While it’s always fun being able to explore a vast open world as a lonesome wanderer, it certainly doesn’t hurt to also have a companion along the way who can help make the adventure a little more exciting and fun. In this case, companions don’t refer to party members, but instead a person, machine, or even an entity who is there to essentially guide the players throughout their travels, pointing them in the right direction to ensure they never lose sight of their goals and objectives.
However, these types of companions aren’t going to stand out that much if all they do is bark orders at the player, so it’s a good thing that most of them have a fun and quirky personality that makes them pretty lovable and memorable overall. There’s no shortage of excellent open-world games that have been released over the last few years, but for those who are looking to dive into an adventure where they can have an upbeat and quirky sidekick to accompany them for the ride, these are the games that are well worth trying out the most.
6
Forspoken
Cuff Is Always There to Lighten Up the Mood
The main protagonist of Forspoken, Frey, received a fair amount of criticism when the game was released for her clunky and unnatural dialogue, but this honestly becomes less of a problem when actually playing the game thanks to the addition of Cuff. Cuff is a small sentient bracelet that allows Frey to use the magical powers that are at the core of the gameplay, and while he has no quarrels about lending his new friend a hand when she needs it most, in the same vein, he also loves nothing more than humoring her with a few Dad jokes or clever remarks every so often.
Cuff actually becomes an incredibly important character near the end of the game where he begins to take on a different form, but for a good portion of the story, he simply acts as a funny companion to keep players entertained as they navigate the world of Athia. Forspoken’s story may not be anything to write home about, but the game does still feature an addictive magical combat system and a gorgeous open world to admire and explore.
Kaz and Ocelot Help to Keep Boss’ Spirits Up When Things Look Dire
Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain
9/10
- Released
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September 1, 2015
Alongside their rich stories and stealth espionage gameplay, the Metal Gear Solid games have also become well-known for their memorable casts of characters, especially those who are able to speak directly to Snake and the player through the Codec. In Metal Gear Solid 5, the first truly open-world game in the series, players will receive calls from Kaz at multiple points along the journey, and while the veteran soldier may be in no shape to fight, he’s still more than willing to lend some hints and tips to Snake to keep him on the straight and narrow.
In classical Kojima fashion, Kaz’s dialogue contains a mixture of both serious and comedic lines, making him a great character to listen to. There’s also Ocelot, who will chime in every now and again to deliver a clever quip or sarcastic remark to help lighten up the tone. The game itself grants an incredible amount of freedom for the player to tackle each mission any way they like, and though the story is a little bare bones compared to the other Metal Gear games, it’s still well worth a playthrough, especially when you have these two companions to keep things fun.
4
Star Wars Outlaws
Nix Can Bring a Smile to Anyone’s Face Without Needing to Say a Word
The Star Wars universe is packed full of all kinds of weird and wacky creatures, but Nix might just be one of the cutest and most lovable of them all. Though Kay is the one who assumes the leading role in Star Wars Outlaws, Nix is also a crucial part of the story too, as he is ultimately the only person, or animal, that sticks by her for the entire journey. Without even needing to utter a word, Nix can effortlessly bring a smile to people’s faces just from his actions alone.
For example, the game contains a few mini-games where players will be able to have some fun with Nix when taking a break from the main story. Not only that, he can also be a big help in sneaking missions where he can take down a guard or two to help Kay move to the next objective. It’s honestly quite remarkable that Ubisoft managed to craft such an immersive and believable open-world game with Star Wars Outlaws, but having Nix around for the adventure ensures that things never get too serious or intense.
3
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Yuri Brings Spidey Back Down to Earth Any Time He Gets Carried Away
Peter Parker may be more than capable of taking down even the strongest of villains when he puts on the Spider-Man suit, but he can still be naive and trusting to a fault. This is why Yuri, a captain in the NYPD, is so important to Insomniac’s Spider-Man, as she essentially acts as Peter’s personal assistant for much of the story. Yuri isn’t afraid to challenge Peter anytime he starts getting a little too carried away, resulting in some hilarious banter which can all be listened to while swinging around the city.
Though Yuri feels a deep responsibility to protect New York City from danger, she’s also up for having a little bit of fun every once in a while by having some playful conversations with the city’s most renowned superhero while he’s on the job. Marvel’s Spider-Man still stands as one of the best superhero games ever made, with its slick combat and compelling story only being amplified by its characters, with Yuri being a prime example.
2
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Dollman’s Quirky Personality Really Shines During Delivery Expeditions
When the trailers for Death Stranding 2 started dropping, there were several new characters on display for players to consider, but the one that caught everyone’s eye was Doll Man; a strange little animated toy which, for some reason, seems to always be moving in stop-motion. Doll Man is attached at Sam’s hip from pretty early on in the game, meaning he will accompany the main character for the majority of his expeditions. Considering Sam himself is a pretty serious and stoic guy, having a mini-companion who can provide some upbeat commentary on a journey is definitely much appreciated.
What really makes Doll Man such a fun character to be around, though, is how unpredictable he is. One moment, he will be sharing some emotional information about his tragic past, while the next, he can be found chilling in a hot tub or performing a K-pop dance routine on a bedside table. There’s just so much to love about this bizarre character, and while Death Stranding 2 improves on everything that made the original game so special, it also features a new companion who is hard not to love.
1
Cyberpunk 2077
Johnny Goes From an Irritating Headache to One of V’s Closest Friends
There’s a lot to admire about the legendary rebel rockstar known as Johnny Silverhand, though to say V didn’t get along with him when they first met would be putting it lightly. Considering Johnny was essentially forced into V’s psyche at the beginning of Cyberpunk 2077, it makes sense that they wouldn’t exactly want him around, but their relationship gradually changes over the course of the story. Johnny himself, however, is a loudmouthed and crude individual who’s always happy to say whatever is on his mind, no matter how inappropriate it might be in the situation, but that’s just one reason why he has become so beloved by fans.
The fact he looks almost identical to Keanu Reeves also helps to make him all the more fun to have around, and thanks to the updates that have been added since the game’s release, he also appears a lot more than he used to. For example, Johnny will now occasionally show up anytime V is riding in a car to throw out some random lines for players to have a chuckle at, but he will also occasionally show up in the background of a cutscene to give his own casual take on what’s going on. Cyberpunk 2077 is an incredible open-world game that has only gotten better over time, and while there are plenty of reasons why it is considered one of the best games out there, Johnny is certainly one of them.
