Winner: Aloy – Horizon Zero Dawn
Best Video Game Characters of 2017
Horizon Zero Dawn was a breath of fresh air in many ways, one of which was its remarkable protagonist Aloy. We see Aloy first as a young girl, and witness the prejudice against her as an outcast of the Nora tribe. This is something that Aloy has to endure growing up, and yet despite that, she grows to be a kindhearted person. She’s always willing to help those in need, but also doesn’t have any problem speaking her mind and being blunt to those she doesn’t like.
It’s Aloy’s personality that makes her such a strong character. She’s quick witted, sarcastic, independent, and abundantly curious. Curiosity is one of the driving forces in Horizon, as she’s intent on finding out who exactly her mother is, and what happened to the world. This also works well as a framing device for learning about the lore and culture in Horizon, as Aloy wants to learn alongside you, the player.
Huge revelations happen about Aloy’s past in Horizon, and the answers she finds shake her to her core. This makes her go through some drastic character growth, and forces her to come to grips with who she really is. We’d also be remiss to not mention the fantastic performance that Ashly Burch (also the voice of Chloe in Life is Strange) gives to the character.
Horizon Zero Dawn is one of the most memorable games of 2017, and Aloy is a strong protagonist at the heart of that experience.
