20 Unforgettable Gaming Characters Introduced In 2016

The Boy Band - Final Fantasy XV

Final Fantasy XV's strongest aspect is without a doubt its main cast of four characters. Prince Noctis and his friends are on a journey to reclaim the throne of Lucis from the Niflheim Empire, and they've only got each other to watch their backs. Along the way, each character's relationship with Noctis grows in interesting ways, and you'll no doubt care for all of them by the end.

Trico - The Last Guardian

The Last Guardian centers around a young boy and a strange creature named Trico. After being saved by the boy, the pair team up to investigate the strange ruins they've been trapped in. Trico almost feels like a pet with a mind of his own, but he's always concerned with the boy's safety. He's a big, lovable, and sometimes frustrating animal that we all can't help but want to take care of.

Marcus Holloway - Watch Dogs 2

Marcus is an expert hacker, who gets mistakenly confused with a high profile criminal by the predictive ctOS 2.0 software. He breaks into the system and restores his profile, joining DedSec in the process. Marcus is a spirited young man who holds his beliefs close, and is dedicated to the cause of taking down a corrupt establishment.

Mimikyu - Pokemon Sun and Moon

Mimikyu was one of the very first new Pokemon introduced for Sun and Moon, and it instantly had the love of fans. The strange little Ghost type wears a goofy looking Pikachu disguise, all because its true form is too hideous for humans to see. It just wants to be accepted as much as Pikachu is.

Corrin - Fire Emblem Fates

Fire Emblem Fates continues Fire Emblem Awakening's trend of having some really fun support relationships, and Corrin's weird sense of humor comes through in that. Not to mention the character was one of the stronger ones in Super Smash Bros. when they were introduced as DLC.

The Entire Cast of Overwatch

Blizzard truly did an incredible thing with Overwatch by making each character different, well-defined, and memorable. Not only does each one have a unique skillset and role, but personality as well. From the energetic and talkative Tracer, to the dark and brooding Reaper. You're bound to have your favorite character from Overwatch, but each one plays their role perfectly.

Emily Kaldwin (Adult) - Dishonored 2

Dishonored 2 sees Emily Kaldwin all grown up and ruling over Dunwall. When her throne is once again taken it's up to either her or Corvo to take it back. Emily is fiercely determined, reckless, and willing to do whatever she needs to make things right.

Yarny - Unravel

Yarny easily stole people's hearts this year with his surprisingly emotive expressions. Even before the game came out, a smart social media campaign with the character saw him asking if he could be in other EA games. In Unravel, Yarny travels through woods, factories, and more to find yarn items and bring back pieces of memories for a family.

Henry and Delilah - Firewatch

Firewatch basically has two characters for the entirety of its story, Henry and Delilah. Henry has taken a job at Yellowstone as a Park Ranger in an effort to get away from his life for a sumemr, and Delilah is his contact helping with his new position. The two communicate via walkie talkie, and as strange things begin to happen the only solace they can find is within each other. A fascinating relationship builds between the two during the game.

Uncle Death - Let It Die

Let It Die released rather suddenly at the end of this year, but it has some crazy characters in traditional Suda51 fashion. The eccentric Uncle Death introduces you to the deadly tower you'll be climbing in the game, and he seems like a more powerful being than he lets us. The guy is dressed like a grim reaper, wears crazy glasses with a swirl design, and rides a skateboard that says Let It Die on the bottom. So he's pretty cool.

Atlas - No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky may have been a fairly divisive game, but the being known as Atlas is definitely an interesting one. You make contact with Atlas early on in the game, and are presented with a choice to seek it out or follow your own path. Learning just what Atlas is, and what it does, is one of the big mysteries of the game.

Lincoln Clay - Mafia III

Mafia III is entirely a revenge story, which means the protagonist Lincoln Clay has definitely been through the ringer. After nearly everyone he cares about is tricked and murdered by the Marcano crime family, Lincoln decides he's taking them down one piece at a time. He's a strong personality that ends up attracting others to his side, as he systematically brings down the Mafia in New Bordeaux.

Kait Diaz - Gears of War 4

Gears of War 4 introduces a brand new cast of characters, like Marcus Fenix's son JD and his friend Del. Without a doubt though, the most memorable character of the new game is Kait. After her entire village and mother is abducted by the Swarm, Kait is determined to find them. She's the driving force of the new Gears squad, and stays level headed at almost all times.

BT-7274 - Titanfall 2

Titanfall 2's campaign, although short, is one of the most surprisingly fun aspects of the game. At some point, your character Jack Cooper becomes the pilot for the Titan BT, and the two become inseparable. BT isn't your average Titan as it's actually questioned by the military for "bonding" with Jack. When the two are together, there's no battle they can't overcome.

Regis - The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine

Geralt of Rivia has had many adventures outside of what we see in the Witcher games, and Regis is an example of that. This greater vampire is actually one of Geralt's oldest friends, and he plays an integral role in Blood and Wine. The two are clearly overjoyed at seeing each other again, and there always seems to be an understanding between them.

Samuel Drake - Uncharted 4

After years of adventuring, we finally get to see a family member of Nathan Drake's. His brother Sam pops back into Nate's life, after he'd gone years thinking he was dead. Sam is a bit more reckless than Nate, and still has the burning desire for adventure and treasure. He and Nate have some issues in Uncharted 4, but ultimately the brotherly love between them prevails.

Ardyn Izunia - Final Fantasy XV

Ardyn Izunia is a bit of an enigma for most of Final Fantasy XV, aiding the main party for reasons he never fully reveals. He's an eccentric and elaborate character, both in his appearance and his speech. Once his motivations and real role in everything is revealed, however, he becomes that much more unforgettable.

Nadine Ross - Uncharted 4

Uncharted 4 wouldn't be half as interesting without a strong villain to get in Nate and Sam's way. Nadine leads the paramilitary organization Shoreline, helping Rafe Adler in his search for the pirate colony Libertalia. She consistently shows that she has the abilities to equal Nate, if not surpass him. Even better, Nadine is going to be one of the main characters of the upcoming Uncharted spin-off, The Lost Legacy.

The Boy - Inside

Much like Limbo, Inside's main character is a small, silent boy. While the character never talks the challenges he has to overcome are truly astounding. The story of Inside is a grim one, with much being left open to player's own interpretations. Once you've seen the credits roll though, you'll never forget this small boy and his journey.

Spark - Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go was a mobile phenomenon like nothing we've ever seen, and people quickly split themselves into the three different teams for the game. Each team had a leader and although they aren't given much in the game, fans quickly turned these characters into something special. Take Spark, for example, who became the quirky underdog of the trio, leading Team Instinct against the overwhelming odds of Valor and Mystic.