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

NameGame title/ franchiseRole
50 Cent50 Cent: Bulletproof and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand[2]Playable
Aaron CashBatman: Arkham seriesNPC
Adam HunterStreets of RagePlayable
AdéwaléAssassin's CreedNPC
Afro ThunderReady 2 Rumble BoxingPlayable
Afro SamuraiAfro SamuraiPlayable
Agent JMen in Black II: Alien EscapePlayable
AishaRumble Roses and Rumble Roses XXPlayable
AkujiAkuji the HeartlessPlayable
Alvin Hooper "Yo Money"Police Quest: Open Season
AlexThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Alyx VanceHalf-Life 2[3]
Anthony HiggsMetroid: Other MNPC
Antón CastilloFar Cry 6NPC
Augustus ColeGears of War[4]
Aurelia HammerlockBorderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Aveline de GrandpréAssassin's Creed III: Liberation[5]
Axel FoleyBeverly Hills Cop
AymeBaten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
BalrogStreet Fighter[4]
BangaloreApex Legends
BaptisteOverwatch
Barret WallaceFinal Fantasy VII[2]
BasilioFire Emblem Awakening
Beatrix LeBeauSlime Rancher
BirdieStreet FighterPlayable
Black BaronMadWorld[6]
Blacker BaronAnarchy Reigns
Black Lightning "Jefferson Pierce"Black Lightning has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Black Manta "David Hyde"Black Manta has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Black PantherBlack Panther has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
BladeBlade has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Boman DelgadoRival Schools: United by Fate[4]
BradThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
Brad GarrisonDead Rising[6]NPC
Bruce IrvinTekkenNPC
Bryan RosesKiller Is Dead[6]
Carl "CJ" JohnsonGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas[2]Playable
Charles Milton PorterBioShock 2: Minerva's Den
Cherry HunterStreets of RagePlayable
CoachLeft 4 Dead 2[6]
CelieThe Colonel's Bequest
ColonelShaq Fu
Commander GoreShin Megami Tensei: Strange JourneyNPC
CyborgCyborg has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
CyraxMortal KombatPlayable
Crying WolfMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the PatriotsNPC
Daisy FitzroyBioShock Infinite
DandaraDandaraPlayable
D'arci SternUrban Chaos[7]
DarriusMortal KombatPlayable
David AndersonMass Effect[6]
Dayo IgwePrey
Dee JayStreet Fighter[4]Playable
Delrin BarrisDragon Age: Inquisition
DemetriusStardew Valley
DemomanTeam Fortress 2
Disco KidPunch-Out!!Playable
Doc LouisPunch-Out!!Playable
DoloresThe King of FightersPlayable
DonaWay of the Samurai 3NPC
Don Donatelouse (aka Dona-dona)Way of the SamuraiPlayable and NPC
Donald Anderson (DARPA Chief)Metal Gear Solid[6]
DoomfistOverwatch
Drebin 893Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots[4]NPC
DudleyStreet Fighter[4]Playable
Eddie Hunter (aka Skate, aka Sammy Hunter)Streets of Rage[4]Playable
Eddy GordoTekken[6]
EdgarQuartet
Ekko, Lucian and SennaLeague of Legends
ElenaStreet Fighter[2]
Eli VanceHalf-Life[8]
Ernie LeachThe Dagger of Amon Ra
Emmett GravesStarhawk[4]
Félicité "Fliss" DuBoisThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
FirestormFirestorm has appeared in numerous games
FortuneMetal Gear SolidNPC
Eli VanceHalf-Life[8]
Ernie LeachThe Dagger of Amon Ra
Emmett GravesStarhawk[4]
Félicité "Fliss" DuBoisThe Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan
FortuneMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty[9]NPC
FranFinal Fantasy XII[8]
Franklin ClintonGrand Theft Auto V[6]Playable
Garcian SmithKiller7[7]
GerasMetal Gear Solid
GraceFighting Vipers
GrantPokemon X and YNPC
HauserSuikodenPlayable
Heavy D!The King of Fighters[4]Playable
HenryThe Last of Us[6]NPC
HexxatBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced EditionPlayable
IrisPokémon Black and White[6]NPC
Irving LambertTom Clancy's Splinter Cell
Isaac WashingtonThe House of the Dead: Overkill
J.D. MorrisonDevil May Cry 5
Jacob TaylorMass Effect[7]
Jacqui BriggsMortal KombatPlayable
JadeMortal KombatPlayable
James HellerPrototype[2]
JaxMortal Kombat[6]Playable
Jeffry McWildVirtua FighterPlayable
Jim ChapmanResident Evil Outbreak
Josh StoneResident Evil 5[6]
John DaltonUnreal II: The Awakening
John Stewart John Stewart has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Julius Erving "Dr. J"One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird[6]
KaiMortal KombatPlayable
Kalvin RitterHitmanNPC
Kendl JohnsonGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasPlayable
Kenneth J. SullivanResident Evil
Kian AlvaneDreamfall: The Longest Journey
Kian AlvaneDreamfall Chapters
Kid QuickPunch-Out!!Playable
KimberlyStreet Fighter 6Playable
KnoxCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare
LaShawnBébé's Kids
Lance VanceGrand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
KahlilBébé's Kids
LaheesaOne on OnePlayable
Laurence Barnes "Prophet"Crysis[7]
Lee EverettThe Walking Dead[6]
Lenny SummersRed Dead Redemption 2
Leroy SmithTekken
Liam KostaMass Effect: Andromeda
LifelineApex Legends
Lincoln ClayMafia III
Lisa HamiltonDead or Alive[10]
Lieutenant Alphanso AdamsSpec Ops: The Line
LouisLeft 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2[6]
LucianLeague of Legends[7]
LúcioOverwatch
Lucius Fox Lucius Fox has appeared in numerous gamesNPC
Lucky GlauberThe King of Fighters[4]Playable and NPC
Luke Cage "Power Man" Luke Cage has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Mace Windu Mace Windu has appeared in numerous games[6]Playable and NPC
Mad JackHeavy Rain[6]NPC
Madd DoggGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasNPC
Marcus HollowayWatch Dogs 2
Marcus HowardCall of Duty WW2
MarinaSplatoon 2
Mark KimberleyShenmue[6]
Mark WilkinsResident Evil Outbreak
MarleneThe Last of UsNPC
Marlow BriggsMarlow Briggs and the Mask of Death
Marvin BranaghResident Evil 2NPC
MaruStardew Valley
MashOne on OnePlayable
Master RavenTekkenPlayable
Master Sergeant Matthew "Coops" CooperARMA 2
Mat SellaDream Daddy
MattUntil Dawn
MattWii SportsPlayable
Michael LeRoiShadow Man
Michael MaxFatal FuryNPC
Miles MoralesMiles Morales has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Mr. SandmanPunch-Out!!Playable
MayaKiller Instinct
MiraDonut CountyPlayable
Mohammed AvdolJoJo's Bizarre Adventure
MojaLegend of the Ghost Lion
Mister TerrificInjustice: Gods Among UsNPC
Nadine RossUncharted 4: A Thief's End
Nathan CopelandNo More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle[6]
NazirThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Nick FuryNick Fury has appeared in numerous games[6] (Not always black)Playable and NPC
NicolettePolice Quest: Open Season
NilinRemember Me[5]
NixInfamous 2
NoraThe Last of Us Part IINPC
O'saaFear & Hunger 2: TerminaPlayable
Olivia HallHitman 2 and Hitman 3NPC
OG LocGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas
PalleginaPillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Pawnshop OwnerKing's Quest VINPC
Principal Ray WellsLife Is Strange and Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
QhiraHeroes of the Storm
RavenTekken[7]Playable
Raymond JonesPolice Quest: Open Season
Raymond ValentineHitman Absolution
Riley AbelThe Last of UsNPC
RochelleLeft 4 Dead 2[2]
RodinBayonettaNPC
RogueNuclear Throne
RolandBorderlands[7]
RomeoHalo 3: ODST
RymePokemon Scarlet and VioletNPC
SamThe Last of Us[6]NPC
Sam BDead Island[3]
Samuel WilliamsDesperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
Sazh KatzroyFinal Fantasy XIII[2]
SCAT member CollinsNight TrapNPC
Sean JohnsonGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasNPC
Sean MatsudaStreet Fighter IIIPlayable
SennaLeague of Legends
Sergeant CormackCall of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Sergeant FoleyCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Sergeant Major Avery Junior JohnsonHalo[7]
SethThe King of FightersPlayable
Shadow ManShadow Man[7]Playable
SheanaTough GuyPlayable
Sheva AlomarResident Evil[2]
Shinobu JacobsNo More Heroes series[7]
SigJak and Daxter series
Sir HammerlockBorderlands 2
Staff Sgt. GriggsCall of Duty
StoneHitman: Sniper AssassinPlayable
StormStorm has appeared in numerous games[4]Playable and NPC
SylensHorizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden WestNPC
TaionXenoblade Chronicles 3
TanyaMortal KombatPlayable
TaurusInterstate '82
Three DogFallout 3NPC
Tiger JacksonTekkenPlayable
T.J. ComboKiller Instinct[4]
Tom JohnsonShenmue[6]
TorqueThe Suffering
TwintelleArms
Tyler MilesFahrenheit[6]
TyraelDiablo III
Vanessa LewisVirtua FighterPlayable
Valygar CorthalaBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced EditionPlayable
Victor VanceGrand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityNPC
VivienneDragon Age: Inquisition
Vixen "Mari Jiwe McCabe" Vixen has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
VoodooShaq FuPlayable
War MachineWar Machine has appeared in numerous gamesPlayable and NPC
Warden Martin JosephBatman: Arkham OriginsNPC
Watchman Toussaint GervaisGabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Wonder-BlackThe Wonderful 101[6]
Yelena FedorvaDeus Ex: Human RevolutionNPC
Zach HammondDead SpaceNPC
ZackDead or Alive[6]Playable
ZasalamelSoulcalibur[2]Playable

Before 2000s

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
1985 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero Roadblock Playable American
1997 Final Fantasy VII Barrett Wallace Leader of AVALANCHE

2000s

Year Title Name Role Nationality Notes
2008 Left 4 Dead Louis Playable American [11]
2009 League of Legends Ekko Playable Undefined [12]
Lucian [12]
Senna [12]
Pyke [13]
Rell [14]
K'Sante [15]
2009 Bayonetta Rodin NPC British [16]
2009 Left 4 Dead 2 Coach Playable American
Rochelle

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.
2012The Walking DeadClementine Playable
2012 Mass Effect Steven Cortez NPC Undefined [18]
2012 Clash of Clans Hog Rider Troop Undefined [19]
2015 Fallout 4 Preston Garvey
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 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.
2018 Red Dead Redemption 2 Lenny Summers
Tilly Jackson
2018 Hitman 2 Zoe Washington NPC
Sophia Washington NPC

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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hester, Larry (26 June 2012). "The 10 Best Black Characters In Video Games". Complex. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  3. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Narcisse, Evan (20 February 2013). "This Is How We Get More Black People In Video Games". Kotaku. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  5. 1 2 Clauson, Jonathan R. (20 January 2014). "The State of Black Video Game Characters". Inquisitr. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Holmes, Jonathan (15 October 2013). "Let's look at Tropes Vs. Black Guys in Videogames". Destructoid. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Carr, Krystal (16 February 2014). "12 Black Video Game Characters That Kick Ass!". SheAttack. Retrieved 16 November 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 3 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 3 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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