Unluckiest Protagonists in Horror Games

Summary

Unlucky protagonists in horror games face internal and external challenges beyond their control.
From being set up to fail to making life-changing decisions, these characters deal with tragic circumstances.
Despite their misfortunes, these protagonists show resilience and determination in facing their grim fates.

Regardless of whether a player’s character is liked or not, most video game enthusiasts find themselves emotionally attached to the character’s advancement, feeling the thrill of successes and empathizing with setbacks. Engaging stories often include hurdles for the main character, be they external struggles or internal conflicts, that they must conquer.

Horror game heroes often find themselves in tough situations, and more often than not, they don’t have things going their way. Though some of the perils they face can be attributed to their choices, other incidents are simply bad luck – events beyond their control. This list highlights some of the most unlucky protagonists in horror games.

This list primarily spotlights the main playable characters within these games, although there may be less fortunate figures in other roles.

Spoiler Warning: each entry in this article discusses major in-game events and plot twists.

10. Nick (The Quarry)

A Matter Of Bad Timing

Among Supermassive’s games featuring multiple playable characters, some of whom get into tricky predicaments, one character that truly catches the eye is Nick, from their unique reinterpretation of the werewolf tale titled “The Quarry.

Caught smack-dab between Emma and Jacob’s romantic upheaval, I, too, find myself in an unexpected twist: getting bitten and transforming into a werewolf. The physical torment is evident, but this transformation also stirs tension among the group and complicates my prospects with Abigail. Yet, even amidst these unfortunate circumstances, I, like the other playable characters, can be rescued.

9. Jack (Bioshock)

The Illusion Of Free Will

At times, an individual might find themselves predestined for failure right from their birth, or in the case of the character Jack from Bioshock, even before they were born. They may lead ordinary lives up until significant events take them to places like Rapture, but their true identities often harbor a complex and intricate backstory.

Born as the offspring of city founder and wealthy magnate Andrew Ryan, he was sold as an embryo and eventually fell under the control of Ryan’s ruthless adversary, Frank Fontaine. With his mind manipulated and memories fabricated, Jack was forced to carry out others’ orders instead of charting his own path in life. Nevertheless, there are two possible outcomes in the game Bioshock, one of which is considered favorable.

8. Fang Ray Shin (Detention)

Dealing With Unforeseen Consequences

The tale, Detention, unfolds as a poignant narrative of personal and political strife. When protagonist Ray informs military officer Bai about a list of prohibited books, it leads to the arrest of the school’s entire book club and ultimately, the execution of her counselor-slash-lover.

Although she thought she was acting correctly due to feelings of betrayal, Ray’s innocence blinded her to the potential repercussions. Ignorant of the outcome, she must endure a long period of self-reflection, repeatedly analyzing her mistakes and grappling with guilt until she can come to terms with her actions.

7. Isaac Clarke (Dead Space)

Subjected To All Kinds Of Unexpected Horrors

The character of Isaac Clarke in Dead Space is captivating as players follow him through his journey dealing with various emotional turmoil, ranging from denial to sorrow, anger, and emptiness across the series. In the initial game, Isaac’s space voyage brings about far more than he anticipated.

As a gamer, I can’t help but find myself entangled in a web of misfortune. Not only did I lose my girlfriend Nicole, but the Marker has left my mind reeling and confused. On top of that, I’ve been thrust into a struggle between a cult and the state, while simultaneously fending off a Necromorph invasion. It’s hard to imagine that luck was ever on my side as a space engineer.

6. Ellie Williams (The Last Of Us)

Caught Between Family And Politics

It can be inferred that Ellie’s fortunes took a turn for the worse right from the start in “The Last of Us”. Despite possessing immunity, this gift turned out to be a heavy burden, making her a target for the Fireflies, and ultimately leading to Joel’s death (an event she bears witness to).

Over time, these incidents created tension in Ellie’s bond with Dina and her son, leading them eventually to depart. Caught between a strong urge for retribution and a responsibility towards her family, Ellie found it improbable to find peace regardless of which she chose to focus on first.

5. Simon Jarrett (SOMA)

Faces Some Major Revelations

Simon Jarrett is the main character in the game SOMA, who unfortunately seems to never have good fortune on his side. He experiences traumatic events such as surviving a car crash that claims the life of his girlfriend, witnessing the destruction of his home planet by a comet, and finding himself at odds with hostile robots within an underwater facility. It appears that the concept of luck is foreign to Jarrett.

In essence, Soma is an exceptionally intriguing video game that explores themes related to artificial intelligence, identity, and consciousness. The way Simon navigates through his challenging circumstances also sparks engaging discussions on the very nature of humanity.

4. Clementine (The Walking Dead)

Forced To Make Life-Changing Decisions

Growing up abandoned amidst a zombie-infested landscape, Clementine’s plight in “The Walking Dead” is largely the result of sheer bad fortune, a fate she generally can’t influence. Tragically, she not only loses Lee but also discovers her parents transformed into zombies, rendering their journey devoid of purpose.

Besides these significant setbacks, Clementine also loses a leg following a bite of her own. Amidst the challenging situations and tough choices players face throughout the game, it’s clear that fortune shows no mercy for this survivor. Yet, Clementine remains a resilient character who overcomes every obstacle she faces.

3. Ethan Winters (Resident Evil 7 & 8)

The Price Of Unwavering Loyalty

As a dedicated fan, I found myself immersed in the chilling world of Resident Evil 7, where my character, Ethan Winters, embarked on a harrowing journey to save his beloved wife. However, things took an unexpected turn as I stumbled across a bloodthirsty family, tainted by a deadly mold, who sought to recruit me into their twisted clan. To add fuel to the fire, it was uncovered that my wife had ties to the enigmatic Connections – a shadowy organization with a penchant for bio-weaponry.

As a gamer, I find myself once more thrown into the thick of things in Resident Evil Village. This time, I’m up against brutal killers, mutant mold monsters, and a psychic bioweapon with an unhealthy obsession for forming her own family. In this newest installment, my character, Ethan, is snatched away, leaving me to navigate the terrifying village landscape. My mission? Save my daughter, even if it means making the ultimate sacrifice for the safety of my family.

2. Blake Langermann (Outlast 2)

Escaping A Cult Wasn’t In The Job Description

The association with a detective journalist inevitably brings its fair share of peril and risk, a reality that Blake Langermann had anticipated in Outlast 2. However, neither Blake nor his wife Lynn planned to find themselves entangled within a cult, one obsessed with prophecies about the emergence of the antichrist.

When Lynn gets kidnapped, Blake becomes solely focused on locating her and fleeing the situation. Regardless of his tireless attempts, he repeatedly finds himself in distress. In addition to being injured, pursued, and crucified, Blake also suffers the loss of his wife following the birth of a baby that turned out not to be real.

1. Heather Mason (Silent Hill 3)

An Ordinary Teenager Becomes Part Of A Much Bigger Conspiracy

Heather Mason, the lead character in Silent Hill 3, garnered widespread popularity within the series not only for her wit and charm but also for her courage and resilience. As an ordinary teenage girl trying to navigate life, she is suddenly confronted with the revelation that she is actually a reborn form of Alessa Gillespie, a victim of The Order cult who was destined to give birth to their deity, promising Paradise through the annihilation of mankind.

In addition to that harrowing experience (and the emotional scarring it caused), she subsequently encounters the terrifying reality of Silent Hill, and tragically loses her adoptive father along the way. If having your peaceful life suddenly turned upside down and being forced to serve as a unwilling host for an evil entity doesn’t qualify as a string of misfortunes, then I don’t know what does.

2025-02-16 17:37