Games of the Year

RPGFan Games of the Year 2024: Best Protagonist

Cloud Strife - Final Fantasy VII Rebirth - Best Protagonist of 2024

Winner: Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth)

Writeup by Des Miller

Weird. Awkward. Dorky. None of these are words I’d use to describe Cloud from 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, perhaps due to the original game’s lackluster localization. Yet in Final Fantasy VII Remake and its sequel, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, we get a further look into Cloud’s head and get a clearer picture of who he is—or who he thinks he is. Throughout both games, Cloud has become more than just a cool guy with a big sword. He’s a tragic character with a difficult past, yet he keeps trudging forward while trying to do what he thinks is right. Despite the gloom surrounding him, he’s still a goofy weirdo with a lot of depth.

Much of the anticipation of the Remake series lies in just how the devs will handle such key moments surrounding Cloud’s mental health and identity crisis, and with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, they’ve nailed his struggle with just who and what he is.


Runner-Up: Ichiban Kasuga (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth)

Writeup by Michael Sollosi

Ichi’s 2020 debut demonstrated his extreme optimism and empathy during severe hardship, and in 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth took it to a new extreme. Ichiban, chasing a questionable lead that his estranged mother might still be alive, is left broke, naked, and alone in Honolulu, 3,800 miles away from his home in Yokohama, but how does our boy handle it all? Ichiban’s irrepressible will and awkward charisma turn acquaintances into friends, enemies into allies, and despair into hope. Infinite Wealth’s rich tapestry of intense drama, absurd humor, and lovable characters seems like an impossible balancing act, but with Ichi at its center, it manages to be one of the most entertaining romps of an excellent year for RPGs.


Readers’ Choice: Best Protagonist of 2024

Winner: Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII Rebirth) (29% of votes)

Runner-Up: Ichiban Kasuga (Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth) (19% of votes)

Des Miller

Des Miller

Des is a reviews editor, writer, and resident horror fan. He has a fondness for overlooked, emotionally impactful, and mechanically complex games - hence his love for tri-Ace and Gust. When he's not spending hours crafting in Atelier or preaching about Valkyrie Profile, he can usually be found playing scary games in the dark. With headphones. As they should be played.