Smartest Horror Game Protagonists, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Many horror protagonists defy stereotypes by making smart decisions in dangerous situations.
Survival is often tied to practical intelligence and resourcefulness rather than academics.
Some of the best examples showcase their adaptability and quick thinking against overwhelming odds.

As a seasoned connoisseur of survival horror games, I must say that these three protagonists – Jill Valentine, Amanda Ripley, and Isaac Clarke – embody the spirit of resilience and resourcefulness that we all aspire to possess when faced with the unfathomable terrors lurking in the shadows.

Horror protagonists often fall into two categories: exceptionally intelligent or uncommonly foolish, whether in movies or video games. Many characters adhere to classic horror tropes by being foolish, but occasionally, a character emerges who demonstrates resilience and resourcefulness amidst their dire circumstances. This can be through innate intelligence, survival instincts, or even serendipity. Some horror characters surprise us with their smart decisions in the face of peril. Often, these quick reactions or strategic plans are what keep them alive during gameplay. These split-second choices or well-planned strategies serve as a lifeline for them throughout the story.

Intelligence in academics is frequently linked with smartness, but it isn’t just textbook knowledge that makes horror characters incredibly intelligent. More often than not, it’s their determination to survive and an innate ability to think on their feet that enables them to endure and protect those around them. These horror characters are some of the most outstanding examples of survival skills in the genre.

8 Harry Mason (Silent Hill)

Harry Ensured His And His Daughter’s Safety

Following the passing of his wife Jodie, Harry Mason took on the challenge of raising his adopted daughter, Cheryl, singlehandedly for four years. This demonstrates his resilience and adaptability in the face of unexpected events. Although he may seem book-smart as an accomplished writer, it’s when Cheryl goes missing in the eerie town of Silent Hill that Harry showcases his practicality and resourcefulness. Despite occasionally stumbling, Harry reveals himself to be a sharp thinker, effectively navigating through the town’s enigmatic puzzles and ultimately uncovering the truth about Cheryl and the sinister cult known as “the Order.

After escaping the eerie town of Silent Hill, Harry found it necessary to protect both himself and baby Cheryl from the Order’s pursuits by relocating repeatedly for their safety. To ensure their survival, he cleverly altered Cheryl’s appearance by dyeing her hair and changing her identity, adopting the new name Heather. This disguise allowed them to evade danger for many years, during which Harry raised Heather with a blend of self-reliance and kindness, molding her in his own image.

7 Emily Davis (Until Dawn)

Emily Made The Smartest Choices To Save Everyone

In the game “Until Dawn,” the character Emily’s outcome is entirely determined by the player’s choices, making her either remarkably foolish or exceptionally wise within the group. However, since Emily boasts a 4.0 GPA during an argument with Jessica in the narrative, it is suggested that Emily is intended to be the smartest character, at least academically. In Chapter 6, Emily goes to the radio tower (either alone or accompanied by Matt) to contact the Park Ranger Service, but the tower collapses. Emily can discover a flare gun there, which she could potentially give to Matt if he’s still alive. Giving the flare gun to Matt or keeping it for self-defense has its advantages as both characters might find it useful in various situations.

In Chapter 7, Emily embarks on a solitary journey through Blackwood Mines in search of evidence regarding Hannah and Beth Washington’s disappearance. Instead of laying low at the lodge or acting like Mike does, Emily seeks assistance from Matt to request an emergency evacuation. It is actually Emily who proposes their group venture out to the radio tower towards the end of “Until Dawn”, which eventually allows for their safe extraction.

6 Joel Miller (The Last Of Us)

Joel Adapted Immediately To A Zombie Outbreak

In the game titled “The Last of Us“, Ellie Williams is a strong and intelligent character, making her an excellent choice for the protagonist. However, it’s important to remember that she learned everything she knows from somewhere. At the beginning of the story, Joel loses his daughter. This tragic event hardens him, turning him into a cold and remorseless smuggler. But when he encounters Ellie, Joel rediscovers a sense of purpose.

As an experienced survival expert, Joel demonstrates great skill not only in marksmanship, tactics, and combat but also in adapting to his environment by discovering hidden paths, skillfully creating useful items, and handling crowds of Infected with ease. Moreover, Joel possesses a musical talent as a guitarist, which requires a good deal of patience, perseverance, and knowledge to perfect.

It could be said that the most significant error in judgment for Joel might have been when he saved Abby Anderson, an action that would ultimately prove quite costly for him later on. Furthermore, even as he grew older, Joel remained capable of standing up to formidable challenges and seldom found himself at a disadvantage against any adversary, whether they were Infected or not.

5 Ada Wong (Resident Evil Series)

Ada Managed To Manipulate Several Powerful Organizations

Ada Wong’s resourcefulness and cunning are boundless, particularly when she plays a dual role as a double agent and skillfully maneuvers officials to advance her personal goals. It’s hard to tell who she’s allied with – whether it’s the forces of good or evil – and that’s exactly what makes her so incredibly brilliant. She always keeps her plans hidden, never revealing her hand even when things are at their most critical, such as when her back is against the wall. While Ada may not have a genius-level intellect like Albert Wesker, her brilliance shines in other ways, like when she miraculously survived the Raccoon City outbreak alongside Leon Kennedy in Resident Evil 2. Ada Wong has been a beloved character from the series for years, and after making a significant impact in the Separate Ways DLC of the Resident Evil 4 Remake, it might be high time for Capcom to develop a more Ada-centric Resident Evil title soon.

Ada is among the rare few who managed to outsmart Wesker, her former colleague for many years whom she eventually betrayed for personal advantage, particularly as she grew fond of Leon. Throughout her career as a hired gun, Ada has been employed by numerous influential groups, always seeking to manipulate them to serve her interests. Ada frequently finds herself in tricky predicaments, but she’s skilled at finding ways out, although the methods she uses are often mysterious.

4 Clementine (The Walking Dead)

Clementine Outlasted Many Of Her Peers

Much like Ellie from The Last of Us, Clementine in The Walking Dead had to grow up much quicker than expected following the loss of her loved ones. She demonstrates remarkable wisdom and learns valuable lessons from Lee Everett, such as the importance of practicality and survival skills. Her intelligence surpasses her age, allowing her to navigate the post-apocalyptic world, despite her youthful appearance. However, when Clementine encounters tough choices in later installments, she discards her optimistic perspective and becomes more hardened and pragmatic. She no longer holds onto a positive outlook but instead prioritizes survival at all costs, even if it means making questionable decisions that might not be considered righteous or virtuous.

Because Clementine is quite young, her survival depends more on cleverness than raw power. As the game unfolds, she grows increasingly independent and distant. In her teenage years, Clementine tends to travel alone rather than with larger groups. She manages to outlive many other survivors due to her quick thinking and abilities learned from Lee, despite being only half their age by the end of the game.

3 Jill Valentine (Resident Evil Series)

Jill Endured Some Of The Worst Fates Of Any Resident Evil Character

Jill Valentine may not rank anywhere close to the real intellectuals of the Resident Evil franchise, such as Dr. William Birkin and Alex and Albert Wesker, but Jill is the embodiment of a whole different definition of “intelligent.” For starters, Jill became the only woman to ever join Captain Wesker’s Alpha Team after impressing him during her time as a S.T.A.R.S. operative, which is no small feat considering Albert Wesker’s scathing approach to selecting trainees. Jill is an infamous locksmith, able to pick a lock using pretty much anything at her disposal.

Jill possesses a diverse skill set; she’s a former special forces member, proficient in defusing explosives, and matches intellect with characters like Albert Wesker. Moreover, she’s adept at solving the intricate puzzles found within the Resident Evil series. Over time, Jill has established herself as a resilient and memorable protagonist, even engaging in hand-to-hand combat with Nemesis in Resident Evil 3, ultimately using her wit and surroundings to finally eliminate it permanently.

2 Amanda Ripley (Alien: Isolation)

Amanda Utilized Stealth Against Virtually Unkillable Enemies

Isolation, Amanda goes to Sevastopol Station to investigate Ellen’s supposed demise. Despite being the last one standing after the Sevastopol Incident, Amanda takes on this mission to find closure about her mother. The game heavily emphasizes stealth mechanics, as Amanda must either sneak past or outsmart the Xenomorphs using the equipment given to her. She is an accomplished engineer and is skilled in handling complex weapons like the flamethrower and the advanced tracker to locate enemies.

It should be noted that available weaponry (besides high-powered explosives) aboard the Sevastopol was ineffective against the Xenomorphs, which left Amanda stranded with no viable means of self-defense, leaving her equipped only with her wits and limited knowledge of the creatures pursuing her. Ripley even manages to infiltrate a nest hosting many aliens — alone — and overloads the reactor to purge them for good. It goes without saying that Amanda wouldn’t have survived as long as she did — or outlasted the others — without a considerable level of academic and practical intelligence.

1 Isaac Clarke (Dead Space)

Isaac Improvised In A Situation He Wasn’t Prepared For

Initially, it’s worth mentioning that Isaac Clarke possesses a master’s degree in engineering, placing him on par with Amanda Ripley. However, Isaac has an advantage due to his unique experiences with the Necromorphs in Dead Space. Isaac embarks on a journey aboard the Kellion, seeking answers about the fate of his girlfriend, Nicole Brennan. Yet, he encounters far more than he anticipated. Simultaneously, Isaac grapples with the onset of severe psychosis. Unlike characters such as Jill Valentine and Joel Miller who gradually adapted to their environments over time, Isaac is suddenly plunged into a world where he had no prior knowledge of the Necromorphs’ existence. He essentially learns about the Necromorphs as he navigates through his ordeal, requiring him to think quickly to survive. Isaac demonstrates proficiency in hacking and modifying equipment for various functions, such as transforming a flashlight into a Plasma Cutter.

Beyond this point, Isaac lacked any previous combat training when facing the Necromorphs, thus he was compelled to protect himself using whatever resources he could find – improvising weapons whenever necessary. He gained insights into the behavior of the Necromorphs by discovering logs left behind by the deceased, and then modifying his tactics accordingly. There’s no question that Isaac stands as horror’s most resourceful and resilient protagonist, having survived being stranded in space surrounded by hostile creatures about which he knew absolutely nothing.

2024-09-17 12:34