10. Ellie

First appearance: The Last of Us 2

When we first meet Ellie, she’s a brave but distrustful 14-year-old trying her best to survive in a world where man-eating fungi zombies are only half of her problems.

As it turns out, other people are still the biggest danger after the zombie apocalypse.

Ellie learns this the hard way during the first game. And all that fear, rage, and resentment are only part of what drives her forward during The Last of Us 2.

She’s one of the most complex and well-written video game characters of the last few years. And anyone who’s experienced trauma at the hands of other people can relate deeply to this tragic but resilient character.