In most video games, the protagonists, rightfully so, get much of the credit and praise for saving the day. Princess Peach gets kidnapped by Bowser, it's Mario that ends up defeating King Koopa, but should that be the case? Many video game heroes seek aid from others, and sometimes can't emerge victorious without that help.

Sidekicks have been assisting heroes for what seems like forever. These characters do not necessarily reflect their games as a whole, but the sidekicks highlighted throughout this list are true ride-or-dies. Let's take a look at the best sidekicks in video game history.

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Updated October 7, 2021, by Avery Lawrence Feyrer: This post has been updated to reflect some truly awesome companions that guide our favorite protagaonists through games. As more titles are released we see more heroes and more amazing sidekicks. We share with you the very best sidekicks you'll find in gaming.

10 Ellie -The Last Of Us

ellie last of us

Do you recall the battle that Naughty Dog was said to have fought to have Ellie on the game’s cover art? This is an ongoing issue in video games when it comes to the mere existence of women. For The Last of Us, however, Ellie is an integral part of the game. After Joel's daughter died in the opening minutes of the game, somehow, Joel found a way to survive for years before meeting Ellie. She proved to be the driving force of the plot and the source of Joel’s will to move forward.

Though generally superfluous for much of the game’s playable moments, Ellie's inclusion in the game is extremely important, as her existence is the central plotline. While she doesn't provide much help in combat, she's able to access areas that Joel can't and that helps the pair on their journey in finding the Fireflies.

9 Atreus - God Of War

atreus god of war

Also known simply as "Boy," Atreus was a welcome addition to God of War. The son of Kratos, Atreus represents much of the good in the god-killing Spartan, especially because Kratos tries to teach him how to be a good and respectful person.

While God of War explores the redemptive road that Kratos walks down, it's also very much Atreus’ story, as he comes to terms with the loss of his mother, sets out on his first adventure, and connects with his father. Though Atreus is not directly controllable in the game, he does have designated buttons during combat, meaning he’s much more than a passive aid.

8 Cappy - Super Mario Odyssey

Mario in Cap Kingdom with Cappy on His Head

Some might find Cappy's inclusion questionable, but we shouldn't discriminate because he's a hat. Cappy's more than determined to help Mario save the day because Bowser didn't just kidnap Princess Peach, but also Cappy's sister, Tiara. He serves as the game’s tutorial and also provides Mario with a ship to pursue the evil villain.

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Better than a horse like Epona or Roach and providing more creative mobility than Clank, Cappy allows Mario an incredibly clever amount of freedom of traversal. With a few extra buttons and moves offered by this little hat with eyes, your entire way of playing has been totally redefined. Not to mention, Cappy serves as a solid second player if someone wants to join you in defeating Bowser in Super Mario Odyssey.

7 Sully - Uncharted Series

Uncharted 4's Sully looking very unimpressed

Though he is far more of a narrative sidekick than a mechanical one, Sully is just great, isn’t he? Victor Sullivan has been hunting down buried treasure for much of his life, and not only acts as a partner in crime to Nathan Drake but also as a father figure. Although Drake and Sully spend an uncomfortable amount of time mowing down enemies, their relationship is irresistibly lovely. This all comes down to outstanding writing and voice acting from Nolan North and Richard McGonagle. The banter between Drake and Sully is a driving force for every game in the series, and any scene without Sully in it almost seems like wasted time.

Throughout the series, Sully assists Drake in numerous ways, whether it's a getaway from a tight spot or trying to help him dispose of other would-be treasure hunters. But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. At the conclusion of Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, it's revealed that Sully will retire from the treasure hunting business but remain good friends with Drake.

6 Elizabeth - BioShock Infinite

elizabeth bioshock infinite

Unfortunately, Elizabeth tends to get forgotten about regarding compelling and useful sidekicks. The real backbone of BioShock Infinite, Elizabeth had been imprisoned in the floating city of Columbia since she was but a mere infant.

A woman who goes through strife, risks her life, blossoms like a flower, and guides the player through most of the journey is also the one to save you time and again during the game’s overwhelming encounters. She provided weapons, ammo, health, and tears through the fabric of space which alter the environment to your benefit. Without the assistance of Elizabeth, it would be near impossible to survive through but a fraction of the game.

5 Cortana - Halo Series

cortana halo

When Master Chief found himself stranded on an unknown alien structure, he only had his assault rifle and Cortana to help him. The built-in artificial intelligence, Cortana was key in helping Spartan-117 traverse the Halo and uncover the horrifying truth of the Flood.

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While Cortana plays a vital part in much of the Halo series, it's her assistance in the first game that stands out above the rest. She helps Master Chief reach new areas and even calls out enemies during battle. Cortana's incredible support was so great that Microsoft named the Windows support tool after her.

4 Clank - Ratchet And Clank: Rift Apart

clank rift apart

Ratchet's robotic best friend and partner, Clank has forever remained by the Lombax's side in defeating evil throughout the galaxy. In Rift Apart, Clank builds a tool called the Dimensionator. This device would allow its user to visit other dimensions. Knowing how badly Ratchet wishes to find others of his species, Clank hopes the Dimensionator would be the key.

As is the case in most adventures, good intentions usually end up creating a whole slew of problems. Doctor Nefarious steals Clank's Dimensionator and begins to cause untold chaos in other dimensions and the two must try to stop him from destroying literally everything. However, Clank's reasoning behind building the Dimensionator is soon realized when he encounters another Lombax named Rivet.

3 Luigi - Super Mario Bros.

luigi

Mario's famous brother, sometimes, doesn't get the recognition he deserves. Luigi has always had Mario's back in fighting against Bowser and his minions. The green-clothed plumber finally got his time to shine in his own game, Luigi's Mansion, where he did his best Ghostbusters impression.

Despite never getting a lot of credit and always deferring to Mario, Luigi is an extremely loyal sidekick. From March 2013 to March 2014, Nintendo dubbed that year "The Year of Luigi" to celebrate the charter's thirtieth year of existence.

2 Tails - Sonic The Hedgehog

tails and sonic fist bumping

Miles Prower, better known as Tails, is Sonic's best bud and a fan favorite in the series. As a youngster, the fox was bullied for his two tails, which led to his nickname "Tails." The fox made his first appearance in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 in 1992 and remained a constant fixture throughout the series.

One of Tails' unique abilities is being able to fly. He can twirl his two tails fast enough to lift himself from the ground and propel forward, allowing him to reach areas that the blue hedgehog could not. Although Tails can be a bit gullible, his kind-heartedness and willingness to do whatever it takes to help Sonic make him one of the best companions out there.

1 Donald And Goofy - Kingdom Hearts

donald and goofy

Claiming the top spot for best video game sidekicks are two of the more famous side characters in entertainment. When Sora crash lands in Traverse Town with the Keyblade, Donald and Goofy are there to help the young chosen one on their journey in defeating the Heartless. While Donald and Goofy were only looking to help King Mickey, the pair grew close to Sora and decided to stick with him through thick or thin.

In combat, Donald is a powerful sorcerer and Goofy is a hard-hitting melee specialist. The pair essentially represent the game's first big decision when it asked you to choose between the sword, shield, and wand. You have the option of swapping out one of the characters for the designated hero in each respective world, but ultimately, no one's proven to truly have Sora's back than Donald and Goofy.

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