10. Kaidan

Ashley Williams’ biggest problem is it doesn’t feel like she has an arc. Meanwhile, Kaidan Alenko feels like he’s one of the most underappreciated characters probably in all of BioWare’s portfolio. In a ship of mostly aliens, having a human character dealing with human problems seems unremarkable to some. But Kaidan’s story offers a clear window into the struggles humanity has been dealing with since it joined the galactic community.

Kaidan is a victim of humans’ insatiable need to be at the forefront of everything, having been subjected to abusive biotic boot camps as he was forced to undergo rigorous training to hone his telekinetic powers. By the time he reaches adulthood, he fears his powers, has frequent headaches, and has become a bit of a wallflower. He goes on to become a biotics teacher in the human military, controls his power, and becomes the second human Spectre. It’s an understated story of not letting your past define your future. But what about when that future seems tenuous? What if you’ve finally gotten your life together and then the world is ending around you? Kaidan’s story isn’t the most theatrical or dramatic, but it is one of the most grounded in a series defined by galactic-scale wars and life-changing choices.

Kaidan is the lead of a rom-com, running to Shepard as the Reapers rain hellfire down on everything they’ve known and loved. When the two meet one last time on Earth at the end of Mass Effect 3, he recounts his life and the things he’s done and thanks Shepard for the life he’s lived, hoping that there will still be more of it when the dust settles.