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

This list or list section may be better with years. Please help improve this list or discuss it on the talk page. (December 2023)
Name Game title/ franchise Role
50 Cent 50 Cent: Bulletproof and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand[2] Playable
Aaron Cash Batman: Arkham series NPC
Adam Hunter Streets of Rage Playable
Adéwalé Assassin's Creed NPC
Afro Thunder Ready 2 Rumble Boxing Playable
Afro Samurai Afro Samurai Playable
Agent J Men in Black II: Alien Escape Playable
Aisha Rumble Roses and Rumble Roses XX Playable
Akuji Akuji the Heartless Playable
Alyx Vance Half-Life 2[3]
Anthony Higgs Metroid: Other M NPC
Antón Castillo Far Cry 6 NPC
Augustus Cole Gears of War[4]
Aurelia Hammerlock Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Aveline de Grandpré Assassin's Creed III: Liberation[5]
Axel Foley Beverly Hills Cop
Ayme Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
Balrog Street Fighter[4]
Bangalore Apex Legends
Barret Wallace Final Fantasy VII[2]
Basilio Fire Emblem Awakening
Beatrix LeBeau Slime Rancher
Birdie Street Fighter Playable
Black Baron MadWorld[6]
Blacker Baron Anarchy Reigns
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
Boman Delgado Rival Schools: United by Fate[4]
Brad Garrison Dead Rising[6] NPC
Bruce Irvin Tekken NPC
Bryan Roses Killer Is Dead[6]
Charles Milton Porter BioShock 2: Minerva's Den
Cherry Hunter Streets of Rage Playable
Colonel Shaq Fu
Commander Gore Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey NPC
Cyborg Cyborg has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Cyrax Mortal Kombat Playable
Crying Wolf Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots NPC
Daisy Fitzroy BioShock Infinite
Dandara Dandara Playable
D'arci Stern Urban Chaos[7]
Darrius Mortal Kombat Playable
David Anderson Mass Effect[6]
Dayo Igwe Prey
Dee Jay Street Fighter[4] Playable
Disco Kid Punch-Out!! Playable
Doc Louis Punch-Out!! Playable
Dolores The King of Fighters Playable
Dona Way of the Samurai 3 NPC
Don Donatelouse (aka Dona-dona) Way of the Samurai Playable and NPC
Donald Anderson (DARPA Chief) Metal Gear Solid[6]
Drebin 893 Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[4] NPC
Dudley Street Fighter[4] Playable
Eddie Hunter (aka Skate, aka Sammy Hunter) Streets of Rage[4] Playable
Eddy Gordo Tekken[6]
Edgar Quartet
Elena Street Fighter[2]
Eli Vance Half-Life[8]
Firestorm Firestorm has appeared in numerous games
Fortune Metal Gear Solid NPC
Eli Vance Half-Life[8]
Fortune Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty[9] NPC
Fran Final Fantasy XII[8]
Franklin Clinton Grand Theft Auto V[6] Playable
Garcian Smith Killer7[7]
Geras Metal Gear Solid
Grace Fighting Vipers
Grant Pokemon X and Y NPC
Hauser Suikoden Playable
Heavy D! The King of Fighters[4] Playable
Hexxat Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition Playable
Iris Pokémon Black and White[6] NPC
Irving Lambert Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Isaac Washington The House of the Dead: Overkill
J.D. Morrison Devil May Cry 5
Jacob Taylor Mass Effect[7]
Jacqui Briggs Mortal Kombat Playable
Jade Mortal Kombat Playable
James Heller Prototype[2]
Jax Mortal Kombat[6] Playable
Jeffry McWild Virtua Fighter Playable
Jim Chapman Resident Evil Outbreak
Josh Stone Resident Evil 5[6]
John Dalton Unreal II: The Awakening
John Stewart John Stewart has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Julius Erving "Dr. J" One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird[6]
Kai Mortal Kombat Playable
Kalvin Ritter Hitman NPC
Kenneth J. Sullivan Resident Evil
Kian Alvane Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
Kian Alvane Dreamfall Chapters
Kid Quick Punch-Out!! Playable
Kimberly Street Fighter 6 Playable
Knox Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Lance Vance Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Laheesa One on One Playable
Laurence Barnes "Prophet" Crysis[7]
Lee Everett The Walking Dead[6]
Leroy Smith Tekken
Liam Kosta Mass Effect: Andromeda
Lifeline Apex Legends
Lincoln Clay Mafia III
Lisa Hamilton Dead or Alive[10]
Lieutenant Alphanso Adams Spec Ops: The Line
Lucius Fox Lucius Fox has appeared in numerous games NPC
Lucky Glauber The King of Fighters[4] Playable and NPC
Luke Cage "Power Man" Luke Cage has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Mace Windu Mace Windu has appeared in numerous games[6] Playable and NPC
Mad Jack Heavy Rain[6] NPC
Marcus Holloway Watch Dogs 2
Marcus Howard Call of Duty WW2
Mark Kimberley Shenmue[6]
Mark Wilkins Resident Evil Outbreak
Marlow Briggs Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
Marvin Branagh Resident Evil 2 NPC
Mash One on One Playable
Master Raven Tekken Playable
Master Sergeant Matthew "Coops" Cooper ARMA 2
Mat Sella Dream Daddy
Matt Until Dawn
Matt Wii Sports Playable
Michael LeRoi Shadow Man
Michael Max Fatal Fury NPC
Miles Morales Miles Morales has appeared in numerous games Playable and NPC
Mr. Sandman Punch-Out!! Playable
Maya Killer Instinct
Mira Donut County Playable
Mohammed Avdol JoJo's Bizarre Adventure
Moja Legend of the Ghost Lion
Mister Terrific Injustice: Gods Among Us NPC
Nadine Ross Uncharted 4: A Thief's End
Nathan Copeland No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle[6]
Nazir The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Nick Fury Nick Fury has appeared in numerous games[6] (Not always black) Playable and NPC
Nilin Remember Me[5]
Nix Infamous 2
O'saa Fear & Hunger 2: Termina Playable
Olivia Hall Hitman 2 and Hitman 3 NPC
Pallegina Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Pawnshop Owner King's Quest VI NPC
Qhira Heroes of the Storm
Raven Tekken[7] Playable
Raymond Valentine Hitman Absolution
Rodin Bayonetta NPC
Rogue Nuclear Throne
Roland Borderlands[7]
Romeo Halo 3: ODST
Ryme Pokemon Scarlet and Violet NPC
Sam B Dead Island[3]
Samuel Williams Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
Sazh Katzroy Final Fantasy XIII[2]
SCAT member Collins Night Trap NPC
Sean Matsuda Street Fighter III Playable
Sergeant Cormack Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Sergeant Foley Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Sergeant Major Avery Junior Johnson Halo[7]
Seth The King of Fighters Playable
Shadow Man Shadow Man[7] Playable
Sheana Tough Guy Playable
Sheva Alomar Resident Evil[2]
Shinobu Jacobs No More Heroes series[7]
Sig Jak and Daxter series
Sir Hammerlock Borderlands 2
Staff Sgt. Griggs Call of Duty
Stone Hitman: Sniper Assassin Playable
Storm Storm has appeared in numerous games[4] Playable and NPC
Sylens Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West NPC
Taion Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Tanya Mortal Kombat Playable
Taurus Interstate '82
Three Dog Fallout 3 NPC
Tiger Jackson Tekken Playable
T.J. Combo Killer Instinct[4]
Tom Johnson Shenmue[6]
Torque The Suffering
Twintelle Arms
Tyler Miles Fahrenheit[6]
Tyrael Diablo III
Vanessa Lewis Virtua Fighter Playable
Valygar Corthala Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition Playable
Victor Vance Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City NPC
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
Warden Martin Joseph Batman: Arkham Origins NPC
Watchman Toussaint Gervais Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Wonder-Black The Wonderful 101[6]
Yelena Fedorva Deus Ex: Human Revolution NPC
Zach Hammond Dead Space NPC
Zack Dead or Alive[6] Playable
Zasalamel Soulcalibur[2] Playable

Before 2000s

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
1985 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Roadblock Playable American
1989 The Colonel's Bequest Celie
1992 The Dagger of Amon Ra Ernie Leach
1993 Police Quest: Open Season Alvin Hooper "Yo Money"
Nicolette
Raymond Jones
1994 Bébé's Kids Kahlil
LaShawn
1997 Final Fantasy VII Barrett Wallace Leader of AVALANCHE

2000s

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Carl "CJ" Johnson[2] Playable
Kendl Johnson Playable
Madd Dogg NPC
OG Loc
Sean Johnson NPC
2007 Team Fortress 2 Demoman
2008 Left 4 Dead Louis Playable American [11][6]
2009 League of Legends Ekko Playable Undefined [12]
Lucian[7] [12]
Senna [12]
Pyke [13]
Rell [14]
K'Sante [15]
2009 Bayonetta Rodin NPC British [16]
2009 Left 4 Dead 2 Coach Playable American [6]
Rochelle [2]

2010s

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2010 Pokémon Black & White Lenora NPC American* Archeologist and former Normal-type Gym Leader.[17]
Marshal Unova's Fighting-type Elite Four member.
2012 The Walking Dead Clementine Playable
2012 Mass Effect Steven Cortez NPC Undefined [18]
2012 Clash of Clans Hog Rider Troop Undefined [19]
2012 Starhawk[4] Emmett Graves
2013 The Last of Us Henry NPC [6]
Marlene NPC
Riley Abel NPC
Sam NPC [6]
2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition Delrin Barris
Vivienne
2015 Fallout 4 Preston Garvey
2015 Life Is Strange Principal Ray Wells Also appears in Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
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]
2016 Mafia III Lincoln Clay Protagonist American [26]
2016 Overwatch Baptiste Playable
Doomfist
Lúcio
2016 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.
2016 Stardew Valley Demetrius
Maru
2017 Splatoon 2 Marina
2018 Red Dead Redemption 2 Lenny Summers
Tilly Jackson
2018 Hitman 2 Zoe Washington NPC
Sophia Washington NPC
2019 The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan Alex
Brad
Félicité "Fliss" DuBois

2020s

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2021 Deathloop Colt Vahn Protagonist Undefined [28]
Julianna Blake Playable [28]
2022 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
2023 Forspoken Alfre Holland Protagonist American [30]
2023 Season: A Letter to the Future Estelle Protagonist Undefined [31]
Baldur's Gate 3 Wyll Ravenguard Playable Undefined Wyll is one of 10 companions the player can choose recruit. He is also playable as an Orgin character.[32]
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

References

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

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