Gaming’s Dynamic Duos; Which Ones Did It The Best?

The gaming industry has been pushing out games with terrific stories and characters for as long as one can remember, with my own earliest memories dating back to the first Gears of War game, showcasing Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago in all their glory as they fought balls-to-the-wall to fend off the Locust horde. But when it comes down to it, which dynamic duos in gaming stand out more than others? 

I decided to put together this piece to talk about some of the best character combinations in video games across the board in an attempt to pay homage to the work their respective creators have put in over time. 

Best Character Duos In Gaming By Far And Large

If you have a suggestion to add to the list, make sure to post a comment down below and share your thoughts. 

1. Vergil And Dante From Devil May Cry

The Devil May Cry franchise by Capcom has been killing it in the action and hack-and-slash genres ever since the series’ first game came out all the way back in 2001, showcasing the all-stylish demon hunter Dante, and his overly sinister twin brother Vergil. These two have been going up against each other since forever honestly, and every time, it’s a sight to behold. 

The latest Devil May Cry iteration — Devil May Cry 5 — has rolled over 6 million copies to date, and features the perfect culmination to a long-running saga, although that’s not to say that the series is down and out. eXputer rated DMC 5’s Special Edition a perfect 5/5 in its review, with author Hamid Ali remarking, 

Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition stands as a masterclass in the character-action genre, unmatched even half a decade after its release.” 

2. Kratos And Atreus From God Of War

God of War’s Kratos has come a long way from being a mindless, rageful god-killer. Back in 2018 when Santa Monica rebooted the franchise and released a new God of War, it showed our cold protagonist trying to lead a new life of peace, along with his son Atreus. Things are harsh, complicated, and tough at the beginning, but at the end of that beautiful adventure, we truly see a bond like never before in gaming.

And that’s why Kratos and Atreus are one of the most superb “dynamic duos” in the industry, with their story continuing in the 2022-released God of War Ragnarok.  

3. Ratchet And Clank From The Eponymous Series

Ratchet and Clank are the dual protagonists from the eponymous video game franchise, where one is an “anthropomorphic” — meaning human-like — alien and the other is a cool robot. This duo has been together ever since the first iteration in the franchise dropped in 2002, grounding their names in history as two of the best gaming characters ever put out in the industry. 

To catch these two in the flesh, you should pick up Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart. It’s the latest in the series and a huge commercial success for developer Insomniac Games and publisher Sony. 

4. Marcus And Dom From Gears Of War

COG commandos Marcus Phoenix and Dominic Santiago have remained two of the most iconic duos in gaming history in the Gears of War franchise by Xbox, serving in war together in the Gears of War trilogy, namely Gears of War, Gears of War 2, and Gears of War 3. I don’t want to spoil how things end up with these two, but here’s a recommendation for if you haven’t played the series: Don’t sleep on gold. 

And for those who missed it: Gears of War E-Day was announced during the last Xbox Games Showcase, and it’s going to take the IP back to its origins. Super excited for that, being a Gears fan. 

5. Jak and Daxter From The Eponymous Series

Jak and Daxter are polar opposites when it comes to personalities, so it’s really a wonder how these two have managed to stay best friends even after all this time. The eponymous franchise traces its origins back to 2001, which was when Naughty Dog put out the very first game in the series, titled Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy. 

From there on out, numerous further titles have cemented Jak’s and Daxter’s names as one of the most iconic duos in gaming history. It’s a shame this series is on hiatus at the moment, with no signs in sight that could hint at a new game or a revival.

6. Ken And Ryu From Street Fighter 

The Street Fighter franchise is right up there with the top dogs in the fighting game genre, coming across as one of the oldest series in the business. Out of all the characters different renditions in the series has featured, Ryu and Ken stand out as the most veteran. Although both of them are hero-natured, they happen to be each other’s fierce rivals, going toe-to-toe whenever they get the chance. 

Ryu’s serious attitude and calm is perfectly complemented by Ken’s humorous and carefree antics, but make no mistake: When it comes to fighting, these guys are no less than demons. I suggest picking up Street Fighter 6 at the earliest to catch these two in action, as recommended by eXputer author Moiz Banoori who rated the game 5/5 in his review, saying,

Street Fighter 6 brings back the franchise from the dead and puts it back on the throne where it belongs.”