1. Gordon Freeman
Gordon Freeman could well be the the ultimate unlikely hero, having somehow survived four games now without ever really knowing what he is doing at any point. The theoretical physicist, who was essentially a lab assistant in the first Half-Life, somehow ended up being the saviour of humanity, fighting off the initial alien attack before overthrowing the Combine, despite his rubbish goatee. He has really only managed to survive thanks to his HEV suit, which basically makes him a slightly taller version of Earthworm Jim. He is quite clearly a nerd and judging by the fact he has yet to mutter a single word in the Half-Life sage it appears he may really struggle in social situations. Even when spending prolonged amounts of time with someone, as is the case with the delightful Alyx Vance, Gordon barely musters a whisper, instead using his gravity gun to play with paint tins. Nothing about him suggests you would call upon him to solve a crisis, but time and time again he seems to be the only man who can.