A video game can have a really great story but what really makes an impact is the characters. Sometimes, they can turn even the most basic story into something memorable.

Runners Up:

Clementine as played by Melissa Hutchison in The Walking Dead (by Gustavo Ramirez) – The Walking Dead doesn’t shy away from putting characters in horrible situations or killing them off suddenly. This not only leads to a strong paternal connection between Lee and Clementine, it creates one between her and the player as well. Protecting that little girl through all the craziness of the world is your goal. Without her character, The Walking Dead wouldn’t have anywhere near the same emotional investment.

Handsome Jack as played by Dameon Clarke in Borderlands 2 (by Patrick Cassin) – Considering that the man taunts you endlessly, the fact that you want to kill him by the end of the game for what he does, and not because he is annoying, is a testament to the character’s strength. The fact that after you kill him you’ll actually choose to wear his mask as a trophy is an even bigger accomplishment.

Tiny Tina as played by Ashly Burch in Borderlands 2 (by Kyle Orr) – Described as “The World’s Deadliest 13 Year Old,” Tina’s foul-mouthed, slang-slinging dialogue is always funny. She only shows up in Borderlands for a short stint (including some DLC) but she is easily one of the best characters this year.

Haytham Kenway as played by Adrian Hough in Assassin’s Creed 3 (by Kyle Orr)Main character Connor is fine, but the real interesting character in Assassin’s Creed 3 is Kenway. He’s charismatic and smooth talking most of the time but he has a brutal and ruthless side as well.

AND THE WINNER IS:

Vaas as played by Michael Mando in Far Cry 3 (by Addam Kearney) – Far Cry 2 had the extremely intimidating character of The Jackal, one of the most memorable villains of recent memory. Far Cry 3’s Vaas takes a number of cues from The Jackal while seeming even more insane than him. His character is pure insanity incarnate. As a result, he becomes not only the most memorable character from Far Cry 3, but the one of the best villians in gaming today. What’s more is that whenever he’s not on screen, you want to see more of him. His screen presence is just that powerful.