Summary

  • Some RPGs introduce party members late, like Legion in Mass Effect 2, giving limited time but impactful character development.
  • Minsc in Baldur's Gate 3 is a lovable hero, known from earlier games, appearing late in Act 3 with a simple-minded, humorous nature.
  • Characters like Regal in Tales of Symphonia add depth with unique backstories, showcasing moral dilemmas, and unique traits.

Many RPGs include party members who assist the main hero on tꦇheir adventures. Most of them are introduced fairly early into yo🦹ur journey, so you can have a full game getting to know them, both in and out of combat. Yet, not every RPG does that. Some games add companions to your party deep into the story. It can be because the developers want to introduce every party member gradually or because a character's introduction is tied to an important story moment that can't happen too early.

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Either way, it can be difficult for these types of companions to really leave an impression, as you get much less time wiওth them. However, in other cas💃es, the characters are so good that they don't need an entire game to win you over. The following characters fit into the latter group.

The party members on this 🐻list are chosen for how good they are as characters instead of how useful the💜y are in battle.

8 Legion

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 Legendary Edition screenshot of Legion aiming sniper.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Mass Effect 2
Action RPG
Third-Person Shooter
Systems
Released
January 26, 2010
ESRB
💦 M for Mature: Blood, Langu༺age, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
BioWare
Engine
Unreal Engine 3

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL

Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360, PC

If you follow 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the optimal mission order in M🍒ass Effect 2, which gives you the best chance of all of your crew surviving, Legion will only join your party late on. Yet, in the short time you haౠve with him, heꦕ proves to be a very compelling character.

This is mainly because he is part of the Geth species, which are normally presented as antagonists. So, having a G🤡eth unit as a friend is interesting and helps you learn much more about the race. Plus, his robotic voice is delightful.

7 Minsc

Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 screenshot of Minsc in casual clothing.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Baldur's Gate 3
Top Critic Avg: 96/100 Critics Rec: 98%
Released
August 3, 2023
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Pa🙈rtial🍰 Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
Engine
Divinity 4.0

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Fans of the early Baldur's Gate games will 🌌have known Minsc before he ever appeared in Baldur's Gate 3. This is perhaps why the developers were okay with having him join your party deep in𒀰to Act 3. Even if you haven't played the earlier entries, though, you can still quickly take a shine to the loveable hero.

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He doesn't always come acros😼s as the brightest member of the crew, but this works to his strengths as a character. His simplꦜe-minded nature and lack of complexity make him an effective comic relief character. Conversations with him are often humorous, especially when they involve him talking to his hamster, Boo, who he treats as an all-knowing space hamster.

6 Regal Bryant 💖

Tales Of Symphonia

An image of Regal's Mystic Arte cut-in from Tales of Symphonia Remastered, having him raise his chained hands up while grimacing.

Regal from Tales of Symphonia is a c෴onvict with whom you have a few heated encounters. During those interactions, though, you learn that he isn’t quite the morally corrupt convict that you think. The man is actually locked up because he mercy killed someone close to him.

Despite not having much choice in the killing, it still pains him to the point that he refuses to use his hand🌳s in battle, as he doesn’t want to kill with them again. It all makes for a fascinating and unique backstory, which helps make Regal a note-worthy party member.

5 Hendrik

Dragon Quest 11

Dragon Quest 11 screenshot of Hendrik reaching for a hand.
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Your Rating

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
10.0/10
Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 89%
Released
September 4, 2018
ESRB
♐ T For Teen due to🧔 Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
Engine
Unreal Engine 4

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Platform(s)
PS4, PC, Xbox One, 3DS, Stadia

M🌸any late-game party members in RPGs start out as adversaries to your crew. This is the case with Hendrik. However, you can neverꦇ really consider him a villain. He has just been misled into thinking the protagonist is Darkspawn, leading him to pursue the hero. Eventually, he learns the truth and joins your side.

He's a💯 good ally to have, as he is a champion knight and an excellent swordsman. Hendrik is also a great human being. He cares about people and only wants to hurt those who deserve it. He even showcases this strong moral code when he's supposed to be an antagonist.

4 Red XIII

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Red XIII looking at the camera in Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Final Fantasy VII Remake
Action RPG
Systems
4.0/5
Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 95%
Released
April 10, 2020
ESRB
Teen // Language, Suggestive Themꦗes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
Engine
Unreal Engine 4

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Red is a lion-wolf-like creature from the Final Fantasy 7 Remake that the evil Shinra is experimenting on. Late in the story, the protagonists Cloud, Tifa, and Barret free the beast ൲and join forces.

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While he may look like a wild animal, Red is a lot more intelligent🍎 than he seems and can even talk. In fact, he has a quite soft-🦋spoken voice, which is a contrast to his wild appearance. You don't get to know him too deeply in the FF7 Remake, but he leaves a lasting impression with his short screen time.

3 Fiona

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Screenshot of Fiona from Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Systems
5.0/5
Top Critic Avg: 88/100 Critics Rec: 94%
Released
July 29, 2022
ESRB
T For Teen due to Language, Mild Blood, Sugges🥃tive Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Monolith
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
XC2/Torna

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

Platform(s)
Switch

The story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 takes place over seven chapters. In the fifth chapter, you meet Fiona, who is a young commander of her own colony. T♊hings don't go great for her people, but that is not her fault. Her colony is attacked, and she doe🐷s everything she can to save her friends.

Although her rescue effort♔s aren't as successful as she hopes, tragedy never breaks her spirit or moral code.🃏 After all, helping people is what Fiona is all about. She is a kind person who cares for others, which is even shown in the game's combat, where she is mainly used to buff her allies.

2 Magus

Chrono Trigger

Magus looks downward as the moon hangs behind him in Chrono Trigger.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Chrono Trigger
Released
March 11, 1995
ESRB
💎 T for Teen: Fantasy Violenꦅce, Mild Blood
Engine
Cocos Creator Engine
Multiplayer
Local 𒅌Co-Op

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL

One of the reasons why Chrono Trigger is considered among 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:the best RPGs ever is because of how fleshed out the characters are. This is even the case for companions who don't join the party until deep into the story. Yet, he's hardly an unknown figure, as he spends much of the game as ꦚa major antagonist. So, you already know him fairly well once he joins.

What's interesting about him is that he doesn't join as a former villain who's learned the error of his ways. He is still not a warm or loving guy, but he hates the main villain, Lavos, as much as anyone. Ther🃏efore, you share similar goals, which convinces him to join. Once he's in the crew, he continues to be his dark and gloomy self.

1 𓆏Naoto Shirogane

Persona 4

Naoto Shirogane from Persona 4 Golden working on a laptop in a dark library.
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Your Rating

168澳洲幸运5开奖网: Persona 4
Released
July 10, 2008
ESRB
M for Mature: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, P🔯artial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Atlus
Publisher(s)
Atlus
Engine
RenderWare
Franchise
Persona

WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL

Persona 4 puts yoꦿu in control of a group of young people called The Investigation Team, who live up to their name by investigating kidnappings and murders in their town. Therefore, it's a shame for them that it takes them so long to meet and recruit Naoto Shirogane, as she is a descendant of impressive detectives and lives up to their legacy. So, in-universe, she's a valuable member of the team.

She's also a good character to have around, as she is fascinating. The woman is a bit uptight and overly serious, which often causes her to be annoyed by other people's carefree attitudes. This likely ste🏅ms from the fact that her parents died when she was very young, so she had to grow up quickly. Naoto does begin to open up a bit as she grows closer to the team, though, which is heart-warming to watch.

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