One of the most legendary game companies in the world, Bethesda, has gone from height to height over the last two decades. Bringing franchises likeFalloutandThe Elder Scrollsto the fore, as well as working on huge new projects such asStarfield, this company has proven time and time again that they are worthy of sitting atop the gaming industry.
In the world of RPGs, there are many characters who don’t get as much characterization as could be expected. But equally, there are many others who become beloved and truly iconic through the player’s interactions with them. Building an entire world filled with missions and stunning environments isn’t enough to make a truly great game, the faces and names that populate it are just as significant.
8Vault-Boy
The Literal Icon
The most iconic faces and characters in theFalloutfranchise are actual NPCs in the games, but closely on their heels is a figurine that doesn’t appear in any of the games except in the form of collectibles and in menus. The Vault-Boy isVault-Tec’s own iconand the symbol of fallen America in the franchise.
Though the Vault Boy doesn’t have much character, his flashing smile and upbeat appearance in the desolate, post-apocalyptic world ofFalloutmake him an icon of a different sort. While there is huge character turnover between Fallout games, Vault-Boy has been a consistent presence, a recognizable face that helps inform players that they are still very much in the same world.
7Miraak
The Most Devastating Villain
Though there were already a number of campaigns and storylines in the original version ofSkyrim, the infamous game benefited greatly from the DLCs which were later added. TheDragonborn DLCsaw the player’s character taking on the first ever Dragonborn, Miraak, who was a truly malevolent presence that ended up becoming one of the best Elder Scrolls villains to date.
Miraak is a terrifying villainwho managed to bend the wills of most people in Solstheim and was hidden away in Daedric realms with Hermaeus Mora at his side. He also managed, even with his limited screen time, to become one of the most notable characters inSkyrim, despite not even being mentioned in the original game.
6Sheogorath
The God Of Madness
Although he has appeared prominently inThe Elder Scrolls Online, Sheogorath had already made an iconic name for himself in Bethesda’sElder ScrollsUniverse long before that. The Daedric Gods are a devastating pantheon of terrible sorts, but Sheogorath’s unpredictable style made him many fans each time he appeared to trouble and inconvenience players.
The craziest thing about Sheogorath is that he is secretly, at least inOblivion’s Shivering Islesexpansion, Jyggalag, the Daedric Prince of Order, and he has been cursed to live as the thing he hates the most in Sheogorath. If the player defeats him then they break this curse and become the new Sheogorath, getting to be named as the new version of an iconic character,whose mission and artifact inSkyrimremain one of the most chaotic parts of that entry.
5Joshua Graham
The Burned Man
Although Bethesda is more focused on world-building when they create their massive, beloved RPGs, once the game has been completed, they get to add more interesting elements later. This is a big part of the reason for the DLCs to Bethesda games, including so many memorable characters, andJoshua Graham was very much the focusof the secondFallout: New Vegas DLC, Honest Hearts.
Graham first came up in the chilling intro story about how he was Caesar’s foremost soldier before failing, and thus being covered in burning pitch and thrown into the Grand Canyon. Having survived this, Graham became a ghost story, part of a religious cult, and a fascinating character to boot, and he is one of the two religious leaders who the player can listen to in the quest line. Graham favours the destruction of the White Legs, a path featuring much more violence which has become a popular choice in the DLC.
4Dogmeat
The Most Beloved Companion
Of all the various companions who can join the player in their quests across either theElder ScrollsorFalloutfranchises,Dogmeat is by far the most lovable of them all. This dog is met in the Wasteland inFallout 4at the very first stop outside of the player character’s hometown. Though there are many great companions available inFallout 4, Dogmeat is the only mandatory one who will join you at some point no matter what.
As such, he has become a lovable piece ofFallouthistory, even appearing in the live-action TV show based on the world ofFallout. Dogmeat is one of the most significant faces inFallouthistory and remains one of the most beloved dogs in video gaming.
3Alduin
The World-Eater
Although the primary villain in Bethesda games isn’t always the most fleshed-out character, they are often some of the best remembered. This definitely goes for Alduin, the dragon who is capable of bringing other dragons back from the dead inSkyrim.
Technically known as a God in the Nordic Pantheon, Alduin is a devastating creature who proved himself capable of troubling completely different eras of heroes, and even causing horror and panic in the Nordic afterlife. Only the Dragonborn could, after a great deal of side questing and training, defeat such a monster, who has become as iconic as the Dragonborn themselves in video game lore.
2Nick Valentine
The Old-School Robo-Detective
Though fans all have their own favoriteFallout 4companions, there is one who stands out for his relevance in a number of storylines,and his own lore and story being so fascinating. Nick Valentine is a synth and owner of the Valentine Detective Agency in Diamond City at the time the protagonist arrives, searching for their son and hoping to gain assistance from Valentine.
A key character who the player has to meet within the main story, as well as a great companion and someone who becomes involved with the much-belovedFar Harbor DLCto boot. With one of the most straight-and-narrow moral compasses of anyone in theFalloutworld and a charming personality based on old noir-style detectives, Nick makes for a hugely memorable part ofFallout 4.
1Serana
The Ultimate Skyrim Companion
Though there are a huge number of potential followers inSkyrim, there has for many years been one who has surpassed all others. Serana, a vampire who was locked away by her father with an elder scroll, is a mysterious figure and a much-beloved one in the huge world ofSkyrim.
Though she doesn’t even appear in the original game, theDawnguard DLChas become iconic, particularly because it introduced Serana and allowed players to have her by their side through their adventures,though never as a wife. Not only can she not be killed, but she is also a fierce warrior who is much more useful than most followers. While it is difficult to declare one Bethesda character the most iconic and memorable to date, manySkyrimplayers will have spent more time with Serana by their side and on their screen than any other character.
