10 Hugely Beloved Video Game Sidekicks - Ranked From Worst To Best
Being second in line doesn't mean being second best. Not by a long shot.
Let’s face it – nobody wants to be a sidekick. Who among us would rather be C3PO than Luke Skywalker? Nobody, that’s who. Unfortunately, whilst gaming gives us plenty of heroes to choose from, not everybody can have their place in the spotlight – some characters have to take their places on the back benches as support for the main character.
However, just because these guys, girls and assorted animals aren’t the main focus of their games, that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as useful as the protagonist. Sometimes, these guys are so cool that we wish we’d been able to play as them instead, showing the world that sidekicks can be awesome too. Even the toughest soldiers and best tacticians need backup to complete their goals – and the better support you have, the more likely it is you’re going to succeed.
Here, we pay tribute to those characters that make up the supporting cast – the guys who are happy for other people to grab the glory whilst they quietly and efficiently do their job from the sidelines. Here’s to you, sidekicks: we couldn’t do it without you.
Let us know in the comments who your favourite gaming sidekicks are, if any here don't belong!
10. Luigi (Super Mario Bros.)
It would be incredibly difficult to talk about sidekicks in gaming without mentioning Luigi, the perpetual number 2. He constantly exists as the Robin to Mario’s Batman, and the only games where he’s in the spotlight involve him being scared to death by ghosts.
However, while most people would get pretty fed up with that situation, it never seems to get old Luigi down and it certainly doesn’t make him any less awesome. He never fails to back Mario up during their various escapades together, and given that he almost always plays like a second Mario anyway, you couldn’t ask for a more reliable partner in whatever crazy situation the brothers are in this time.
And then when he does get the go ahead to let loose, like in Mario Kart or Super Smash Brothers, he’s often not only as good as Mario – but better. Maybe Nintendo is keeping the green half of the Mario Bros. on a leash so that he doesn’t outshine his older brother.