10 Iconic NPCs That Deserve Their Own Spinoff

In most video games, NPCs play a fundamental role. From narrative to gameplay, they provide context to the titles they appear in, so their importance is undeniable.

In fact, some do their job so well that they’re able to win the players’ hearts, becoming amazing figures by which to remember their worlds with even more passion.

The art of creating non-playable characters is highly appreciated, and many people, including myself, wish they could have an individual adventure that allows us to dive deeper into their stories.

Therefore, to recognize the merit of these wonderful fictional figures that have given us so much, I present you this list of ten iconic NPCs that deserve their own spinoff.

Solitary and Underrated

With Kirby’s Adventure being one of my favorite childhood video games, I feel Meta Knight is one of the most incredible and unnoticed characters in gaming.

Despite all the enigma surrounding his figure and his constant appearance in multiple installments of the franchise, he has never shined on his own.

Not even his recurring presence in Super Smash Bros. has given him the recognition he deserves―he could easily star in his own action-platform game.

Beyond the weight of nostalgia, Meta Knight is an unmistakable figure that has accompanied the video game industry for many years, and the least we could do is give him the spotlight.

9 Victor Sullivan

Back to Prime Sully

While I don’t consider myself an Uncharted fan, I admit Victor Sullivan‘s presence always made things feel more enjoyable.

Especially after his involvement in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, “Sully” has completely won me over. He’s a figure with great charisma, but also one with a story that’s mostly unknown to us.

Therefore, if Naughty Dog continues the series, I would prefer it to be a spinoff centered on Sullivan and his past adventures, since he’s someone with more than enough material to have his own video game.

I don’t think it’s necessary in terms of narrative, but it would be an accessible opportunity to satisfy the franchise’s fans through a practically safe bet.

8 Tommy Miller

In Need of Closure

Regarding Naughty Dog and unnecessary sequels, I would love a game centered on Joel’s brother, Tommy Miller.

While I’d prefer a spinoff rather than a numbered third installment, I believe it’s the only angle that could justify another entry in the storyline.

Overall, I think The Last of Us Part 2 had a suitably open ending, but seeing the events from Tommy’s emotions and experiences would add great depth to its universe.

A standalone expansion format like Uncharted: The Lost Legacy would be perfect for materializing this idea, so thank goodness dreaming is free.

7 Atreus

The Heir to the Legacy

I must keep my conscience clear by saying I would prefer Santa Monica Studio to explore other IPs, but since I think it won’t happen just yet, I hope they let Kratos retire and focus on Atreus.

God of War: Ragnarök leaves everything set up for the Spartan’s son to take the series’ reins, and Atreus has enough complexity as a character to justify a new storyline.

Given his big role in the latest installment, I assume the developer already has a plan for him, especially considering he even has his own mechanics.

If I may wish, I’d even prefer them to change genres to better represent the generational difference between Atreus and Kratos, but I’m happy with at least Loki having an individual journey.

6 Gray Fox

Following Raiden’s Lead

To be honest, Metal Gear Solid has a ton of amazing characters that deserve a spinoff, so it’s tough to pick.

However, out of all the possible characters, I went with Gray Fox because he’s an incredibly deep character whose design allows for endless gameplay possibilities.

From making a traditional stealth game to following the hack-and-slash style of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Frank Jaeger has a lot more to offer than just being a supporting character.

While he’s appeared multiple times in the franchise, people usually only remember his time in Metal Gear Solid and his “appearance” in the sequel, so a spinoff would be a great way to honor his legacy.

5 Vaas Montenegro

An Iconic Villain

Even though the window of opportunity for a Vaas spinoff has likely passed, I’ll probably never forget the mark Far Cry 3 left on me, especially because of its antagonist, Vaas Montenegro.

He’s widely regarded as one of the best villains in all gaming history, but I feel like his figure could have been used much more.

Few performances are as memorable as Michael Mando’s in Vaas’ role, which helped the game achieve masterpiece status.

After starring in Far Cry 6’s DLC, a spinoff is probably out of the question, but I won’t stop dreaming of a proper installment dedicated to such a well-written character.

4 Solaire of Astora

Let’s Look for the Sun

Dark Souls is one of the best trilogies of all time, with many memorable characters that could have easily made the list.

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While I considered alternatives like Siegmeyer of Catarina, Lucatiel of Mirrah, and even Patches, I stuck with the most beloved icon of all, the great Solaire of Astora.

Because of how charismatic, important, and recognizable his figure is, he could smoothly star in a minor project in FromSoftware’s extensive catalog of releases.

Knowing Hidetaka Miyazaki, he wouldn’t do it on his own, but he could hand it over to someone within the studio who wants to experiment in a safe context, so everyone wins.

3 Sadie Adler

The Only One

I don’t know a single Red Dead Redemption 2 player who hasn’t thought about how amazing a game dedicated entirely to Sadie Adler would be, and I have to include myself on that list.

Her development leads her to be one of the most prominent NPCs in the entire adventure, standing out among the titans that make up the game’s incredible cast of characters.

Considering that her ending is open and that absolutely every fan of the franchise wants it, a spinoff centered on her would be a fantasy come true.

I wouldn’t see it as a hypothetical Red Dead Redemption 3 for reasons of plot continuity, but as an independent story in which to see her find her meaning in life after so much pain.

2 Johnny Silverhand

Samurai Once Again

While Keanu Reeves’ stellar performance has a lot to do with his prestige, Cyberpunk 2077’s Johnny Silverhand is a perfect fit for a spinoff.

While the game gives us a glimpse of what a title with him as the main character would be like, experiencing the rise of Samurai and Arasaka’s great enemy beyond a couple of flashbacks would be monumental.

The Cyberpunk universe is immeasurably dense, with hundreds of thousands of narrative options to explore in the past, present, and future.

A Johnny Silverhand spinoff would, therefore, be a no-brainer, and any self-respecting Cyberpunk 2077 fan would value it so strongly that it would be an immediate purchase from day one.

1 Kim Kitsuragi

The Depth of Humanity

It may be an unpopular opinion, especially considering the pair of characters that precede him, but there is no one I’d rather see as a protagonist than Disco Elysium’s Kim Kitsuragi.

If we’re talking about character depth, development, and possibilities, the universe created by ZA/UM is the perfect context to create an adventure independent of the original that still feels relevant.

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Revachol has incredible lore and Kitsuragi has a fascinating yet obscure backstory, making it the perfect combination for a new game in the franchise that once again revolutionizes narrative-driven titles.

Whether it’s about his past, his future after Disco Elysium, an alternate world where the detective doesn’t change his life, or a static image where you just see him smile, any game starring Kitsuragi would be eternally interesting.

The mechanical possibilities are limited, but the world’s scale is such that it completely makes up for it. While it will never happen because of the developer’s demise, it’s clear this list is about dreaming big.

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