10 Best RPG Characters Of The Last 10 Years
6. Makoto Niijima - Persona 5 (2016)
Many people would want to put Persona 5's protagonist, Joker, on this list, and he certainly deserves recognition. However, the beloved Makoto Niijima, codename Queen, edges him out, thanks to her impressive presence in this awesome JRPG.
Niijima is the student council president of Shujin Academy and is, in many ways, the perfect student. She's clever, academically-inclined, and well-kept regarding what is expected of her. However, bubbling beneath that "perfect" veneer is someone seeking freedom.
This is a fan-favourite character who embodies hard work and conviction. Her standoffish nature makes her hard to like right away. However, despite her poor first impression, she eventually becomes one of Persona 5's most well-developed and likable characters.
On top of all this, she also (shockingly) has an excellent Persona. Her gnarly Phantom Thief form crashes hard against her prim and proper life, turning her into a motorcycle-riding badass and showing the primal rage hidden deep within.
Ultimately, Makoto tells a profound story about feeling pressured to live up to society's expectations, only to push through and find one's own confidence. Wow, relatable much?