10 Best Video Games With Child Protagonists

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In many types of media and video games, young characters often take on leading roles. While it’s clear that in reality, children are not equipped to save the world or fight evil forces, these fictional scenarios sometimes present a unique twist: when adults prove incapable or unwilling to act, a child steps up as our last hope.

A child might find themselves as the main character by being destined to be a legendary figure, happening to be in important situations, or unfortunately finding themselves in unfortunate circumstances at inopportune times. Despite not having finished maturing, these young individuals can be just as competent and engaging as adults, and their experiences are equally exciting and unforgettable as those of grown-ups’ journeys.

Here’s a list of our top picks featuring young heroes, highlighting their unique contributions.

We’ve chosen some games starring kid characters, showcasing each character’s special qualities.

10.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

Link

In the Legend of Zelda series, most versions of Link tend to be on the younger end, often falling between early and late adolescence, particularly in the initial games. The youngest version of Link within the series can be found in Ocarina of Time, as he’s explicitly named “Young Link” in other non-series appearances like Super Smash Bros.

In Ocarina of Time, Link was merely ten years old, similar to many players who encountered the game for the first time back then. Fittingly, numerous Non-Player Characters (NPCs) in the game often ignore him, making it feel more realistic. However, when Link demonstrates his courage and resourcefulness with just a small sword, it transforms into an empowering experience.

It’s been a recurring thought: does Link remain emotionally a child following his seven-year seclusion, even as he emerges as an adult? The game doesn’t delve deeply into this aspect, but considering the circumstances, it seems plausible. After all, if you were suddenly thrust into adulthood while preoccupied with saving the world and other pressing matters, you might also choose to keep your emotions in check, at least for a while.

9.
Earthbound

Ness

In every game from the Mother series, the central character is typically a young boy, aged around 12 to 13. For instance, the main character in Mother is called Ninten, while Lucas stars in Mother 3, and in between those two games, we follow the adventures of a boy named Ness, who was the protagonist in Earthbound.

Experience of playing as Ness in Earthbound closely resembles the ideal role of a childhood hero. Excluding his PSI powers, Ness carries out his journey much like an average child would, making it perfectly suitable for the game’s intended demographic.

If a talking beetle instructed you as a child to save the world, it’s likely that you would seize whatever skill you excel in for swinging and a bag of cookies, then embark on a dash down the street.

Absolutely, Earthbound does an exceptional job at conveying that Ness and his team are in over their heads as they battle a multidimensional demon, which seems almost unbeatable. It’s intense and emotional, but the game’s famous slogan, “no crying ’til the end,” suggests that we must first save the world before allowing ourselves to break down emotionally. Only then can we return to our normal lives and cry as much as we need to.

8.
Commander Keen

Billy Blaze

Back in the 80s and 90s, it was common to encounter child prodigy characters in cartoons. These were kids who, surprisingly, excelled at advanced science fields, often without having completed their primary education.

Back in the early ’90s, one of the most popular child prodigies in video games was Billy Blaze, the main character from id Software’s groundbreaking series, Commander Keen. If you were playing MS-DOS games in 1990 and weren’t engrossed in Doom, chances are you were joining this kid on his exciting escapades instead.

In my younger days, experiencing Commander Keen marked a significant moment as it was one of the earliest instances when I understood that computers could serve for playing genuine, full-fledged video games akin to Super Mario Bros., not just educational or entertainment tools.

The game contained a comedic element of dark tension, notably in its second installment where you could unintentionally (or intentionally) trigger the weapons on the Vorticon’s ship, leading to the Earth’s destruction. As a child, that scenario gave me a bit of a scare, but looking back, it’s quite amusing.

7.
Pokémon Red

Red

As a devoted fan, I’ve always marveled at the unique tradition in the original Pokémon anime: the moment every youngster turns ten, they receive their very own starter Pokéemon and embark on an extraordinary journey. It’s like a rite of passage or a spiritual quest – minus the religious undertones.

It’s not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the Pokémon games, but one possible reason for the initial character, Red, embarking on a nationwide adventure at just 11 years old could be due to an unusual circumstance or background story that isn’t fully disclosed.

Playing as character Red offers an intriguing twist: by design, he’s portrayed as unremarkable. After all, he’s your avatar; he’s you embarking on a Pokémon journey. However, once you depart from Red’s perspective in later games, you come to appreciate that Red is, in fact, an exceptionally skilled Pokémon trainer, boasting genius-level abilities. What initially appeared as just playing the game and defeating the Elite Four was actually groundbreaking within the Pokémon universe.

It seems likely that Red is situated at the summit of a mountain in Gold and Silver because he achieved the peak of what a Pokémon trainer could accomplish at that time, despite still being a kid. He’s truly intimidating.

6.
Psychonauts

Razputin Aquato

Summer camps are often described as heaven for children, but whether you enjoy outdoor activities or not, they might also feel like an unavoidable ordeal. Nevertheless, children have more freedom at summer camps, including those secretly used as government-run psychic training facilities such as the one depicted in Psychonauts.

Growing up, I really disliked summer camps, but when I first played Psychonauts and found out about being a camper with psychic powers, it felt like a fantastic escape offering more control over my actions. As soon as I mastered Levitation, I zoomed around the entire camp just like Raz would if not controlled by me.

Regardless of Raz’s unique talents, the game maintains its themes effectively. While he may possess psychic abilities, it’s common for most characters to have similar powers. Even with dreams and determination, being a child often makes people doubt you, making Raz one of my favorite underdog characters in gaming. However, the initial phase of Psychonauts 2 slightly hindered his accomplishments.

5.
Splatoon

Agent 3

In Splatoon’s world, it is stated that Inklings don’t fully transform into their humanoid forms until they are around 14 years old. This is also the age when they’re legally allowed to join Turf War battles. While opinions may differ on whether a 14-year-old should still be considered a child, it can be likened to the rule that one must be 14 to play laser tag. Being old enough to participate in such activities doesn’t necessarily make one an adult. Additionally, their unique ability to transform into squids adds another layer to this discussion.

Playing as Agent 3 in the original Splatoon shares similarities with playing Pokémon Red. The single-player campaign serves primarily as a means to master the game’s mechanics for Turf War, much like how playing Pokémon Red prepares you for the main aspects of the game. Yet, just like in Pokémon Red, it isn’t until after you’ve completed your time as Agent 3 that you truly appreciate their power and capabilities.

The first occasion I encountered Inner 3 within Splatoon 2’s Octo Expansion was when I came to understand, from an Octarian’s point of view, that Agent 3 is a formidable force. It’s not common for a single Inkling to battle an entire army alone. Looking back on the original game’s campaign now, it feels like a powerful daydream, and the fact that it doesn’t seem extraordinary aligns with Agent 3’s calm, reserved personality.

4.
Undertale

Frisk

In the game Undertale, the main character, Frisk, doesn’t have an explicitly stated age. Given Toby Fox’s creative style, it’s possible he didn’t find it necessary to reveal this detail. However, based on appearances alone, it seems likely that Frisk is relatively young, possibly between 8 and 12 years old.

Additionally, many notable creatures such as Toriel and Sans often address humans using terms like “child” or “my kid.” Given their understanding of human development isn’t likely to be off-base, it seems reasonable to accept this as an indication of their perceived age.

One unique aspect of Undertale is that, even though Frisk is just a character portrayed as a child, your choices can either lead to the Underground’s prosperity or downfall. In contrast, in our everyday world, a kid playing around with friends or acting aggressively with a knife wouldn’t have significant impacts on their immediate surroundings. However, in the game’s context, these actions, whether playful or harmful, can swiftly and extensively affect events due to the nature of SOULs.

The game doesn’t hesitate to make its consequences painfully clear. On my first playthrough, I unintentionally killed Toriel and restarted to prevent this outcome, but Flowey confronted me intensely for meddling with destiny. This kind of direct confrontation by a game was unprecedented for me, and it certainly took me by surprise.

3.
The Binding Of Isaac: Rebirth

Isaac

The dark humor in The Binding of Isaac comes from its absurd concept. For instance, the narrative revolves around a young child trying to evade his deranged, murderous mother by hiding in the basement, where instead he encounters various grotesque creatures filled with religious symbolism. His only means of defeating these monsters is by weeping at them.

As a kid who spent countless hours on Newgrounds, I can’t forget the dark, offbeat humor that this platform was known for. The Binding of Isaac, originally a flash game released there, was no exception to this rule. Back then, there were tons of quirky, sometimes inappropriate games littering the site, and technically, Binding of Isaac was one of them. But it stood out from the rest in a unique way.

It’s amazing how the game remained entertaining, inventive, and tough, all while maintaining a playful rudeness. Diving into this game during my young adult years significantly fueled my fascination, and undoubtedly that of countless others, with the roguelike gaming category.

2.
Ender Lilies: Quietus Of The Knights

Lily

As Lily, the heroine of Ender Lilies, I’m part of a group, let’s say, a “cohort” derived from Fretia’s genetic blueprint, the White Priestess of the Fount. Similar to the countless White Priestesses before us, my comrades and I were bred with a singular purpose – to stand as the initial and ultimate barrier between End’s Kingdom and the Corruption, harnessing our inherent powers to cleanse the taint and liberate the tormented spirits.

I felt a bit embarrassed to say it, but I almost overlooked this game due to Lily’s exterior. Initially, the idea of playing a tough game like this, with Metroidvania and Soulslike features, seemed daunting as a child. But it wasn’t because Lily was weak; she just needed time and support. As I gathered and enhanced spirits, Lily transformed into a powerful entity.

In Ender Lilies, the game design that allows for summonable spirits, some with cooldowns, gives the sensation of managing rather than directly engaging in combat. Playing as Lily is akin to commanding an army on a battlefield, strategically deploying forces when needed, both to vanquish foes and maintain safety. Yet, this is accomplished while portraying a small and vulnerable child.

1.
The Walking Dead

Clementine

In the first installment of Telltale’s The Walking Dead, the main character is Lee, while Clementine plays a supporting role. After Lee leaves at the end of the season, Clementine takes center stage for the subsequent seasons. She’s on the verge of becoming an adult in the final season, aged 16, but in the second and third seasons, she’s still very much a child, being 11 and 13 years old respectively.

A significant aspect of Clem’s character is her portrayal as a protagonist who experiences nearly her entire voyage in the undead world. At the point where Lee encounters her, the situation has already spiraled out of control. As we progress through various episodes and seasons, we witness her evolving from a helpless young girl into someone who must adapt and survive in this harsh reality.

It’s clear that this story isn’t meant for children, but if you’ve ever been a child yourself, you might relate to Clem’s character development. Just as we all were compelled to give up our childhood purity at certain stages in life, perhaps even transforming into someone our younger selves wouldn’t have admired.

What makes The Walking Dead an exceptional environment in many ways is that it transforms characters into monsters, figuratively or literally speaking.

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2025-05-05 17:40