10 Iconic Video Game Heroes You've Never Seen Unmasked

Summary

Protagonists like Azrael from Batman: Arkham Knight can be captivating without their faces being shown.
Master Chief from Halo is so famous for his armor and helmet that the live-action series became controversial for revealing his face.
Hunk from Resident Evil 2 adds mystery to the world of the Umbrella Corporation and brings a new perspective to the game‘s story.

In the realm of video games, there are numerous legendary characters, such as Samus Aran and Gordon Freeman, whose visages are instantly recognizable. They serve as the ambassadors for their particular series, and it’s fitting. Yet, it’s important to note that not every hero relies on a striking face alone to make a lasting impact within gaming, encompassing first-person shooters all the way to survival horror genres.

Characters without faces or clear identities, concealed behind masks, armor, or clever camera angles, are a fascinating aspect of some video games. These enigmatic figures offer an excellent platform for players to immerse themselves fully, enabling them to imagine slipping into the character’s digital world or even invent their own vision of the character’s appearance. It is this intriguing quality that makes faceless gaming protagonists so impactful and adored by many.

8. Azrael

The Player Chooses To Make Him Good Or Evil

First Game: Batman: Arkham City
Franchise: Batman: Arkham

In the game Batman: Arkham Knight, players can choose from several characters, including those from the Bat-Family as well as villains. One notable character that gamers can briefly play as in the main story is Azrael. He’s a character seeking to prove himself capable of taking over as Gotham City’s protector if Batman were ever to falter. Azrael is affiliated with the Order Of St. Dumas and firmly believes that he is a divine instrument.

As a devoted fan, I’ve found myself immersed in the gripping world of Batman: Arkham Knight, where I take on the role of Michael Lane, a former law enforcer reborn as a lethal instrument by the Order of St. Dumas in their relentless pursuit to dominate Gotham City. Across various missions, it’s clear that Michael has been subtly manipulated by this enigmatic organization. What makes this side quest so captivating is that Michael’s identity remains shrouded in mystery, with his face never revealed, regardless of whether I choose to rebel against the Order or align myself as a villain alongside Batman. This design choice adds an extra layer of intrigue to the game, leaving me eager to uncover more about this enigmatic character.

7. The Knight

Subtle Storytelling Turned The Knight Into An Icon

First Game: Hollow Knight
Franchise: Hollow Knight

In the 2D Metroidvania game known as “Hollow Knight,” the primary character remains silent, donning a distinctive white mask. This enigmatic figure is a genderless combatant who navigates the decaying kingdom of Hallownest, battling various creatures and bosses along the way. The ultimate goal is to vanquish the Hollow Knight and the Radiance, thereby restoring tranquility to the realm.

In Hollow Knight, the focus is more on gameplay mechanics rather than character or plot development. It adopts a Metroidvania style gameplay similar to games like Dark Souls and Bloodborne, but with an emphasis on boss battles. Consequently, the appearance of the main character, The Knight, remains undisclosed. Given the insectoid theme of the game’s characters, it can be inferred that The Knight is likely another creature belonging to this category.

6. Waylon Park

The Whistleblower Goes Through A Gauntlet Of Horror

First Game: Outlast: Whistleblower
Franchise: Outlast

In the unique style of the Outlast games, where events are depicted through a camera’s perspective, similar to movies like The Blair Witch Project and Cloverfield, the protagonists remain unseen. In the DLC expansion that later became a standalone game, titled Outlast: Whistleblower, players take on the role of Waylon Park, who is determined to expose the sinister experiments happening below Mount Massive Asylum.

In the original game Outlast, Miles Upshur earned recognition; however, Waylon endures even greater fear trying to flee from the Murkoff scientific program that conducted tests on asylum patients. Unlike Miles, not only does Waylon have to cope with crazier patients, but he also encounters the spectral figure called Walrider more often. It’s hard not to cheer for Waylon when he experiences intense torment.

5. Ethan Winters

Capcom Brought Back Resident Evil With A New Hero

First Game: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
Franchise: Resident Evil

Instead of well-known characters such as Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard presented fans with a fresh protagonist for their return to survival horror – Ethan Winters. In Resident Evil Village, Ethan battles the Baker family followed by Mother Miranda and Lady Dimitrescu, offering a shift from the traditional third-person franchise to a first-person shooter viewpoint.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed something unique about Ethan Winters in the games – his face is always kept hidden from us players, even when I interact with him as other characters like Mia Winters or Chris Redfield. Capcom seems to have gone above and beyond to conceal his facial features, whether it’s through clever camera angles or strategic props. All we ever see are his distinctive blonde hair and a missing hand.

4. Ghost

The Deadliest Soldier Is A Masked Mystery

First Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Franchise: Call Of Duty

In the popular Call of Duty series, several main characters have made appearances, but one who truly left an impact is a character known as Ghost. This operative captivated players during the original and revamped Modern Warfare series. He is essentially invincible in special ops missions, serving under Captain Price, and has the ability to infiltrate any location and eliminate any enemy with ease.

Only those served by Ghost have ever beheld his real visage, and this excludes the player. Even when his mask is removed in-game, Ghost’s true face remains hidden from view, with the exception of players who alter the game to discard his iconic skull-emblazoned mask. It is plausible that Activision might one day reveal the person behind the mask; however, a significant part of Ghost’s allure lies in the enigma that shrouds him.

3. Zer0

Unlike Any Other Borderlands Character

First Game: Borderlands 2
Franchise: Borderlands

Players have been given the opportunity to traverse the world of Pandora assuming various roles throughout the Borderlands series, and among these characters, Zer0 stands out as a highly appreciated figure, particularly in Borderlands 2. Zer0 is a protagonist resembling a ninja, equipped with an impressive sword to vanquish hordes of creatures, bandits, robots, and militaristic forces at the player’s discretion, whether they choose to embark on this adventure alone or with companions.

In other Borderlands games, fans haven’t had the chance to catch a glimpse of Zero’s actual face hidden beneath his cyberpunk mask. Instead, his visor shows various emoticons as an expression of his feelings, with the number zero being the most recognized depiction.

2. Hunk

The Fourth Survivor Is A Mysterious Umbrella Soldier

First Game: Resident Evil 2
Franchise: Resident Evil

In the role of an unveiled, secretly accessible third character lies Hunk – a soldier with a shroud of mystery, serving under Umbrella Security Service and the lone survivor from Alpha Team after the Raccoon City incident in Resident Evil 2. The intrigue surrounding him arises due to his unique position in the storyline as he’s neither entirely evil nor purely good.

Instead of Ethan, who speaks and has a distinctive character despite having no face, Hunk is typically a mute protagonist, always concealed behind his mask. While Capcom has never provided Hunk with any background or voice, his skill as a soldier completing missions regardless of the monsters he encounters supports this silence.

1. Master Chief

The Spartan Armor Is Part Of His Identity

First Game: Halo: Combat Evolved
Franchise: Halo

The character known as Master Chief is a Spartan belonging to the United Nations Space Command (UNSC). This genetically enhanced super soldier was created with the mission of shielding humanity from extraterrestrial dangers, including the Covenant. Despite being one of the most renowned faceless video game protagonists, having debuted over twenty years ago in the original Halo, the series has maintained the mystery surrounding John 117’s face by keeping it hidden to this day.

The image of the Spartan in armor is well-known and often associated with Master Chief, and fans appreciate that he remains faceless because it symbolizes his role as a genetically enhanced soldier created by the government, gradually developing human traits throughout the narrative. Many found issue with the live-action Halo series on Paramount+ due to the increased exposure of Master Chief outside his armor, revealing his face.

2025-03-21 10:35

10 Iconic Video Game Heroes You’ve Never Seen Unmasked