The act of being a video game character is a bit of an odd one. You spend all day killing things, all night healing from wounds that should have killed you, and there's a better than eighty percent chance that your [[TomboyPrincess tomboy female friend is a lost princess]]. But what's a guy to do, eh?
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[[index]]
[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Playable character types]]
Protagonists that are controlled by the players themselves.
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* '''PlayerCharacter''': A character controlled by you, the player.
* '''PlayerParty''': An entire team of playable characters.
* AdventureDuo: A serious main character coupled with a weird or quirky partner.
* AnAdventurerIsYou: A description of the class-based systems common to many {{Role Playing Game}}s.
* AndNowForSomeoneCompletelyDifferent: When the player takes control of another different character partway through.
* BareFistedMonk: A character who excels in melee attacks without wielding weapons.
* TheBeastmaster: A type of character who uses the assistance of an animal, force of nature, or just some sort of not-highly-sentient creature to help them fight.
* BlackMage: Magic user who specializes in offensive magic.
** BlackMagicianGirl: A young female BlackMage with a [[PluckyGirl forceful personality]].
*** LadyOfBlackMagic: An older female BlackMage with a [[LadyOfWar more reserved or mature personality]].
** WhiteMage: Magic-user who specializes in healing and support magic.
*** WhiteMagicianGirl: The female magic-using co-star of an {{RPG}}, who often wields a staff or rod.
* BouncingBattler: A character whose primary form of attack is to jump or bounce off obstacles and enemies.
* BraggingRightsOption: A character or option characters pick to show off with.
* BrattyHalfPint: Snarky self-important kid who's usually the youngest in the party.
* CharacterCustomization: The protagonist's physical appearance, in-game abilities, and other attributes can all be modified by the player themselves.
* CharacterSelectForcing: The game forces you to choose different characters, even though you have the choice of not using them.
* ChildMage: The main magic user is the youngest in the group.
* CipherScything: Blank slate characters always get the short end of the stick in adapted works.
* CombatMedic: Although he's the main healer and buffer, he can also dish out damage.
* CombatAndSupport: The two roles video game characters often divide each other into when in groups.
* CompetitiveBalance: The various character types in competitive games need to be balanced so no one character is automatically better.
* ConfusionFu: A character whose main advantage is their unpredictability.
* CriticalHitClass: A class or character's strategy is based on getting critical hits.
* CrutchCharacter: Early game playable character who starts out powerful, but whose usefulness declines.
* CuteBruiser: A young girl who has SuperStrength.
* DamageOverTime: A character type that [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin deals damage over time]], wearing the enemy down.
* TheEngineer: A character who specializes in the use and application of machines and technology. Usually a support unit, but many times quite capable of combat.
* EliteTweak: A character or class that can be very effective, but needs a lot of work or strategy to reach its potential.
* FantasyCharacterClasses: The most common character classes in a medieval fantasy setting.
* FeaturelessProtagonist: An Ageless, Faceless, Gender Neutral, Culturally Ambiguous Adventure Person is [[AudienceSurrogate you!]]
** NonEntityGeneral: The player is a general or commander in a strategy game who may not actually even exist.
* FighterMageThief: The three most common character classes for {{Western RPG}}s.
* FragileSpeedster: A character who's very fast, but has low defense.
* GlacierWaif: A character of thin build who's nevertheless extremely strong and slow.
* GlassCannon: A character who has powerful attacks but can't take a lot of damage.
* AGodIsYou: Games that star a protagonist who's actually a god or who has godlike powers.
* GuestStarPartyMember: Someone who joins your party temporarily as a "guest".
* HealingHands: A character who has the ability to heal others.
* HeavyEquipmentClass: A class or character that stands out due to their proficiency with heavy weapons and/or armour.
* HeroicMime: A main character who never speaks.
* HeroUnit: A unit, usually in a RealTimeStrategy game, that represents the player or a major character in the game's story on the battlefield.
* ImmobilePlayerCharacter: When a PlayerCharacter has incredibly limited movement.
* ItemCaddy: A character whose skills revolve around using items.
* JackOfAllStats: A character who has good strength, speed, and defense, but is not great in any category.
** MasterOfNone: The JackOfAllStats where the end result is an almost useless character, since their mediocre skills are never useful enough to be chosen over a specialist.
* JobSystem: EasternRPG system whereby classes have distinct equipment and abilities but can be changed at any time.
* JokeCharacter: Characters, often in the form of {{Easter Egg}}s, deliberately unbalanced in the negative sense.
** LethalJokeCharacter: A JokeCharacter who has one or two awesome skills which can lead to him being used very effectively.
* KidHero: Slaying dragons and beating down goblins, but he still has a teddy bear when he goes to sleep.
* LadyOfWar: A [[ActionGirl female fighter]] who retains [[TheHighQueen an air of grace and reserve not usually associated with violence]].
* LightningBruiser: A character who has very good strength, speed, ''and'' defense.
* MageMarksman: An archer or gunner who also delves in sorcery.
* MagicallyIneptFighter: A fighter with great physical ability but lacking skills in the magic department.
* MagicKnight: A wizard who can also swordfight or a swordfighter who can also use magic.
* MascotWithAttitude: A snarky FunnyAnimal with [[TotallyRadical kickin']] powers and [[JumpPhysics improbable jumping abilities]].
* MasterOfAll: A (usually [[PurposelyOverpowered broken]]) character with better stats than anyone.
* MasterOfUnlocking: Opening doors is an art, don'tcha know.
* MechanicallyUnusualClass: A character class whose mechanics are unusual in comparison to its fellow classes.
* MightyGlacier: He's got great strength, but he isn't all that fast.
* TheMinionMaster: Summon {{mooks}} to do the job for you!
* ModernDaySciFiRPGClassEquivalents: A collection of character classes or equivalents of such for non-fantasy RPG settings.
* MonsterAllies: Where monsters fight alongside the humans in [=RPG=]s.
* MultiSlotCharacter: A single character is split into multiple different incarnations of themselves that act as different characters.
* MutuallyExclusivePartyMembers: Several party members who, for whatever reason, cannot all be in the same party at the same time.
* MysticalWaif: A young girl with a mysterious past who the villains are trying to exploit and the heroes are trying to protect.
* OneManArmy: Video game protagonists are almost always very capable of wiping the floor with thousands of enemies.
* OptionalPartyMember: Someone who may not join your party if you don't fulfill the requirements to get them.
* OverratedAndUnderleveled: A character introduced as being really powerful ends up, statistics-wise, as being weaker than the main character.
* PlatformingPocketPal: An adventuring companion in an {{action game}} who, for whatever reason, is not hindered by the action segments.
* PlayerMooks: Nameless, personality-less characters that make up your team.
* PowerupMount: An animal that the main character can ride on and is beneficial in some way.
* PromotedToPlayable: A character who was an NPC or enemy in a previous installment becomes playable in a sequel.
* ProtagonistWithoutAPast: You just sort of popped into being in the first village.
* RebelliousPrincess: She's had enough of being pampered and wants to get down and dirty with the monster fighting!
* TheRedMage: A magician capable of casting spells from two different or even [[MutuallyExclusiveMagic mutually exclusive]] schools of magic.
* RequiredPartyMember: Someone who you have to have in your group, usually due to plot reasons.
* SchrodingersPlayerCharacter: The game offers multiple characters to choose from with various backstories, but only the character you choose as your PC ever appears in the game.
* SecretCharacter: A bonus character that the casual player may never see.
* SoloClass: Classes capable of going alone where others are forced to team up.
* SpaceMarine: Standard [[FirstPersonShooter FPS]] hero: A military man (often in bulky armor), who wields lots of big guns and kills lots of aliens.
* SquishyWizard: [[{{WesternAnimation/Aladdin}} Phenomenal cosmic power]], itty bitty life bar.
* StarterMon: If you want ToBeAMaster of {{Mons}}, you have to start somewhere.
* StoneWall: A character with extremely high defense but lame offensive capabilities.
* SupportPartyMember: A party member whose' primary abilities are mostly non-offensive.
* SwissArmyHero: The player character can [[MultiformBalance change forms]] to cover many different situations or roles.
* SwordAndSorcerer: When a physical fighter and magic user team up.
* TeamPet: The default mascot of the party and usually the most outlandish of the bunch.
* ThirdPersonSeductress: An implausibly curvy, twenty-something woman in a {{Stripperiffic}} outfit, who obeys the commands of the fellow behind the controller.
* TheTurretMaster: A character with the ability to [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin summon a stationary turret]] that attacks enemies or an object that fulfills a similar role.
* TomboyPrincess: A princess who behaves in a tomboyish manner.
* UtilityPartyMember: The character you keep in your party for their non-combat skills.
* WildMan: A usually [[WildHair shaggy]], musclebound and underdressed character who looks like he just came out of the jungle.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fighting game characters]]
Characters found in {{Fighting Game}}s (who may or may not be playable).
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* AssistCharacter: A non-playable character who assists a playable one.
* BalanceSpeedStrengthTrio: The three most common character types for BeatEmUp and HackAndSlash.
* CharacterRosterGlobalWarming: The series' character roster increases over time, but the number of MightyGlacier characters is kept constant.
* DittoFighter: A character who copies the moveset of the other characters, sometimes with the added catch that the moveset is chosen randomly.
* FightingClown: A character that looks and acts wackier to the rest of the cast, but actually plays like a normal character.
* GuestFighter: A character from another franchise who shows up in a FightingGame.
* TheGrappler: A character who specializes in {{grapple move}}s and punishes opponents who dare get too close.
* HuskyRusskie: A Russian fighter who's [[MotherRussiaMakesYouStrong bik, stronk,]] and [[VodkaDrunkenski dreenks vodka]].
* MechanicallyUnusualFighter: A FightingGame character with a bizarre playstyle and mechanics compared to others.
* MovesetClone: Two characters given equal or similar abilities/appearances and playstyle. Earlier fighting games often wound up having these as their main characters.
* PerfectPlayAI: An AI which continually walks forward, dodges or blocks all attacks, and attacks flawlessly once it reaches its target.
* SkillGateCharacters: FightingGame characters that are a challenge to newcomers, but those with experience will easily mop the floor with them.
* {{Shotoclone}}: Stock FightingGame character whose skillset includes a [[KamehameHadoken energy ball]] and [[{{Shoryuken}} uppercut]], and often wears a karate gi.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Non-playable characters]]
Neutral (sometimes friendly) characters that cannot be controlled by the players.
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* '''NonPlayerCharacter''': [=NPCs=] are people and creatures controlled by in-game AI instead of the player's direct input.
* '''NonPlayerCompanion:''' A friendly [=NPC=] ally who follows and assists the player character throughout the game.
* ApatheticCitizens: A supervillain is conquering the world? You take care of it.
* ArmsDealer: A merchant who sells weapons (and sometimes other useful items) to you, as long as you have enough cash to pay them.
* CityGuards: The local authorities (police, soldiers, or security guards) of a particular place, patrolling around and standing watch. Usually neutral towards the player character, unless you provoke them into turning hostile by actively causing trouble and violating the local laws.
* ContinueYourMissionDammit: Characters who nudge the player character back onto the main quest.
* [[ShopliftAndDie Easily Angered Shopkeeper]]: If you steal something from a shop, you'll be attacked or zapped instantly.
* ExpositionFairy: A recurring or sidekick character whose purpose is to [[MrExposition fill you in]] on elements of the interface and your abilities.
** AnnoyingVideoGameHelper: Where your ExpositionFairy starts to get on the player's nerves.
* GameplayAllyImmortality: Friendly [=NPCs=] who are following/fighting alongside you, but they can never actually be seriously injured or killed in combat.
** InvulnerableCivilians: [[InnocentBystanders Neutral [=NPCs=]]] who cannot be harmed at all by the player or enemies.
*** VulnerableCivilians: Neutral [=NPCs=] who actually ''can'' get hurt by the player or enemies.
* NeutralsCrittersAndCreeps: Factions composed entirely of NPC's, who are, respectively, concerned more with their territory than victory, [[ApatheticCitizens completely ignorant]], or [[HardCodedHostility permanently hostile]].
* PrecursorHeroes: A hero or group of heroes (often oddly similar to your own PlayerParty) that arose in the hour of need and [[SealedEvilInACan sealed the Ultimate Evil in its can]] [[ExactlyExtyYearsAgo 1,000 years ago]].
* QuestGiver: An NPC who will give you a sidequest.
* RecurringTraveller: A character who just keeps showing up throughout the game, usually thoroughly lost.
* RedundantResearcher: A researcher who's trying to figure out all those ancient ruins and is invariably pre-empted by the hero.
* RelationshipValues: A gameplay mechanic in which an [=NPC=]'s friendliness (or hostility) towards the PC is affected by the player's actions.
* SkillPointReset: A trainer who can reset a PlayerCharacter's skill and ability scores, allowing you to redistribute them.
* VoiceWithAnInternetConnection: The helpful person at the other end of the main character's earpiece.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Enemy character types]]
Another kind of non-playable characters, except they're hostile to the player characters.
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* '''BossBattle''': A special fight against a Boss, which is an unusually tougher enemy. They have enough sub-tropes for their own index.
** BossInMookClothing: A battle with a "normal" enemy that, as it turns out, can wipe the floor with you.
** DegradedBoss: Once you beat the boss, it comes back as a normal enemy later.
** FinalBoss: The last enemy fought in the game, usually the most powerful of them all, and is often the [[BigBad main villain/antagonist]].
** MiniBoss: A minor boss or powerful enemy fought about halfway through the level, though not quite as tough as the true boss at the end of the level.
** ThatOneBoss: A particularly frustrating boss that would put the DemonicSpiders and GoddamnedBats to shame.
* '''GoddamnedBats''': Enemies that don't pose much of a threat on their own, but can frustrate, annoy, and get in your way when working together.
** DemonicSpiders: Enemies that frustrate you by killing you in unfair ways, which make them innately more dangerous than other normal enemies.
** LedgeBats: Enemies that knock you back in the middle of jumps, often to your death.
** AmbushingEnemy: Monsters that lurk within the environment and never fully appear until you walk close to them, at which point they suddenly lunge out and try to grab you.
* '''{{Mooks}}''': A slang term for the hordes of standard-issue, disposable bad guys whom the hero regularly fights and defeats.
** ActuallyFourMooks: An enemy in an RPG that appears as a single entity on the overworld, but turns out to be a whole party of baddies once the fight starts.
** AirborneMook: Mooks that can fly.
** BanditMook: An enemy that can steal the player's items.
** BossInMookClothing: See above under the BossBattle entry.
** CowardlyMooks: Enemies that run away from the player, either instantly or after being hurt enough.
** CuteSlimeMook: A mook resembling a BlobMonster with a cutesy design.
** FakeUltimateMook: A massive monster of terrifying appearance that's no real threat.
** HardModeMook: An enemy that only appears when playing on higher difficulty modes.
** HeavilyArmoredMook: An ordinary mook, but with hard steel accessories.
** InstakillMook: A mook that can defeat you in one hit.
** MascotMook: A recurring minor enemy that's become iconic enough to double as a SeriesMascot.
** MookBouncer: An enemy that can teleport you to a specific location whenever they touch you.
** MooksAteMyEquipment: Enemy that eats your stuff (and might eat you as well).
** NightOfTheLivingMooks: [[TheUndead Zombies, skeletons, mummies, oh my]]!
** PatrollingMook: A mook that patrols around a certain area, alerting its allies if it spots something suspicious or an intruder.
** PushyMooks: A mook that does no damage on its own but pushes the player into hazards.
** ShieldBearingMook: A mook with a shield to protect against frontal attacks.
** SlaveMooks: Mooks that are actually enslaved by the villains.
** SleepyEnemy: An enemy that prefers to sleep, only fighting when disturbed.
** SmashMook: A big, strong enemy that does nothing but smash you with straight physical attacks.
* '''StandardFPSEnemies''': Those generic baddies seen in nearly every {{First|PersonShooter}}/ThirdPersonShooter you've ever played.
* '''StockMonsters''': Those generic baddies seen in nearly every RolePlayingGame you've ever played.
* AsteroidsMonster: A creature of significant size that, when killed, splits into several miniature versions of itself.
* BorderPatrol: A monster or other hazard introduced specifically to prevent the player from wandering too far without resorting to the immersion-breaking InvisibleWall.
* ChestMonster: An enemy or hazard that has disguised itself to look like something positive, like [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin a treasure chest]].
* ClairvoyantSecurityForce: Manages to always appear the second you try to steal something.
* {{Cumulonemesis}}: An enemy in the shape of an animated cloud that attacks with wind and lightning.
* DropInNemesis: Where an enemy or obstacle comes out of nowhere and kills you, generally in a {{cutscene}}.
* ElementalEmbodiment: When the elements that are the [[ElementalRockPaperScissors basic building blocks of the universe]] get up and [[EverythingTryingToKillYou come for you]].
* EnemyChatter: Enemies (or other [=NPCs=]) can be very talkative in some games.
* EnemySummoner: An enemy who can summon additional enemies to join them in combat, while also causing some damage themselves.
** MookMaker: An enemy or object that can produce more enemies to fight you, although they don't usually attack the player directly.
* EverythingTryingToKillYou: Almost everything in the world is out for your blood.
* EvilChancellor: The helpful and suspiciously toadying assistant to the monarchy whose morality is usually inverse to the head of state.
* FlyingSeafoodSpecial: Fish that float in the air. And generally try to kill you.
* GiantHandsOfDoom: A character who fights only with giant hands.
* TheGoomba: The most basic enemy in the game, has a simple movement pattern, and is reassuringly easy to beat.
* HalfHeartedHenchman: A normal henchman who's lazy, unmotivated, or otherwise unwilling to do his job.
* HarmlessEnemy: An enemy that can't directly damage you.
* IncrediblyDurableEnemies: When the basic mook is an unstoppable killing machine, you know you're in a difficult game.
* IncreasinglyLethalEnemy: When an enemy gets harder to beat if the fight goes on for too long.
* InvincibleBoogeymen: Powerful enemies that cannot be killed, defeated, or even fought; you can only run and hide from them.
** InvincibleMinorMinion: A weak enemy who is nevertheless completely impossible to harm in any way.
* InvisibleMonsters: You can't see them, but they can probably hurt you.
* KillerRabbit: Any monster that's far more dangerous than it looks.
* MoleMonster: An enemy that hides in the ground, attacking only when the PlayerCharacter's close.
* MoneySpider: An enemy creature that drops money or other rewards when defeated.
** MetalSlime: An enemy that appears and runs away very quickly, is hard to hit, but gives very good rewards.
** PinataEnemy: An enemy target sought out by the player, because they are (relatively) easy to kill, and have a very high cash payout.
* PersonalSpaceInvader: A monster who grabs onto you and must be shaken off.
* PuppetFighter: A character who can control one or more entities separate from itself.
* RatStomp: Finally, you get to the adventuring part! But first, fight some rats.
* RespawningEnemies: Enemies which can be defeated or killed indefinitely, but under certain circumstances they'll somehow reappear again or be replaced by more enemies.
* RevivingEnemy: An enemy which can be temporarily defeated or "killed", only to rise back up to full health soon afterwards.
* RoamingEnemy: An enemy which appears randomly under various circumstances.
* SavageSetpiece: A character that is peaceful to your character unless he attacks it. Then it demolishes you.
* ScratchDamageEnemy: An enemy which takes ScratchDamage from all attacks.
* SegmentedSerpent: An enemy which is made up of lots of mostly identical segments, and moves like a worm or snake.
* TheSpiny: A PlatformGame enemy that will damage or kill you if you try to jump on it.
* TeleportingKeycardSquad: Whenever you take something important, a slough of new enemies suddenly rushes in.
* UndeadCounterpart: Zombie-version {{Mooks}}.
* UndergroundMonkey: Exactly the same as a regular monkey - but underground, and therefore has better stats.
* UnderratedAndOverleveled: A character whom the plot provides no reason to be particularly strong turns out to be quite powerful in statistical terms when they join your party.
* TheUnfought: A major antagonist who you don't fight in the actual game.
* UniqueEnemy: An enemy that only shows up once in the whole game, but is otherwise fairly unremarkable.
* WaddlingHead: A stock monster that resembles a colored oval with eyes and feet.
* WeaponizedOffspring: A creature gives birth to CannonFodder as a defense mechanism.
* WhackAMonster: You see lots of holes in the ground: you know you're going to have to fight a bunch of monsters that pop up, attack, and pop back in.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other/unclassified characters]]
Miscellaneous video game character tropes.
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* BalancePowerSkillGimmick: A setup of four playable choices with a balanced choice, one choice at one end of a stat scale, one choice at the other end, and one choice different from all three.
* GameOverMan: A character shown on the GameOver screen.
* GlitchEntity: A video game character whose existence is due to a [[GoodBadBug glitch]], rather than them being deliberately coded into the game.
* LadyNotAppearingInThisGame: A sexy female in a game's promotional material who's not actually in the game itself.
* LiveItem: A character or creature that the game treats as an item.
* MassiveRaceSelection: When your player character can come from any of several cultures or species.
* PetInterface: An interface in which you are given a sidekick, usually a pet, that acts as a guide/virtual pet of sorts in the world.
* PrestigiousPlayerTitle: You and your fellow players are yourselves, but you're given a fancy title to call yourselves by.
* TrainingDummy: Some (usually) immortal character that you can return to, to practice your moves on.
* TwoGuysAndAGirl: The main character and his RivalTurnedEvil spend most of the game fighting over the girl.
* WithAFriendAndAStranger: The game starts off with the hero, his or her childhood friend, and [[MysteriousWaif another person, often a girl, from out of nowhere]] who needs his help.
[[/folder]]

[[/index]]
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