Best Fish Out Of Water Game Protagonists

Key Takeaways

Ichiban in Yakuza must adapt to a changed world, but with all the cultural and technological shifts, it isn’t easy.
Jesse in Control faces cosmic horrors and all the pitfalls of a new job all in one day.
Tidus in Final Fantasy 10 faces cultural shock in a new world, mirroring the player’s own experience.

As a seasoned gamer with years of gaming experience under my belt, I can wholeheartedly attest to the power of the “fish out of water” protagonist in video games. These characters serve as a relatable mirror for us players, allowing us to navigate unfamiliar worlds alongside them.

Instead of traditional media like TV series or novels, video games are interactive and immediately require players to demonstrate a certain level of skill. To make the gaming experience more inviting without resorting to overused storylines such as amnesia, designers often introduce the main character as an outsider, or a “fish out of water.

A character who is like a fish out of water finds themselves in an unfamiliar location or era, either voluntarily or due to circumstances beyond their control. They often behave much as we might expect when faced with an utterly foreign setting. Initially, the local inhabitants may cast looks that reflect this internal confusion until they manage to find their bearings and adapt.

6 Ichiban – Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Thrown Into Mundane Modernity

After serving time for a crime he didn’t commit and finding himself back in the city he once knew, Like A Dragon‘s protagonist, Ichiban, encounters a transformed metropolis filled with advanced technology, evolving culture, and an altered criminal landscape. His frequent expressions of bewilderment and amused astonishment reflect his attempt to grasp these new realities.

In a different world, the main character of Like A Dragon, with his unruly hair, isn’t suddenly transported into a fantasy universe, but Ichiban instead lives as if he were. He patterns his life, combat methods, and understanding of the world after classic 90s video games that feature turn-based gameplay, which might contribute to his skewed perspective on reality and his overall quirks.

5 Jesse Faden – Control

Directed To Take Over During A Cosmic Crisis

Upon reaching the Federal Bureau of Control in her quest for information regarding her vanished brother, Jesse Faden unexpectedly explores the labyrinthine corridors of an enigmatic edifice teeming with supernatural entities and perplexing occurrences. Within a 24-hour span, Jesse is tasked with maneuvering through this living puzzle filled with intradimensional intruders, all without undergoing a brief orientation or safety briefing that would normally last a mere half-hour.

Initially finding her new position daunting, Jesse manages to handle it impressively and swiftly adapts to every terrifying hurdle she encounters, largely due to a conscious sidearm and the temporary powers of the Bureau’s seized Artifacts of Power scattered across the various stages in Control.

4 The Prisoner – Morrowind

An Outlander In An Out-There Land

In the game Morrowind, though the main character is shaped by the player, there are certain shared traits that bind them together. For instance, regardless of their Dunmer lineage, they are generally viewed as outsiders by the local population. Moreover, based on the types of queries the player can pose to NPCs, it’s clear that their understanding of Morrowind lore and recent history is limited or non-existent.

As a fan, I found myself immediately captivated by the dialogue from Caius Cosades, the Master of the Blades, early in the main storyline. He subtly hinted that I seemed green and recommended immersing myself in local customs and culture through organizations like the Fighter’s Guild, Mages Guild, or others, before embarking on Emperor Uriel Septim VII’s covert mission.

3 Oliver – Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch

A Young Hero Spirited Away

Those who are acquainted with Ghibli’s animated productions will spot the distinctive art style and the “spirited away”-like themes in Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. Following a sorrowful event, Oliver, a boy still grieving his mother, is transported to another realm by his enchanted motherly doll.

As a young boy, Oliver handles these unexpected circumstances with grace, yet he’s still green, needing to find his bearings in this magical realm. Despite having the opportunity to return home, he feels drawn to explore, dash, soar, and swim through this unfamiliar world, driven by the hope of seeing his mother once more.

2 Nora – Fallout 4

Out Of Time, Full Of Vengeance

In the Fallout series, particularly in Fallout 4, several characters could be described as being “out of their element,” but none more so than Nora. Unlike previous installments in the post-apocalyptic role-playing series, the player character (either husband or wife) has a voice and a defined backstory. Prior to the nuclear explosions, Nathan was a military veteran, while Nora practiced law as an attorney.

As a gamer, I found myself in a stark contrast when I opted for the family’s lawyer instead of the battle-hardened soldier. Suddenly, time froze, and I was whisked away to a radioactive wasteland, a far cry from my law books and courtrooms. Despite the fact that my combat skills were never explicitly mentioned, I’m guessing I wasn’t too familiar with the fiery chaos and desolation of this place. My academic achievements, once a beacon of hope, are now reduced to dust in the face of such an alien environment. At least the dwellers of these vaults had the forewarning about the world outside, something I wish I had been granted.

1 Tidus – Final Fantasy 10

Quite Literally Wet Behind The Ears

Following his dramatic encounter with a colossal whale of gravitational force, which catapulted him a millennium ahead, gamers can easily empathize with Tidus. Although his cherished underwater game, Blitzball, persists, the entire planet now appears alien to him due to its unfamiliar aspects.

In this game, Tidus experiences his initial interaction with people speaking a language foreign to him for the first time. Over the course of the entire game, he gradually learns to comprehend their words, a process that is detailed through Tidus’ narration. This allows players to directly witness and empathize with Tidis’ cultural (and existential) disorientation as he fumbles and stumbles his way through this unfamiliar world.

2024-09-18 18:33