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To celebrate Fathers Day our blogging team thought we would highlight some of the best video game dads. We highlight those dads who went that extra mile to look after their children.
Joel (The Last Of Us) by Sophie Jones
Joel is one of the most famous dads, especially after the hit HBO show starring Pedro Pascal. Joel is a complex character. After losing his daughter at the beginning of the game, he is a shell of a man. He has done terrible things to survive the aftermath. But once he is saddled with Ellie, that hard exterior he’s built begins to soften.
As he transports Ellie to the Fireflies, he not only becomes her protector but also a friend. He learns about her past, teaches her how to swim and keeps her safe from those that would wish her harm. As it is just the two of them, they end up with a father, daughter relationship by the end of the game. This only deepens as we go into the second game, and we learn about how they have evolved. He teaches Ellie how to play guitar, they have movie nights, talk about romances and argue. The second game showcases some of Joel’s finest dad moments. One of my favourite scenes is when he takes her to the museum for her birthday and they ride in the spaceship. It's such a pure moment in a world of chaos.
Overall, the story of Joel is a story of fatherhood. He loses a child but through Ellie he has a chance to redeem himself and save the daughter he couldn’t before. Joel is a fierce father who will do anything to protect those he loves.
Kratos (God Of War) by Paul Blyth
Sure, Kratos killed his first family after being tricked by his former mentor Ares (I say former as Kratos went onto to kill him too.. and then a whole bunch of Greek gods). But the 2018 God of War showed us a calmer, more remorseful killing machine. This change of character is no better illustrated than his relationship with his son - Atreus. Thrust into the role of single father after the death of his wife. Kratos and “the boy” set out on a quest across Norse mythology to spread her ashes at the highest peak in all the nine realms.
As the story progresses so does the father and son relationship. What starts as a man and boy struggling with grief turns into an almost heart-warming story. One that shows Kratos, although initially unable to connect with his son on an emotional level, will go to any lengths to protect Atreus.
Without dipping into spoiler territory, this arc continues and takes centre-stage in God of War Ragnarok... if you can get past the brain-numbingly dull “The Lost Sanctuary” chapter.
Geralt Of Rivia (The Witcher 3) by Lauren Skinner
Adopted dads are the real MVPs. Taking on the responsibility and trials and tribulations of fatherhood without any prior obligation is one of the most significant and heart-warming things a person can do.
It’s time for Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher 3 to enter the chat.
Geralt meets Cirilla when she is a child, taking her in and training her to become a fierce warrior. When the Wild Hunt senses her powers and commences chase to take her elder blood, Geralt is ready to raze the continent to the ground to find and save her from her fate.
If going on a heroic quest across the world wasn’t enough on its own, it’s the little things that really showcase Geralt as a true contender for Father of the Year. Geralt has a snowball fight with Ciri to cheer her up, and the reunion scene towards the end was one of the most touching father-daughter scenes in video game history.
The player making Geralt’s decisions regarding Ciri offers a masterclass in realistic parenting. Despite their best efforts, parents often don’t know the best choices to make when it comes to their kids. Will you try to stop Ciri, hoping to protect her? Or will you let her make her own mistakes and walk her own path, believing in her capabilities? Whatever option you choose, Geralt is shown to be a fantastic father who just wants the very best for his protégé. He cares deeply for her and isn’t afraid to join forces with his on-again-off-again lover, Yennefer, for a united front to find their daughter.
Ultimately, if you were an orphaned princess forced to flee across the continent, you wouldn’t want anyone but Daddy Geralt looking out for you.
Darth Vader (The Skywalker Saga) by Pete Bartlam
I couldn’t let a feature on Dads in videogames go by without a nod to the most famous Dad of them all: Darth Vader! (Though he never actually says “Luke, I am your father!”) Now I know what you’re going to say this is a feature on the Best Dads and Lord Vader is a bit, well, dark isn’t he? Indeed, if you are given a name that means dark father in Dutch you’ve pretty much got a “does exactly what it says on the tin” thing going on there. Though, of course, he starts out as just Anakin Skywalker.
But let’s consider his actions as a father; first he tries to save Luke’s Mother. The only way he feels he can do this is by becoming a Jedi Master to access arcane knowledge. When he is denied this by the Jedi Council he gets driven into the arms of the Emperor and becomes Darth Vader. He sends both Luke and his Sister Leia away to safety where they grow up with different beliefs to their father. All parents know that feeling!
Darth Vader just wants his son to follow in his father’s footsteps and take over the family business – in this case ruling the galaxy with an iron hand! When he realises his path was misguided, he sacrifices his own life to save his son from the Emperor.
And finally, he leaves his son a Light Saber! I mean who wouldn’t want that? I loved my own Dad, he was funny and intelligent, but he never left me a Light Saber and Luke never even sends him a Fathers Day card!
Sojiro (Persona 5) by Lauren Skinner
Fathers Day isn’t all about biological parents. What about the men who make the active choice to step into that role?
In Persona 5, Joker finds himself on probation, thrust into an unfamiliar city and forced to stay with his parents’ friend, Sojiro Sakura. Sojiro is at first unsympathetic to the boy he believes is a delinquent slacker. He tells Joker to keep his head down, work hard, and repay his debt to society—more strict landlord than guardian.
Soon, however, his frosty demeanour starts to melt. You, as Joker, start to help out around the coffee shop that is your new home. When you achieve high scores on exams, he’s so proud of you that the Confidant points received from him are multiplied.
Interacting with Sojiro raises your Kindness. This is more indicative of your relationship than it first seems. Why don’t you receive Knowledge from the guy teaching you how to brew the perfect cup of coffee and make his famous curry? Or Charm from this smooth-talking man, who fancied himself a “ladies’ man” in his youth? This is the first hint that he’s more than just a grouchy coffee shop guru—and suggests your relationship goes both ways. He appreciates your attention and consideration just as much as you are grateful to him for accommodating you despite believing, at first, you are a criminal.
As time goes on, he can see you’re trying your best, and soon begins to open up. He, unlike most adults in the game, doesn’t need the Phantom Thieves to intervene to change his heart.
As adopted father to chronically introverted Futaba as well, he quietly reveals himself to be warm, loving, and attentive to all these kids turning up at his coffee shop with fantastical emergencies. He shields Joker from the authorities—a complete 180 from where he was at the start of the game. His shocked yet joyful expression when Futaba starts to go outside says everything.
In fact, that’s what Sojiro embodies: he isn’t one to state his feelings, but his actions and quiet words speak volumes. As he says to Joker, ‘I’ll be there for you…as family.’ And you believe he will, no matter what.
Cliff Unger (Death Stranding) by Dan Hilton
So, when I first threw my name in the hat for this feature, I decided that I was going to write about Sam from Death Stranding. Who can deny a man the title of ‘father’ who literally carries a baby around with him strapped to his chest? A baby that is deemed no more than a simple tool in this game world. One that was destined to be incinerated after being in service for a certain amount of time. This of course sounds absolutely insane, and it is! But it makes sense in this world. That is a lie, even in this world it doesn’t make sense. But my TRUE father of choice for this feature is Cliff. Jump to the next entry if you wish to avoid spoilers.
Throughout the story, you will occasionally be whisked away by intense storms and stranded in small pocket beaches. Beaches are people’s personal limbo, or something. Not a lot of this game makes sense. But in these pocket beaches there are the collective consciousnesses of soldiers that died during the war. These collective consciousnesses give form to the environments, and in these environments is where you do battle with Cliff. It is during these encounters that we learn that Cliff died at some point trying to protect his BB (baby). But he seems to have defied death itself, taken control of the collective consciousnesses, warped the pocket beaches and is desperately trying to retake his BB. The BB that just so happens to be strapped to your chest.
The mystery of this character slowly unfolds during the events of the game. You begin to question the time periods and BB’s real age. Why is he so fixated on getting his BB back when he is dead, seemingly knows he is dead, but can see BB is being well cared for? But then the mysteries accumulate into one final bittersweet moment when Cliff finally gets face to face to you, and it all clicks into place. You are his BB. He has defied death, time, and all known physics just to get to you. Just to make sure that you, his innocent baby child, is well and safe. And then when it dawns on him that you are his quarry -a strong willed, protective father figure in your own right- he is seemingly overjoyed with what he sees and allows himself to slip into a proper death.
Death Stranding has incredibly well written characters. And a story that leans heavily on the themes of parenthood. It is truly fantastic, maybe one to pick up for Fathers Day.
Ethan Mars (Heavy Rain) by Sophie Jones
Heavy Rain is about many things, but its main focus is the relationship between Ethan and his son. At the beginning of the game Ethan loses one of his sons to a hit and run accident. After we see a broken Ethan trying to put the pieces of his life back together. Since that moment he blames himself and doesn’t think he is a good dad. This is evident as he isn’t present in his other son's life. It only gets worse when he loses his second son. At this point you probably think he shouldn’t be on the list anymore but stay with me.
Depending how you play, Ethan must go through dangerous trials to find clues to his son's location. One of the trials is drinking poison, which is no light feat. If you do every trial successfully, Ethan eventually saves his son from a heinous killer. This puts him in the list of best dads as he literally goes through hell to save his son. Not many would do that!
Of course, if you are one of those gamers who like seeing all endings, Heavy Rain can end depressingly. Instead of being the best dad, Ethan can fall into the list of worst dads due to failure. But he does always give it a go regardless of how each trial ends. That’s got to count for something, right?
And that’s a wrap! We’ve covered jaded dads, I’ll fight Thor for you dads, adoptive dads, hard love dads and those trying to do their best dads. Now I should probably switch off my PlayStation and go get a card for my own dad because Fathers Day is right around the corner.