I’m curious about the greatest redemption arcs out there, especially in video games but also in general stories. For instance, Abby from The Last of Us Part II is a pretty controversial character, but some people see her as a misunderstood hero after diving deeper into her story. What are some other standout redemption arcs you think are worth mentioning?
4 Answers
No Man’s Sky has one of the most impressive turnaround stories I’ve seen. It launched with a lot of disappointment, missing features, and players were pretty upset. But over time, the devs kept adding huge content updates and improvements, turning it into a fantastic space exploration game that many love now.
I’d add Diablo 3 to the list. When it first came out, the game was hampered by the real money auction house and pretty bland loot systems. But Blizzard revamped the game with new classes, seasons, and content, completely changing the experience and turning it into a solid action RPG that many gamers adore now.
Definitely gotta mention Cyberpunk 2077. When it first launched, the game was a huge mess with tons of bugs and unfulfilled promises. But the developers stuck with it, rolled out loads of updates, and now it’s much closer to the experience they originally aimed for — proof you can bounce back from a rough start.
Speaking of redemption arcs, Zuko from Avatar is a classic example. His journey from antagonist to hero is well written and hits all the marks for a great turnaround story. If you want some gaming examples, the Arbiter from Halo also pulls off a strong redemption arc, switching sides and proving his honor.