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To celebrate Mother’s Day our blogging team thought we would highlight some of the best video game mums. Initially, this was a hard topic to write about as most memorable mums in video games are usually evil. *Cough*, *cough*, The Binding of Isaac springs to mind. Good mums and motherhood in general are not really represented in many games. Most mums are throwaway characters who could either exist or not exist and the game would be unchanged. However, we’ve chosen the mums who were thrust into the spotlight and did a decent job.
So, let’s celebrate these mums and hopefully next year there will be more to add to the list!
Yennefer Of Vengerburg (The Witcher 3) By Sophie Jones
Can this really be a best mum list if we didn’t start with Yennefer, from the Witcher? Yennefer is one of the most bad ass and intricate characters I’ve come across in a game. But her weakness, once her own mortality and beauty, changes over time as we are introduced to her relationship with Ciri. Yennefer isn’t Ciri’s birth mother but instead comes to adopt her as she teaches her how to use magic.
It is through Yennefer’s magical mentorship that a deeper bond develops between the two. It is evident that Yennefer would do anything for Ciri as she puts herself in precarious positions, disregards her ambitions and unleashes crazy magic when someone gets in the way. In fact, Yennefer resorts to necromancy and even dooms Skellige in her pursuit to keep Ciri safe.
Seeing an all-powerful and selfish sorcerous change her ways and look out for another was compelling to follow and was a lovely demonstration of what it means to be a mum. She’s always there, fiercely protective and won’t let the Wild Hunt stand in her way.
Nyx (Hades) By Dan Hilton
Hades is one of my favourite games of all time. Is it because of its mastery of the rogue-like formula? No. Is it the variety of fighting styles mixed with interesting legendary weapons? Nope. Is it the varying environments and enemy types you will encounter on your runs to escape hell? Nah. It is the story steeped in mythology, which is only further highlighted by the characters the game chooses to include. One of these characters is of course Nyx; Zagreus’ adoptive mother.
Mothers are great and all, but there is something special about someone who chooses to mother a child that is not their own. And something even more special about one that literally pulls on the strings of fate to revive the child after they sadly die at birth. Nyx raises Zagreus as her own after his birth mother fled the underworld after his death, believing he couldn’t be saved. Nyx is a large reason why Zagreus grows into such a loving, accepting and kind god. He becomes this god even whilst enduring a lifetime of anger from his father (Hades) and being shunned by the shades of the realm for never being able to contribute. When Zagreus learns that Nyx isn’t his biological mother, she doesn’t lie, doesn’t make excuses, and she immediately sets out to reunite him with his birth mother. She is so respectful of the matter and is filled with so much love for Zagreus, that she asks if she has permission to continue calling him child.
The easiest way to see what kind of mother someone is, is by examining the actions of their children. I think it is such a heart warming story that through the love and devotion Nyx gave to Zagreus, and the aid she gives him with finding his birth mother, that the story comes full circle. Minor spoilers to follow. After Nyx’s help with reuniting him with his birth mother, Zagreus goes out of his way to give Nyx the same comfort. He spends his time reuniting Nyx with her own parent – Chaos.
Hades is full of rich characters. It is the story you need to seek out that captivates me. The sense of family and love is prevalent in all of the characters in the game, and their stories are told in such a human way that they feel relatable. None of which are stronger than those involving parents and their children. Such as Demeter’s hate for the world after believing her daughter to be lost, ushering in an age of never-ending winter.
Nyx stands tall in world full of gods and heroes. Not bad for the goddess of night.
Mom (Animal Crossing) By Paul Blyth
One of the few characters (and mums in video games) that you don’t get to meet in the Animal Crossing series, our “Mom” (damn American spelling) is always thinking of us and looking out for us. You may have moved out and ventured far from home, but your in-game mum is a welcome and constant presence in your life. She sends you letters and handmade gifts, which remind you that home is never far away. She truly is a lovely example of how unconditional love can be given, even when we are apart. This additon lends itself to the game’s cosy and warm nature.
Dina (The Last Of Us Part II) By Sophie Jones
The Last of Us Part II is a depressing game. Yet, there are few moments that make you go “aw isn’t that nice”. The portrayal of Dina as a mother was one of those rare moments and offered a break from the sadness.
Throughout the game Dina is a constant in Ellie’s revenge quest. She follows her, despite being pregnant, because she loves her and wants to keep her safe. This might be viewed as an irresponsible thing for a mother to do, but in the early stages of pregnancy Dina is just beginning to understand what it means to be a mum. Although, she quickly learns the basics after witnessing many of the game's traumatic events.
The farm section occurs later in the game. It is one of the only respite moments. In this section we see Dina and Ellie as new mums to the lovely JJ. Dina has set up a haven which includes a nicely decorated farmhouse, livestock and a strong perimeter fence. She’s got everything set for JJ to grow up safely and away from violence.
Sadly, the happiness doesn’t last long. Ellie makes a reckless decision which jeopardises her family’s safety. Instead, of following Ellie, like usual, Dina chooses JJ which earns her a spot on this list. Dina still loves Ellie but now she has someone else to think about. Someone who depends upon her. She has to lose her love to keep her son safe. She puts his needs above her own and Ellie’s. Which a good mum would do! (Take notes Ellie). Even though making this decision breaks her heart and her domestic bliss, she must make it. She’s become a mum. I just hope her, and JJ turn up in the next game so we can see how they’re getting on!
Rosalina (Mario Series) By Seb Hawden
The first Mum I thought of when thinking about this feature was Rosalina. I remember playing Super Mario Galaxy for the first time and seeing her looking after all the adorable Lumas, it was beautiful and very heart warming. She is a very powerful figure, and her duty is to watch over and protect the cosmos, while also serving as the adopted mother of the lovingly cute Lumas and commanding the Comet Observatory. No pressure there then, nothing like having the whole cosmos on your shoulders, eh?
One of the things I really loved about Rosalina is how her backstory evolved and was revealed in Super Mario Galaxy. ‘Rosalina’s Story’, while never explicitly stated, is the story of how Rosalina made it into outer space and how she became the "mother" of the Lumas prior to the events of the game.
I did not know this but according to Wikipedia - “Yoshiaki Koizumi, director of Super Mario Galaxy, was the writer of the storybook. He wrote the script late at night when no one was around so no one would know what was in it. The next day, he told Shigeru Miyamoto about the story and presented it to him. Miyamoto was surprised that Yoshiaki wrote the script late at night with nobody around. Yoshiaki Koizumi, in a Nintendo Power interview, mentions that he would enjoy seeing Rosalina's storybook get published as a children's book.” How fascinating, I love going down internet-based rabbit holes like this.
So, why do I think Rosalina is one of the best Mums in video games? She's brave, she has hundreds of children and keeps the cosmos in-check, which must come with immense pressure and the weight of all that must weigh heavy on one’s soul. So of course, she must be one of the best Mums in video games.
Freya (God of War) By Paul Blyth
Saying motherhood can be complicated at times is an understatement. This is perfectly captured with the relationship of Freya and her son Baldur from God of War (2018). Once the Queen of Asgard and the Valkyries, Freya is reduced to nothing by her husband Odin before he casts her aside. She cherishes her son Baldur as one of the few good things to come out of her forced marriage. So, once she hears of a prophecy that predicts Baldur’s demise, she does everything within her power to protect her son.
However, by placing a spell of invulnerability on Baldur, she cuts him off not only from death but from any sensation, even pleasurable ones. As the story of God of War progresses and Baldur discovers this, his anger leads him to try and kill his own mother. Kratos and Atreus attempt to protect their newfound ally Freya, but in doing so, they break the spell and Kratos kills Baldur. Freya swears revenge on Kratos over Baldur’s murder. Freya’s love for her son is without question, but sadly it was her stifling love that ultimately led to his demise.
Cooking Mama (Cooking Mama) By Seb Hawden
Cooking Mama is a video game I think I have played a few times, while not being my sort of thing really, I did dabble in its quirkiness a while back. So, you might ask, why does she make the best Mums in video games list? Well, she cooks and not only that, she teaches you to cook yourself too. How does the old saying go - “Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime” wise words and words that make Cooking Mama vital in the world's survival, haha.
Cooking Mama originally came out in 2006 on the Nintendo DS and had you stirring, mixing and cooking to your heart's content. It was quite novel when it was released and gained quite a cult following. I think that is probably why I tried it back then, I was curious and wanted to know what all the culinary-based fuss was about. A cooking game, nah! It was enjoyable though, even if it was something far away from my normal gaming tastes.
There was some hubbub a while back about the latest version of Cooking Mama being built on block-chain and being used to mine Cryptocurrency but after digging down another internet-based rabbit hole, that looks to have been a load of old tosh. You cannot believe everything you read on the internet these days, plus I cannot believe this cute little chef would be involved in such tomfoolery.
Cooking Mama should be lauded for what she does, cooks, teaches youngsters about cooking and while not being real-world accurate, that there is fun to be had in preparing your own meals. Well done Cooking Mama, right, where's my skillet?
Samara (Mass Effect Legendary Edition) By Sophie Jones
Samara might be an odd choice to choose as “the best mum”. Mainly because in Mass Effect 2 her loyalty quest is to kill her own daughter. But hear me out. Samara always wanted children and when she finally settled down her children were born with a rare disease. This disease meant that they couldn’t bond with a partner without killing them. To protect her children and the galaxy she moved them to a convent and took a vow to repent for this genetic mishap.
When one daughter goes on a killing rampage, she takes it upon herself to stop this. For a mother to realise their child is a threat and take that burden on requires courage and you could argue love. It's an interesting story riddled with complexity.
When we get to Mass Effect 3, Samara’s motherhood is once more called into question. As I don’t want to spoil anything I will remain vague on the details. In this quest Samara must make an unthinkable decision and ultimately chooses the life of her children. It's both heart wrenching and brave. It's fair to say, Samara has a strenuous and perhaps toxic relationship with her children. Yet each one is at the core of her being and spurs her narrative and motivations forward. By the games end, she has served the galaxy for centuries enacting justice in their name. She would win the mum on a mission award for sure.
And that’s a wrap! These mums in video games each cemented their place by being good mums and telling interesting motherhood stories in video games. We have fierce mums, determined mums, protective mums, nurturing mums, domestic mums and “I will die for you” mums. Now I should probably go get a card for my own mum.