Key Takeaways
- Blind characters in video games are not defined by their disabilities but continue to pursue their goals.
- Characters like Philippa Eilhart and Kenshi Takahashi stand out as powerful, regardless of their blindness.
- Blind characters like the Fire Keeper and Kreia play pivotal roles in games, challenging stereotypes and adding unique perspectives.
Video games have contributed some of the best characters ever written, but save for a minor few, depictions of well-written characters with physical disabilities like blindness have been scarce. However, the best blind characters in gaming do not let their disabilities define them or prevent them from achieving their (either morally righteous or downright villainous) goals.
Whether these characters were born naturally blind or have been blinded by others, they have been utter standouts in gaming history. As such, we believe it fitting that these amazing blind video game characters be given the spotlight that they deserve.
8 Philippa Eilhart
The Witcher Series
A ruthless, politically savvy and powerful sorceress of The Witcher universe, Philippa Eilhart is one of the strongest women to ever grace the series. Someone who strikes you as a leader the instant you first meet her in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, Philippa is intimidating and not someone you should cross.
Founder of the Lodge of Sorceresses, Philippa was a close advisor to King Vizimir II of Redania. But the latter’s death and the accession of Radovid (who hated her, by the way) caused a turn of fortunes for Philippa, resulting in her being blinded and tortured. She didn’t let her lack of sight stop her ambitions and need for revenge, however, using her magic to ‘see’ and navigate the world.
7 Godot
Ace Attorney Series
A former defence attorney, Godot – real name Diego Armando – was one of the best in his field. His vision became severely affected after he was fed lethal poison without his knowledge, causing him to slide into a five-year coma. Once awake, he changed his name to Godot and grew to hate Phoenix Wright, believing him responsible for his late girlfriend, Mia Fey’s, death.
After losing most of his sight, Godot uses a visor to help him see. The physical, life-long effects dealt to him in the aftermath of Dahlia Hawthorne’s deception didn’t stop him from continuing in law, becoming a trailblazing prosecutor to challenge Phoenix Wright in the courtroom.
6 Kenshi Takahashi
Mortal Kombat Series
An expert swordsman with telekinetic abilities, Kenshi Takahashi was not originally born blind. He had lost his eyes due to Shang Tsung when he first appeared in 2002’s Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and bore a grudge against the villainous sorcerer.
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Wielding a powerful sword called Sento, Kenshi’s blindness heightened his other senses. He can see the souls of others and uses his telekinesis to control the movement of his weapon and other objects. Kenshi recently appeared in Mortal Kombat 1, losing his eyes to Mileena instead. However, his crusade against an alternate Shang Tsung remains.
5 Old Hero
Demon’s Souls
Initially frozen in stone, Demon’s Soulsthe Old Hero breaks free to face The Slayer of Demons. It becomes very clear that the Old Hero is blind, using his free hand to navigate and regularly swinging his massive scythe-like sword without aim.
It’s only when you attack that the boss knows where you are. Although this blind warrior appears an easy target, he shouldn’t be underestimated as he hits with the power of a speeding truck. After all, there’s a reason he’s considered a figure of legend in the lore of Demon’s Souls.
4 Fire Keeper
Dark Souls 3
One of the most iconic characters in the Soulsborne series, Dark Souls 3’s the Fire Keeper is not a fire-wielding, lightning-spewing boss, but remains a pivotal character for obtaining two of the game’s endings. The Fire Keeper is blind, wearing a crown to hide her sightless eyes.
She helps you level up and dutifully tends to the Firelink Shrine. Her eyesight can be restored, however, by fetching the Eyes of a Fire Keeper from a corpse in the Untended Graves. Whether you choose to allow her to put out the First Flame or betray her, it can’t be denied you couldn’t have gone far without her steadfast support.
3 Kreia
Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
Also known as Darth Traya, Kreia is a blind, Force-Sensitive Jedi Master and one of the Jedi Exile’s companions in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2. Kreia voluntarily surrendered her sight in the pursuit of gaining more knowledge about the galaxy.
A character who was never satisfied with the Jedi teachings, she was ultimately exiled from the Jedi Order after her former student, Revan, turned cloak to become a Sith Lord. Driven by hatred of the Force and believing it to be akin to slavery, she mentored and manipulated Meetra Surik to achieve her ultimate goal.
2 TK Baha
Borderlands
Borderlands’ TK Baha is an inventor who lives entirely by himself in a shack in Fyrestone and is an early NPC in the game. Before meeting him, Baha had lost both his leg and his sight after a tragic encounter with a Skag named Scar, who’d killed his wife Marian.
Chased away from Pandora due to the Hyperion Corporation, TK Baha hasn’t had the easiest of lives. It doesn’t get better, unfortunately, as he’s eventually killed brutally by psychos. He isn’t to be discounted yet, however, returning as a zombie in The Zombie Island of Dr Ned and Borderlands 2’s DLC TK Baha’s Bloody Harvest.
1 Cassie Thornton
Perception
Perception is a horror game told through the perspective of blind character Cassie Thornton. A game that pushes you to help Cassie navigate and evade dangers through echolocation, the darkness that surrounds you certainly helps add to the tension and eerie vibes of the game.
As Cassie explores the haunted mansion, she is chased around by the Presence, a hostile entity that is hell-bent on killing her. An interesting and unique concept, this game certainly fights against the notion of helplessness that has historically plagued blind characters in gaming.
