Summary
The Caribbeanis 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 ofhistorical and cultural shiftsthat inspire the world to follow.
The people of the West Indies have inspired a handful ofvideo game characters that embody the region’s spirit,captivating players with theirinteresting backstoriesand magnetic personalities. They proudly represent their nations of origin (in true Caribbean fashion), boldly conveying their culture and disposition in their respective game worlds.
Lifelineis a Legend inApex Legendswith several abilities centered around healing her teammates. She can also call for more powerful gear with her Care Package ultimate ability, making her animportant support heroin 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 amongApexplayers.
Placideis a respected and high-ranking member of the Voodoo Boys gang that controls Night City’s Pacifica District inCyberpunk 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.
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, causingtension between the two charactersand making Placide divisive among fans. Still, nobody can deny his dedication to the Haitian community and his skills in combat and Netrunning.
Georgeis 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.
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 inMetal Gear Risingisn’t perfect, as players familiar with the Guyanese accent found his pronunciation wildly inaccurate.
Baptisteis 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 bothOverwatchandOverwatch 2, Baptiste is a helpfulsupport 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.
Antón Castillois the charismatic and ruthless dictator of Yara,Far Cry 6’sfictional island nation inspired by Cuba. He is themain antagonistand 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 notablyBreaking Bad’sGus 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.
First Appearing back inSuper Street Fighter 2,Dee Jayis a Jamaican character known for his cheerful personality and status as arenowned kickboxerand 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 byStreet Fighterplayers and has friendly rivalries with other characters throughout the series, rarely having serious personal conflicts.
Mafia 3takes 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.
This gang is led byCassandra, a proud Haitian nicknamed theVoodooQueen. 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.
Little Jacobis 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.
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 ofGrand Theft Auot 4as one of the few characters Niko can rely on as conflicts escalate with his rivals.
Born enslaved on the island of Trinidad in 1692,Adéwaléwould 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 andjoin 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.
InAssassin’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.
