be will be giving us Miles content for as long as we’ll take it. More please!
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