Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen is one of the most significant characters in Game Of Thrones, and one of the more distinctive television protagonists of the 2010s. A vagabond princess from a fallen dynasty, she proves herself a force to be reckoned with when she hatches three dragons and sets about a crusade to regain her homeland and better the world.
While Daenerys is a perfectly unique character, Game Of Thrones makes plentiful use of common and well-established tropes in her character and storyline. These tropes can be found in other media, particularly in video games. There are a number of video game characters who bear heavy resemblance to her.
8 Cortana Becomes A Fallen Heroine To Make The World A Better Place
A common story arc is for a sympathetic and noble character to go too far, warping right back round to villainy as they become over-reaching and uncompromising. In Game Of Thrones' controversial eighth season, this is Daenerys' ultimate fate. She becomes a warmongering tyrant determined to brutally crush any and all opposition and unite the entire world in an anti-slavery empire.
A character who goes through similar is Cortana, Master Chief's AI companion and best friend from the Halo games. She spends much of the series being as resolute a defender of humanity as him, and even provides a moral voice. After her near-death experience with Rampancy, she plots a galactic takeover with the help of other rebellious AIs and the immense Forerunner Guardians, pledging to stamp out war. Stopping her is the main focus of Halo 5: Guardians.
7 Commander Shepard Struggles Under The Weight Of Immense Responsibility
In Mass Effect, there are very few fixed personality traits for protagonist Commander Shepard due to the player having control of most of their actions and opinions. However, their few fixed traits are a dead ringer for Daenerys. Regardless of their methods, Shepard is a hero who refuses to do anything other than their best. By the end of the series, Shepard is haunted by their responsibilities.
As the most proactive person against the Reapers, the holder of the knowledge of a Prothean beacon, and a beacon of the fight against the impossible threat, Shepard can't afford to walk away or set aside their duties. They fight on despite how tired they are and how impossible the fight seems - echoing Daenerys in Meereen and against the White Walkers. Some Shepards even resort to vicious and brutal tactics, much like Daenerys.
6 Jaina Proudmoore Takes After The Father She Tries To Do Better Than
One of the leading protagonists in the story of World Of Warcraft, Jaina Proudmoore spends most of her storyline as one of the voices calling for peace and unity in a world beset by war and manipulation. This is similar to Daenerys' more idealistic view compared to her cynical advisors.
Another similarity is that, while Jaina doesn't hate her father like Daenerys does the Mad King, they both explicitly sought to do better than them. In both cases, they fall into similar behavior. Daenerys achieves her father's goal and burns King's Landing after great personal loss. Jaina becomes incensed against the Horde and wages war after losing her city of Theramore.
5 Jesse Faden Becomes Empowered, And Then Becomes Powerful
At the start of Control and the start of Game Of Thrones, both Jesse Faden and Daenerys Targaryen are unremarkable young women who have spent most of their lives on the run. Having never had proper control of their lives, they're meek and insecure but have hints of proper steel beneath them.
They follow on similar character arcs beyond this. They each gain a supernatural power boost, Jesse in the form of the Service Weapon and Daenerys in her dragons, and attempt to make a difference. However, to do so, they each have to overcome their insecurities and embrace their true nature. Jesse establishes herself as the Director, and Daenerys decides to metaphorically become a dragon.
4 Malenia, Blade Of Miquella Unleashes Mass Destruction For What She Thinks Is Right
Renowned and respected as two of the greatest threats in their respective settings, Malenia from Elden Ring and Daenerys Targaryen bear plenty in common. They are both scions of royal blood who ultimately choose to forge their own destiny. Malenia goes with her brother Miquella to create the Haligtree, and Daenerys chooses to become queen on her own terms.
A pivotal point in both of their story arcs is their decision to utterly annihilate an area for what they think is a good cause. Hardened by grief a dozen times over and determined to stamp out tyranny, Daenerys devastates King's Landing to forever end Cersei's reign. When faced with Radahn and trying to find the brother she is undyingly loyal to, Malenia unleashes the Scarlet Rot, all but destroying Caelid.
3 Elizabeth Comstock Comes From A Dark Family And Takes A Dark Turn
Daenerys' heritage forms a large part of her character, particularly when she learns what a monster her father King Aerys was. From then, she tries to do better, but never escapes the stigma of being the 'Mad King's daughter' to much of Westeros. Similarly, Elizabeth Comstock from Bioshock Infinite grapples with being the daughter of Comstock, despite knowing how wretched he is.
Ultimately, Daenerys falls into the same behavior as her father. Elizabeth chooses to spite her father, even deciding to stop him from ever existing. Despite this, both behaviors take a dark turn. Daenerys becomes a tyrant herself and Elizabeth falls to the point she lets a child suffer just to torment Comstock that bit more. Unlike Daenerys, Elizabeth does choose to atone and redeem herself.
2 Superman Is A Tyrant Brought Down By His Old Friend
The paragon of goodness becoming a horrific tyrant is a well-worn story trope, but it's still an effective one. Aside from Daenerys' infamous turn, it is also prominent in Injustice: Gods Among Us and its sequel. After losing Lois Lane, Superman rules the world with a tyrannical iron fist.
This echoes Daenerys' story in many ways, and their downfalls are mixed. In both cases, it falls upon a loved one to realize what they've become and put a stop to them, conspiring with others of their allies. Tyrion presses Jon Snow into killing Daenerys, and Batman and other exiled superheroes work to put an end to Superman's Regime.
1 Noctis Lucis Caelum Is A Scion Of Prophecy
Prophecies are common fare in fantasy works, and seem to have unerring accuracy for royalty. In Final Fantasy XV, Noctis Lucis Caelum is the heir to the Lucian throne, and chosen by fate to use the power of the Crystal to banish darkness from the world. Likewise, Daenerys is one of many candidates for the Prince Who Was Promised, a similarly all-heroic figure.
Both struggle with their responsibilities as royalty and as scions of prophecy, particularly when they suffer personal loss. The difference is that Noctis has the love and support of his friends, doing the right thing for them and dying a hero. Daenerys loses her friends and family one by one, taking a far more evil turn.