Every video game needs a strong protagonist, but something that is easy to overlook is the power of agood companion. A well-written or interesting sidekick can make or break a game. Having others tag along on your adventure has always been a prominent feature in video games, but it has become a staple of modern story-driven RPGs.
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From hyper-intelligent aliens to near-omnipotent AI, there is a wide variety of sidekicks in the history of video games. Some are so beloved that they eventually headline their own games. Which ones truly have the biggest impact on their respective games?
10Companion Cube - Portal 2
It’s hard to talk about the best sidekicks in video games and not mention the Companion Cube from thePortalfranchise. Its name isCompanionCube. Portal can be a solitary game, and while there aren’t a lot of dialogue lines for this seemingly sentient Cube, having a helpful friend to carry with you throughout some of the game’s more difficult levels can bring a sense of calm.
Portal 2, specifically, introduces somepotentially unsettling loreabout the contents of the Companion Cubes, suggesting that they may be stuffed with real people. Overlooking this fact, you can grow a real, if necessary, bond with the Companion Cubes throughout the Portal games.
9Sully - Uncharted
Calling Sully a sidekick may be a bit off base. Maybe “mentor” would be more fitting? Either way, Sully has been by Nathan Drake’s side for years and is a beloved member of theUnchartedfranchise’s cast of characters. Sharing Nathan’s love of treasure hunting and knack for getting into trouble, the two make a perfect pair.
Sully does have his own self-interests at the forefront of his mind, but hetruly cares for Nathan. Playing through the Uncharted franchise, you really come to love Sully for what he is and appreciate what he brings to the table.
8Daxter - Jak & Daxter
Daxter has an interesting, if not tragic, backstory. He doesn’t let that stop him from being an invaluable member of the duo that isJak and Daxter. Ahuman-turned-Ottsel, Daxter is one of the catalysts of Jak’s journey in the original game and continues to propel the story forward throughout the franchise.
Daxter serves as heavy comedic relief in the Jak and Daxter series, a role that is especially needed with the darker themes of Jak II and Jak III. While Daxter has headlined his own spinoff game, his role is still mostly to aid in Jak’s journey. There are heavy changes to Jak’s personality and role in the Jak and Daxter series, but Daxter remains a constant source of laughs and sass throughout.
7Elizabeth - BioShock: Infinite
TheBioShockfranchise is known for itsnarrative twists and surprises, andBioShock: Infinitedoesn’t veer from that path. Elizabeth Comstock plays a central role in the game’s story and becomes the playable character herself in the game’s DLC,Burial at Sea.
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She is a great sidekick to Booker DeWitt, the game’s main character. Elizabeth can be a pain in Booker’s side throughout the game, but hergrowth and companionshipultimately make the game what it is. You get to learn about her character and, in turn, she helps unravel the complicated past that Booker has experienced as well.
6Garrus Vakarian - Mass Effect
Mass Effectgames are full of companions and sidekicks, and it can be hard to narrow down which one is the best, but Garrus makes the strongest case. Garrus makes appearances in all three mainline Mass Effect games and leaves alasting impressionon the player and protagonist alike.
Very few of the minor characters in the franchise are as strong supporters of Shepard and their actions as Garrus. A skilled fighter and an intelligent member of the Turian species, Garrus is not only one of the best sidekicks, but also one of thecoolest.
5Yoshi - Super Mario
There are a number of sidekicks from theMarioseries alone that could have made the list of “Best Video Game Sidekicks,” but none are as important to Mario’s journey as Yoshi. FromMario PartytoMario Kart, along with his own headlined games, Yoshi has become a major player in the Mario franchise.
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Others have played the role of Mario’s sidekick, but Yoshi is the one that has stood the test of time, appearing in many mainline Mario games. What other character is willing to sacrifice themselves on a regular basis to further Mario’s journey?
4Clank - Ratchet & Clank
Ratchet and Clankare among the original PlayStation mascots and are still around and going strong to this day. The latest entry in the Ratchet and Clank series, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, received critical acclaim as one of the first games to really showcase the graphical capabilities of the PlayStation 5.
Clank has appeared alongside Ratchet in nearly every mainline Ratchet and Clank game and isas recognizableas the main character himself. Clank’sintelligence and skilloften save the day and make him the fiercest ally of the famous Lombax.
3Tails - Sonic
Sonichas one real sidekick, and that’s Tails. Named after his useful aerodynamic tail, Tails can hold his own when needed but really shines when supporting Sonic. There are plenty of allies in Sonic’s long presence in video game history, but Tails is practically synonymous with the Blue Hedgehog.
The two go together like peanut butter and jelly. Tails has made appearances in video games, movies, and TV shows, always supporting his pal Sonic. As reliable as they come, and interesting in his own right, Tails is thebaselinefor a good video game sidekick.
2Atreus - God Of War
Atreus is a relatively new addition to the long-runningGod of Warseries, but what he lacks in experience, he makes up for innarrative impact. The events of God of War’s 2018 soft reboot revolve around Kratos filling his new fatherly role and learning how to be a more sympathetic and nurturing figure.
Atreus deserves his spot on the list of Best Sidekicks because his presence is the strongest catalyst for Kratos' personality change, taking him from a hard and harsh fighter and developing him into a complex and emotional character.
1Cortana - Halo
There aren’t many sidekicks that are as synonymous with a video game franchise as Cortana is withHalo. Cortana has served as Master Chief’snavigator, strategist, and friend. Cortana was even the driving force behind Master Chief’s defiance of direct orders, leading to the event of Halo 5’s controversial story.
Cortana has been both friend and foe to humanity, and with a long and complicated history in Halo’s lore, Cortana has become a mysterious figure in the future of the series. It is unknown whether we have seen the last of the AI, but time will tell.
