Top 10 RPG Cutest Guys

Happy Valentine’s Day! In celebration of this wonderful holiday, we’re going to look at the top ten cutest boys in JRPGs! That’s cute in a strictly PG-13 way. We’re not getting into sexy in this article. For this list, I’m only looking at main characters. Sorry, Sephiroth is not going to be on this list. Also, to represent a broader range, each game series only gets one entry on the list. After all, I wouldn’t want to neglect lesser known pretty boys after having every single Final Fantasy  dude on there. I’m looking at the categories of looks, personality, and character development. I also want to look at what the character does in-game, because they are supposedly part of the team. So, let’s get down to business.

10. Vyse, from Skies of Arcadia. Vyse is a daredevil. An absolutely crazy daredevil. He has a strong sense of adventure, and unflagging optimism that is remarkably contagious. His monocle goggle is pretty cool, as well as his silly shirt sleeves. Overall, he’s moderately handsome in a rugged sort of way. He learns how to get serious over the course of the game, but that’s about it for his development as a character. In battle, he’s unfortunately just your standard physical attack specialist. He can cast magic just like the rest of the party, but he’s usually more effective attacking.

9. Hiro, from Lunar 2. This guy is kinda cute, with his face markings playing off his tan skin pretty nicely. He’s really curious and excited about the world, but he manages to be remarkably empathetic towards people who are in trouble. He manages, narrowly, to avoid being unthinkingly-in-love, but only by deepening his initial attraction to the first girl he sees. In battle, he’s actually pretty versatile, with the standard male RPG protagonist  physical attacks being supplemented by wind magic. He’s still pretty classic, but there’s just a little bit more to him.

8. Hero, Dragon Quest VIII. No, his real name isn’t “hero.” You just get to name him. And, somehow, even despite being a silent protagonist, you really get to know this character. He’s a bit of generic do-gooder, but he proves himself to be dependable and loyal. His character doesn’t receive much development though. Maybe it’s because he’s so generally likeable that he rates as high as this on the list. In battle, he’s basically the best character. He’s got a solid mix of skills, with some healing magic thrown in with travel and attack magic. He has all around decent to good stats, and has a number of good equipment options. In a word, he has subtle protagonist powers, in that he’s very good, but not broken.

7. Oswald, from Odin Sphere. Oswald is a creepy stalker. In a good way. Despite the fact that he decides that he loves Gwendolyn before she even meets him, and then takes her from her father as payment for services rendered, he ends up respecting her freedom. He’s definitely a melodramatic character even for the game he appears in, and is more than a bit emo. He’s really stick thin, but his face is pretty enough, in a dark sort of way. As a character, he handles like a brick. He has the highest starting hit points, but that’s about all he has going for him. His combos don’t work very well, and shadow form is just not very useful.

6. Adell, from Disgaea 2. Adell’s got some pretty nice guns, and his shirt definitely shows them off pretty well. He’s one of those neighborhood guys type of person, with a strong sense of honor. His character doesn’t really develop over the normal course of the game, so not much going for him there. He’s pretty solid in battle though. Not quite as stupidly overpowered as Laharl, he’s a great physical attacker. His magic could use some work, but all in all, he’s very useful. Too bad he ends up playing such a traditional role.

5. Yosuke Hanamura, from Persona 4. Okay, Yosuke’s attractiveness might be a little questionable to some, he radiates a perfect “boy next door” kind of cute. He’s super awkward, and has his class-clowny moments, but he really does have a fair amount on his plate, and he deals with it in a surprisingly touching way. His looks aren’t anything great, but on the other hand, he isn’t hard on the eyes. In battles, he’s your wind elemental specialist, though he gets a few healing spells on the side. His stats are pretty middle of the road, meaning he’s a solid addition to basically any party.

4. Zelos Wilder, from Tales of Symphonia. Zelos may be a playboy, but his heart is somehow in the right place. His long hair, held by a headband, is alright, but mostly his best feature is that he has the balls to wear a speedo. His development is interesting, as it’s never quite clear whether or not he’s actually on your side. In battles he’s your jack of all trades, with a solid mix of attack magic, healing magic, and sword skills. While he never excels at anything, he’s a fun character to play as, and can fill in for another character that you don’t like as much.

3. Arnaud G. Vasquez, from Wild Arms 4. Arnaud is pretty cute in his tight bell-bottoms, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. While he tries to be upbeat and might seem not to take anything seriously, he actually cares very deeply about those around him. He takes the role of the adult in the party, even though he’s only 18 himself. In the end he proves himself to be a “good man,” and sticks by his woman no matter what. He’s your attack mage in the game, which is actually a pretty unusual role for dudes like him, so props for that. He even has decent physical attack power and great speed, which makes him a key part of your team.

2. Riku, from Kingdom Hearts II. Okay, this is slightly spoileriffic, I guess, so if you care about that kinda stuff, then don’t look at this entry. But, when Riku finally joins your party at the end of the game, he’s starting to look pretty studly. Maybe a little bit on the sullen side, but with his position as someone who’s had to walk between light and darkness, with emphasis on the darkness, you can’t really blame him. His development is okay in this game, what with his whole issue about being ashamed to face Sora and all. In battle, he’s a pretty handy ally, and the only ally you have for the final battle. While the sections where you have to play as him are pretty annoying, he is still a great ally.

1. Balthier, from Final Fantasy XII. While this game might not have been everyone’s favorite in the series, it sure did have one great character. Balthier’s a sky pirate, with all the dashing romanticism that implies. He’s sardonic, savvy, and just a little bit troubled by his past. As far as looks go, he’s definitely rocking those sideburns, and has a remarkably reasonable haircut for a character in a JRPG. He is also the only male character in his game with a decent shirt. His character changes a little over the course of the game, especially once you learn of his origins. Otherwise, he’s pretty close to Han Solo, which is never a bad thing. In battle, well, that might not really apply to this game, since all characters end up exactly the same by the end. Still, when you get him, his gun skills will prove to be a nice complement to the melee attacks the other characters favor.

Anyhow, that’s that. Next year you can look forward to the girls. Everyone knows you have to go through the men’s hot spring to get to the women’s hot spring.