Making a Video Game Character

Video games have become a staple of modern entertainment, providing players with immersive experiences that transport them to fantastical worlds filled with adventure, danger, and intrigue. At the heart of these games are the characters that players control each unique in their own way. Creating an interesting video game character requires careful attention to a number of factors, including their appearance, backstory, personality, abilities, and motivations.

Appearance

The first thing players will notice about your character is their appearance. Whether it's a spiky-haired hero, a burly space marine, or a cel-shaded cartoon creature, a character's appearance can set the tone for the entire game.

It's important to create a character that stands out from the crowd and is visually interesting and memorable. This can be achieved through the use of unique colors, shapes, clothing, and accessories.

When creating a character's appearance, think about the game's genre and setting. A sci-fi game may feature characters with cybernetic implants, advanced weaponry, and sleek, futuristic clothing, while a fantasy game may feature characters with elaborate armor, mystical powers, and ornate weaponry.

Pay attention to small details, such as the character's facial features, hair style, and body type, as these can all help to create a distinctive and memorable character.

Backstory

A character's backstory is an important aspect of their personality, providing context for their actions and motivations. A well-crafted backstory can help players understand a character's personality, values, and goals, and can make them more invested in the character's story. Consider the character's past experiences, family background, and any significant events that may have shaped their personality.

When creating a character's backstory, it's important to strike a balance between providing enough detail to make the character interesting, and not overwhelming the player with too much information. Consider the player's perspective when crafting the backstory, and think about what details will be most relevant to the player's experience. Lastly, backstory can tie into a character’s in-game abilities and skills, and we’ll touch on that a bit later.

Personality

A character's personality is what makes them unique and memorable. Consider the character's values, flaws, and quirks, and how these traits will affect their interactions with other characters in the game. A well-defined personality can help players empathize with the character and become more invested in their story.

When creating a character's personality, consider the player's perspective and how the character will fit into the game's overall story and gameplay. Is the character a hero, a villain, or something in between? How will they interact with other characters and affect the game's plot?

Personality can affect conversations with NPCs, motivations, and in-game choices, either for the player or narratively for the character.

Abilities

A character's abilities can set them apart from other characters in the game. Consider creating unique skills or powers that match your character's backstory and personality. These abilities can be used to solve puzzles, defeat enemies, or progress through the game's story.

When designing a character's abilities, it's important to balance their strengths and weaknesses. A character that is too powerful can make the game too easy, while a character that is too weak can make the game frustrating. Consider how the character's abilities will interact with the game's mechanics and how they will be balanced against other characters.

A character’s abilities can be shaped by past experiences and give more meaning behind their skills. It gives color to your world in a way that makes sense logically to the player.

Motivation

A character's motivations can help players empathize with them and become more invested in their story. Consider what drives your character, what they are passionate about, and what they are trying to achieve. This can help players understand the character's goals and motivations and make them more invested in the character's story.

Objectives fall in line neatly with character motivation. When crafting your gameplay experience, you can use your character’s motivation and skill level to determine things like dungeon layouts, enemy encounters, and more.