Every Rockstar Games Protagonist Ranked - From Worst To Best

By Jack G King / August 23, 2015

Rockstar are the undisputed masters of the anti-hero. From Jimmy Hopkins to Carl Johnson, their main men ooze coolness, style, and (in some cases) substance. The general premise is often the same - an uncompromising badass on some sort of mission, combining destructive personality flaws with occasional glimpses of admirable behaviour - but Rockstar have explored so many unique takes on this simple blueprint. Of course, not every protagonist can be as compelling or human as fans would perhaps like. Many weaker heroes exist throughout the various Rockstar franchises, an empire which includes Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead and Manhunt. On the other hand, some of their main men have become truly iconic figures in the world of video games. Here's a comprehensive list of every Rockstar protagonist, ordered from worst to best. We've excluded games whose characters originated elsewhere (apologies to fans of Max Payne and Oni), and earlier instalments without fully-fleshed protagonists - but the heroes of all other Rockstar-developed games are present and correct. How high does your favourite rank?

18. James Earl Cash - Manhunt

Whatever your stance on the furore surrounding Manhunt's 2003 release, you have to admit that its protagonist is a pretty weak one. James Earl Cash is a death row inmate forced to 'star' in a sadistic snuff film, a predicament which should make for some convincing character work. Unfortunately, Cash himself is a man of few words and fewer emotions, ploughing through the game's increasingly horrific levels in a stiflingly macho fashion. He's like Duke Nukem without the flattop and wisecracks - in other words, incredibly boring. His fate is similarly uninspiring; after killing evil director Lionel Starkweather, he escapes without a trace, something of a cop-out with regard to storytelling.