9 Best Game Franchises That Constantly Change Protagonists

Summary

Games like Far Cry, Call of Duty, and Assassin’s Creed introduce new protagonists for players to control in subsequent titles.
Grand Theft Auto and Borderlands feature different protagonists in each game, showcasing various sides of the criminal underworld.
In franchises like Final Fantasy, Mortal Kombat, Castlevania, and Resident Evil, new heroes take on enemies across different timelines or outbreaks.

In various video game collections like The Legend of Zelda and the Batman: Arkham series, gamers often guide a primary character across multiple sequels. However, other franchises have garnered attention by regularly introducing new heroes (or even multiple ones) as protagonists in each installment.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve noticed that some iconic gaming series often surprise us by introducing fresh main characters for us to guide through their adventures in subsequent installments. Sometimes, even secondary characters are given the spotlight and become the new protagonists, with the original heroes making occasional appearances in later editions.

9. Far Cry

A Hero Always Rises To Fight Evil In Exotic Locations

Games: Far Cry, Far Cry 2, Far Cry 3, Far Cry: Blood Dragon, Far Cry 4, Far Cry Primal, Far Cry 5, Far Cry: New Dawn, Far Cry 6
Genre: First-Person Shooter, Action-Adventure

In each installment of Far Cry, you’ll encounter characters in distinctly diverse settings, ranging from the farmlands of Hope County, Montana to tropical island jungles in South America. Moreover, every game introduces a compelling antagonist as the primary adversary, which leads to a new protagonist battling them across an expansive open world filled with perils, both man-made and natural.

In various Far Cry series, certain main characters surpass their counterparts, with some becoming particularly memorable. For instance, Jason in Far Cry 3 is one such character who makes a strong impression by eventually embodying the villainy he initially aims to defeat against the pirates. Similarly, Rex Colt from Far Cry: Blood Dragon stands out due to his narrative that purposefully mimics the over-the-top action films and games of the 80s.

8. Call Of Duty

Generations Of Soldiers Have Stormed Into Battle

Notable Games: Call Of Duty: Black Ops, Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Call Of Duty: WWII, Call Of Duty: World At War
Genre: First-Person Shooter

In each new installment of “Call of Duty,” the game’s setting, storyline, and characters often undergo significant changes. This has ranged from the Mason family, to the Black Ops series, to the diverse cast of protagonists in Modern Warfare games. Over the past two decades, players have found themselves leading various soldiers across a variety of time periods and settings within the Call of Duty game campaigns.

The vocal performances of main characters in the Call of Duty series can differ based on the game’s developers and the particular series. In some instances, they are fully voice-acted and motion-captured, but in others, like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Call of Duty: WWII, there is no dialogue at all.

7. Assassin’s Creed

Going Through Time With The Animus Has Introduced Many Iconic Assassins

Apart from Ezio, nearly every game in the Ubisoft-produced Assassin’s Creed series features a new assassin as its primary character. This pattern is due to the series delving into various historical eras and locations globally. From the initial release to the latest edition, this tradition persists.

Each installment of Assassin’s Creed has offered the opportunity to explore various play styles, all while maintaining its core stealth theme. From a Viking warrior to a gangster in Victorian London and even a Medjai in Ancient Egypt, each game offers distinct gameplay features along with captivating narratives that unfold.

6. Final Fantasy

Every Final Fantasy Game Is A New World To Explore

In essence, every installment in the Final Fantasy series is a standalone game set in a different universe with distinct characters, folklore, and background. Only specific titles such as Final Fantasy 10-2 or the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy continue a particular storyline, which might be perplexing for newcomers since each game does not follow from another directly.

Each fresh start in a new world has given Final Fantasy the opportunity to present entirely novel groups of characters for players to command. For instance, Final Fantasy 7 brought forth memorable heroes such as Cloud, Barrett, and Tifa, whereas Final Fantasy 12 saw Vaan joining forces with pirate Balthier and Princess Ashe in an effort to save the world of Ivalice.

5. Grand Theft Auto

Rockstar Has Yet To Reuse A Protagonist In Their Games

Notable Games: Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Grand Theft Auto 4, Grand Theft Auto 5, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Grand Theft Auto 6
Genre: Open-World, Crime

Each installment of the popular “Grand Theft Auto” series features a unique city and time setting, enabling fresh characters to be introduced. Among these characters, C.J. from “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas” is widely recognized as one of the standout main protagonists; however, Ray Liotta’s portrayal of Tommy Vercetti in “Grant Theft Auto: Vice City” deserves special mention.

In the game Grand Theft Auto, various main characters offer a glimpse into diverse aspects of the criminal underworld. Some are muscle for the mafia, others excel at robbery, while yet others are ambitious aspiring gangsters. Moreover, Rockstar Games have taken great pains to ensure that each character possesses unique traits and narratives.

4. Borderlands

Pandora Can Always Use Four More Vault Hunters

In each installment of the game series known as Borderlands, an unusual decision is made where the main characters from previous games reappear as Non-Player Characters (NPCs). Consequently, every fresh game, spanning from the initial Borderlands to the upcoming Borderlands 4, introduces four distinct new playable characters, or Vault Hunters, for you to choose, control, and loot your way across the alien world of Pandora.

Although it’s sad not to reprise roles like Lilith and Mordecai, their popularity endures in various aspects. Instead of being playable characters, they now have extensive storylines and dialogues, which is a tradition that continues. This setup also gives rise to unique skills and appearances for new characters, ensuring that each installment of the looter shooter series offers a fresh take on the adventures.

3. Mortal Kombat

The Fate Of The Realms Is In The Hands Of Many Champions

Notable Games: Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, Mortal Kombat 3, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe, Mortal Kombat X, Mortal Kombat 11, Mortal Kombat 1
Genre: Fighting

Over time, the stories within the Mortal Kombat video game franchise have grown more complex and layered, introducing fresh ideas, personalities, and narratives that enrich the grand narrative of this fighting series. The expansive Mortal Kombat universe offers a diverse cast of characters, some of whom take center stage as heroes, while others remain in supporting roles.

In the 2011 version of Mortal Kombat, Raiden’s struggle to prevent an apocalypse was the central narrative. However, Mortal Kombat X shifted its attention to Johnny Cage and a fresh group of Earthrealm heroes. The most recent game, Mortal Kombat 1, centers primarily on Fire God Liu Kang as he guides his warriors through his newly established timeline.

2. Castlevania

Someone Is Always There To Fight Dracula And His Minions

Notable Games: Castlevania, Castlevania: Bloodlines, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Castlevania: Rondo of Blood, Super Castlevania 4, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Genre: Platformer, Metroidvania

In essence, the concept of Castlevania revolves around characters battling Dracula whenever he rises from his grave. However, due to an intricate and complex chronology spanning over many centuries, Castelvania has expanded to feature numerous heroes confronting the Prince Of Darkness throughout various periods of time, with some stories dating as far back as the 10th century.

In the primary timeline of the “Castlevania” series, players have assumed roles from different branches of the Belmont family, Morris clan, Dracula’s son Alucard, and occasional characters like Shanoa. When the series was reborn on two separate occasions with the Nintendo 64 games and then the “Lords Of Shadow” series, “Castlevania” consistently introduced fresh characters to sustain the franchise.

1. Resident Evil

Every Outbreak Has A Different Surviving Hero

In the expansive world of “Resident Evil,” Jill Valentine and Ethan Winters encounter a plethora of fresh monster species and virus strains, appearing more frequently than the flu. To counter these dangers, each game showcases characters who are both fortunate and unfortunate, utilizing whatever tools and weapons they can scavenge to battle zombies, colossal mutated beasts, and other dreadful bio-weapons.

Numerous characters from the Resident Evil series have gained popularity among fans, with Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy being notable examples. In fact, some characters like Leon, who first appeared in Resident Evil 2, were later given leading roles in other games, such as Resident Evil 4.

Or:

Several characters in the Resident Evil series have become beloved by fans, with Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy being two of them. For instance, Leon, who debuted in Resident Evil 2, later became the main character in Resident Evil 4.

Or:

Characters like Claire Redfield and Leon Kennedy have won over fans in the Resident Evil series. For example, Leon was initially introduced in Resident Evil 2, but he later took on a leading role in Resident Evil 4.

Each of these options maintains the original meaning while being more accessible and natural to read.

2025-01-10 02:40