Summary
If there’s one thing that JRPGs have become known for over the years, it’s cultivating a unique mix of different characters from all walks of life, as casts in this genre tend to be fairly diverse. While a majority of JRPGs feature a human of some kind as its lead, some games have featured protagonists that are a bit different, as several titles in the genre have stepped out in order to feature something more interesting.
Non-humanJRPG protagonists aren’t exactlycommon, but the ones that do exist are just as compelling and fascinating as their human counterparts. Whether they are a completely non-human entity, a hybrid, or some sort of android, non-human protagonists have starred in some of the most outstanding JRPGs ever seen. These wonderful creatures have been ranked on their personality, their roles in the story, and the progression of their character.
Despite his appearance, the mostly silent protagonist of theBreath of Fireseries is a member of an ancient race of dragons that can transform between the two, as Ryu is reincarnated across the series in each subsequent entry. In the firstBreath of Fire, Ryu could transform into different dragons that corresponded with elemental properties, akin to the magic systems seen in other fantasy JRPGs. InBreath of Fire: Dragon Quarter, Ryu was limited to one form, but the uniqueness made the transformations feel much more important as a result.
Over the years, Ryu has remained one of the genre’s most interesting characters, as the mythology withinBreath of Fireallows him to be reborn with each game and creates an evolving, shifting character that is unlike any other. AlthoughBreath of Firehas remained without a mainline entry since 2016, Ryu is still an endlessly fascinating character, as his calm demeanor and bravery make him one of the best in the JRPG genre.
Atlus' iconic JRPG series has a fairly long history with non-human protagonists, and one of the absolute best is the Demi-fiend fromShin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne. Born from the apocalyptic event known as Conception, the Demi-fiend roams the Shinjuku Medical Center in one of the genre’s most haunting, unsettling stories that explores some pretty dark themes and motifs. His unique design, as well as his relationships with Chiaki and Isamu, form the bulk of the game’s story, each choice deepening their bond.
Though he is quite reserved and does not speak, the Demi-fiend is one of the most fascinating non-human protagonists in the genre, as he is shaped and molded by the player as they attempt to veer humanity on a singular course following Conception. The Demi-fiend proved to be rather popular, as well, appearing in laterShin Megami Tenseigames likeApocalypseandSMT5, as his quiet demeanor and incredible design make him one of the franchise’s most compelling characters.Nocturnewas recently remastered for PlayStation and Switch, making it easy to play today.
Following the success ofNi No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, a collaboration between Level-5 and Studio Ghibli, a sequel was put into production and followed an entirely new cast of characters. Starring Evan, a cat-boy who descends from a royal family and becomes the king following the death of his father. It is a rather dark setup, but one thatthe world ofNi No Kunihas consistently explored, as the series tends to contrast childlike visuals with complex underlying themes.
InNi No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom, Evan is forced to grow up fast, as the death of his father sends him on a journey of self-discovery and learning to trust others in order to bring his kingdom back. Evan is a fascinating character, in that he is a young child on the brink of a great destiny, with the death of his father and looming responsibility hanging over his head. Evan’s relationships with Evan and Bracken form the backbone of his growth, as he evolves from an aimless child into a brave king.
Final Fantasyis no strangerto non-human protagonistsand characters, and Zidane is easily the best of the best, as this charismatic young thief is the lead of one of the franchise’s greatest entries. WithFinal Fantasy 9, Square went back to basics, creating a game that celebrated what the series used to be and what it was destined to become. And Zidane was a key part of that, as his brazen personality and cool demeanor made him one of Square’s most loveable heroes.
Zidane is a member of the Genome race, who comes equipped with tails and is one ofFinal Fantasy’smost beloved protagonists. His wit and fun-loving energy are infectious, as he goes on a long journey of self-discovery during the events ofFinal Fantasy 9, while his relationship with Garnet serves as the foundation of his evolution. Zidane’s transformation from a cocky thief into a fully formed hero is one of the game’s most outstanding stories, and he remains a massively popular character in the franchise.
NieR: Automatawas born out of creator Yoko Taro’s desire to continue telling stories in the post-apocalypticwasteland he created inDrakengard, and after some arduous pressure, he got his wish and the game entered development. At the center ofAutomatais YoRHa No. 2 Type B, known as 2B, an android that roams the apocalypse battling machines and the struggle to understand what makes something human or not.
2B is an utterly fascinating character, as her cold, robotic nature tends to hide just how much empathy she has. Her journey through the harrowing events ofNieR: Automatais endlessly compelling, as her relationship with 9S is one of gaming’s most riveting studies of character and natural progression, culminating in what is still one of the industry’s best endings. 2B is one of the most incredible characters in video games today, and is just one part of what makesNieR: Automataas fantastic as it is.
