Change is a necessary force in the real world, but in fiction it’s possible to resist it to a certain extent. Fans often get very attached to their favorite games and characters, and can react very negatively when they are changed too much. However, sometimes that change is handled so well that everyone comes to accept it.
Successors are characters who are forced to walk in someone else’s shadow. Whether they be a new main protagonist taking over from the series’ iconic hero, or a smaller character taking over an important in-universe role, succession is hard to get right. The new character not only has to be as good as or better than their predecessor, but also avoid disrespecting their legacy. These are some characters that pull this off expertly.
8 Off The Hook (Splatoon 2)
The first Splatoon game was special for many reasons, such as the fact that it was dripping in style. The music and commentary offered by the game’s hosts was a big part of this. The Squid Sisters Callie and Marie were fan favorites from the start, but Splatoon 2 decided to give someone new their role.
Off the Hook took over the host role, meaning they’d be in charge of greeting players, and hosting splatfests. They not only matched Callie and Marie’s popularity, but overshot it. So much so that even though Splatoon 3 has new hosts, fans are still clamoring to see more of Pearl and Marina.
7 Ellie (The Last Of Us)
It’s surprisingly rare for follower characters in games to get upgraded to playable status. Considering how much Ellie won over players in The Last of Us though, it only made sense to turn over the series main character role to her.
By the time The Last of Us 2 rolls around, Ellie has grown into a capable adult, and takes over the playable character duties from her father figure; Joel. While she does have to share this role with new character Abby, Ellie is the face of the series, and does an amazing job of it.
6 Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)
Final Fantasy happens to be one of the few series in gaming that change protagonists on a regular basis. Being the protagonist of the 7th main entry in the series, Cloud is already a successor. However, that title fits him more directly in his relationship with Zack Fair.
While Cloud was still a rank and file soldier, Zack was doing all the things Cloud is now famous for, like wielding the buster sword, and facing off against Sephiroth. Once Zack died however, Cloud inherited his sword, and his memories, helping him to become even more of a hero than Zack was.
5 Iris (Pokemon Black 2 & White 2)
While the series has finally moved into the age of DLC expansions, Pokemon games of the past always received an updated rerelease that changed a few aspects of the game. This sometimes meant a change in gym leaders, and even champions. Iris was by far the best of these changes.
In Pokemon Black and White, Iris was just a young girl, and a dragon type gym leader. In Black 2 and White 2, she’s gone from her gym, only to be found in the champion seat. In the space of 2 years, she managed to beat Alder and take his spot, giving trainers in Unova a much more energetic and challenging final battle.
4 Anduin Wrynn (World Of Warcraft)
The central conflict of the World of Warcraft universe has always been the forces of the alliance vs the forces of the horde; both of which players could join. At the start of the MMO’s story, Varian Wrynn was the respected leader of the alliance, before he died in battle.
Following this, it was up to his young son Anduin to rise to the occasion and take up the role of king and leader. Despite his age, Anduin accomplished this with flying colors, arguably outdoing his father’s popularity with fans. So much so that he was made one of the main playable classes in Hearthstone, while his dad was relegated to a card.
3 Jin Kazama (Tekken)
A lot of people actually forget that Kazuya Mishima was the original protagonist of the Tekken series. This only goes to show just how well Jin filled the role since Tekken 3. Kazuya was always focused only on killing his father Heihachi, but Jin was introduced as a more heroic protagonist.
In Tekken fashion, this didn’t last long, and Jin soon fell into the same immoral actions as his father and grandfather. As a protagonist though, he has been widely accepted as the new face of the franchise for most of its lifespan.
2 Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong)
Donkey Kong is yet another successor that people often forget wasn’t the original. While 1981’s Donkey Kong introduced the world to Mario and his primate opponent, that DK canonically aged into his current state as Cranky Kong, leaving room for his son to become the new DK.
While the timeline on all of this is messy, DK has completely dwarfed his father’s popularity. He’s taken over the role perfectly, and now his iconic red tie is what everyone thinks of when they hear the name Donkey Kong.
1 Nero (Devil May Cry)
Dante didn’t feel like the kind of character that ever needed a successor. He was such a unique personality in gaming that it was hard to see anyone replacing him. However, Devil May Cry4 proved that it was possible with the introduction of Nero.
In his debut game, Nero was very much an edgy teenager, but by the end of DMC5, fully grew into the role of the series’ premier devil hunter. Not only did his gameplay style evolve to match Dante’s complexity, but he also managed to finally settle the feud between his father Vergil and Dante, as well as inheriting aspects from both brothers. DMC6 might be a long time off, but when it arrives, it will be a joy to see Nero carving up demons again.