My Top 5 Favorite Black Video Game Characters

For those who don’t know, February marks black history month (the shortest month of the year). During this whole month, people talk and show the appreciation and power of black culture. As time goes by, that same culture has affected social media, clothing, and music. So, you can guess by the title that videogames aren’t the exception. It’s always important to show love for black culture, and that’s why I dedicate this article to my favorite Black videogame characters. The only requirements are they are people of color, and you’re able to play as them. As much as I wanted to add Harper from Minecraft: Story Mode and Cere Junda from Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, they will not be counted. Without further ado, here we go.

5. Jax (Mortal Kombat franchise)

First up, we got the man himself with the metal knuckles, Jax Briggs. From his first appearance in Mortal Kombat II, Jax was one of the tenacious black dudes I knew. There wasn’t much I could say about him until Mortal Kombat 11 came out and showed how much this guy not only loves his family but heritage too. Say what you want about him. I wouldn’t mind being Jax for a day. Unfortunately, he gets beaten out by the next entry.

4. Aveline de Grandpré (Assassin’s Creed: Liberation)

Let’s see, we got our first female on the list, the first female and black protagonist in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. This girl grew up half black and French, knew all the troubles in Baton Rouge, and decided to take matters into her own hands. I wish they could have done more with Aveline. But she did so many firsts in Assassin’s Creed. Although Evie Frie was the first female in a main entry title, this series has taught us it’s always important to remember history. But history wasn’t ready for #3.

3. Lee Everett (Telltales: The Walking Dead)

I don’t get tears in my eyes when gaming. But man, this one got me close to it. Lee Everett is the main character who was trying to survive when a zombie outbreak happens in Georgia. Throughout the whole game, Lee takes care of a little girl named Clementine and gains a father-daughter bond with her while teaching her how to survive in this new they live in. Along the way, you make several tough choices and leading to the climax of the game. Also, the game is better than the show. Disagree with me, leave a comment telling me why.

2. Marcus Holloway (Watch_Dogs 2)

Okay, I gotta ask this. When I talked to some of my friends who were their favorite black video game characters, I get Franklin Clay, Alyx Vance, and even Barret for FFVII. But one person kept getting skipped whenever this discussion comes around: Marcus Holloway from Watch_Dogs 2. How can you forget about him? You play as him who gets wrongfully convicted for a crime and uses his hacking skills to make sure no one ever faces the same targeting practice again. I go more in-depth about it in my review for the game, but I will keep it simple. When I was playing, I tried any way possible not to kill because I believed Marcus wouldn’t do that. If a character can convince me to use a stun gun and a beanbag shotgun, they left a good impression. Side note: I think Marcus is one of the most underrated protagonists in gaming, regardless of skin color. How are people sleeping on this game?

1. Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Miles Morales)

Last but not least, we got the latest edition to the roster; Donald Glover’s and everyone’s favorite black Spider-Man, Miles Morales. For those who somehow didn’t catch Into the Spiderverse, Miles is a teen from Brooklyn who got bitten by a radioactive spider. In the game, Peter Parker goes on vacation while Miles steps up and has his own story, struggles, and growth as a new Spider-Man. Seeing this development is always inspirational, no matter the race. However, since he’s black and Puerto Rico, it makes it feel relatable.

It’s always important to add diversity to any form of medium. Granted, introducing new characters can hurt medium. It can involve maintaining a balance that’s difficult to do. But not doing so can damage the potential of a diverse audience. If you feel like my article has hit that ideal, make sure to leave a comment and let me know if you’re enjoying it. I hope everyone has a blessed month, and I will talk again soon. Peace.