Highlights
- Dive into open-world games to explore rich Caribbean culture through characters like Lifeline, Placide, and George, embodying unique backgrounds and skills.
-
Characters like Baptiste, Dee Jay, and Little Jacob represent the Caribbean with pride, showcasing vibrant personalities and cultural influences in games like
Overwatch
and
GTA. -
Adéwalé’s journey in
Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry
highlights themes of freedom and liberation in the Caribbean, shedding light on historical struggles.
The Caribbean is known for its vibrant culture, with diverse influences from across the globe making up its food, music, and people. Despite being mostly small islands with small populations, the region often finds itself at the heart of historical and cultural shifts that inspire the world to follow.
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The people of the West Indies have inspired a handful of video game characters that embody the region’s spirit, captivating players with their interesting backstories and magnetic personalities. They proudly represent their nations of origin (in true Caribbean fashion), boldly conveying their culture and disposition in their respective game worlds.
9 Lifeline
Caribbean Inspired
Apex Legends
- Released
- February 4, 2019
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale , First-Person Shooter
Lifeline is a Legend in Apex Legends with several abilities centered around healing her teammates. She can also call for more powerful gear with her Care Package ultimate ability, making her an important support hero in any team.
Though she originates from the planet Psamathe, her accent is Caribbean-inspired, with pronunciations pointing to Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados. This suggests that she’s part of a Caribbean community there, though this is never confirmed. Her signature style, outgoing personality, and unique skills on the battlefield make her popular among Apex players.
8 Placide
Haiti
Cyberpunk 2077
- Released
- December 10, 2020
Placide is a respected and high-ranking member of the Voodoo Boys gang that controls Night City’s Pacifica District in Cyberpunk 2077. Pacifica has a large Haitian population who migrated to the New United States after their island home was devastated by natural disasters. The Voodoo Boys gang are highly skilled Netrunners, and Placide is no exception.
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Ruthlessly loyal to his gang and community, Placide does not trust outsiders, including the protagonist. V is hired for a dangerous job with little chance of survival, causing tension between the two characters and making Placide divisive among fans. Still, nobody can deny his dedication to the Haitian community and his skills in combat and Netrunning.
7 George
Guyana
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
- Released
- February 19, 2013
George is a child from Guyana who was kidnapped and taken to a Desperado cyborg research facility for tests and experiments. He realized what would happen to him if he stayed, and decided to escape, but was almost recaptured before being rescued by the protagonist, Raiden.
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Despite being a small child, George is perceptive, courageous, and willing to help the many other displaced children prisoners escape. He’s a very likable character, but his portrayal in Metal Gear Rising isn’t perfect, as players familiar with the Guyanese accent found his pronunciation wildly inaccurate.
6 Baptiste
Haiti
Overwatch
- Released
- May 24, 2016
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Baptiste is a battle-tested combat medic whose desire to help others made him leave the Talon organization and join Overwatch. His rich backstory begins in Port-de-Paix, Haiti, where he was left orphaned after the Omnic War. He eventually joined the Caribbean Coalition to help his people, but fell in with Talon after the coalition disbanded.
Appearing in both Overwatch and Overwatch 2, Baptiste is a helpful support hero with effective skills, like his Immortality Field and Regenerative Burst. He’s also recognized for his sharpshooting ability and deadly 3-round burst automatic rifle.
5 Antón Castillo
Yara (Fictional Country Based On Cuba)
Antón Castillo is the charismatic and ruthless dictator of Yara, Far Cry 6’s fictional island nation inspired by Cuba. He is the main antagonist and driving force of the game’s narrative. He’s also portrayed in likeness and voice by iconic actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for many roles, but most notably Breaking Bad’s Gus Fring.
As the son of a formerly deposed president, Castillo believes that his oppressive rule and forced labor are the best ways to improve Yara’s wealth. This tyranny compels the people of the small island nation to take up arms and fight for their freedom, which has happened on several occasions throughout Caribbean history.
4 Dee Jay
Jamaica
Street Fighter 6
- Released
- June 2, 2023
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
First Appearing back in Super Street Fighter 2, Dee Jay is a Jamaican character known for his cheerful personality and status as a renowned kickboxer and world-famous musical artist. It’s rare to see him wearing a frown, as he spends most of his time grinning from ear to ear.
Dee Jay represents Jamaica proudly with his rhythmic kickboxing techniques and style, sporting vibrant colors, Jamaican flags, and dreadlocks. He’s well-liked by Street Fighter players and has friendly rivalries with other characters throughout the series, rarely having serious personal conflicts.
3 Cassandra
Haiti
Mafia Trilogy
- Released
- May 19, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Hangar 13
Mafia 3 takes place in 1968 in New Bordeaux, a fictional city inspired by New Orleans. Like its real-world counterpart, the city has a sizable Caribbean population, with many Haitians and other French-speaking West Indians forming a large part of its black community. In the game, the neighborhood of Delray Hollow is home to the Haitian Mob.
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This gang is led by Cassandra, a proud Haitian nicknamed the Voodoo Queen. Her calculated and elusive nature protects her identity from protagonist Lincoln Clay and CIA agent John Donovan. She has strong morals, and believes in self-defense for the people of her community who are often victims of brutality and trafficking.
2 Little Jacob
Jamaica
Little Jacob is a Jamaican character and a high-ranking member of Liberty City’s Yardies gang, second only to its leader, Real Badman. Little Jacob is a proud Jamaican, sporting dreadlocks and speaking in the Rasta dialect with phrases like ‘I and I.’ Upon meeting the protagonist, Niko, early in the game, they become fast friends and allies, thanks to mutual respect and shared values.
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Despite Niko not always fully understanding Little Jacob’s accent, he understands his actions, repeatedly proving his trustworthy and righteous nature. He becomes instrumental in the story of Grand Theft Auot 4 as one of the few characters Niko can rely on as conflicts escalate with his rivals.
1 Adéwalé
Trinidad And Tobago
Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry
- Released
- November 17, 2013
- Genre(s)
- Adventure , Action-Adventure
Born enslaved on the island of Trinidad in 1692, Adéwalé would free himself and become a pirate, eventually sailing alongside Edward Kenway as an indispensable member of the Jackdaw crew. Adéwalé would later feel disillusioned with the pursuit of riches and join the Assassins, breaking away for a time to help the Maroons of Saint-Domingue (modern-day Haiti) liberate the enslaved African people of the region.
In Assassin’s Creed Freedom Cry, Adéwalé is a machete-wielding symbol of Caribbean freedom and independence. He fights for the liberty of enslaved people against oppressive forces whenever and whenever he gets the chance, and feels deep regret for those he can’t save.
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