There are many ways that games try to make their players sympathize with a particular video game character and get invested in their fight for justice. One of the simplest yet most effective ways to do this is through bullying, something that many people have experienced in their lives. There's no denying that more serious forms of bullying create a ton of emotional and mental distress for people, making it an act that players hate to their very core.
As a result, characters who get bullied end up being sympathetic figures that players love to aid throughout their journey. Sometimes, this culminates in a scene where the bullied character ends up fighting back, much to the delight of most players. The following games are great examples of this.
6 Earnest – Bully
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For what it's worth, Jimmy Hopkins does a majority of the bullying in Bully. So, while he might be a fun protagonist to control regardless, some players love that other characters who are tormented by him for the longest time end up fighting against him in a bid to regain their own self-respect.
This leads to one of the more memorable boss fights in the entire game, where the de-facto leader of the Nerd clique, Earnest, fights back against Jimmy without even trying to listen to his demands. Players need to get through three phases of this tough fight where Earnest brings out all his innovations to try and stop Jimmy in his tracks, before eventually agreeing to help the protagonist out after being defeated.
5 Jennifer – Rule Of Rose
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Rule of Rose is one of the most uncomfortable horror games that players can check out, with the protagonist Jennifer being trapped in her memories as she relives the events of what seems to be her past. It's a harrowing game where players have to get through a ton of uninspired gameplay moments to get to the meat of the story...but most horror gaming fans would argue that this is precisely what makes Rule of Rose such an unforgettable experience.
After being tormented and bullied by the Aristocrats for the longest time, it's intensely satisfying to see Jennifer finally stand up for herself and give Wendy and the rest of the group a piece of her mind. She might be fragile, but Jennifer's strong will is developed in this scene and makes her a great horror game protagonist that players will love to root for.
4 Ryuji Sakamoto – Persona 5
Persona 5 is a game where the entire theme is people standing up against corrupt adults who abuse their power and place innocent people in a ton of distress. In a way, pretty much every character is bullied in Persona 5 to an extent, but it's the torment that Kamoshida inflicts on Ryuji that makes him such a perfect mention for this list.
After having a promising future on the track team, Ryuji is slowly phased out of the team after trying to stand up to Kamoshida and being mysteriously injured by the track team coach. Not only does this lead to Kamoshida constantly picking on Ryuji, but it also leads to the track team ostracizing and bullying Ryuji since Kamoshida made the rest of the team bear the brunt of Ryuji's insubordination. Thankfully, not only do players get to fight back against Kamoshida and give him a piece of their mind but pursuing Ryuji's Confidant to the very end lets him rekindle his friendship with the track team too!
3 The Lone Wanderer – Fallout 3
Fallout 3 has one of the most iconic and memorable starts in video game history. Players document the journey of a vault dweller from the moment of their birth to the point where they need to leave the vault and search for their missing father. During their time in the vault, they will go through the throes of childhood, including instances where they will face off against their bully, Butch DeLoria.
These moments will go on to shape the player character's personality, such as when they decide to fight back against Butch after he tries to bully them out of a sweetroll. They can decide to fight back against Butch again when they see him bullying their friend, Amata, which makes for a great way to flesh out a character's personality using immersive in-game moments.
2 The Old Adventurer – Fable
Fable is a great western RPG series that is finally getting a new entry after what feels like ages. The first game was a landmark title that ended up being wildly successful, with the unique mechanics in this game being pretty simple yet highly enjoyable in their own right. There are many moments in the game where players can choose to fight back against the forces of evil, including a bully who likes picking on old people.
There are several instances where the Hero of Oakvale can intervene to prevent a bully from completing their nefarious actions, and one of the more memorable instances of the same comes when the player spies a bully and an old man quarreling. With the help of the Hero, the old man manages to make the bully leave him alone, leading to the revelation that this victim was apparently a hero in his glory days! It's a simple yet fun revelation that makes taking the good path more rewarding in this game.
1 Butters – South Park: The Stick Of Truth
Butters is the target of most bullies in South Park, and this sentiment is extended in The Stick of Truth as well. Butters' passive skill means that he'll be targeted more than the New Kid, which isn't necessarily a bad thing since Butters essentially functions as a tank and can withstand a ton of damage, even if he might seem somewhat weak.
The best part is that Butters has several great combat skills that make him a ton of fun to use in battle. As a result, any enemy who tries to bully him ends up getting absolutely whooped to kingdom come once Butters unleashes his suite of abilities on his tormentors.