Spies are cool. Agents of espionage and deception that work in the shadows to help their side. Whether they're on the side of good or evil, they are invariably among the game's coolest characters, especially when they reveal their deception and show their true colors.
Gaming is no stranger to these types of characters. Controlling a spy/secret agent is an inherently thrilling experience, giving players cool gadgets to use alongside some exciting stealth or action gameplay. Additionally, the "they were actually a spy!" trope is a classic but effective plot twist that can always be relied upon to get a good revenge story going.
10 Joanna Dark – Perfect Dark
It's no surprise that the protagonist of the classic Perfect Dark series is a smooth and badass spy, as the game was originally intended to feature James Bond. Joanna is definitely more of an action spy than a stealth spy, but she still maintains a cool aura around her.
There are no complex layers to this character, Joanna follows orders and gets the job done, but sometimes that's exactly what you need from a good secret agent. On top of that, Joanna is one of the few spies in games that gives players a sense of who they are when they're off the job, telling listeners about her wide array of hobbies.
9 Solitaire – The Solitaire Conspiracy
The namesake of Mike Bithell's game The Solitaire Conspiracy, Solitaire is the game's main antagonist, although he doesn't seem it at first. When plays first meet him, he's the friendly face explaining the situation and guiding them through their mission. Until they discover a little too much, that is.
Here, Solitaire's light-hearted and welcoming persona gives way to something much more sinister. Now openly working against the player, his narration and interjection continue to provide the narrative impetus until the very end of this memorable story.
8 Ada Wong – Resident Evil
One of the Resident Evil franchise's most memorable characters, Ada Wong's life is a complete mystery. Even her real name is completely unknown. A key character in several Resident Evil games, Ada's motivations are as unclear as everything else about her, but her skills speak for themselves.
With the combat skills of a true badass and a cold attitude to match, Ada can simultaneously come across as a heartless manipulator and cool warrior, making an eventful and exciting life for herself in the twisted world of the franchise, with tons of memorable moments.
7 Spy – Team Fortress 2
The original, some might say. The colorful cast of Team Fortress 2 have quite a variety of personalities, but none are anything like the Spy. Where every other character seems aware that they have ridiculous personalities, the Spy takes himself oddly seriously and carries it well.
His range of abilities are vast, and his deceptive tactics make him a powerful character when assaulting an enemy team. Whether he's disguising himself as an enemy teammate, cloaking himself from view, or even faking his own death, the Spy will always hold himself in high regard.
6 Richard Conway – Gunpoint
On the slightly sillier side now, Richard Conway is like if Inspector Gadget was constantly throwing himself out of windows. Conway has gadgets to the gills. He's got a trenchcoat that protects him from long falls, boots & gloves that let him scale walls, trousers that let him leap great heights, and, most importantly, a hat that never falls off.
On top of this, Conway brings elite hacking skills to his missions and an attitude that can be entirely chosen by the player. Conway can be a cool and suave no-nonsense professional, or he can be an all-nonsense goofball.
5 Robert Locksley – Volume
Another Mike Bithell creation, Robert Locksley is the memorable protagonist of Volume, voiced by Charlie McDonnell, also knowns as Charlieissocoollike on YouTube. A not-so-subtle modern retelling of Robin Hood and directly influenced by the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Robert Locksley had all the potential to be the coolest spy who ever lived, so is he?
Well, not exactly. In line with Bithell's writing, Locksley is a much more lighthearted character. He's a little bit bumbling but full of quips with a heart of gold. His desire to overthrow the corporations that rule the world is endearing, and the way he chooses to do it by giving others the tools they need is extremely admirable.
4 James Bond – GoldenEye 007
While James Bond is more of a film icon than one of gaming, given GoldenEye 007's iconic status as a classic title, it would be wrong not to honor the prototype to whom almost every modern fictional spy can trace their roots.
Much of GoldenEye's legendary status comes from its multiplayer, but the single-player campaign is just as strong and difficult. The limits of technology meant Rare couldn't capture all of Bond's class and charm in cutscenes, but it still feels unique to that franchise.
3 Agent 47 – Hitman
The world of Hitman has an incredibly interesting dichotomy to it. All the characters and plot elements play themselves as extremely serious. 47 will never crack a joke or comment on the fact that he's wearing a clown outfit and hitting people with a fish.
It makes the Hitman games this unique blend of whacky antics and ridiculous methods of murder in a world that takes itself seriously and treats the player like a master spy. In a way, what makes 47 such a great protagonist for this franchise is how much of a blank slate he is to let the world around him make the impression.
2 Sam Fisher – Splinter Cell
While gamers haven't seen a fresh installment in the franchise since 2013, the iconography of the Splinter Cell series is still as fresh as it ever was in the minds of spy fans. The three glowing lights of Fisher's night vision goggles have become essential spy equipment, and putting on a pair of night-vision goggles doesn't feel right without the iconic sound effect going with them.
The man may have a serious hero complex, but that's what people love about him. He's the archetypal agent who does what he believes is right and doesn't let anyone – not even his own bosses – stand in his way.
1 Solid Snake – Metal Gear Solid
One of gaming's most iconic characters, Solid Snake is who gamers think of when someone says the word "spy". His stealth tactics are legendary. Whether he's using pop-ups of himself to distract enemies or crawling around in a cardboard box, Snake is able to have fun while getting the job done.
Snake's backstory and life are far too complex to summarise (such is the curse of being a character created by Hideo Kojima), but it's safe to say that his primary focus in life is to complete the mission he's been assigned, no matter how reality-bending or plain weird it happens to be. However, he does still have a clearly defined moral compass.