Summary
The discourse surrounding whether a game’s protagonist should be voiced or silent is nothing new and depends on several factors,including the story and genre. For some genres, silent protagonists enhance immersion, particularly in open-world RPGs, where players can shape their characters and choose their paths from scratch. In several gaming series, silent protagonists have even become a hallmark, making it difficult to imaginecharacters likeHalf-Life’sGordon Freeman suddenly speaking.
While developers can effectively utilize silent protagonists to great effect, thechoice to make a character non-speakingcan feel out of place in dialogue-heavy narratives where the lead lacks dialogue options and inexplicably ignores others addressing them (thinkMetro Exodus). In many open-world games, voiced protagonists can also be overly talkative, causing unnecessary distractions andbreaking immersion during exploration. Below, we’ll explore some of the best open-world games featuring completely silent protagonists who don’t abruptly comment on events players experience firsthand.
As in many other Bethesda RPGs, such asFallout 3,Oblivion, andStarfield,The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis one of the most renowned and iconic open-world RPGs featuring a silent protagonist. Players can freelyshape the Last Dragonborn, choosing their race, gender, and appearance as desired. Despite its dialogue-heavy nature,Skyrimadheres to the genre’s tradition of selecting text responses when interacting with other characters or companions.
Skyrimexemplifies a timeless world that continues to captivate players for years, suggesting that silent protagonists may be the optimal choice for open-world RPGs offering extensive freedom. The game allowsplayers seeking a second lifeto fully embody their character, immersing themselves in a world rich with deep lore, intriguing characters, and adventures at every turn.
STALKER: Shadow of Chernobylfeatures a fully silent protagonist who also suffers from amnesia — another familiar trope for leads in gaming. The Marked One (later revealed as Strelok) is a typical RPG character, allowing players to select text responses during dialogues with NPCs, but the protagonist’s voice is never heard during gameplay. This changes during some cutscenes, including the finale, where players hear Strelok’s wishes to the Monolith, though this has little impact on the character’s perception throughout the main story.
It’s unclear whether the silent protagonist was a deliberate choice or a result of budget constraints, given that in the sequel,STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl, players are introduced to a new, fully voiced protagonist, Skif. Interestingly, Strelok returns as a key character in the sequel, playing a major role in the story and communicating with players as Skif with full voice-over. Fortunately, the sequel’s cinematic approach enhances the narrative, making it feel more natural without detracting from the game’s unique atmosphere.
Fallout: New Vegasremains one of the most beloved entries in the series, with its characters often ranked among the most memorable. Like previous entries,New Vegasfeatures robust character creation through the S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system, allowing players to craft highly flexible archetypes for the Courier. This, combined with thegame’s rich role-playing elements, creates a unique journey and enhances replayability.
Throughout theFalloutRPG series, onlyFallout 4features a voiced protagonist — a creative decision still widely debated among the series' fans. This choice may have been a natural fit for a game that took bold steps to simplify the established role-playing system, aiming to makeFalloutmore accessible.
Far Cry 5, themost successful game in the seriesto date, introduced several bold decisions, including a character creator and, for the first time, a fully silent protagonist. However, unlike most open-world games, the choice to make the Deputy non-speaking often feels inconsistent with the story-driven experience. Many characters directly address Rook, receiving no response, and players frequently lack text dialogue options to choose from like in the usual RPGs.
On the other hand, the silent protagonist enhances immersion, as voiced protagonists in many Ubisoft open-world games can be overly talkative, constantly commenting on players' goals, which can become annoying. Nevertheless, Ubisoft later reversed this approach inFar Cry 6,introducing the voiced protagonist Dani Rojasand adopting a more cinematic narrative, featuring the lead character in cutscenes rather than relying solely on a first-person perspective.
FromSoftware’s Souls games are renowned for their silent protagonists, which players can create from scratch, andElden Ringis no exception. Unlike previous Souls games, however,Elden Ringfeatures anenormous and unique open worldand includes the largest number of side NPCs that players can interact with and engage in optional questlines.
While the game offers limited dialogue choices, every decision inElden Ringcarries weight and can lead to unpredictable outcomes, as the game focuses only on meaningful interactions. Another distinctive feature of communication inElden Ringis the gesture system, which players canoccasionally use to progress certain quests, solve puzzles, or reveal hidden pathways and entire locations.
The Legend of Zelda, one of the most popular and iconic gaming series, is closely associated with a silent protagonist, andBreath of the Wild(alongsideTears of the Kingdom) exemplifies this. Even without a voice or active dialogue participation,Link remains a well-established and relatable character, standing out with his stoic personality during exploration.
In theCreating a Championbook, Link’s lack of expression is partially explained, depicting him as a man fully dedicated to his knightly duties and warrior responsibilities, which have rendered him unable to express himself openly, thus remaining silent. InBreath of the Wild, Link is more expressive and lighthearted but stays true to his characteristic quietness.
Following in the footsteps ofDragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisenand many open-world action-RPGs with character creators from 2010s,Dragon’s Dogma 2features a completely silent protagonist. Overall,Dragon’s Dogma 2feels like a rare modern take on old-school RPGs, oftenresembling a faithful remake of the first gamebut set in a new world, appealing to players who crave its classic approach to the genre.
Players can choose gender and race for Arisen, and later create their own Pawns with various races, genders, and classes.Dragon’s Dogma 2is less dialogue-focused and more action-driven, making the silent protagonist a natural fit for exploration of the game’s harsh medieval world.
A distinct type of open-world game,Shadow of the Colossusoffers a deeply melancholic and largely wordless experience, featuring little to no voiced dialogue and cutscenes. Thestory unfolds primarily through events and music, without hand-holding or excessive explanation.
To complement this tone, Wander is a fully silent protagonist, perfectly suited for a solitary (and mysterious) journey where players are left to their own devices in a seemingly simple quest to find and defeat 16 colossi in a vast world with little else to do. Departing from the typical busywork-filled open-world formula,Shadow of the Colossusdelivers a unique and memorable experience, with every element of its design, including the silent hero, serving a singular purpose.
