Platform:
Xbox One, PC
Publisher:
Xbox Game Studios
Developer:
343 Industries
Release:
<time datetime="2021-12-08T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">December 8, 2021</time>
Rating:
Teen
Being a hero is no easy task, and it’s doubly hard when you’re the new savior on the block. With every new console generation comes new franchises and returning favorites. Everyone knows characters like Master Chief and Samus are great heroes – some of our favorites, even – but what about the new faces donning a mask for the first time, or those who have found themselves fighting for good against all odds? What about the ones who have simply fallen into a bad situation but have come out better for it?
Those heroes are some of the best in recent memory, and with a couple more outings in their future, it’s easy to see how they could become icons like Chief and Samus. Here are our favorite heroes of the generation so far, ranked in chronological order of appearance.
G'raha Tia
Spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV Shadowbringers and Endwalker ahead.
Following the events of Shadowbringers, G’raha Tia has become a new member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn, but hasn’t fully transitioned from his previous life. Formerly a leader with immense political and magical power, he now travels alongside the Warrior of Light and doesn’t quite know how to deal with some of the crises you face together and struggles to find where he fits in with the Scions. Throughout the Endwalker expansion, G’raha slowly regains his confidence and, in turn, his natural leadership skills as he’s able to keep cool under world-threatening pressure. The through-line from his humble beginnings as a historian to an extradimensional traveler might be the most exciting aspect of the adventure, but his eventual rise from mere companion to loyal best friend and a valued Scion is one of the best hero arcs this generation.
Miles Morales
Insomniac’s version of Miles Morales was first introduced in 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man. Though we didn’t see him actually become Spider-Man, it was clear that this was where Insomniac was headed, and sure enough, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales launched with the PlayStation 5 in 2020. Through its eight hours, we all grew to know this already-great character even more, and perhaps most importantly, we watched him become the protector New York City needed in a time when Peter Parker wasn’t there to defend it. Miles comes out the other end of his journey a hero – not a lesser web-slinger or Peter’s fill-in, but a true Spider-Man that stands alongside the original. It’s heartwarming to watch the story unfold, and it’s got us excited to don Miles’ trademark black and red suit once more in Marvel’s Spider-Man 2.
Selene
In many ways, Selene is a new Samus. No, she’s not from Metroid, but, much like Samus, she’s a stoic, alien-killing, badass intent on completing the mission, no matter the cost. In Returnal, we’re introduced to Selene as just that, and every action she takes through the game’s mysterious narrative further proves our point. But there’s more to Selene than meets the eye. Horror-like house sequences fill in crucial backstory that completely change the perspective of what’s going on, and some late-game revelations flip all of that on its head once more. Still, through it all, Selene is determined, capable, and the kind of space soldier we all want to be. We’re not sure what the future holds for Selene – something tells us it will be similar to the day before and the day before that – but we can’t wait to see what else Housemarque and PlayStation do with her character.