Video games have introduced many fan-favorite fathers, from Joel in The Last of Us, to Geralt in the various adaptations of The Witcher, including the Netflix series. What do these adoptive fathers have in common? They went up and took these children under their protection when no one else wanted. They break the form of traditionally absent fathers in the media and show how caring some fathers can be.
The best father figures teach their children useful life lessons, sacrifice for them, and even lay down their lives to protect their children. Although not flawless, these dads prove that all parents should be there for their child, and provide good role models for players to follow.
8 Big Daddy/Subject Delta – BioShock 2
The Big Daddies of the Underwater Utopia for BioShocks Rapture are biologically engineered and designed to protect the Little Sisters. Armed with a heavy mechanical drill, a Big Daddy could easily cut to pieces any potential threats to his temporary daughters. To see also : Digital Eclipse is developing Atari in conjunction with 90+ games, including Jaguar titles. The Big Daddy protagonist in BioShock 2, nicknamed Subject Delta, shows a nurturing and dangerous relationship with a little sister, Eleanor Lamb. Subject Delta has a strong psychological connection with Eleanor and is told that he will die unless he finds her.
Through the game’s moral system, players like Subject Delta can teach Eleanor to make important decisions and at times be merciful. The game has several endings, depending on whether players saved or sacrificed non-player characters.
7 Jack – BioShock
The dumb protagonist in BioShock has a rough relationship with his father, Andrew Ryan, the leader of Rapture. It is revealed that he was a biologically programmed weapon of destruction.
At the end of the game, however, Jack can be seen in a rock scene returning to the surface with at least five little sisters, depending on the player’s choice. Read also : The Dodgers lead the National League despite injuries, obstacles. He raises them as his own, until he dies of old age, surrounded by his little sisters, now as grown women, who comfort him on his deathbed.
6 Sojiro Sakura – Persona 5
Since he had no children of his own, Sojiro Sakura adopted his close friend’s daughter under his wings in Persona 5. He treated Wakaba, Futaba’s daughter, as his own. This may interest you : Valve’s fake games actually look great. Sojiro also becomes the player’s adoptive father, provides shelter, and constantly reminds the player that they are a useless criminal. He houses them and gives them a job at his coffee shop.
He acts ignorant when confronted with the player’s gang activities as a Phantom Thief member. He deserves top dad brownie points for taking in not one, but two kids!
5 Conrad Roth – Tomb Raider
Conrad Roth is introduced in Tomb Raider (2013), which serves as a prequel that adds the backstory to the world-famous character of Lara Croft. Roth, who he is referred to in the game, acts as Lara’s legal guardian and mentor after the death of his father Richard.
In a journal entry, it is revealed that the iconic green necklace that Lara wears was made by Roth, using his shoelaces and a piece of gemstone in jade that was discovered during an archaeological excavation. Roth taught Lara basic survival skills, such as rock climbing and navigation, and taught her that it was okay to be different from other girls her age. Roth never doubted Lara once and protected her for as long as he could, and shaped her into the world-famous Tomb Raider we know today.
4 Rost – Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn’s Rost, as a man of faith and honor, undertook to care for the abandoned baby Aloy. Rust’s patience was tested by Aloy’s childlike curiosity about the world, but he never denied her thirst for knowledge. He conveyed all his survivability to her when they lived alone together as outcasts. Praise was all Aloy had, and vice versa.
At the age of six, Aloy discovered Focus. Rost did not understand this concept, but respected her ties to this technology. He even encouraged her to take on The Proving, even though her success meant she would be forced to leave him. Even when Aloy’s antics clashed with his faith, he still found ways to support his adopted daughter, as all parents should! Rost sacrificed the ultimate to save Aloy’s life, and in turn she was able to fulfill her duty and save the life of her tribe. He never stopped watching her until the very end.
3 Geralt Of Rivia – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Geralt of Rivia took Ciri under his protection when she was 12 years old, as the couple’s fate is intertwined through the Law of Surprise. The couple has a tumultuous relationship, where Ciri is actually a ticking bomb of magical energy. Despite his strict appearance, Geralt cares about Ciri as the daughter he would never be able to have biologically – witches were sterile due to their genetic mutations and vigorous training.
Geralt spends most of The Witcher 3 searching the entire continent for signs of Ciri. He proves that he was willing to put himself in danger to keep her safe.
2 Lee Everett – The Walking Dead Telltale Series
Lee Everett is possibly the only man in game history to have been rescued by the zombie apocalypse. In the TellTales Walking Dead series, Lee was about to be sent to prison when the end of the world happened and managed to escape. Lucky timing! He stumbles upon a young girl named Clementine, while she saves him from being bitten by a walker. Lee promises to take care of her until they find her biological parents. Lee becomes her guardian, and teaches her all the basics “Zombie-Apocalypse-101”. In an adorable haircut scene, he shows her how to style and cut her hair to avoid being caught by hikers.
As with many zombie apocalypse games, it all ends in tragedy, with Lee’s fate being left to the player who controls Clementine. Lee’s strong influence stays with Clementine throughout The Walking Dead seasons. She mentions that while making difficult decisions, she would imagine Lee’s voice in her head guiding her.
1 Joel Miller – The Last of Us
Joel’s personality at the beginning of The Last of Us is defined by his role as a father. Players witness that he fails to protect his biological daughter, Sarah, in the prologue, which sets the tone for the game. Fast forward twenty years in the game and several hours in real life, and players are introduced to Ellie. Ellie is considered the cure for the end of the world, since she is immune to the zombie-like clickers that have infected the planet. Joel, now a smuggler, is assigned to escort her across the country. Joel first saw her as a job to be completed and as a disadvantage. But along the way, the unlikely couple forms a bond, where Joel becomes protective of her.
At the end of the game, Joel discovered that the only way a vaccination cure could be made was for Ellie to die. The death of a teenage girl over saving the rest of humanity? Seems like a no-brainer. Not for Joel, though. He kidnaps Ellie and kills former allies to save the life of the surrogate daughter. Top dad points! Who does humanity really need?
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