Develop Characters That Players Care About
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- Show Your Character’s Face
- Give Characters Special Skills and Abilities
- Make Characters Show Empathy
- Make Characters Independent
- Give Characters a Reason to Exist in the Game World
- Ensure That Character Traits Are Compatible
- Make Characters Unpredictable
- Make Characters Good or Bad
- Make Characters Look Unusual
- Make characters Sound Unusual
- Let Your Characters Use Body Language
- Let Your Characters Express Their Thoughts Internally
- Make Players Care About the Right Characters
Compelling characters significantly enhance a game’s engagement by encouraging players to remain invested in the narrative and continue progressing through the storyline.
Below is a list of methods that can be employed to make characters more engaging:
Show Your Character's Face
Allowing players to see a character’s face on screen facilitates empathy and emotional connection. Visual expressions contribute to a deeper understanding of the character’s emotions and intentions.
Give Characters Special Skills and Abilities
Assign characters unique skills or abilities that set them apart. For instance, an NPC might possess exceptional strength or the ability to swiftly eliminate enemies. Such traits may inspire admiration from other NPCs as well as from the player character. However, to maintain credibility and prevent characters from appearing overly idealized, it is essential to also reveal their vulnerabilities. A character who never experiences failure may eventually lose appeal, while one who fails too often may not elicit sympathy.
It is important to remember that players enjoy role-playing as various archetypes—be it powerful heroes, cunning creatures, or extraordinary magicians. Therefore, consider providing opportunities for players to engage in actions beyond ordinary human or animal capabilities, such as carrying extremely heavy equipment or wielding magical powers.
Likewise, players appreciate encountering other characters with remarkable talents, whether they are allies who accompany them on their journey or enemies who provide memorable challenges in combat.
Make Characters Show Empathy
Characters can show empathy towards various other characters, for example:
Their friends.
Living creatures of other species—for example, when humans show affection toward pets such as dogs.
Other characters they meet by chance.
Make Characters Independent
Characters should possess their own motivations, goals, and methods for solving problems. They may propose unique solutions and act upon them independently, creating opportunities for tension or conflict when others choose whether or not to follow their lead.
Such characters should not be portrayed as passive or entirely dependent on external help, such as the player. Instead, they should at least attempt to address their challenges autonomously.
Give Characters a Reason to Exist in the Game World
Every non-player character should serve a meaningful purpose within the game world, particularly those NPCs whom players are meant to care about. One compelling reason for their presence may be their ability to assist the player in various ways, including:
Solving problems such as:
Unlocking doors.
Defeating enemies.
Offering guidance when the player is uncertain about what to do next.
Healing or repairing the player’s character.
Providing valuable rewards, such as:
Tools.
Weapons.
Ammunition.
Consumables.
Crafting or building materials.
Sharing critical information regarding:
Points of interest.
Safe areas.
Hidden paths.
Scenic vistas.
Effective strategies.
Enemy activity.
Offering tactical support, including:
Reconnaissance.
Suppressive fire.
Demolition.
Breaching obstacles.
Providing concealment.
Deploying barriers.
Performing actions the player cannot, such as:
Lifting or moving heavy objects.
Hacking into systems.
Detecting enemies from afar.
Ensure That Character Traits Are Compatible
Evaluate the selected traits of each character to ensure they are compatible and portray a coherent personality. If a character appears uninteresting, consider replacing at least one of their traits with its opposite to create contrast and complexity.
Make Characters Unpredictable
If players are able to predict how characters will behave or what events will occur to them, the experience may become monotonous and unengaging. For instance, this predictability can arise when characters consistently respond in the same manner, regardless of whether such reactions are ideal or not. In order to create characters that are more believable and realistic, it is important to ensure that their behavior is at least partially unpredictable. This unpredictability can stem from the presence of internal conflicts or struggles within the characters, which influence their actions in varied and nuanced ways.
Make Characters Good or Bad
Whether a character is portrayed as virtuous or villainous, players can become emotionally invested in them.
Make Characters Look Unusual
A character’s physical appearance can greatly contribute to their memorability. Every visible element—whether worn, carried, or embodied—can provide clues about their personality. These may include:
Body build (e.g., muscular, slim, athletic, plump).
Weapons and tools.
Clothing and footwear.
Equipment and accessories (e.g., bags, goggles, gloves, jewelry, masks).
Makeup, hair or fur.
Piercings or tattoos.
Make Characters Sound Unusual
Give characters distinctive voices or speech patterns. For example:
Characters with a dark or mysterious aura may speak infrequently.
Cheerful characters may be talkative and enjoy making jokes.
Let Your Characters Use Body Language
Body language plays a vital role in communication and can reinforce verbal messages. When implemented effectively, it helps express the emotional state of a character. Examples of body language include:
Facial expressions:
Raised eyebrows (indicating surprise).
Intense stares (indicating anger).
Smiles (indicating happiness).
Posture and movement:
Crossed arms (indicating discomfort or defensiveness).
Shaking legs (indicating nervousness or anxiety).
Slouched posture (indicating insecurity or lack of confidence).
Eye contact:
Avoiding eye contact (indicating discomfort).
Maintaining direct eye contact (indicating confidence).
Staring into space (indicating boredom).
Let Your Characters Express Their Thoughts Internally
Characters can use monologues to express their inner thoughts, enabling players to better understand their internal world. These monologues may also serve as narrative tools that describe events occurring in the game.
Make Players Care About the Right Characters
Attempting to make players care about too many characters is likely to be ineffective. Most individuals find it difficult to emotionally invest in numerous lives simultaneously. Instead, focus on developing a smaller number of key characters with depth and relatability.
Example:
Having the player’s primary goal be to save their character’s family is more emotionally resonant than saving the entire world. Risking the character’s life for loved ones feels personal and meaningful, whereas saving a large, faceless population can feel abstract and less impactful.