Well written characters in games released in 2024

[heltenjon]

You know when you are supposed to vote for the best characters for the AGS awards, and you can't remember their names? Or why you liked them?

This thread is for giving feedback to game devs about characters you liked in this year's games. What did you like? Why did you like it? This will give nice feedback about what works for the devs, and also hints for others about how to create memorable characters.

If it also helps us remember who to vote for when it's time for the awards again, well, that's a bonus.

[heltenjon]

I guess I'll kick off this one, too.

GOC Games' Steeplejack stars two characters I immediately grew fond of. They argue about how to demolish a chimney, and their character traits is the reason for the whole story. The traditional one gets his way, but no way is the other guy going to help him!  And when looking down,

Spoiler

he's headbanging to metal music on a 1984 walkman bacause streaming is for wusses.

[close]

What's not to love?

In ANOPHTOS by Claire Moon, the entire game is an internal journey into the mind of the protagonist. Every action taken or not taken gives clues, quite often through symbols or metaphors. By the end, I had a working theory about the inner turmoil my character was experiencing. But the cool thing is that the symbolism is somewhat open to interpretation, which means that different players will project different thoughts into it, depending on their background.

[heltenjon]

As we are closing in on the year's end and the subsequent nominations for the AGS awards, I remembered these threads. No big success yet, but that's no reason not to give some positive feedback.

Botos de Diabo: The Dolphin. I really liked seeing such a different take on a beloved animal. It's like seeing an actor who's always playing good guys, suddenly being the villain.

The Shame of the Pack: This game actually makes sure all the characters have back stories and their own agenda. It's very much character driven writing. Even so, the player gets to know the main character the best, so Frank Lapidus stands out.

Spoiler

Is he a hero, come to save the small town's problems? Is he a ruthless killer? Or perhaps just a loving brother? He talks a lot about his values, but are they written in stone?

[close]

The Order: I'll go with the guards of the gate here. Most characters in this game has some quirk, but these guys won me over.

Spoiler

I solved their dialogue puzzle while trying to make all the wrong choices first, just to see more of the writing.

[close]

Brownie's Adventure: In this comedy, many characters can be mentioned. I laughed the hardest at the antics of the wizard in the wheelchair. Sadly I can't remember his name.

Spoiler

I liked that he was immediately recognizable, and that the humour relied on how out of place the wheelchair was in the medieval setting.

[close]

[heltenjon]

And let's add JW from Kidname: Iceboy, which I played yesterday. JW is written

Spoiler

satirically, as a super patriot, with excessive "good" American values, but he can't think for himself. Ultimately, this brings him at odds with what's really happening, because that doesn't fit his world view.

[close]

[lapsking]

As we are closing in on the year's end and the subsequent nominations for the AGS awards, I remembered these threads. No big success yet, but that's no reason not to give some positive feedback.

Botos de Diabo: The Dolphin. I really liked seeing such a different take on a beloved animal. It's like seeing an actor who's always playing good guys, suddenly being the villain.

The Shame of the Pack: This game actually makes sure all the characters have back stories and their own agenda. It's very much character driven writing. Even so, the player gets to know the main character the best, so Frank Lapidus stands out.

Spoiler

Is he a hero, come to save the small town's problems? Is he a ruthless killer? Or perhaps just a loving brother? He talks a lot about his values, but are they written in stone?

[close]

The Order: I'll go with the guards of the gate here. Most characters in this game has some quirk, but these guys won me over.

Spoiler

I solved their dialogue puzzle while trying to make all the wrong choices first, just to see more of the writing.

[close]

Brownie's Adventure: In this comedy, many characters can be mentioned. I laughed the hardest at the antics of the wizard in the wheelchair. Sadly I can't remember his name.

Spoiler

I liked that he was immediately recognizable, and that the humour relied on how out of place the wheelchair was in the medieval setting.

[close]

Spoiler

I would personally vote for The Dolphin in Botos de Diabo as the best written AGS character of the year, if I don't miss voting. It was very well written. 

[close]

Spoiler

The Guardians in The Order are not my favorite characters for 2024, but it is said people see themselves in their favorite characters so feel free to vote for them if you want.

[close]

[heltenjon]

More cool characters? More cool characters!

The Phantom Fellows stars Oliver and Englebert. The game author suggests Oliver, and I'd suggest Englebert, but the truth is that the fun is largely made by the contrasts between them. Oh, and Englebert is a ghost.

Professor Patrick Moore, hero of An English Haunting, goes through quite a development as he traverses his quest. Or should I say quests?

Jean Pierre de Saint-Cove is The Black Hawk in the game with the same name. He's a bit full of himself, but he's even more admired by the townfolks. Shenanigans arise.

Another one bearing the name of the game, is Melon Head. He's also a cool character that's given the opportunity to make choices that determines the ending of the game. I'm also fond of Poo Boy and the Station Master from this game. They are exaggerated characters, both stricken by love.

Do you have any favourite characters from 2024? Please post here.

[Kastchey]

Great thread! I love well developed characters.

From An English Haunting, my absolute favorite had to be Little Tim, followed by the shoeshiner boy. The wits and tenacity of those kids!