Summary
Video games can take people to imaginary places and bring creatures, animals, and characters to life. They also give us the opportunity to explore concepts that are not possible in reality, such as robots.
Robots are littered throughout the video game world. Science fiction games seem to always feature a robot and they are usually given a likable personality.Robots flourish in pop culturebecause they are not too far off from where they are in reality but the robots on this list are very fictionalized.
Updated June 18, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:The idea of interacting with or controlling robots is something that many video games play around with. Players love interacting with advanced AIs in physical bodies who either help the protagonist or stand in their way, leading to some memorable gameplay moments featuring these artificial characters. Thebest video game robotsstand out because of how iconic and well-written they are, becoming an integral part of any video game they’re featured in.
Guardian Stalkers are some of the scariest enemies in video game history. To this day, the sinister theme of these robots sends shivers down the spine of any adventurer unlucky enough to draw their attention.
Link has to get pretty strong before even thinking about taking on one of these foes. Even after getting good weapons and armor, players must be wary of taking on these foes, since a single misstep can cause Link to be obliterated in no time.
Mineru is thefifth and final Sage in the gamethat is hidden until the very end. Only after completing Regional Phenomena and exploring Hyrule Castle will players be able to unlock the path that leads to this Sage.
Mineru’s power lets players summon a robot that is pretty useful in battle. Players just need to have a high battery gauge so that they don’t run out of charge during a particularly intense battle where controlling this robot is the difference between victory and defeat.
TheGears of Warseries is full of characters and creatures. However, one of its most interesting aspects is Jack. In the older games, Jack didn’t have a whole lot of personality. All he ever really did was cut open doors or hack into computer systems. The older trilogy didn’t make Jack all that interesting.
However,Gears 5gave Jack a sense of individualism by letting fans control him. Players can take on the role of Jack through horde mode and the campaign. Having the ability to play as Jack is even better when he gets brand-new abilities. Jack is consistently upgraded in the campaign and his abilities are customizable in horde mode. These changes make him an enjoyable character to play.
Respawn Entertainment is the king of creating likable and interesting robot characters. This list will reveal that later on, but the first of their robots to show up on this list is Pathfinder. Pathfinder is a cheery and friendly robot. His ability inApex Legendsexplains the exact reason as to why he is named Pathfinder.
In theTitanfalluniverse, Pathfinder is a modified MRVN (pronounced mar-vin) who does not know the identity of his creator. MRVN robots are used for janitorial and mechanical duties. In one of the Apex Legend trailers, we can see a standard MRVN serving drinks to customers. Pathfinder was certainly not created for a bartending gig.
Horizon Zero Dawnis full of robots, but the largest and most menacing is known as the Thunderjaw. The Thunderjaw is practically a T-Rex on steroids. It has lasers, a razor-sharp tail, missile launchers, andstands significantly taller than Aloy. It is hard to believe that this creature can be killed, but the feeling, once it is dead, is pure adrenaline.
The Thunderjaw is the only robot on this list with a lack of consciousness or individuality. It acts like a creature or animal. The rest of the robots on this list are smart and interact with humans in a more civilized way. On the other hand, the Thunderjaw is a stand-out on this list because of its pure design and purpose.
TheFalloutuniverse is full of threats, and many NPCs within the game are terrified of Synths. Synths or synthetic humans were created by the Institute to look and act like humans. Many people within theFallout 4world are terrified of Synths and their creator, the Institute. The hysteria around these beings is blown out of proportion.
InFallout 4,players get a handful of options when it comes to companions and Nick Valentine is commonly selected amongFalloutfans. Nick Valentine is a synthetic private detective. A robot paired with the job of a detective and that name is undeniably cool. Valentine can be used to hack into computer systems but insists on not hacking into other people’s terminals. After all, he is a detective.
Respawn Entertainment released two very likable robot characters this year: Pathfinder and BD-1. BD-1 is certainly one of the best features ofStar Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.Apart from being cute, he is also very useful. His design is also very fresh to the Star Wars universe. BD-1 has some reminiscent design of BT-7274 with the two-leg design and the upper body.
ThroughoutJedi: Fallen Order, BD-1 is upgraded with various abilities and gadgets to help in combat. One of his best abilities is hacking into Imperial droids. Once they reach a certain amount of health, BD will hop right onto them. He will start hacking away and usually sings a little tune while he does it. It is an adorable and very useful ability.
The idea of a robot impersonating an old-school cowboy sounds like the most ridiculous thing in the world. So,props should be given toFallout: New Vegasfor making such a ludicrous character one of the best parts of the overall experience.
Victor is a character who leaves a strong impression on players in the brilliant starting town of Goodsprings. This robot becomes quite mysterious once players find out that he’s probably being controlled by Mr. House as well.
The beloved game,Portal 2,features two of the best robots in gaming history: ATLAS and P-Body. Also referred to as Blue and Orange, ATLAS and P-Body were created by the artificial intelligence GLaDOS. She creates these two obtuse robots to test the facility humans failed to finish.
Portal 2is completely playable cooperatively and players will take control of ATLAS and P-Body. The two robots are designed from scraps. ATLAS was designed from a personality core while P-Body was created using a sentry turret. These scraps give these robots unique designs and personalities that are constantly poking through inPortal 2.
Overwatchis full of robots and Bastion is not the only playable one. The reason Bastion makes this list apart from the others is because Bastion has the most personality and the most interesting backstory from the others. Bastion was a front-line automaton before he was lost in the middle of a forest. Over time, the killer robot lost its programming.
Bastion’s character is certainly more developed than other robot characters in theOverwatchuniverse. Bastion rejected his killer programming once he became aware of the world around him. Even when he was reminded of his duty, he chose beauty instead. Bastion is certainly an interesting character. Plus, he has the best bird companion of any other robot.
