10 Best New Male Video Game Characters Of The Decade

Ellie actually topped the list for female characters (spoilers, I guess) but Joel has to make do with fifth. It doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a worse character than Ellie, but as a grizzled, stoic protagonist with a secret heart of gold, he’s not exactly an entirely original entity.

Of course, Ellie, the sassy young teenager with a Junoesque personality, heightened survival instincts and some variety of ‘chosen one’ about her isn’t a unique creation either. Ellie though faces less competition and manages to make slightly more of her stereotypes than Joel, developing into a more well rounded character as The Last Of Us goes on.

That’s not to say Joel doesn’t develop, but Ellie definitely carries the story forward with more agency.

Joel, struggling with the loss of both Sarah and Tess, has every right to be closed off. He knows the pain connections can cause, and has learned to fend for himself. Having lost Sarah in such painful circumstances too, it’s lovely to see Ellie fill what is so very clearly a void in his life.

Joel is here proving that you don’t need to be a startlingly original, off the wall invention to be a deeply affecting character.