Robots have been a staple in video games for many years, appearing in massive franchises such as Metroid, Metal Gear Solid, and even Super Mario. Whether they appear to the player as a small, unassuming enemy, a trusted ally, or a gargantuan beast built to elicit a fear response, robots are loved and welcomed in almost any video game.
However, some robots stand out thanks to their unique designs or intriguing backstories. Robots have long since moved on from the days of simply being background fodder to a human's story. They're now highly developed characters of their own who've grown incredible fanbases. Despite their cold, metallic exteriors, these robots are some of the deepest characters in their game franchises.
10 Monokuma Is The Iconic Dual Color Killer (Danganronpa)
Monokuma may look cuddly, but he's a killer black and white teddy bear that oversees all of the killing games across the three mainline Danganronpa games. Created by Monaca Towa and "adjusted" by Junko Enoshima to have a near-insufferable personality, Monokuma isn't just an antagonist, he's an instigator.
Perfectly created to sow as much discord as possible amongst the killing game participants, Monokuma plays a brilliant villain. He's equal parts unlikeable and entertaining, with players buying plushies of him in droves. His appearance is iconic and considered one of the best aspects of the franchise.
9 Pascal Is A Peace-Loving Pacifist (NieR Automata)
Pascal is the beloved heart of NieR Automata and the pacifist robot that opens 2B and 9S's eyes to the fact that machines are more than mindless vessels. With a gentle way of speaking and an almost parental concern for their people, the first time the player meets Pascal in the aptly named Pascal's Village is unforgettable.
Pascal is designed this way specifically to make it all the more horrifying when his entire community destroys itself. In a devastatingly sad moment, he requests that the player either kill him or erase his memories. Neither option is good, and even if Pascal is left alive to decide his own fate, he is never seen again. He certainly deserved better than the fate he received, and his existence will live on in players' memories long after the game is over.
8 BD-1 Is A Loyal Companion (Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order)
Being Cal's only permanent companion over a long campaign is a dangerous job, but Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order's BD-1 was up for the challenge. As a small, bipedal, red and white droid, BD-1 quickly captured the hearts of Fallen Order players, particularly when he hopped on Cal's back not too dissimilarly from the way Yoda piggybacked on Luke in the films.
Hilariously, BD-1 seems to have little care for its own well-being, instead being much more interested in research and data collection. Perhaps that was what enamored so many players with the robot. The ability to change BD-1's skins allowed players to customize their companion to match Cal himself.
7 Aigis Becomes More Human (Persona 3)
Aigis is far more than a robot in Persona 3; she's a friend, confidant, and a loyal protector. Her entire social link is based around her seeking to become more human and understanding that even if her heart grows more human, her body will not. She's canonically one of the protagonist's closest allies, if not their closest friend, and suffers the most after their death.
The story in Persona 3 is remarkably bittersweet, even by Persona standards, and Aigis herself is a large part of that. Her and the protagonist's fates are far more intertwined than they believe, leading to plenty of tearful confessions and heartbreaking moments. Aigis, despite her status as a robot, adds a lot of warmth to the tense game.
6 B-12 Is A Robot-Shaped Human (Stray)
While it's revealed over the course of the indie cat exploration game, Stray, that B-12 is actually a human consciousness placed into a small robotic body, the end of the game indicates that B-12 will now stay in technological systems forever. It's appropriate to consider them a robot.
B-12 was the invaluable buddy that not only allowed the protagonist to communicate with the other robots but also survive against the flesh-eating Zurks. The bond between B-12 and the cat is easily felt even without the two exchanging a true conversation.
5 Nick Valentine Has His Own Detective Agency (Fallout 4)
Arguably one of the standout companions of Fallout 4, Nick Valentine is the synthetic Diamond City detective that the protagonist meets early on in their journey after rescuing him from mobster Skinny Malone. Nick is just generally pretty cool.
With the memories of a pre-war detective and plenty of additional skills to complement that personality, Nick is a fun and serious companion in equal measure. Firing off genuinely hilarious lines whilst pulling his weight in emotional moments, it's no surprise that he quickly rose up the ranks of companion popularity, with many claiming that he never left their party at all during the game.
4 Claptrap Is Everyone's Favorite Idiot (Borderlands)
Somehow, a character designed to be one of the most annoying creatures on Pandora has effectively captured the hearts of players worldwide. Claptrap, or CL4P-TP if Hyperion is involved, is a small robotic unit that has more than its fair share of bad luck over the course of multiple Borderlands games.
Beaten, destroyed, reassembled, and wiped more times than it can count, Claptrap is tragic comedic relief. While its personality can be grating to many, Claptrap has become synonymous with the Borderlands franchise, becoming one of the most instantly recognizable figures appearing on most of its merchandise and marketing.
3 Legion Provides A Different Perspective (Mass Effect)
The one complaint many fans have about Legion is that they weren't introduced earlier. Belonging to the geth race, who were the main antagonistic race Commander Shepard faced in the first Mass Effect game, Legion gave some much-needed perspective when they were introduced in Mass Effect 2.
Up until then, the geth had been a race of synthetics who elicited very powerful, and often negative, reactions from others in the galaxy. Legion, and those that wrote them, showed the true versatility of the geth. Legion's introduction added yet another moral dilemma to an already complicated universe, and their unique backstory gained them a loyal following.
2 GLaDOS Is Iconic And Well-Known (Portal)
When it comes to iconic robots, GLaDOS sits near the top of the list. The legendary antagonist of both Portal games is well-regarded in the video game community thanks to her menacing and taunting personality.
Despite seeming like a black and white villain, GLaDOS gains morality at the end of Portal 2, which sees her finally free Chell and conduct experiments on two robots of her own creation instead. Hilariously, GLaDOS continues to belittle the pair as she did Chell, and even laments about how much she misses torturing a human. Maybe she isn't capable of change after all.
1 Clank Fuels Childhood Nostalgia (Ratchet & Clank)
Clank is Ratchet's most beloved friend in the Ratchet & Clank series. The two have accompanied each other on almost every adventure since their introduction in 2002. Clank has always been a hero, despite his small stature. He first met Ratchet when he tried to warn the world of Chairman Drek's evil plans.
Out of the two, Clank is definitely the level-headed one, often preventing Ratchet from getting involved in complicated schemes. He's entirely unafraid to take on enemies ten times his size, but more often than not uses his intelligence and wit to escape dangerous situations. Clank is a healthy dose of childhood nostalgia, a reliable companion, and a lovable character.