Summary
In the world of gaming, there are many heroes with iconic faces, from Samus Aran to Gordon Freeman. They are the poster children of their respective franchises, and rightly so. However,not all heroes depend on their facesto leave a mark on the history of gaming, spanning first-person shooters to survival horror titles.
There’s something uniquely compelling about protagonists who remain mysteriously hidden behind masks, armor, or simply clever camera angles. They serve as perfect vessels for player immersion, allowing you to project themselves into their digital shoes or simply use their imagination to conjure up their own ideas of what the character looks like. That’s what makes thesefaceless gaming protagonists so effective, and so beloved.
8Azrael
The Player Chooses To Make Him Good Or Evil
Multiple protagonists areavailable to play inBatman: Arkham Knight, from members of the Bat-Family to villains.Azraelis one of the few characters who gamers get to play in the main story, even if it is brief, as a man trying to prove himself worthy of becoming Gotham City’s next guardian should Batman fall. He serves the Order Of St. Dumas and believes he is the weapon of God.
In the game, players control an ex-cop named Michael Lane, who has been transformed into a weapon by the Order of St. Dumas in their quest to conquer Gotham City. Throughout a series of missions, it becomes evident that Michael is under the influence of this organization. His face is never shown, regardless of whether the player chooses to betray the Order or align against Batman as a villain. This design choice creates one of the most intriguing side quests inBatman: Arkham Knight.
7The Knight
Subtle Storytelling Turned The Knight Into An Icon
Throughout the 2D Metroidvania adventureHollow Knight, the main character never speaks and is hidden behind a signature white mask. They are a genderless warrior who traverses the fallen Hallownest kingdom, fighting monsters and bosses until defeating the titular Hollow Knight and the Radiance to restore peace.
Plot and character development take a backseat inHollow Knight,which takes the Metroidvania approachand blends it with the boss rush-style of Soulslike games likeDark SoulsandBloodborne. As a result, it’s never shown whatThe Knightlooks like, but it is probably another insectoid creature as that is the theme of the game’s dark and macabre characters.
6Waylon Park
The Whistleblower Goes Through A Gauntlet Of Horror
With the gimmick that theOutlastgames are all narrated from the perspective of a camera,resembling found footage filmslikeThe Blair Witch ProjectandCloverfield, the heroes are never visible. In the DLC expansion-turned standalone game,Outlast: Whistleblower,players controlWaylon Park, who aims to reveal the horrific experiments conducted beneath Mount Massive Asylum.
While Miles Upshur deserves credit in the originalOutlast, Waylon goes through even more terror to escape the Murkoff scientific program that experimented on the asylum patients. Not only does he have to contend with even worse patients than Miles did, but his encounters with the ghost-like entity known as Walrider are more frequent. It’s easy to root for Waylon, especially when he is subjected to a lot of torture.
5Ethan Winters
Capcom Brought Back Resident Evil With A New Hero
Rather thanone of the more series famous protagonistslike Leon Kennedy or Jill Valentine,Resident Evil 7: Biohazardintroduced fans to a new hero for the return to survival horror.Ethan Wintersfights the Baker family and then the likes of Mother Miranda and Lady Dimitrescu inResident Evil Village, swapping the recognizable third-person franchise for a first-person shooter perspective.
Unlike other heroes featured in the games, Ethan Winters’ face is never shown, even when the player interacts with him as another character like Mia Winters or Chris Redfield. Capcom has gone out of their way to hide his face, whether it is through clever cinematography or convenient obstructions. All that is shown is that Ethan has blonde hair and a dismembered hand.
4Ghost
The Deadliest Soldier Is A Masked Mystery
Many protagonists have come and gone in theCall Of Dutyfranchise andone of the most iconic is an operativenamedGhost, who astonished gamers in the original and rebootedModern Warfarefranchise. He is a nearly unstoppable spec ops soldier working under Captain Price, and he is able to infiltrate any location and assassinate any foe.
Only those whom Ghost serves have ever seen his true face, and that does not include the player. Even when his mask is taken off, Ghost’s face is never revealed, except for players who modify the game to remove his signature skull-themed mask. Perhaps, one day, Activision will unveil the man behind the mask, but part of what makes Ghost so intriguing is the mystery that surrounds him.
3Zer0
Unlike Any Other Borderlands Character
Gamers have been able toexplore the planet of Pandoraas a plethora of characters across theBorderlandsfranchise, withZer0being a fan favorite inBorderlands 2. Zer0 is a ninja-like protagonist who wields a powerful sword to slay the many monsters, bandits, robots, and corporate military as the player sees fit in a solo or co-op adventure.
Even when Zer0 makes appearances in otherBorderlandsgames, fans haven’t seen what kind of face is behind that cyberpunk visor of his. The closest thing to a face for Zer0 is that his visor projects a hologram displaying different emoticons to help convey his emotions, with the number zero being the most famous display.
2Hunk
The Fourth Survivor Is A Mysterious Umbrella Soldier
Hidden as an unlockable third protagonist,Hunkis a mysterious soldier working for the Umbrella Security Service and the only member of the Alpha Team tosurvive the Raccoon City incidentinResident Evil 2. Fans find the character interesting because he provides a different perspective on the narrative as a figure who is neither evil nor good.
Unlike Ethan, who still has dialogue and a personality to make up for his lack of a face, Hunk is usually a completely silent protagonist who remains hidden behind his mask. Capcom has never given the character any kind of backstory or voice, but his lack of voice is backed up by the fact that he is a skilled soldier willing to complete his mission no matter what monsters are thrown his way.
1Master Chief
The Spartan Armor Is Part Of His Identity
Master Chiefis a Spartan of the UNSC,a genetically modified super soldierdesigned to protect humanity from alien threats, such as the Covenant. He is arguably the most famous example of a faceless video game protagonist because, over twenty years since he first appeared in the originalHalo, the games continue to keep John 117’s face a secret.
The image of the Spartan in armor is iconic, and fans prefer not to see Master Chief’s face, as it represents his identity as a government-designed soldier who becomes more human as the story evolves. This is why many disliked the live-actionHaloseries on Paramount+, where the character spent more time out of his armor and his face was revealed.
