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Creating believable, engaging characters has always been one of the toughest challenges in game development, according to Bethesda’s Todd Howard. This often affects some of the studio’s biggest titles, includingStarfieldandSkyrim. While both games offer worlds filled with deep lore and systems, fans notice that they lack compelling characters.
These games have been exceptional in graphics, exploration, and storytelling. But players often feel disconnected from the NPCs (non-playable characters), who, while functional, frequently lack depth. This aspect remains a notable gap as modern games attempt to balance characters and visuals.
Todd Howard’s View On Character Design is Absolutely Correct
WhenSkyrimlaunched in 2011, it quickly became a cultural phenomenon, known for its expansive world and endless exploration. However, players soon noticed that the game’s NPCs were somewhat lifeless. This has hardly been a big issue for the game and hasn’t affected its success, but it is there.
Unlike characters in story-driven games likeThe Last of UsorRed Dead Redemption 2,Skyrim‘s characters struggled to leave a lasting impression.
This right here is what explains why Ellie is the way she is in part 2. The worst and saddest thing Joel taught Ellie is to not talk about feelings or how things affect us. He kept on walking and didn’t say a word.#TheLastOfUs#TLOU#TheLastOfUsHBOpic.twitter.com/yP99ZSjpW5
Although some exceptions exist, like Serana from theDawnguardDLC or the iconic Paarthurnax, the majority ofSkyrim’s NPCs failed to convey a sense of depth.
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The critique isn’t just limitedtoSkyrim’s era. By 2023, games had changed completely, and Todd Howard’s words from his 2011 interview withGame Informerare truer than ever.
How they portray their characters, how well done that is on a storytelling level. I think that’s still the trickiest thing to do in games is to get good characters on the screen.
So the critique isn’t just limited toSkyrim’s era. Even games today continue to face this problem. And there’s probably no world where every game that comes out will have that as its focus. That’s completely fine too.
It’s Hard to Balance Priorities in Games These Days
Part of the issue with bothSkyrimandStarfieldlies in how NPCs are presented. In games where players shape the world and story, it can be challenging to make characters that stand out.
‘Game of the generation’30 fpsConstant loading screensBoring, cringeworthy storyLifeless NPC’s with no daily routines etc, RDR2 fixed that that LAST genStarfield overall feels a last generation game83 rated on Metacriticpic.twitter.com/jAeWuCDMOA
Bethesda’s open-world design philosophyfocuses heavily on exploration and player agency. By prioritizing exploring big and open worlds, the studio has limited its capacity to develop characters that players feel close to.
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As a result, even major characters can feel like mere placeholders rather than integral parts of the story. Comparing Bethesda’s NPCs to those in games likeMass EffectorThe Witcher 3shows just how different these games think of their NPC designs.
Howard’s acknowledgment of the difficulty in making characters emotionally resonant shows just how complex this aspect of game design truly is. Making characters that adapt to player choices, have complex personalities, and get genuine emotion remains one of gaming’s biggest challenges.
As Bethesda prepares for future titles, perhaps the studio will prioritize character depth alongside world-building. Perhaps the devs could meet the expectations of fans who crave emotionally engaging, story-rich games.
What do you think of this idea of the difficulty of character design? Let us know in the comments!
Daniel Royte
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :1368
As part of the FandomWire team, Daniel has followed the hero-shooter genre closely with a focus on titles like VALORANT, Apex Legends, and Marvel Rivals. You can also find him providing insight on the latest AAA titles from Elden Ring to GTA 6 and exploring the world of gacha games like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves. With more than 1,000 articles under his belt, you’ll need to look no further for a unique insight into every situation.If he’s not looking for the latest video game news, you’ll find him cheering on Ferrari in the race tracks of Formula 1 or at the theatres for the latest MCU releases.
