List of black video game characters

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This is a dynamic list of black video game characters that exclude sports and music titles. A study was published in 2009 by the University of Southern California called: "The virtual census: representations of gender, race and age in video games" and it showed that black characters appear in video games in proportion to their numbers in the 2000 US census data, but mainly in sports games and in titles that reinforce stereotypes.[1]

List of characters[edit]

Name Game title/ franchise Role
50 Cent 50 Cent: Bulletproof and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand[2] Playable
Afro Samurai Afro Samurai Playable
Augustus Cole Gears of War[3]
Black Lightning "Jefferson Pierce" Black Lightning has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Black Manta "David Hyde" Black Manta has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Black Panther Black Panther has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Blade Blade has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Colonel Shaq Fu
Cyborg Cyborg has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Dona Way of the Samurai 3 NPC
Don Donatelouse (aka Dona-dona) Way of the Samurai Playable and NPC
Firestorm Firestorm has appeared in numerous games
Hauser Suikoden Playable
James Heller Prototype[2]
John Stewart John Stewart has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Julius Erving "Dr. J" One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird[4]
Laheesa One on One Playable
Lucius Fox Lucius Fox has appeared in numerous games NPC
Luke Cage "Power Man" Luke Cage has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Mace Windu Mace Windu has appeared in numerous games[4] Playable and NPC
Mark Kimberley Shenmue[4]
Mash One on One Playable
Miles Morales Miles Morales has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Mohammed Avdol JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Mister Terrific Injustice: Gods Among Us NPC
Nick Fury Nick Fury has appeared in numerous games[4] (Not always black) Playable and NPC
Sig Jak and Daxter series
Storm Storm has appeared in numerous games[3] Playable and NPC
Tom Johnson Shenmue[4]
Vixen "Mari Jiwe McCabe" Vixen has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Voodoo Shaq Fu Playable
War Machine War Machine has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC

Before 2000s[edit]

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
1984 Punch-Out!! Kid Quick Appeared in the Arcade version of Punch-Out!!
Mr. Sandman
1985 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Roadblock Playable American
1986 Quartet Edgar
1987 Punch-Out!! Doc Louis First appeared in the NES version of Punch-Out!!!
Street Fighter Birdie
1989 The Colonel's Bequest Celie
Legend of the Ghost Lion Moja
1990 Beverly Hills Cop Axel Foley
1991 Fatal Fury Michael Max
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior[3] Balrog
Streets of Rage Adam Hunter Playable
1992 Streets of Rage 2[3] Eddie "Skate" Hunter Playable Also known as Sammy Hunter
The Dagger of Amon Ra Ernie Leach
Night Trap SCAT member Collins NPC
King's Quest VI Pawnshop Owner NPC
1993 Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers Watchman Toussaint Gervais
Mortal Kombat II[4] Jax Briggs
Police Quest: Open Season Alvin Hooper "Yo Money"
Nicolette
Raymond Jones
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers[3] Dee Jay Playable Jamaican
Virtua Fighter Jeffry McWild Playable
1994 Bébé's Kids Kahlil
LaShawn
Killer Instinct[3] T.J. Combo
Tough Guy Sheana Playable
The King of Fighters '94[3] Lucky Glauber
Heavy-D!
1995 Mortal Kombat 3 Cyrax Playable
Fighting Vipers Grace
Tekken 2 Bruce Irvin
1996 Dead or Alive[4] Zack
Killer Instinct Maya
Resident Evil Kenneth J. Sullivan
1997 Final Fantasy VII Barrett Wallace Leader of AVALANCHE
Interstate '82 Taurus
Tekken 3[4] Eddy Gordo Playable
Tiger Jackson Playable
Mortal Kombat 4 Kai Playable
Rival Schools: United by Fate[3] Boman Delgado
Street Fighter III: New Generation[3][2] Dudley Playable
Elena
Sean Matsuda Playable
1998 Half-Life[5] Eli Vance Eli is first named and plays a bigger role in Half Life 2, released 2004
Resident Evil 2 Marvin Branagh
Metal Gear Solid[4] Donald Anderson (DARPA Chief)
1999 Akuji the Heartless Akuji Playable
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Afro Thunder Playable
The King of Fighters '99 Evolution Seth First playable as The King of Fighters 2000
Shadow Man[6] Michael LeRoi "Shadow Man" Playable
Urban Chaos[6] D'arci Stern

2000s[edit]

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2000 Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn Valygar Corthala Also appeared in Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition, in 2013
2001 Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive Samuel Williams
Halo: The Fall of Reach[6] Sergeant Major Avery Junior Johnson
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty[7] Fortune NPC
Virtua Fighter 4 Vanessa Lewis
2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Lance Vance Also appears in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Victor Vance
Men in Black II: Alien Escape Agent J Playable
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Irving Lambert
2003 Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball [8] Lisa Hamilton
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean Ayme
Resident Evil Outbreak Jim Chapman
Mark Wilkins
Unreal II: The Awakening John Dalton
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Carl "CJ" Johnson[2] Playable
Kendl Johnson Playable
Madd Dogg NPC
OG Loc
Sean Johnson NPC
Big Smoke NPC
Half-Life 2[9] Alyx Vance Alyx is playable in the VR game Half Life Alyx, released in 2020
Mortal Kombat: Deception Darrius Playable
Rumble Roses Aisha Playable
The Suffering Torque
Tekken 5[6] Raven Playable
2005 Fahrenheit[4] Tyler Miles
Killer7[6] Garcian Smith
2006 Dead Rising[4] Brad Garrison NPC
Dreamfall: The Longest Journey Kian Alvane
Final Fantasy XII[5] Fran
Wii Sports Matt Playable
2007 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Staff Sgt. Griggs
Crysis[6] Laurence Barnes "Prophet"
No More Heroes[6] Shinobu Jacobs
Mass Effect[4] David Anderson
Team Fortress 2 Demoman Playable Scottish
2008 Dead Space Zach Hammond NPC
Fallout 3 Three Dog
Left 4 Dead Louis Playable American [10][4]
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[3] Crying Wolf Playable
Drebin 893 NPC
Punch-Out!! Disco Kid
2009 ARMA 2 Master Sergeant Matthew "Coops" Cooper
Borderlands[6] Roland
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Sergeant Foley
Final Fantasy XIII[2] Sazh Katzroy
Halo 3: ODST Romeo
League of Legends Ekko Playable Undefined [11]
Lucian[6] [11]
Senna [11]
Pyke [12]
Rell [13]
K'Sante [14]
Batman: Arkham Asylum Aaron Cash
Bayonetta Rodin NPC British [15]
Left 4 Dead 2 Coach Playable American [4]
Rochelle [2]
The House of the Dead: Overkill Isaac Washington
MadWorld[4] Black Baron
Resident Evil 5[4][2] Josh Stone
Sheva Alomar
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Commander Gore

2010s[edit]

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2010 BioShock 2: Minerva's Den Charles Milton Porter
Heavy Rain[4] Mad Jack NPC
Pokémon Black and White[4] Lenora NPC American* Archeologist and former Normal-type Gym Leader.[16]
Marshal Unova's Fighting-type Elite Four member.
Iris
No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle[4] Nathan Copeland
Mass Effect 2[6] Jacob Taylor
Metroid: Other M Anthony Higgs
2011 Dead Island[9] Sam B
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Yelena Fedorva
Infamous 2 Nix
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Nazir
Anarchy Reigns Blacker Baron
2012 Assassin's Creed III: Liberation[17] Aveline de Grandpré Playable French Aveline is born lives under French Louisiana era
Borderlands 2 Sir Hammerlock
Diablo III Tyrael
Fire Emblem Awakening Basilio
The Walking Dead[4] Clementine Playable
Lee Everett
Mass Effect Steven Cortez NPC Undefined [18]
Hitman Absolution Raymond Valentine
Clash of Clans Hog Rider Troop Undefined [19]
Starhawk[3] Emmett Graves
Spec Ops: The Line Lieutenant Alphanso Adams
2013 Assassin's Creed Adéwalé NPC
Batman: Arkham Origins Warden Martin Joseph NPC
Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition Hexxat Playable
BioShock Infinite Daisy Fitzroy
Grand Theft Auto V[4] Franklin Clinton Playable
Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death Marlow Briggs
The Last of Us Henry NPC [4]
Marlene NPC
Riley Abel NPC
Sam NPC [4]
Killer Is Dead[4] Bryan Roses
Remember Me[17] Nilin
Pokémon X and Y Grant
The Wonderful 101[4] Wonder-Black
2014 Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Aurelia Hammerlock
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Sergeant Cormack
Knox
Dragon Age: Inquisition Delrin Barris
Vivienne
2015 Fallout 4 Preston Garvey
Life Is Strange Principal Ray Wells Also appears in Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Pallegina
Heroes of the Storm Qhira
Mortal Kombat X Jacqui Briggs
Tekken 7 Master Raven
Leroy Smith Released in 2019
Until Dawn Matt
2016 Dead by Daylight Philip Ojomo Playable Nigerian A killer known as "The Wraith".[20]
Lisa Sherwood American A killer known as "The Hag".[21]
Herman Carter American A killer known as "The Doctor".[22]
Joey Canadian A killer who is a part of a band of other killers known as "The Legion".[23]
Claudette Morel Playable Canadian A survivor.[24]
Adam Francis Jamaican A survivor.[25]
Nuclear Throne Rogue
Mafia III Lincoln Clay Protagonist American [26]
Overwatch Baptiste Playable
Doomfist
Lúcio
Hitman Olivia Hall
Kalvin Ritter
Pokémon Sun & Moon Kiawe NPC Hawaiian* He is the Fire-type Trial Captain of Alola.[27]
Olivia She is both a Kahuna and a member of the Alolan Elite Four.
Stardew Valley Demetrius
Maru
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Nadine Ross
2017 Watch Dogs 2 Marcus Holloway
Arms Twintelle
Call of Duty WW2 Marcus Howard
Dream Daddy Mat Sella
Horizon Zero Dawn Sylens NPC Horizon Forbidden West
Mass Effect: Andromeda Liam Kosta
Prey Dayo Igwe
Slime Rancher Beatrix LeBeau
Splatoon 2 Marina
2018 Donut County Mira Playable
Dandara Dandara Playable
Red Dead Redemption 2 Lenny Summers
Tilly Jackson
Hitman 2 Zoe Washington NPC
Sophia Washington NPC
Hitman: Sniper Assassin Stone Playable
Soulcalibur VI[2] Zasalamel Playable
2019 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan Alex
Brad
Félicité "Fliss" DuBois
Devil May Cry 5 J.D. Morrison
Apex Legends Bangalore
Lifeline

2020s[edit]

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2020 Streets of Rage 4 Cherry Hunter Playable
2021 Deathloop Colt Vahn Protagonist Undefined [28]
Julianna Blake Playable [28]
Far Cry 6 Antón Castillo NPC
2022 Fear & Hunger 2: Termina O'saa Playable
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet Ryme NPC Spanish* A Gym Leader of Paldea who favors Ghost-types, her rap is known to "bring the dead to their feet". Former Gym Leader Tyme is her older sister.[29]
Tyme
The King of Fighters XV Dolores Playable
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Taion
2023 Forspoken Alfre Holland Protagonist American [30]
Season: A Letter to the Future Estelle Protagonist Undefined [31]
Baldur's Gate 3 Wyll Ravengard Playable Undefined Wyll is one of 10 companions the player can choose recruit. He is also playable as an Orgin character.[32]
Street Fighter 6 Kimberly Playable
2024 Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Floyd Lawton "Deadshot" Playable American Deadshot is one of four playable characters in this game.[33]
Amanda Waller NPC American Director of the Suicide Squad and powerful figure in U.S. politics. She sends the Suicide Squad out to target a mind controlled Justice League.[33]
John Stewart NPC American A Green Lantern and one of the heroes in the Justice League who is under Brainiac's mind control.[33]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Video Game Minority Report: Lots Of Players, Few Characters". Science Daily. University of Southern California. 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 31 July 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Hester, Larry (26 June 2012). "The 10 Best Black Characters In Video Games". Complex. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Narcisse, Evan (20 February 2013). "This Is How We Get More Black People In Video Games". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Holmes, Jonathan (15 October 2013). "Let's look at Tropes Vs. Black Guys in Videogames". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Why are Black Game Characters Failing the Audience?". Edge. 8 February 2009. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Carr, Krystal (16 February 2014). "12 Black Video Game Characters That Kick Ass!". SheAttack. Archived from the original on 16 February 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  7. ^ Buckley, Michaela (12 April 2013). "The scarcity of black characters in video games". ScrewAttack. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  8. ^ Dead or Alive History -Team Ninja Freaks- p. 160.
  9. ^ a b Narcisse, Evan (29 March 2012). "Come On, Video Games, Let's See Some Black People I'm Not Embarrassed By". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  10. ^ "Left 4 Dead". www.l4d.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  11. ^ a b c Rhodes, Brianna (2020-08-28). "Get to Know League of Legends' Black Champions: Ekko, Senna and Lucian". AfroTech. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  12. ^ "Champion reveal - Pyke, the Bloodharbor Ripper". Twitter. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  13. ^ "Champion Insights: Rell - League of Legends". www.leagueoflegends.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  14. ^ "Champion Insights: K'Sante - League of Legends". www.leagueoflegends.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  15. ^ Moy, Aaron (2021-10-13). "Things Even Bayonetta Fans Don't Know About Rodin". TheGamer. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  16. ^ Greenall, Jonathon (2021-12-12). "Pokémon Controversy: The Righteous Reason Lenora's Apron Was Cut". CBR. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  17. ^ a b Clauson, Jonathan R. (20 January 2014). "The State of Black Video Game Characters". Inquisitr. Archived from the original on 22 January 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  18. ^ Melzer, Jennifer (2021-07-06). "Mass Effect 3: How to Save Shepard's Shuttle Pilot, Steve Cortez". CBR. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  19. ^ Oddo, Marco Vito (2022-11-14). "'Clash of Clans' Invades Comic Books in 'The Books of Clash: Volume 1' Cover [Exclusive]". Collider. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  20. ^ "The Wraith | Philip Ojomo | Guide & Weapons | Dead by Daylight". deadbydaylight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  21. ^ "The Hag | Lisa Sherwood | Backstory, Build & Perks | Dead by Daylight". deadbydaylight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  22. ^ "The Doctor | Herman Carter | Backstory, Build & Perks | Dead by Daylight". deadbydaylight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  23. ^ "The Legion | Frank, Julie, Susie, Joey | Backstory, Build & Perks | Dead by Daylight". deadbydaylight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  24. ^ "Claudette Morel | Build, Perks & Cosmetics | Dead By Daylight". deadbydaylight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  25. ^ "Adam Francis | Build, Perks, Outfits & Cosmetics | Dead By Daylight". deadbydaylight.com. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  26. ^ "How developers created the story behind Mafia III and its lead character Lincoln Clay". VentureBeat. 2016-09-18. Archived from the original on 2023-02-22. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  27. ^ Blogger (2020-06-01). "The Pokémon Company shares GIF of Ash fist bumping Kiawe to support Black Lives Matter movement". Pokémon Blog. Archived from the original on 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  28. ^ a b Harmon, O'Dell (2021-12-15). "Deathloop Redefines Blackness In Video Games". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  29. ^ "Pokemon Scarlet and Violet Ryme, the Gym Leader who raps". PlayerNature. Archived from the original on 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  30. ^ Carvalho, Jared (2022-12-28). "Forspoken's Frey Holland Shakes Things Up For Representation in Gaming". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  31. ^ Marketing (2022-02-16). "February 2022 / The Protagonist". Play Season. Archived from the original on 2023-02-23. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
  32. ^ "Baldur's Gate 3". baldursgate3.game. Archived from the original on 2023-12-06. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
  33. ^ a b c Fillery, Jake (2022-12-24). "Suicide Squad Kill The Justice League: All Characters Confirmed So Far". Game Rant. Archived from the original on 2023-02-14. Retrieved 2023-02-14.

External links[edit]

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