From Dragon Quest thirty years ago to Shin Megami Tensei V last year, role playing games have been renowned for their experience of adventure. The high flying enemy encounters and the die-hard companions are genre staples. While "RPG" refers to many different styles of game these days, these are essential. But more important than any monster or party member is the NPC.
Non-playable characters are chiefly the quest givers and shopkeepers of the world. They range from the basic townsfolk to the more important story characters who don't really fall into categories like "antagonist" or "party member" neatly. These characters have become iconic to the games they're from because of the big impression they leave. They may not always be front-and-center, but they are so much of the experience of these classic games.
sans (Undertale)
sans (spelled all in lowercase) has become one of the largest characters indie gaming, and gaming as a whole. This wacky skeleton from the 2015 RPG Undertale has eclipsed his own game and appeared even in Super Smash Bros.. While sans can be fought in the game, he is not really an antagonist or a party members. He frequently also appears as an ally, selling items and telling jokes.
sans isn't interested in the monster king's command to capture humans. Instead he just lazily kind of hangs out with the player character. While he's usually fun, there are hints of a darker and more depressing past that piques fan interest. Fans are hoping his appearances in Deltarune sheds more light on these facts.
Schala (Chrono Trigger)
Chrono Trigger was a dream collaboration of Squaresoft and Enix. Obviously prophetic of the corporate merger to come, but Chrono Trigger's a game full of great characters. And one of the most fan-favorite is Schala Zeal, the priestess of the Zeal Kingdom. With an evil mother, missing father, and creepy younger brother, Schala stood out for her level head and compassion.
Unfortunately, she goes missing during her storyline. Her whereabouts and safety become a motivator for beloved party member Magus. The mystery was so important to fans that the sequel Chrono Cross is largely about what happened to Schala. Her legacy as one of the most important characters in the game remains strong.
Joker (Mass Effect Trilogy)
There are many beloved characters in the Mass Effect trilogy of games. The BioWare series is full of popular crew members Shepard can take on away missions, such as Garrus. But these crewmates kind of skirt the line between party member and NPC. So instead spotlight will be shown upon the intrepid pilot of the Normandy.
Jeff "Joker" Moreau is a beloved character in the series voiced by Seth Green. He's the archetypal cocky pilot character, but brings a lot of humor to the crew. He feels like a fixture of the game; a fresh face to always return to. Fans have been bummed out that he's one of the few NPCs the player can't romance.
Jaina Proudmoore (Warcraft Franchise)
Jaina Proudmoore is commonly referred to as the most powerful sorceress in the Warcraft canon. She first appeared in Warcraft III and went on to become one of the most prominent characters in the setting. She made appearances in World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Heroes Of The Storm. But it wasn't only her prevalence that made her popular.
She's cited as being one of the best female characters in Blizzard's career, with a kindness that matured into independence and world-weariness. Gamers praised her for her lack of developmental ties to other characters. Despite her prevalence in the story of Arthas Menethil, she isn't defined by him. She set new standards for female characters in Western RPGs.
Professor Oak (Pokémon Franchise)
"Welcome to the world of Pokémon!" shouts Professor Samuel Oak. Professor Oak was players first guide to the Pokémon franchise way back in the day, and has continued being a beloved part since. While their are tons of weird things about Pokémon's Oak, he's a friendly presence. He provides the player a Pokémon and allows them to create their character.
The opening of Pokémon has been parodied countless times. But its not just that that makes Oak stand out from other Pokémon NPCs like the ones in the new Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. He also passed out the Pokédex, the bestiary essential for any Mon game nowadays. Oak also continued to appear in the anime, and his family would appear in future Pokémon games.
Soliare of Asotra (Dark Souls)
In Dark Souls, there isn't a lot of levity. The world is dark and gritty and the helpers and summons you encounter are hardly party members. But there's a very likeable Dark Souls NPC whose upbeat attitude makes them a breath of fresh air. Solaire of Astora and his love of the sun has been beloved by fans.
In comparison to the grim world, Solaire is a sun-worshiping loud ball of sunshine. Going on adventures with him bring more levity and bombast to the difficult Souls format. Characters like him ended up appearing in other Souls-like games, both official and indie. And he gone on to appear as the mascot for the franchise as a whole.
M'aiq the Liar (The Elder Scrolls Series)
The Elder Scrolls is a franchise known for all the NPC characters players can encounter. There's no shortage of beloved story NPCs such as the Daedric Princes or the dragon Paarthurnax. But perhaps the most unique and inspiring in their scope is actually simple reoccurring character M'aiq. This khajit can be found in four games, starting in Morrowind.
M'aiq is a fun character because of random appearances and meta aspects. His "lies" often take the form of creator commentary on the franchise. Obviously M'aiq would appear in more Elder Scrolls games after his debut, but he's usually a random encounter. Running into M'aiq is tough, but always a welcome surprise.
Old Man (The Legend of Zelda)
There's not a consensus on if Zelda is a RPG or not. But this action-adventure franchise is certainly influential in the world of RPG's. There's lots of great The Legend of Zelda NPCs, from Tingle to the titular character. But perhaps the most influential NPC to gaming at large is the very first NPC in the very first game.
The Legend of Zelda on the NES begins with Link meeting the Old Man. The Old Man gives Link a sword and appears several more times throughout the game sharing hints and giving direction. Lines spoken by the Old Man became running jokes throughout all gaming. The character was essential enough that Nintendo brought him back in The Breath Of The Wild.
Deckard Cain (Diablo)
Speaking of wise old men, nobody fits that archetype better than Deckard Cain. Diablo's resident old man mentor has been considered perhaps the most defining NPC in gaming. His explanation of game lore provided a basis for countless NPCs going forward. Like Jaina earlier, his popularity has let him survive in Heroes Of The Storm.
The cryptic old man is one of Blizzard's best characters. His descriptions of quests and adventures are legendary. He's been praised as one of the most quotable characters in the company's history, thanks to the voice acting of Michael Gough. Cain has remained the gold standard for delivering lore in video games, from the original Diablo II to the modern day remake.
Cid (Final Fantasy Franchise)
When it comes to iconic NPCs, nothing beats gaming's premiere JRPG franchise. When it comes to series staples, there's the iconic mount Chocobos and the friendly shopkeeping Moogles. But there's usually a character named Cid. While not always an NPC, Cid is the iconic soul of the Final Fantasy franchise's non-player character, appearing in every game.
This makes them a through-line in a franchise known for changing it up in every entry, but every Cid is different. Cid as had plenty of roles during their tenure; a scientist, a magician, a king, an angel of death, and even a female mechanic. But they usually fill an essential support role. Cid has been both major and minor characters, heroes and villains, but always an iconic and heartrending part of the game.