When video games give the player a companion, they’re typically helpful. They either provide assistance in combat, share helpful information, or are just a genuine friend tagging along, whether they have two legs or four furry ones.
Unfortunately, though, that’s not always the case.
Even though a video game’s genre isn’t horror, that doesn’t mean it can’t scare you. These are some of the scariest moments in non-horror games.
Some video game companions are more of a hindrance than a helping hand, making the experience difficult or outright unenjoyable.
By either being in the way, constantly requiring help, or just by being outright annoying, some companions aren’t reliable partners. If anything, they may be better off remaining in the cutscenes.
10 Lydia
Skyrim
Released
November 11, 2011
Publisher(s)
Bethesda Softworks
Engine
Creation Engine
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol
Lydia is the first follower (and potential marriage option) that players will get in Skyrim, after completing the Dragon Rising quest and being named Thane of Whiterun. She swears that she will protect the Dragonborn, and all they own, with her life.
Little did anyone know she would then throw her own life away at any chance she could.
From running head-first into dungeon traps, diving off mountains/cliffs, or simply falling victim to friendly fire, it’s very easy to lose Lydia to all kinds of ridiculous manners. In fact, thousands of players have shared memorable and bizarre ways she’s died in their playthroughs.
Her constant recklessness just ends up in her grim fate rather than providing any assistance to the player, making her unreliable as a follower.
9 Strong
Fallout 4
Released
November 10, 2015
Engine
Creation
ESRB
M FOR MATURE: BLOOD AND GORE, INTENSE VIOLENCE, STRONG LANGUAGE, USE OF DRUGS
Imagine wandering a nuclear wasteland, trying to survive a post-apocalyptic world, but being accompanied by someone who complains and hates basically every single action taken. This is exactly what it’s like having Strong from Fallout 4 as a companion.
Strong hates when players hack computers, pick locks, or even wear power armour. All of these actions are crucial for the game, and make up a significant portion of the gameplay loop in several builds. He expresses strong disdain for players that are playing Fallout 4 as it’s best intended.
It’s frustrating enough to where players often find themselves asking: is there anything he does love?
Yes, actually: cannibalism.
8 Survivors
Dead Rising
Action-Adventure
Survival Horror
Released
August 8, 2006
Developer
Engine
re engine, havok
ESRB
m
How Long To Beat
12 Hours
Metascore
85
There’s lacking survival skills, and then there’s lacking all self-preservation. The survivors that Frank rescues in Dead Rising, in particular, lack self-preservation in every sense of the term.
Not just one survivor, not a handful — all of them, every single one. And frighteningly, there are 48 total survivors in the game.
They will run into hordes of zombies, ignore instructions, or simply do nothing, standing like fresh meat and waiting to be killed. It’s a struggle to keep them alive without constantly hovering over them and arming them to the teeth. It’s appalling.
Dead Risinghas the option to rescue more than one survivor at once in a large group, which goes as awfully as it would sound. Best of luck to anyone trying to get the achievement.
7 Eileen Galvin
Silent Hill 4: The Room
Released
September 7, 2004
Developer(s)
Team Silent
Engine
Unreal Engine
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes
Silent Hill 4: The Room is a horrifying installment in the Silent Hill franchise. It’s unsettling and moody, yet it remains a divisive game in the series. No thanks, at least in part, to Eileen Galvin.
Eileen is the protagonist Henry Townshend‘s next-door neighbour, and she becomes far more significant towards the latter-half of the game. After surviving a horrific attack from the game’s serial killer antagonist, Walter Sullivan, she joins as a companion.
The thing is, if players want the game’s good ending, they cannot let Eileen take damage. Eileen will be possessed in the final fight against Walter, walking towards her death.
The more damage she had taken as a companion, the faster she would walk, and if she had taken too much damage, it would be impossible to save her — just as impossible as preventing her from taking damage in the first place.
She walks significantly slower than Henry, limping, injured, and completely vulnerable. Plus, there are areas (such as the infuriating escalator) where damage is inevitable, so players just have to hope Eileen is able to take a low enough amount to where they can still save her later.
6 Sheva Alomar
Resident Evil 5
Released
March 5, 2009
Multiplayer
Local Co-Op , Online Co-Op
Engine
havok, MT Framework
ESRB
M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Sheva is able to assist in combat and puzzles, sure, but her A.I. doesn’t seem to grasp that concept. She’s prone to run in the middle of gunfire, into hordes of enemies, or into a wall, whichever she’s in the mood for. She flies through resources and ammo, and is just an outright hindrance more often than not.
The best way to have Sheva utilize her potential is to simply play the game in Multiplayer, with another human controlling her instead.
5 Natalya Simonova
GoldenEye 007
Systems
Franchise
James Bond
Released
August 25, 1997
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Engine
EngineX
ESRB
T for Teen: Animated Blood, Animated Violence
How Long To Beat
9 Hours
X|S Optimized
No
File Size Xbox Series
310 MB (November 2023)
In the early days of video games, the A.I. was incredibly bare-bones. Some of these games, such as GoldenEye 007, don’t have muzzle awareness programmed into NPCs. Natalya Simonova is James Bond‘s main NPC companion in the foundational First-Person Shooter — and perhaps now the issue is revealing itself.
It’s not that Natalya lacks self-preservation; it’s more like she never knew that self-preservation even existed in the first place.
From city management to apocalyptic shooters, surviving in these games means very different things.
Running into gunfire and standing directly in that gunfire isn’t abnormal for Natalya. She’s got zero awareness of her surroundings, and will be killed more often than not, resulting in many mission failures.
Just ask players about how the Control mission went with her and watch them have war flashbacks.
Donald Duck is the party healer, and unfortunately, he does a terrible job at it.
When healing, Donald Duck prioritizes Goofy, no matter how dire of a condition Sora might be in. Players have to mess with settings in hopes of a chance that he’ll heal them, but even then, it’s still not a guarantee.
Sora could be on the brink of death in the middle of an intense boss battle, but Goofy has a paper cut, so that takes priority.
3 Navi
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Systems
Released
November 21, 1998
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Engine
Zelda 64 Engine
ESRB
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, Suggestive Themes
One of the most infamous companions in video gaming, Navi from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a fairy that accompanies Link on his journey to save Hyrule. She’s not fondly remembered, though, and is often credited for being one of the most annoying companions Link had in the entire Legend of Zelda franchise — and for ditching Link when he needed her the most.
“Hey!”
“Look!”
“Listen!”
Players got a little too used to hearing Navi shouting at them throughout their entire playthrough. It would be fine, though, if she maintained her reliability. Navi is the reason behind Link being able to target-lock onto enemies, the only useful trait she offers. It’s a crucial gameplay mechanic that allows Link to be lethal in battle.
However, come the final battles with Ganondorf, she leaves. She claims that his evil aura is too powerful, despite the countless evil she has helped Link vanquish prior. This prevents Link from being able to target-lock onto Ganondorf at all.
Sure, it provides an extra challenge for the final fights, but if anything, it makes her annoying attitude all game all for nothing.
She’s meant to be a guide for Link, a mentor in a way, while on his adventure. Instead, especially after this final straw, players just want to lock her in an empty bottle and throw it far, far away.
Video games are beautiful works of art — with stunning scenery and breathtaking skies, these are some of the most beautiful views in video games.
In the remake, Ashley is alert, aware, and self-assured. She’s helpful and witty and a genuinely incredible companion to have. In the classic game, however, she’s none of those things. For a college girl, the original Ashley Graham acts like a teenager, and not in a good way.
She’s only tolerable in the original game when she’s completely plated in a full suit of armour. Even then, she’s cuter in the remake’s armour anyway.
1 Baby Mario
Yoshi’s Island
Systems
Released
October 4, 1995
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer
Engine
unreal engine 4
ESRB
E For Everyone
How Long To Beat
8 Hours
Yoshi’s Island was a crucial Nintendo game for many children and their childhoods — and, for many, it was the start of a deep hatred for escort missions.
Playing as Yoshi, players have to escort, guard and protect a baby version of Mario, who is helpless to all incoming danger. Yoshi, trying to reunite the baby Super Mario Brothers with their parents, has to fight countless enemies to make sure this can happen.
Of course, being a literal baby, Mario isn’t able to help. Unfortunately, still being a literal baby, all he can do is cry – which he does the entire game. It’s a nightmare for both children and parents alike; the best they can hope to do is tough through the next level.
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