Line #77 TheHero/VideoGames


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6	TheHero in Video Games.
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8	* The PlayerCharacter in almost every {{RPG}} ever written. The Jedi protagonist and the Exile in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic 1'' and ''[[VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublicIITheSithLords 2]]'' respectively, the Spirit Monk in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'', the Hero of Neverwinter and Drogan's Pupil in VideoGame/NeverwinterNights, the Kalach-Cha in VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2, Commander Shepard in Franchise/MassEffect [[VideoGame/MassEffect1 1]], [[VideoGame/MassEffect2 2]] and [[VideoGame/MassEffect3 3]], etc, etc, etc. There's nothing stopping the character being an AntiHero or even a Villain Protagonist. Shepard stands out though in that s/he actually talks, giving him/her a more fleshed out personality (though you can still choose that personality).
9	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'' follows Ann Flores, an ActionGirl who travels around the PostCyberpunk metropolis to locate her missing brother when he followed a lead to an allusive [[{{Panacea}} cure-all]].
10	%%* Jumptor from ''VideoGame/ArcadiaOrderOfTheBit''
11	* While some protagonists in ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' veer into anti-heroic territory, there are some that display genuinely heroic qualities:
12	** Altair in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedI'' starts out as an ArrogantKungFuGuy, but his humbling leads to becoming TheAtoner. He evolves into the BigGood later on his life.
13	** Ezio Auditore in his trilogy is a story how he moves from this trope all the way up to BigGood as well.
14	** Connor in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedIII'' is a tragic desconstruction of this trope: he embarks on his quest to save his tribe and avenge his mother who was killed by a fire started by the Templars, and ends up sympathizing with the Colonists' side in the Revolution. However, it turns out nothing as simple as his world views presumed and as [[spoiler:he succeeds in killing all his opponents, he fails to protect his people and ends up having to kill his father Haytham when he tried to murder him. And oh, it was the Colonists who gave the order to attack his tribe and not the Templars, meaning he has been assisting the side that ends up driving them away]].
15	** Bayek of Siwa in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOrigins'' is motivated to avenge his son's murder, but he is devoted to protect Egypt from [[AncientConspiracy the Order of the Ancients]]. He actually comes across as more traditionally heroic compared to [[spoiler:his wife Aya, who veers into GoodIsNotNice]].
16	** Alexios or Kassandra in ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedOdyssey'' can be played as straightforward heroes at the player's discretion by assisting others free of charge, be kind as helpful as they can and opposing the Cult of Kosmos.
17	* Yugo from ''VideoGame/BloodyRoar'' goes from investigating the mysterious circumstances to his father's death to leading a resistance against a corrupt corporation trying to exploit zoanthropes and aims to make a bright future of co-existence between humans and his people.
18	* Crono from ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger''. While initially he sets to rescue his newfound friend (and potentially LoveInterest Marle) from being absorbed by a time gate, he ends up embarking in a quest across time and space in order to avert a BadFuture which happens ''centuries'' long after he's dead. All while he saves a Queen from the Middle Ages, defeats a fiend Overlord (which can fight side-by-side with), and a race of reptilians form the Prehistory. In a highly unusual development, [[spoiler: he dies about 2/3 of the way through the game, and his revival is an ''optional'' sidequest.]]
19	** Discussed as well, as anyone bearing the "Hero's Medal" is believed to end the war between humans and Fiends, wielding the [[CoolSword Masamune]]. Unfortunately, the first known bearer is killed, the second one is too young and cowardly, and the third is too shell-shocked to ever accept the responsibility (though he can eventually move past his grief and join and help Crono defeat the Fiendlord).
20	* Monica from ''VideoGame/DarkChronicle'', in one of the few cases where the main protagonist is not also the Hero.
21	* The Crusader in ''VideoGame/DarkestDungeon'' fits the bill best of all the cast by virtue of being one of the first playable characters, a JackOfAllTrades, ThePaladin and TheLeader. It can be desconstructed if the horrors of the dungeon can make him snap or turn him into a KnightTemplar or DeathSeeker.
22	* ''{{VideoGame/Darkstalkers}}'' is a bit complicated about it: Demitri Maximoff was supposed to be the actual protagonist of the series, until Morrigan Aensland took over his place, but neither of them fit the traditional heroic archetype since they are morally ambiguous of varying degrees and motivated by power and hedonism, respectively. [[VampireHunter Donovan Baine]] is the closest one to qualify due to being motivated to hunt evil monsters and he is the one to confront [[BigBad Pyron]] in the OVA.
23	* In the ''Franchise/{{Disgaea}}'' series, protagonists Adell of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 2\|CursedMemories}}'' and Valvatorez of ''VideoGame/{{Disgaea 4\|A Promise Unforgotten}}'' play the trope straight, [[VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness Laharl]] and [[VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice Mao]] of the other two games being {{antihero}}es.
24	* The [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyI Warrior of Light]] as he appears in ''VideoGame/DissidiaFinalFantasy''. [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny In a game full of heroes from all over the series]], he is '''the''' hero, to the point where his characterisation comes across as more than a tad unrealistic. But then [[spoiler:you realise he doesn't have much of a personality besides being a hero because he's an ArtificialHuman with no memories]]. Also a case of Administrivia/TropesAreNotBad: the Warrior of Light doesn't share the confidence issues or doubts of his more AntiHero comrades, and needs no personal motivation beyond loyalty to Cosmos, [[TheParagon making him an inspiration to the others]].
25	* ''VideoGame/DragonQuest'':
26	** Although there's the possibility of it being too obvious to be worth listing here, the majority of the main characters in every ''Dragon Quest'' game serve as the Hero, to the point that in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' the hero's default name '''is''' Hero. Nearly all of them have balanced abilities and use (or have the option of using) swords, and many of them have lightning and/or fire in their selection of attack magic.
27	** One of the only exceptions is the Hero from ''VideoGame/DragonQuestII'', who learns no magic at all and serves as the physical fighter of the party.
28	** In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestI'', the Hero was born and bred for the job in a world where the Dracolord had already won.
29	** Similarly, the hero of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'' was trained since childhood to save the world and avenge his father by destroying the evil Baramos.
30	** In ''VideoGame/DragonQuestV'', [[spoiler:the ''true'' [[TheChosenOne Legendary Hero]] destined to defeat Grandmaster Nimzo turns out to be The Hero's ''son'']], making him and his mother the only members of the party with any relevance to the prophecy.
31	** And in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVI'', [[spoiler:The Hero is actually his Dream World counterpart, while his Real World self winds up a FailureKnight]].
32	** And as if to drive the point home, when the Heroes of ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIII'', ''VideoGame/DragonQuestIV'', ''Dragon Quest VIII'' and ''VideoGame/DragonQuestXI'' came to ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate'', they all shared a slot under the same name, which is, you guessed it, ''Hero''.
33	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls'': The PlayerCharacter of nearly every game in the series, naturally. While the protagonist can be played in anyway the player wants, whether as an IdealHero or even as a VillainProtagonist, they all go through similar trials and patterns displayed in the [[http://elderscrolls.wikia.com/wiki/The_Hero_Cycle Hero Cycle]]. To note:
34	** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsArena Arena]]'': The Eternal Champion, who escaped from prison in search for the [[DismantledMacGuffin Staff of Chaos]] in order to save [[TheGoodKing Emperor Uriel Septim VII]] from his EvilChancellor [[BigBad Jagar Tharn]], who has usurped his throne.
35	** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIDaggerfall Daggerfall]]'': The Agent, a personal acquaintance of Emperor Uriel Septim VII sent to the eponymous city to investigate the death of its King, who quickly becomes embroiled in a plot to reactivate a LostSuperweapon that will forever shape Tamriel. (''[[TimeCrash Literally]]'', as the case may be.)
36	** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'': The Nerevarine, the [[TheUnreveal supposed]] {{reincarnation}} of the [[LongDeadBadass ancient hero]] Indoril Nerevar, who is sent as a prisoner to the eponymous province and ends up SavingTheWorld from the deranged PhysicalGod, [[BigBad Dagoth Ur]].
37	*** The ''Tribunal'' expansion sees the Nerevarine tangle with the [[DeityOfHumanOrigin living gods]] of the Dunmeri Tribunal.
38	*** The ''Bloodmoon'' expansion sees the Nerevarine survive the ritual hunt of the [[OurGodsAreDifferent Daedric Prince]] [[EgomaniacHunter Hiricine]] on the GrimUpNorth isle of Solstheim.
39	** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion Oblivion]]'': The Champion of Cyrodiil is an interesting Subversion. Though he/she is the playable character, the narrative of the main quest focuses around Martin Septim, the [[HeroicBastard bastard son]] of Uriel Septim VII and HiddenBackupPrince heir to the throne following Uriel VII's assassination. Due to his bloodline, Martin is TheChosenOne and the only person who seal the gates of Oblivion to end the Oblivion Crisis. The Champion meanwhile serves as a combination HypercompetentSidekick, [[TheLancer Lancer]], and SupportingProtagonist.
40	*** The Champion is unquestionably the hero in each expansion, however. In ''Knights of the Nine'', the Champion must recover and sanctify the Crusader's Relics necessary to stop [[BigBad Umaril the Unfeathered]].
41	*** In ''The Shivering Isles'', the Champion is personally chosen by the MadGod Sheogorath to save his eponymous [[EldritchLocation Daedric realm]] from the [[ViciousCycle cyclical destruction]] brought about by the Greymarch.
42	** ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim Skyrim]]'': The Dragonborn is a rare mortal [[TheChosenOne blessed by Akatosh]] with the immortal soul of a dragon, and is the only person who can stop [[BeastOfTheApocalypse Alduin, the World Eater]].
43	*** The CivilWar questline is nearly as expansive as the main quest, and has the Dragonborn work with either the Empire or the Stormcloak rebels as essentially a OneManArmy to claim Skyrim for one side or the other.
44	*** ''Dawnguard'' follows the Dragonborn who can choose to work with the eponymous VampireHunter organization against a powerful group of vampires who seek to invoke a prophesy to bring about TheNightThatNeverEnds, or work ''against'' the order as one of the vampires.
45	*** ''Dragonborn'' has the Dragonborn visit Solstheim, where he/she comes into conflict with Miraak, the [[EvilCounterpart first Dragonborn]] who seeks to return.
46	* In the ''VideoGame/{{Fable}}'' series, Heroes are a classification of people in Albion who possess the disciplines of Strength, Skill, or Will, and as such have extraordinary fighting and magical abilities. The player character in each game has control over all three disciplines, and can either play this trope straight or [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential horribly invert it]].
47	* Played straight in most of ''VideoGame/Fallout3'', but subverted in four of the five add-ons (''Broken Steel'' being a continuation of the main storyline, very heroic, and something of an AuthorsSavingThrow for the original ending). The main game revolves around one man's dream to bring free, radiation-free water to the Wasteland, and how his child either achieves or subverts that dream.
48	** ''Operation Anchorage'' requires the player to aid one of the [[JerkAss least sympathetic non-psychopathic factions]] in the game (who only exist as a faction because they broke away from a group that decided it was more important to protect innocents from 8-foot-tall genocidal mutants than to hoard technology).
49	** ''The Pitt'' forces the player to choose between allowing miserable slavery to continue in the name of rebuilding the only working steel mill on the east coast ''and'' finding a cure one of the most devastating mutations in the Wasteland, or freeing the slaves by replacing a ReasonableAuthorityFigure with his treacherous lieutenant, who then plans to use his former Lord's infant child to find a cure as fast as possible, her health be damned. Also, it is implied that choosing the latter will allow the steel mill to rot, a significant setback for rebuilding.
50	** ''Point Lookout'' has the [[PlayerCharacter Lone Wanderer]] caught between a badass and a [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]]. While none of their actions are decidedly heroic or villainous, they get outsmarted by brain-damaged drug addicts and (depending on what side quests they follow), a 200-year-old death trap. Both these events paint the hero as more of a gullible incompetent than anything else.
51	** ''Mothership Zeta'' is mostly a fight for survival, ending with the player willingly destroying a craft capable of traveling to other planets. That, you know, aren't ruined.
52	%%* ''VideoGame/FearEffect'' has Hana Tsu-Vachel/Mei Yun in this role.
53	* ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'':
54	** Tidus from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'' is clearly the main character to the player, but he's a late-comer to the other characters, who already composed the rest of TheTeam before he showed up.
55	*** Yuna takes up this role in the [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyX2 sequel]]. Very interesting considering that she was TheHeart in the previous game. She even fights like Tidus and uses one of his swords in her Warrior dressphere.
56	** In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII'', Ashe, while not the [[SupportingProtagonist protagonist]], is probably the most standard hero in the series.
57	** ''VideoGame/{{Final Fantasy XIII}}''
58	*** Lightning Farron. Let us see; TheRedMage (equal in Strength and Magic -- her magical abilities are spread between [[BlackMage Black Magic]] and [[WhiteMage White Magic]])/JackOfAllStats, elemental affinity is lightning -- [[MeaningfulName it's all in the name]] -- and she uses a sword -- that morphs into a gun, no less!
59	*** Snow Villiers ''thinks'' he's the hero and refers to himself as such. Lightning finds him irritating (at first) but he's closer to the IdealHero than she is.
60	*** Her sister (his finance) Serah functions very similarly in the sequel (majors in Ravager, Commando and Saboteur roles, wields a Bow-sword) except she's elementally inclined to both fire ''and'' lightning.
61	* The main protagonists of the ''Franchise/FireEmblem'' games are usually idealistic sword-wielding lords with great charisma, kind hearts, and immense courage.
62	** Marth, the central protagonist of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'', basically established the above-mentioned archetype for the series.
63	** Though Alm and Celica share the role of main protagonist in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGaiden'', Alm is probably the better fit for this specific trope, being the dashing leader of the Deliverance resistance group.
64	** Sigurd of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar'' is a deconstruction of this. He's a mighty warrior with a kind heart and a strong sense of honor, but his naivete and black-and-white worldview leads to him [[spoiler:becoming a disposable pawn who inadvertently helps create a tyrannical empire]]. Fortunately for everyone, his son Seliph is a {{Reconstruction}} who's able to succeed where his father failed.
65	** Leif of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThracia776'' is a kindhearted young man who eventually develops the maturity to be the leader the northern Thracian resistance needs.
66	** While Chrom is the leader of the Shepherds in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'', with his charisma and idealism being vital to their success, player avatar [[CanonName Robin]] is not only the group's tactician, but a mighty and versatile warrior who's the only character capable of befriending ''every'' Shepherd.
67	** There is also a character class called "Hero," but that's a bit of a misnomer as they're simply the promotion of the Mercenary and/or Fighter class.
68	* The ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys'' series has the various night guards throughout the series who [[spoiler: in the Freddy Files and Survival Logbook, are all hinted to be Michael Afton.]] As well, there is the Crying Child from VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys4, who is the protagonist of the 8-bit minigames and maybe the main gameplay. Or it could be the older brother. [[AmbiguousSituation We aren't sure.]] [[spoiler: And the older brother could be Michael.]]
69	* ''VideoGame/GloryOfHeraclesIII'' plays with this by having two nameless {{Amnesiac Hero}}es whom [[HelloInsertNameHere the player names]], the first party member and the final party member, with the two referred to as "the Hero" and "the Protagonist." [[spoiler:There's a very good reason why the main character ''isn't'' "the Hero."]]
70	* One for each game in the ''VideoGame/GoldenSun'' series. It's worth noting that all the protagonists subvert the usual alignment in ElementalPowers -- TheHero always uses [[DishingOutDirt Earth-based]] abilities, while TheLancer instead will have [[PlayingWithFire Fire-based]] abilities (reflecting a subversion of the usual RedOniBlueOni dynamic).
71	** Isaac in ''The Broken Seal''.
72	** Felix in ''The Lost Age''.
73	** Matthew (Isaac's son) in ''[[VideoGame/GoldenSunDarkDawn Dark Dawn]]''.
74	* ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'':
75	** Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 of the Spartan-[=IIs=]. Not the strongest, fastest, smartest of the Spartans, or the best at any category at all, except in leading the others and always getting the job done. He is so unbelievably Mario in comparison that even though there is at least one Spartan that can do something better than him, he wins everything because there is nothing he is bad at. Nothing. And he knows it. That's why he was made TheLeader of the rest. Although Cortana says he has one thing the rest didn't: LUCK.
76	** Another thing he is the best at is being the Bravest with a capital B, as said by Dr. Halsey herself. Spartans are by definition extremely brave and invulnerable (latter mostly as symbolism, but also proven with them having the best survival rate per engagement). However John takes it to the pure insane, combining it with his luck and courage to do the pure impossible even by Spartan standards.
77	* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'': Jak is The Hero, chosen by the Precursors to protect the world. He has amazing eco-channeling powers. Having both Dark Eco and Light Eco within him, he can perform unique Eco abilities.
78	* Black Orchid in ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'' is considered the main protagonist of the series due to having appeared in every game and being the canonical victor, though she arguably shares the role with her brother Jago.
79	* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
80	** Sora was TheHero but not TheLeader of his original PowerTrio. That position went to TheLancer, Riku, who was [[TooCoolToLive older, bigger, stronger]], and [[JumpedAtTheCall more adventurous]]. It was Riku's idea to build a raft and leave their home behind to visit other worlds. If Riku hadn't been [[AmbitionIsEvil a little]] ''[[AmbitionIsEvil too]]'' [[AmbitionIsEvil eager]] to seek his destiny, he might have become the ''de facto'' leader of TheTeam, with Sora and [[TheHeart Kairi]] functioning as the team's heart and conscience. Sora might lead with his heart and by example, but Riku would have led with his head and from the front. Even after Sora formed a new PowerTrio with [[TheSmartGuy Donald]] and [[TheBigGuy Goofy]], ''[[WesternAnimation/DonaldDuck Donald]]'' was initially more the {{leader}} due to his drive and seniority.
81	** In ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'', Aqua is by far the hero. She is the only one to achieve the rank of Keyblade Master, never succumbs to darkness, puts her friends above herself, and always fights to help others above all else.
82	%% Needs context * Rush Sykes of ''VideoGame/TheLastRemnant''.
83	* ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'': Link is an incarnation of this trope. In most of the core {{Canon}}, Link is specifically titled "Hero" of something: of Hyrule in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI'' and ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast A Link to the Past]]'', of Time in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]'', of Winds in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker The Wind Waker]]'', Chosen Hero of the Gods in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess Twilight Princess]]'', Hero of Legend in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSkywardSword Skyward Sword]]'', and Hero Eternal in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds]]''. In the non-canon ''VideoGame/HyruleWarriors'', his title is simply The Hero.
84	* Each [[RedIsHeroic red-haired]] protagonist from the main ''VideoGame/{{Lufia}}'' games fits the bill. Being the only one without a clear CanonName, the manual of ''VideoGame/LufiaAndTheFortressOfDoom'' refers to the main character as simply "the Hero."
85	* Hero from ''VideoGame/JitsuSquad'' is the protagonist. And it's right even in his name!
86	* ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' goes through several different characters fulfilling this role with [[BruceLeeClone Liu Kang]] being original one for the first four games as the canon victor and Champion of Earthrealm until his [[OurHeroIsDead death]] in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeadlyAlliance''. He gets replaced in later installments by [[DittoFighter Shujinko]] (whose [[MeaningfulName name literally means "main protagonist"]] in Japanese) in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatDeception'' and the Edenian demigod [[SemiDivine Taven]] in ''VideoGame/MortalKombatArmageddon'' (both of which don't do exactly a [[FailureHero spectacular job in the "hero" department]]). Liu Kang [[DecoyProtagonist appears to be restored to main hero]] after [[VideoGame/MortalKombat9 reboot]], only for him to ''die again'' and [[CameBackWrong being brought back]] as [[FallenHero evil revenant]]. ''VideoGame/MortalKombatX'' replaces him with [[ActionGirl Cassie Cage]], who leads a new generation of kombatants and manages to defeat the main villain Shinnok at the end. The [[VideoGame/MortalKombat11 follow-up]] brings Cassie Cage and a time-displaced together Liu Kang, but [[spoiler:he fully fulfills the role for real being the one to save the day at the end]].
87	* From the ''VideoGame/{{MOTHER}}'' series, we have [[VideoGame/EarthboundBeginnings Ninten]], [[VideoGame/EarthBound1994 Ness]], and [[VideoGame/{{MOTHER3}} Lucas]], although it takes Lucas a bit of time before he becomes the hero of his game.
88	* ''VideoGame/OctopathTraveler'': Each of the main characters is heroic and selfless. However, a few -- Ophilia and Olberic, in particular -- are more genuine traditional heroes, whereas characters like Therion and Primrose are more of an Anti-Hero, willing to break the law and/or kill people if the situation requires it.
89	* Rosalyn from ''VideoGame/OkageShadowKing'' is another case of the hero not being the player character, generally being a superb Hero's Guild Member and overshadowing [[SupportingProtagonist Ari]]. But then, everyone does that last bit.
90	* Devlin [=McCormack=] from ''VideoGame/TheOrionConspiracy''. Unlike a lot of games out there, he is different. How so? For starters, he is a middle-aged guy who has a number of issues. He was not a good father or a good husband. He does feel bad about it. His son and wife are both dead. He fought as a soldier in the Corporation War. However, the game demonstrates that he seems to prefer using his brains and guile rather than a gun and physical combat. He also engages in lying, petty larceny, blackmail and some ShootTheDog moments. TheHeart is also not attracted to him. With all that said, he does lead the charge more than once in the game.
91	* ''Franchise/PrinceOfPersia'': The titular [[NoNameGiven nameless]] prince in nearly all the games except ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersiaWarriorWithin'' and ''VideoGame/PrinceOfPersia2008'' where he is more of an AntiHero where he is fighting for his own self-preservation in the former and is a thief and grave robber in the latter. In all other games though, he is more traditionally heroic trying to save the princess from some evil vizier or a terrible sand monster unleashed upon the land.
92	* ''VideoGame/QuestForGlory'': Unsurprisingly, the main protagonist titled as the Hero is this trope by profession. Though he can pursue any class from FighterMageThief and ThePaladin, the whole series is about becoming more virtuous and heroic as it progresses.
93	* Jason in ''VideoGame/RiseOfTheArgonauts'' searches for the Golden Fleece to resurrect his recently deceased wife. What kind of hero he can be depends on the KarmaMeter, whether being a AllLovingHero by emulating Apollo, a GuileHero by emulating Hermes or a BarbarianHero by emulating Ares.
94	%%* ''VideoGame/SepterraCore'' has Maya as this.
95	* In ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiI'', the main protagonist is the one who will decide the future of humanity, and he actually has "The Hero" as his CanonIdentifier. There's also a Heroine, a Law Hero, and a Chaos Hero, although the Heroine is basically your sidekick and the Law and Chaos Heroes are radicalized into villains as the game progresses.
96	* In ''Franchise/SlyCooper'', Sly is the hero even though he's a thief. Even though he's considered a criminal because he steals, he only steals to save the world from criminals who actually are evil and have devious intentions.
97	* Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog is both the hero of the series and Team Sonic's (Sonic, Tails, Knuckles) ''de facto'' {{leader}}.
98	* ''VideoGame/SoulSeries'': [[HairOfGoldHeartOfGold Sophitia]] was canonically the one who defeated Cervantes and destroyed Soul Edge at the end of the first ''Soul'' game. Later games would put Sophitia as a supporting character in favour of [[GenkiGirl Xianghua]] (''Calibur''), [[TheAtoner Siegfried]] (''Calibur II, III and IV''), [[LamarckWasRight Sophitia's son]] [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Patroklos]] (''Calibur V''), and now [[BadPowersGoodPeople Kilik]] (''Calibur VI''). Sophitia however has the most in common with traditional fighting game heroes, being the balanced, newbie-friendly character.
99	* Deconstructed '''hard''' in ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine''. [[spoiler: Captain Walker's desire to be a hero is what causes him to kill American soldiers, drop white phosphorous on innocent civilians and generally sentence every person in Dubai to certain death.]]
100	* Fox [=McCloud=] of ''VideoGame/StarFox''. TheLeader of the titular mercenary group and TheAce pilot, he carries the legacy of his deceased father and ace pilot, James [=McCloud=], in order to defeat the [[TheEmperor galactic emperor]] Andross, and then stopping the Aparoids and the Anglars.
101	* While Ryu may be the main character of the ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series, [[SupportingProtagonist he isn't the actual hero]]. While he has served as a LivingMacGuffin for both M. Bison and Seth to obtain because of his [[KillingIntent Satsui no Hadou]] potential, he doesn't actively oppose them. The honor of being TheHero actually goes to Chun-Li, who has always opposed Shadaloo from the time of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'' to the time of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'', and she continues to oppose the new evil organization, the Illuminati, in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII''.
102	** Guile also fits this trope. He is the one who consistently takes on Shadaloo, and is arguably one of Bison's greatest adversaries.
103	** [[spoiler:Rashid]] from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' also qualifies. [[spoiler:While Ryu delivers the final blow on Bison, Rashid is ultimately the guy who saves the day by stopping Bison's doomsday machine. Rashid also has more storyline fights than anybody else and he is the character given the most screentime, by far]].
104	* From ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'', Mario. He names the franchise, is the main playable character, is the JackOfAllStats, etc., etc. Also Luigi, despite being TheLancer to Mario, tends to display most aspects of this trope as well as Mario (he's a JackOfAllStats and the other main playable character), although unlike Mario, he usually gets [[ButtMonkey little to no]] [[DudeWheresMyRespect respect for his actions]].
105	* In the ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' series, three fighters are suitable to this role:
106	** Jun Kazama is officially this for ''Tekken 2'', beating Devil and all.
107	** Her son, Jin Kazama fulfills this role in ''Tekken 3'' and ''5''. And [[spoiler:judging by his actions at the end of ''7'', he's set to return to this role when ''8'' rolls around]].
108	** Lars Alexandersson seems to be taking over this role in ''Tekken 6'', what with Jin Kazama going on a rampage.
109	* Baldur in ''VideoGame/TooHuman'' is the [=Æsir=] GodOfGood and the main protagonist.
110	* The ''VideoGame/TrailsSeries'' has a few.
111	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky First Chapter and Second Chapter'' has Estelle Bright as the main protagonist of the game and the heroine of the story, who starts off her adventures as a bracer.
112	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsInTheSky The Third'' has Kevin Graham who was a party member in ''SC'' and ends up being the hero of his own game as he struggles with his mistakes and failures, and learns to accept them.
113	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsFromZeroAndTrailsToAzure'' follows Lloyd Bannings who aspires to be a policeman and also wants to know who and why his brother was killed on duty.
114	** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfHeroesTrailsOfColdSteel I, II, III, and IV'' follows Rean Schwarzer on his quest to find his true purpose in life by attending a military academy.
115	* ''VideoGame/VampireTheMasqueradeRedemption'' follows Cristoff Romauld, a [[UsefulNotes/TheKnightsTemplar French templar knight]] turned [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire vampire]] on a quest across the land (and time) to rescue his LoveInterest Anezka and fighting against several other evil vampires in his the way... Unless if he is played like an outright VillainProtagonist.
116	* ''VideoGame/VampiresDawn'': Valnar is the main protagonist and will fit this trope like a glove if played FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire. At least the second game assumes you played it this way, given it starts with one ending where you were a good guy.
117	* ''VideoGame/Vampyr2018'': Jonathan E. Reid is another vampire protagonist that can be played like a FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire, but his main goal is to save London from a mysterious epidemic, [[VideoGameCrueltyPotential regardless]] [[AntiHero how]] [[VillainProtagonist he is played as]]. Turns out that [[spoiler:this was intended to be his role all along, a [[MonsterKnight vampire champion]] raised by [[Myth/{{Merlin}} Myrddin]] to save Britain from disaster]].
118	* ''VideoGame/TheWalkingDead'': Clementine is the protagonist of Seasons 2 and 4, and the entire video game series overall.
119	* Dean Stark from ''VideoGame/WildArms5''. [[CatchPhrase You can do anything as long as you don't give up]].
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Context TheHero / VideoGames