One of the main draws of the Life is Strange series is its dynamic and well-rounded characters. From the students at the prestigious Blackwell Academy to the eclectic residents of Haven Springs, there is no shortage of people to care about. Getting overly attached is just a natural occurrence.
Typically, looks don't mean much — you shouldn't really judge a book by its cover, and if Life is Strange is about anything, it's about the inner workings of the people around us. But, in this case, we have to make an exception: how characters look can tell you a lot about them.
10 David Madsen
You don't have to like David to acknowledge that he's a well-designed character. He has a presence in the first game, but in the second, you come to appreciate his design. Sean and Daniel have no cause to know him. But you, if you played the first game, might scratch at your head for a moment. "Isn't that…?"
And then…it is. It's Chloe's stepdad out here in the desert. The last person you possibly expected to make a cameo. His crewcut has grown out, and he doesn't have the extreme cop energy we remember. He feels as different as he looks — yet, the tells are there. He's still recognizeable, even in the unlikeliest of places.
9 Jed Lucan
Ah, Jed. Ryan's dad and the owner of the Black Lantern, Jed's been Gabe Chen's employer since Gabe moved to town and, by all accounts, seems like an amiable, personable guy. Someone who the town can always rely upon and who will help his community whenever called upon. You can see why people willingly spill their guts to him — he has a trustworthy vibe that is only second to that of his son.
He's also got the appearance of what you assume a prospector looked like in the year 1900 — he fits perfectly into the aesthetic of Haven. He looks like the picture of put-together, with his manicured beard and always tucked-in shirt. Yet, you feel that if one thread were pulled, he'd unravel at the seams.
8 Rachel Amber
You never really meet Rachel in the first Life is Strange — getting to know her is exclusive to Before the Storm, where you play as Chloe. Still, Rachel haunts your every move as Max, the answer to a question you've barely begun to ask. You see her face everywhere, staring out at you from a missing poster with unblinking eyes.
You can understand why Chloe gravitated to Rachel, even before you meet her properly in the prequel. She's striking, even in grainy black and white photocopies, and everything about her radiates intrigue. However, nothing is as compelling as her subtle expression — she shows a lot of emotion in Before the Storm, true, yet there always seems to be more bubbling under the surface. A mystery you'll never crack.
7 Daniel Diaz
Taking care of a kid with superpowers definitely doesn't seem easy. But Daniel is, generally, a good kid. He has a lot of curiosity, love for his family, and a persistent innocence to him, despite the traumas he's had to deal with. He acts like a kid and dresses like one, with t-shirts with rocket ships or animals. Everything about him screams young, innocent, naive.
So you, like Sean, want to protect him at all costs. Not only that, you want to make the right choices consistently because you know Daniel is watching and complicating his life further is out of the question. He evokes this care in you just by existing.
6 Ryan Lucan
Let's get this out of the way: Ryan is kind of a hunk. Not that he seems too aware of that fact, considering his intensely dorky personality and discomfort with (fake) flirting. He has this earnest quality that is immediately apparent the moment you set eyes on him — he kind of has the energy of a protective, but shy, big dog.
Ryan's gentle nature is emphasised by his warm color palette and his penchant for flannels of varying colors. Despite his self-described rugged outdoorsman aesthetic, he wears some subtle accessories you'd be forgiven for not noticing at first. If you choose to look harder, there's more to see when it comes to Gabe's best friend. But don't forget: even the gentlest dogs have teeth.
5 Steph Gringrich
Our chaotic, indie rock dreamboat has a look so iconic she's barely changed it for six-ish (in-universe) years. Steph seems too laid back for how razor-sharp her blunt haircut is, though it vibes with her badass DJ persona. Whether you first met her at Blackwell playing tabletop games or caught a glimpse of her rocking out, it's clear that you have no choice but to be pulled into her orbit.
Her trademark beanie tells you she's a woman who values comfort; her dragon pendant shows you she's an absolute nerd. Steph's presence in your story is a constant, but she gives off the impression that she's always on the go — no place has to be a forever home, not to her.
4 Max Caulfield
You'd be forgiven for thinking Max is kind of mousy and unassuming. Compared to her best friend Chloe, or other students at Blackwell like Victoria, Max doesn't seem to place a lot of stock in her appearance — it's just not that important to her. She's here to take pictures, travel in time, and solve strange disappearances. You don't need to look fancy to do that.
Max's simplicity works well to emphasize her generally quiet, considered personality. You get the feeling she'd like nothing more than to disappear behind the lens of her camera, a constant observer but never a driving force. Her nondescript yet pleasant appearance that tells you that Max has more important things to do than prep her wardrobe.
3 Sean Diaz
More than anything else, Sean looks like a typical teenager. While he starts with short hair, as time progresses, you see the teen get a little scruffier, reflecting his new, unpredictable lifestyle — a haircut is the last thing you think about when you don't know where your next meal is coming from.
Sean often wears hoodies and beanies — comfortable clothing choices that allow you a few extra moments in the elements. There's a wolf theme to some of his outfits, too, reflecting the pack metaphor he uses with Daniel — it reflects Sean himself, too. He's a kind kid, a protective brother, but when he's cornered, or Daniel is in danger, he'll claw his way out. Despite the weight of the world he carries on his back, Sean squares his shoulders — his determination always shines through every episode.
2 Chloe Price
If there's a poster child for the series, it's Chloe. And why wouldn't it be? She crashes into your and Max's life in a flurry of blue hair and tattoos. She is instantly noticeable, and more than that, she is instantly memorable. Arcadia Bay is full of people who seem to wear masks, yet Chloe always feels authentic. What you see is what you get.
Her presence is a loud one — one that refuses to hide. The epitome of rebellious teen. Tenacious to a fault, with a fiery temper that betrays her cool-toned clothes, Chloe wants people to know she's there. That she's watching them. And that she will dig out the truth.
1 Alex Chen
It's easy to fall in love with Alex — you don't need Steph or Ryan to tell you that. Her clothing evolution over the episodes shows how she is opening up to Haven Springs — her first appearance has her lost in a sea of denim. Her jacket seems to swallow her. She's unsure of her place. It shows.
Then, as time goes on, she loses the layers, indicating her mastery over her powers, over herself — she finally allows herself to be seen by others. Shedding your shell is easy when the people around you show, every time they can, how deeply they care about you. Alex, with her empathy powers, likely knows this better than anyone. Also, her glasses are so cute.