Most games make it obvious who the heroes are. They let players control one main character throughout the adventure. This setup allows for character growth and compelling storytelling. However, some games throw a curveball by introducing extra playable characters that don’t quite hit the mark.
Sometimes, this variety can backfire. Dividing development time between multiple protagonists can lead to some characters feeling underdeveloped and out of place. These characters often seem like an afterthought, added for novelty without considering how they fit into the game’s overall narrative. The result? Lackluster levels that detract from the entire experience, leaving players wishing these characters had never been introduced.
10 Clank
In a series titled Ratchet & Clank, you’d expect Clank to have a significant role. While he mainly provides information and acts as a hover pack for Ratchet, the developers apparently felt that wasn’t enough. Players occasionally control Clank in separate segments, where he navigates vents and other tight spaces. These sections involve platforming and puzzle-solving, often with Clank commanding other robots. Sounds fun, right? Not quite.
Clank’s levels feel like simplified versions of Ratchet’s. The puzzles are rudimentary, and the platforming relies heavily on them. While controlling other robots could be an interesting concept, the execution feels clunky and uninspired. What’s worse, these levels have been a recurring feature since the beginning, and Insomniac seems determined to keep them. They’ve even made them longer! And no, Clank’s solo game, Secret Agent Clank, doesn’t fare any better. It’s one area where the Jak & Daxter series definitely comes out on top.
9 Big the Cat
As the Sonic series evolved, Sega and Sonic Team introduced more and more playable characters. One furry friend that’s almost universally disliked is Big the Cat. This laid-back feline debuted in Sonic Adventure. His main goal? To find his friend, Froggy, by… fishing. Yes, fishing.
Big’s levels consist of casting your line and waiting for a bite. Many games offer fishing as a side activity, but few make it essential for progression. The slow pace clashes with the high-speed action that defines the Sonic series. This stagnant mini-game halts the momentum. Thankfully, the developers seemed to realize their mistake. In Sonic Heroes, Big becomes a powerhouse fighter similar to Knuckles, resulting in a much less boring experience.
8 Mary Jane Watson
Insomniac seems to have a knack for inserting pace-breaking, boring mini-games and extra characters into their otherwise excellent games. The worst offenders are arguably in their Spider-Man titles. These games frequently interrupt the web-slinging fun to focus on Peter Parker’s love interest, Mary Jane. Reimagined as a sort of Lois Lane, MJ constantly finds herself in dangerous situations to get a good story, which often gives Spider-Man (and the player) a major headache.
MJ’s sections are both annoying and contrived. The story goes to great lengths to shoehorn her into the plot. The gameplay doesn’t justify this effort, as the shallow stealth system offers little variety or room for experimentation. You simply trigger distractions and stun enemies to clear a path to the objective.
This dull gameplay breaks the pace, and it only gets worse as the levels become longer in the sequel. In short, MJ’s attempts at heroism are unnecessary, unwanted, and ultimately, unforgivable.
7 Silver the Hedgehog
Sonic fans may dislike Big’s fishing mini-game, but he’s only a small part of a larger adventure. The series’ fifteenth anniversary game, 2006’s Sonic the Hedgehog, features an even worse character: Silver. This time-traveling hedgehog has psychic powers that allow him to levitate and telekinetically throw objects at enemies. Sounds cool, right? Wrong.
Aiming the psychic throws is incredibly difficult, and the levitation doesn’t improve the platforming due to Silver’s slow speed and slippery controls. These flaws are frustrating enough on their own. Unfortunately, you play as Silver for a third of the game. The story is told from the perspectives of three hedgehogs: Sonic, Shadow, and Silver. This means you have to endure these clunky mechanics for hours. Plus, Silver’s lack of speed contrasts sharply with his peers, making traversing the large hub worlds a chore. It’s no surprise that this futuristic failure has been largely forgotten by the franchise.
6 Atreus
2018’s God of War hinted at Kratos passing the torch to his son, Atreus, so it wasn’t shocking when players got to control him in parts of the sequel. Sadly, God of War: Ragnarok stumbles in its attempt to set him up as a successor. Atreus has fewer moves and less equipment than his father, and he can only take a few hits before dying. You’d think this would mean he’s quick on his feet, but the camera is too close to the action, making dodging difficult. But his biggest issue lies with the narrative.
Atreus’s segments destroy any sense of freedom. They are incredibly linear, guiding players through narrow paths with no room for exploration. You simply move forward while other characters deliver exposition. Ironically, these sections often focus on menial tasks rather than important plot points. For example, Atreus spends hours helping a girl with her chores in Jötunheim, grinding the already slow-paced story to a halt. If these segments are a sign of things to come, the series could be in trouble.
5 Desmond Miles
The modern-day sections have always been the weakest part of Assassin’s Creed, especially in the earlier games, which try too hard to make Desmond Miles seem important. This ordinary bartender is the latest in a long line of assassins. Both the Assassins and the Templars want him to unlock secrets from the past. But his role boils down to glorified maintenance.
Desmond’s gameplay consists of flipping switches and solving simple puzzles. These tedious tasks interrupt the open-world historical adventures and intense period drama. Even when he goes on more action-based missions, they are never as exciting as his ancestors’ adventures due to his limited skills. Later games thankfully made the modern portions shorter or optional. However, the early entries constantly broke the immersion, causing fans to roll their eyes whenever they were pulled out of the Animus.
4 Sherry Birkin
The early Resident Evil games made zombies a genuine threat, but the protagonists could still fight back. This isn’t the case with Sherry. Resident Evil 2 (both the original and the remake) puts players in the shoes of this young girl as she flees from the deranged police chief, Brian Irons. It’s a cheap way to create tension.
These sections fail for similar reasons to MJ’s segments. They involve basic, on-rails stealth where you can only hide behind boxes and distract the enemy. The game also makes you backtrack to find key items needed to progress. You can’t help but wonder why the developers force you to endure this nonsense. Claire Redfield or Leon Kennedy could easily defeat Irons in two seconds. In fact, Sherry eventually does this herself with her G-virus powers, making all that frustration pointless.
3 Blink the Mole
The Spyro games generally have a good track record with their playable characters, making Blink an unfortunate exception. This mole appears in A Hero’s Tail, where he searches for dark gems in underground caverns. He uses his laser and melee attacks to fight the creatures he encounters. These levels should be simple enough.
However, the developers manage to mess them up in every way possible. Simple climbing and platforming are made difficult by Blink’s heavy feel. His laser and melee attacks are meant to provide dynamic combat, but their awkwardness makes them unreliable. They often struggle to defeat even a single enemy. These levels feel like a confusing mix of elements that don’t work well together. Who knew this mole could make such a bad impression on Spyro fans?
2 Taiga Saejima
To be fair, Saejima plays well compared to other characters in the Yakuza: Like a Dragon series. He hits hard with intuitive combos and devastating throws. His raw power can take down even the toughest bosses. So, what’s the problem?
Taiga Saejima is a wanted man. When players control him in Yakuza 4 and 5, he’s an escaped fugitive. This means he can’t freely explore Japan like the other characters. Instead, he’s restricted to smaller hubs, with paths blocked by patrolling police or invisible walls. The only way to avoid the law is by using a confusing network of underground tunnels, abandoned buildings, and rooftops. These obstacles make simple movement more complicated than it needs to be. Plus, these restrictions go against the franchise’s open-world nature. It’s hard to enjoy a sandbox game when you’re so confined.
1 Abby
What were they thinking? The Last of Us Part II introduces Abby, a muscular woman who tortures and kills Joel, the protagonist of the first game. She does this to avenge her father’s death, but fans had grown attached to Joel. Then, the narrative switches to Abby and her friends for almost the entire second half of the game. You essentially start over with a group of one-dimensional characters that are hard to care about. Abby herself is unlikable, making it a chore to play as her for hours.
This switch also ruins the pacing of a game that’s already too long. It’s all to push a pretentious plot about the futility of revenge. While the story is supposedly the main draw, it’s filled with clunky lines and awkward moments. Instead of being profound, it feels desperate and silly. The same can be said for the gameplay.
Abby’s muscular appearance is ridiculous. It’s hard to believe she could maintain that physique in a post-apocalyptic world. The resulting gameplay also undermines the supposed danger. She simply runs up and punches infected creatures into submission, which is unintentionally hilarious. It also removes what little depth the games have in progression. Furthermore, it diminishes the zombies as a threat, impacting the world-building. For many fans, Abby symbolizes the downfall of a once-beloved franchise.
These characters, whether due to poor gameplay mechanics, jarring story implementations, or simply being out of place, have earned their spot on the list of most hated video game characters. They serve as a reminder that not all character additions enhance a game; sometimes, less is more.
Which game characters do you dread playing as? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
