A good mystery - particularly one that’s never quite solved across several games - can be one of the best parts of an ongoing franchise. Video games are full of unexpected allies, shadowy villains, and simple wanderers who are much more than they seem.
These mysterious characters might have their stories dramatically revealed at a climactic point in the story, but in many cases they’re just there, leaving us to wonder if there are hidden details that will blow the whole thing wide open. How many of these walking question marks have you met?
10Sissel
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detectivefollows Sissel, a recently-deceased spirit trying to solve the mystery of his own murder. He learns a lot about the strange circumstances just before his death, but without any memory or clues to his identity, Sissel is just as much an enigma to himself as he is to anyone else.
9Sylens
Horizon: Zero Dawn, Horizon: Forbidden West
Aloof, self-serving, and calculating, Sylens is anally of conveniencefor Aloy throughout much of her journey. While he has an infuriating disdain for everyone around him, hisknowledge of Old World machinesis unmatched.
Sylens' origins and motivations are revealed in dribs and drabs across two extensive games, but he only reveals information he deems to be critically relevant. With the passing of his voice actor,Lance Reddick, in 2023, it’s unclear whether Sylens will return to aid Aloy and her companions in the battle against Nemesis.
8The Illusive Man
Mass Effect 2 & 3
The leader of the Cerberus organization has access to resources that rival the Citadel government, the Omega crime lords, and the Shadow Broker. His goal is to put humanity’s interests firstby any means necessary, at the expense of other sentient species. Defeating the Reapers (and using their technology for his own gain) is just a part of the plan.
The Illusive Man is careful to never reveal his name or any details about himself to Shepard, even in their final confrontation, but his origins are detailed in the comic seriesMass Effect: Evolution.
7Mr. Blue Eyes
Cyberpunk 2077
Night City’s puppetmaster behind the scenes is a conspiracy theorist’s dream. He seems to have his fingers in every pie, but never leaves any real evidence of his involvement. To most of the game’s NPCs, he’s little more than a bogeyman, but V discovers thatMr. Blue Eyes is very real.
He’s rarely seen in person, and even then it’s usually from afar. Mr. Blue Eyes isalways watching, and it’s an open question whether he’s the true power in Night City or if he serves someone even more mysterious and powerful.
6The Strange Man
Despite sticking out like a sore thumb in the Wild West thanks to his impeccable suit and top hat, the Strange Man is oddly nondescript. John Marston encounters him a handful of times, though it’s questionable whether anyone else can see him.
The prevailing theory is that the Strange Man - who calls himself merely an accountant - is the Angel of Death. He seems to appear and disappear at will, makes frighteningly accurate predictions about the future, and is apparentlyimmune to physical harm.
5Warlin Door
Alan Wake 2
Like Alan and Zane, Warlin Door is ahuman trapped in the Dark Place.However, he appears to have much more control over the nightmare dimension and even seems to relish the power that he holds there. From his TV studio, he oversees the loop that Alan has been trapped in for thirteen years.
Like many mysteries of the shared universe betweenAlan WakeandControl, Mr. Door leaves more questions than answers after the credits roll. Other than some cold case files alluding to his disappearance from the real world, though, there’slittle hard evidenceas to who he is or what his goals are.
4G-Man
Half-Life, Half Life 2, Half-Life: Alyx
As inscrutable overseers go, it’s hard to top the omnipresent G-Man. He seems tobe everywhere and know everything, but he’s only an agent of an as-yet-unknown greater power. Given that Half-Life is a tale that spans entire dimensions, that’s a truly terrifying prospect.
It’s possible - likely, even - that we’ll never know the full story behind the G-Man, even if the fabled Half-Life 3 ever happens. His presence is a reminder that, as heroic as Gordon might be, the good doctor is never fully in control.
3Gogo
Final Fantasy 5 & 6
Covered head-to-toe in colorful scarves, Gogo is a hidden character in two classicFinal Fantasytitles. In Final Fantasy 5, Bartz and his companions can battle Gogo as anoptional bossto gain the powerful Mime Job toward the end of the game. In Final Fantasy 6, Gogo joins the party if you may find them inside the belly of the Zone Eater.
Gogo’s ability toreplicate the powers of any creature, friend or foe, makes them an extremely capable fighter in any situation. If you’re looking for hidden lore or a canon backstory, though, you’re out of luck; Gogo’s origin and identity has beenone of the franchise’s biggest mysteriesfor almost thirty years.
2The Merchant
Resident Evil 4
The Merchant is about as inscrutable as a character can get. He only ever appears inResident Evil 4, and he’s been a subject of speculation and debate ever since. At least he seems to be on Leon’s side,providing weapons, ammo, and healing itemsthroughout the horrifying ordeal.
Whaddaya buyin'?
The Merchant seemscompletely safe in the Plaga-infested villageand its surroundings, despite actively working against Lord Saddler and the cult. He even has time toset up shooting galleries and shopsright under Los Illuminados' noses.
In the original version of the game, his eye color changes, suggesting that he is also infested with the Plagas, but somehow resistant to Saddler’s control. In the Remake, notes found around the castle seem to suggest that he is descended from local nobility and has a vendetta against the Salazars.
1Old Man
The Legend Of Zelda
Unless you decide to ignore the cave that’s right in front of you at the beginning of the originalLegend of Zelda, you’ll be immediately greeted by a nameless old man whooffers you a sword, no questions asked. He appears several times throughout the quest, offering cryptic hints on Link’s first adventure.
Who is this sage? How much does he know? Could he have helped Link to defeat Ganon and recover the Triforce all along? It’s a secret to everybody.
