I’ve never made a secret of some of the gaming characters I relate to. I’vewritten a love letter to Lara Croft, a personal favorite since I was a kid. I was, and still am, someone who loves to learn about and understand the world, and this is just one of the reasons I relate to her. I know I’m not alone in this either. Lara Croft is an absolute legend.
However, there are also many other gaming characters I find myself relating to, for much more questionable reasons. It’s easy to stand up and say you identify with someone smart, strong, and well-liked. But what about when the things you relate to are a little more dubious?
8GLaDOS - Portal Series
Is Anyone NOT Despairing Right Now?
GlaDOS from the Portal series is a character who feels more relatable by the day. I’ve always loved and related to the dark humor and sarcasm she displays, but more recently the complete disdain for humanity is also resonating hard.
Don’t worry, I’m not all hatred and rage. I’m also gluten intolerant, so in my world ALL the cakes are a lie.
I probably shouldn’t admit to relating to someone who was chill but is now fueled by hatred, yet here we are. I blame the rising cost of living, and all the other depressing stuff happening in the world right now. People are frustrating.
7Claptrap - Borderlands Series
An Anxious Short King
Claptrap is the most hated character in Borderlands, and possibly even in gaming. He’s annoying, loves to brag and yet is also a coward who is fairly useless. I get it. Yet there’s also a lot to relate to here. Just hear me out.
I have two settings when it comes to talking; all the words or none at all. Claptrap just happens to be stuck in the first mode. He’s incredibly enthusiastic, but arguably it’s a mask to disguise his own loneliness and anxiety. Now do you see it?
6Paimon - Genshin Impact
You Wish You Still Felt Child-Like Glee
Have you seen Teyvat? Genshin Impact’s world is not only beautiful, but it’s also full of wonder, magic, and surprises. If I was given the chance to accompany a renowned traveler, I’d be annoyingly enthusiastic as well. What many find irritating about Paimon is her enthusiasm and child-like awe. What I’d like to know is, what’s wrong with it?
I have a tendency to get overexcited about certain things, react with child-like glee and have absolutely no shame about it. Don’t you remember what it was like to be a kid on Christmas Eve? I do, and when I feel like that, you’ll know about it. Being an adult is very boring: more people should tap into their inner annoying and overly enthusiastic child.
5Leandros - Warhammer 40k
He’s Just Following The Rules
Now I know Leandros is an Ultramarine, zealot, snitch, and several other unpleasant things, but hear me out. At his core, he’s just an absolute stickler for the rules, and he’s simply doing what he’s told. If you stop and think about how Ultramarines were brainwashed at the point of creation, you’ll realize that he had no idea these rules suck and didn’t apply in the case of Titus. He saw what he thought was a valid threat and reported it, as he was literally designed to do.
I’m a firm believer in following rules, as they are supposed to be designed to keep everyone safe. If we had no rules or laws it would be anarchy. If the rules are causing pain or suffering, that’s on the person who made them, not the people following them. He was just doing what he thought was right, and I can absolutely relate to that.
4Resetti - Animal Crossing
He’s Just Trying To Help You Avoid A Disaster
Now I know what you are going to say. “Oh, but Resetti is so annoying. He lectures me all the time.” I can’t argue with that, he does. But he has a good reason. He’s just trying to help, and he’s understandably fed up that no one ever listens to him.
After his job to warn you about resetting was made obsolete, he still wanted to help, so he started a rescue service for stuck players. I call that legendary behavior.
Can you honestly say you’ve never got annoyed or angry when you’re trying to help someone, and they just dismiss you? You’re just trying to prevent them losing hours of hard work, and they wave their hands and go “yeah, yeah, whatever,” ignore your advice, then moan when they lose their hard work ten minutes later?
3Ganondorf - The Legend Of Zelda Series
He Gets The Job Done
Ganondorf may be the most evil villain Link and Princess Zelda have ever and will ever face, but take a look beyond what he’s actually doing. I’m not saying I condone manipulation, deceit, triggering cataclysmic events, and mass murder, but you have to admit he is excellent at what he does.
Time and time again, he proves himself competent, powerful, dedicated, and focused. He often achieves his goals and when he is stopped it is merely a temporary hiccup, before he rises once again with a perfect plan. He can even play the pipe organ. The man is a genius, and we can all surely relate to that, even if we disagree with how he uses his skills.
2Bowser - Mario Series
We All Know Peach Can Free Herself
Some say Bowser is a villain; I say he’s misunderstood. He has a kid he adores, and I put it to you that he’s just looking for a partner to share the load of being a single parent. Princess Peach is an absolute badass. If she didn’t want to go with him, she wouldn’t. How do you know she’s not being forced to “do the right thing” and be with Mario when she really wants a bad boy?
Bowser even teaches his kid to game responsibly in the Nintendo parental controls video. That’s a good dad right there.
Also, if Bowser was really so evil and awful, why is he allowed to take his kid karting with everyone else? He’s determined, persistent, focused and, while he may not always go about things in the right way, he just wants to be a good dad and find a companion to share life with. How is that not relatable?
1Miles ‘Tails’ Prower - Sonic Series
Youngest Sibling Energy
Tails often gets a bad rep for “being annoying” but I’m asking you to put aside your own feelings about when he stands in the way and screws up your parkour in the Sonic games. He doesn’t mean to make you fail. He’s just got pure little brother energy. He’ll follow you to the ends of the earth and back again, and is kind, brave, and unwavering in his loyalty.
He was bullied as a kid, which is one of the most relatable things about him, and with Sonic’s help he also became more independent over time. He’s just a shy little fox who needed some support to reach his true potential, making him the most relatable of all.
