Best Video Games for side character depth

#1

The supporting party is praised for distinct motivations, chemistry, banter, and storylines that make them more than simple companions to Velvet.

#2

Side character depth was strong around Pauline and the DK-Pauline duo, even when legacy characters were less emphasized.

#3

Side characters are repeatedly praised for memorable personalities, stories, and conversations that make them feel like more than simple vendors or quest markers.

#4

Side characters were praised where discussed, especially Isaac’s family and the small cast that reviewers came to care about.

#5

Side character depth was praised in the reviews that addressed it, with the Alters described as distinct and fully realized.

#6

Memorable supporting characters and realistic conversations enrich Geralt’s relationships and make optional storylines worth following.

#7

Recurring side characters give the smaller questlines much of their charm, helping the world feel personal despite its enormous scale.

#8

The rival stands out as a simple but effective recurring foil whose arrogant personality and constant lead over the player make each rematch satisfying.

#9

Zoe and Richard are singled out as unusually interesting supporting characters, with playable sections that deepen their motives, guilt, and place in the disaster.

#10

Ryuji Goda, Kaoru Sayama, Majima, and the broader supporting cast receive substantial praise. Ryuji in particular is often described as a memorable foil, though some reviewers wanted more screen time...

#11

Side characters are consistently multi-faceted and memorable, with personal histories and questlines that enrich the central story. Several supporting characters become major reasons to explore beyond the main objective.

#12

Mags and Lucas generally earn their place beside the established leads, with personal histories that add texture to Bravo Squad. Lucas in particular is sometimes seen as underdeveloped until later...

#13

Side character depth receives positive evidence from a review praising Pharloom’s supporting characters as charming and motivated.

#14

Side character depth was generally positive in the scored reviews, with Team MZ and supporting characters described as likable or among the series' best.

#15

The supporting cast is a major asset, with returning companions receiving more personal stakes, stronger relationships, and memorable scenes. A few characters get less focus, but the ensemble is broadly...

#16

Side character depth was mostly positive, especially for party members, though some reviewers felt certain supporting arcs remained thin.

#17

Optional characters benefit from dedicated stories and relationship-building content, giving supporting cast members more personality than the main plot alone provides.

#18

Marco, friends, partners, and other climbers provide useful counterpoints to Aava’s obsession, though most remain secondary to the mountain and her internal struggle.

#19

Side characters are generally praised for providing laughs and inventive background flavor.

#20

Story-mode characters are described as fun and colorful, giving the structured campaign more personality than simple route objectives alone.

#21

A side character was praised for hiding darker motivation beneath an upbeat personality.

#22

Side characters were praised for compensating for silent protagonists and making the expanded story feel more emotionally alive.

#23

The island vignettes introduce supporting characters that can be easy to care about even when the party only spends a short time with them.

#24

Side-character depth is promising, with Jim Gordon specifically praised as unexpectedly impressive.

#25

Side character depth is supported by praise for Eva's importance and scene-stealing presence.

#26

Diana’s side-character appeal is strong, with reviewers repeatedly describing her as charming, heartfelt, and central to the game’s appeal.

#27

Silas and supporting characters such as Laeta make a stronger impression than Five, giving the otherwise lightweight story more personality.

#28

Side character depth received positive evidence where returning side characters were given needed depth and narrative purpose.

#29

Side characters were repeatedly praised as well-written, complex, rounded, and enjoyable to interact with, though one reviewer found some contemporaries merely personable rather than deeply developed.

#30

Zoe is the standout supporting character, with her radio banter and evolving bond with Dylan giving the journey warmth. Some sources find that relationship rushed or uneven, but the supporting...

#31

Rival racers, mechanics, and returning characters give the league much of its personality. Many become memorable favorites, although a few fade into the background or are held back by formulaic...

#32

Personal stories give many locals believable concerns and reasons to be in Hinterberg. Other accounts find these characters thin or difficult to connect with.

#33

The remaining townspeople feel unsettling in different ways, making conversations worth revisiting. Their presence also provides welcome relief from solitary exploration.

#34

Side character depth was often strong, especially around Kat, though one review singled out Dylan’s unresolved arc as a weakness.

#35

Side character depth is strongly praised through new officers, personal questlines, expanded arcs, and more character connection.

#36

Supporting characters are often praised for nuance and memorable moments, though one review felt they were underused.

#37

The talking guns increasingly feel like companions rather than joke dispensers, with stronger personalities, relationships, and emotional beats.

#38

Side-character depth was a pleasant surprise, especially through master relationships and smaller personal interactions.

#39

Memorable residents, personal struggles, and interconnected stories often become the main reason to explore. Quest overload and limited follow-up interaction can weaken that attachment.

#40

Memorable, entertaining townsfolk give the mystery much of its charm. Cybercop is a notable exception for one reviewer, who actively disliked his presence.

#41

Side characters earned praise for having enough interaction and backstory to avoid feeling flat.

#42

The colorful Space-Time Police crew is a major source of charm. Reviewers often enjoy returning to the ship just to hear new conversations and spend time with its strange, likable...

#43

Side characters add more car culture, local context, and human texture than prior entries.

#44

Jean Grey, Mystique, Sabretooth, and other supporting mutants create strong chemistry, although several relationships deserve more development.

#45

Scientists and other survivors add distinct motives, charm, and suspicious histories to the mystery. Some find them fully fleshed out, while another wishes their individual stories had more development and...

#46

One review praised the supporting cast and narrative characters as more memorable and fleshed out.

#47

The supporting cast is frequently funny, tragic, strange, and deeply humane. The expanding plot occasionally sidelines important figures, but the strongest character stories are among the game’s highlights.

#48

The sequel was credited with giving supporting women and other groups somewhat more agency than before.

#49

Companion-focused side stories do much of the cast's best work, adding backstory and emotional context, although some critics wish that depth were integrated more strongly into the main plot.

#50

Nix and ND-5 are frequent standouts, while other crew members and faction figures can feel underused or slow to develop.