Cid from Final Fantasy XVI
Talk about making the most of little screen time. Cid from Final Fantasy XVI isn’t around as long as most of us would have liked, but he is the heartbeat pumping blood through the action-RPG’s veins. He is the Dominant of Ramuh, a radical fighting for the freedom of the enslaved Bearers in the world of Valisthea, and is voiced by the incredible Ralph Ineson, who gives one of the most captivating, recognizable performances of the year. Cid became a fan favorite for his swagger, wit, and because he’s easy on the eyes, but underneath all that bravado, there’s a deeply troubled freedom fighter who bears the weight of the injustice he witnesses every day. Cid may be killed by the first third of Final Fantasy XVI, but just as protagonist Clive takes on his name, his wish carries on, and the game is better for having had him in it. — Kenneth Shepard
