Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
UK EditionUK US EditionUS CA EditionCanada AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Black Friday
    • Gaming
      • Black Friday PS5 Deals
      • Black Friday Switch Deals
      • Black Friday Xbox Deals
      • Black Friday Retro Deals
    • PC
      • Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals
      • Black Friday Graphics Card Deals
      • Black Friday Alienware Deals
    • Tabletop & Merch
      • Black Friday Lego Deals
      • Black Friday Board Game Deals
      • Black Friday Pokémon Card Deals
      • Black Friday Warhammer Deals
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
Total Film
  • home
  • Black Friday
    • View Black Friday
      • Black Friday PS5 Deals
      • Black Friday Switch Deals
      • Black Friday Xbox Deals
      • Black Friday Retro Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Laptop Deals
      • Black Friday Gaming Monitor Deals
      • Black Friday Graphics Card Deals
      • Black Friday Alienware Deals
      • Black Friday Lego Deals
      • Black Friday Board Game Deals
      • Black Friday Pokémon Card Deals
      • Black Friday Warhammer Deals
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • The Big Preview
      • On The Radar
      • Indie Spotlight
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Total Film
    • Retro Gamer
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Don't miss these
Best video game heroes
Games The 25 best heroes in games of all time
GTA Online gameplay of a club night in Galaxy
Grand Theft Auto GTA Online has resisted years of cringe celebrity cameos in live service games and emerged looking uniquely classy
Megabonk
Roguelike Games Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director joins Palworld dev, FPS legend Shroud, and thousands of positive players on Steam on the Megabonk hype train: "It's the perfect brain rot"
Best action games - God of War screenshot of Kratos facing off with a giant white dragon, holding a human head in one hand
Action Games 25 Best action games you can play right now
One of the new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4
Games Borderlands 4 is out now, so I'm looking back on the 5 best Gearbox games
Best Xbox 360 games: a screenshot of an Xbox 360 console next to a controller and a collection of games.
Games 25 Best Xbox 360 games of all time
A crop of the Retro Gamer 252 The Magic of Mario cover image showing Mario spinning through space with stars around him
Super Mario 40 years later, Mario is still the ultimate gaming mascot: "He's got that Mickey Mouse effect"
Arthur Morgan in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead I love Red Dead Redemption 2 more than any other Rockstar game, and after 7 years it still has an important lesson to teach GTA 6
Bully: Scholarship Edition screenshot
Open World Games Rockstar "laughed at all the controversy" surrounding Bully's name before the cult classic open-world game launched: "They were freaking out over something they didn't really know anything about"
Tekken 8 screenshot
Fighting Games The 25 best fighting games you can play right now
Claptrap in Lionsgate
Borderlands Gearbox let one lucky gamer play Borderlands 4 days before the rest of us: Conan O'Brien, who hated Claptrap after exactly one minute – "He's my least-favorite trash can I've ever met"
Megabonk
Roguelike Games After 47 hours, Palworld lead finally hits 100% in Megabonk on Steam and has "tried a world record run," catching the eye of the roguelike's solo dev himself: "Well bonked"
The Super Mario Movie
Movies The 10 best video game movies of all time, ranked
Silent Hill 2
Silent Hill I've been playing the iconic horror franchise for 26 years, and these are the best Silent Hill monsters that are still haunting my nightmares today
Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon promotional image
Far Cry The new Assassin's Creed Mirage DLC will have to wait, because I can finally play the Far Cry 3 expansion I missed out on 13 years ago
Trending
  • Pokemon Legends Z-A
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2025
  • New Games for 2025
  1. Games

The Top 7... Most brotastic bros in gaming

Features
By Ryan Taljonick published 3 December 2012

Reprehensible protagonists we can't help but love

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Bromaggedon

Bromaggedon

Alright, we already know what you're thinking: "What the!? But you guys already did a Top 7 on the best bros in gaming history!" You're right. We did. But this week, we're talking about a different kind of bro--the kind that likes tribal tats, tramp stamps, and flat-billed trucker hats. The kind that would get so wasted at a bar that they'd vomit into a beer mug and, not wanting to waste any beer, would force it all back down to the backdrop of cheering friends.

Bros have existed in the form of game protagonists (brotagonists?) for ages. Let's call a spade a spade: They're largely reprehensible human beings. Still, there's something magnetic about their wildly inappropriate overconfidence. We're eager to see their journey for glory through, no matter how many fist bumps, popped collars, or gel-heavy hairstyles stand in the way. Yo, brah. It's bro time.

Page 1 of 9
Page 1 of 9
7. Axton (Borderlands 2)

7. Axton (Borderlands 2)

It's kind of easy to judge a guy as a bro when he says things like "Smarter, stronger, and more sexually attractive!" or "If I win, we're totally making out." C'mon, Ax-MEGA-ton--these are super entry-level bro lines.

He's obsessed with loot, fortune, and fame, putting his quest for personal glory above all else--which is why his wife left him and the military booted him after 10 years of service. You think he would've learned a lesson by all that, but no. Axton went on to become a mercenary, shot-gunning off lines like "Autogun's wreckin' FACE!" while he ruthlessly murdered thousands of poor bandits.

Page 2 of 9
Page 2 of 9
6. Jason Brody (Far Cry 3)

6. Jason Brody (Far Cry 3)

J-Bro only recently made his video game debut, but he's certainly deserving of a spot on this list. Let's run down a list of his bro credentials. First, his name. Jason. Brody. There's probably no name more generic in a video game. Brody? Really? It's got "bro" right in it, as if his destiny as a spoiled rich kid had been predetermined. We bet his parents bought him a lacrosse jersey for his first birthday.

Second, this is a guy whose introduction occurs in a video of he and his friends skydiving, slamming shots, starting nightclub brawls, and tossing middle fingers like it's going out of style--all while M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes" plays in the background. Third, that video is presented in such a way that it's obvious the Brod-ster cut it while on vacation so he could show his friends and confirm how awesome they all are. On his iPad. In a $1000 night hotel room. That his parents paid for. Also, he levels up by giving himself tribal tattoos. Bro, c'mon.

Page 3 of 9
Page 3 of 9
5. Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes)

5. Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes)

Everyone's favorite anime-obsessed otaku ninja jedi assassin may have some pretty awesome hobbies (and a pretty badass name), but it's hard to ignore the bro deeply ingrained beneath that spiky, gel-laden hairdo. Though Double Ts might think himself a nerd, theres no denying that his alliance is more to his bros.

He walks around sporting baller yellow-tinted sunglasses and Tyler Durden jacket (with a popped collar!) while constantly hitting on "smokin' hot chicks." What's more, the dude recharges his lightsaber thing like this, which is totally childish and bro-like. Plus, them sideburns--ye gods.

Page 4 of 9
Page 4 of 9
4. Damon Baird (Gears of War)

4. Damon Baird (Gears of War)

Confidence to the point of sociopathy is a common trait amongst bros, but Baird takes that confidence to prom, gets it liquored up with a hip flask, and gets it pregnant behind the high school. He's the smartest dude in the room by a few hundred IQ points, and he always makes damn sure everyone knows it.

You'd think Big Baird would chill the hell out and not be so rude considering humanity has basically been destroyed by aliens, but his tendency to speak his mind often harms more than it helps. It's easy to imagine him as the class clown, always ready with with a smartass quip whenever the need for a retort arises. If it weren't for the fact that his knowledge of Locust and technology make him so damn valuable, he probably would've been shoved off into an isolated area where his brash attitude would be rendered useless--like into a shallow grave somewhere.

Page 5 of 9
Page 5 of 9
3. Garcia Hotspur (Shadows of the Damned)

3. Garcia Hotspur (Shadows of the Damned)

Fact: Garcia "F****ing" Hotspur is a foul-mouthed badass. Another fact: The entire reason he had to take a stroll through Hell to save his girlfriend was because he got into a verbal argument with a demon lord about who had bigger "endowments." Actually, now that we think about it, the dude is obsessed with male anatomy.

He's BFFs with a floating demon skull named Johnson, who transforms into all sorts of really cool weapons that frequently include the word "boner" in the title. And what does Garcia do when Johnson transforms into the coveted "Big Boner"? Why, he shoots it from his crotch, shouting things like "Let's take this poll for a stroll" while he blows colossal enemies into bits with his massive payload. Also, Garcia can't read very well, and wears a leather jacket with no shirt underneath so everyone can see his tats. Total bro traits.

Page 6 of 9
Page 6 of 9
2. Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat)

2. Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat)

Most people set off to join Mortal Kombat to, you know, save the Earth from getting annihilated by the Outworld. But not Johnny Cage--no sir, he's in it to show the media and naysayers that he can fight like a man. He's also incredibly egotistical; just look to the opening of Mortal Kombat, where he insults opponents and macks on the ladies in equal measure.

Though JC thinks he walks on water, his greatest bro-crime is that he's got his own name tattooed on his bare, sweaty, glistening, ripped, tanned muscular chest. He even wears sunglasses that cost $500, and one of his signature moves includes the greatest bro move of all: The Nut Tap. Party foul, bro.

Page 7 of 9
Page 7 of 9
1. Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem)

1. Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem)

Good 'ol Duke's a no-nonsense kind of guy. Though he blasted into the gaming scene in the early '90s, his current politically incorrect persona manifested in 1996's Duke Nukum 3D. Here, he wowed children with his muscular arms and bullet-strapped wife-beater, as well as filthy mouth that, much to the dismay of parents everywhere, taught kids dirty swears and how to smoke a cigar like a boss. Shortly after, the greatest worst role model games had ever had disappeared, seemingly Forever.

Getting reintroduced to The Duke was like meeting that old elementary school friend again post-college, only to find out that he's still super into poop jokes and getting blackout drunk every night; just like he was in elementary school. The Very Big D tried to woo gamers with blatant sexism and tasteless jokes, but his attempts seemed like they were born of a desperation that screamed "Hey, remember how funny this used to be? IT'S STILL FUNNY, RIGHT?" To make matters worse, he was still obsessed with quoting movies and had developed a super ego during his hiatus that could shield him from alien laser bullets. That's bad news.

Page 8 of 9
Page 8 of 9
Peace out, mang

Peace out, mang

Mega-bros can be off-putting, but we really (mostly) like everyone that made our list. We're sure there are more brotagonists out there--so who did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.

If you want more bro-tastic reads, check out our Top 7 best bros in gaming history

Page 9 of 9
Page 9 of 9
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming PlayStation Xbox Platforms
Ryan Taljonick
Ryan Taljonick
Social Links Navigation

Ryan was once the Executive Editor of GamesRadar, before moving into the world of games development. He worked as a Brand Manager at EA, and then at Bethesda Softworks, before moving to 2K. He briefly went back to EA and is now the Director of Global Marketing Strategy at 2K. 

Read more
Best video game heroes
The 25 best heroes in games of all time
 
 
GTA Online gameplay of a club night in Galaxy
GTA Online has resisted years of cringe celebrity cameos in live service games and emerged looking uniquely classy
 
 
Megabonk
Baldur's Gate 3 publishing director joins Palworld dev, FPS legend Shroud, and thousands of positive players on Steam on the Megabonk hype train: "It's the perfect brain rot"
 
 
Best action games - God of War screenshot of Kratos facing off with a giant white dragon, holding a human head in one hand
25 Best action games you can play right now
 
 
One of the new Vault Hunters in Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 is out now, so I'm looking back on the 5 best Gearbox games
 
 
Best Xbox 360 games: a screenshot of an Xbox 360 console next to a controller and a collection of games.
25 Best Xbox 360 games of all time
 
 
Latest in Games
Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4's launch "was a bit softer than we would've liked" partly because of PC performance issues, Take-Two CEO says, but "we're immensely proud of Gearbox" anyway
 
 
GTA 5 cheat codes and phone numbers
Don't sweat the GTA 6 delay, Take-Two CEO says GTA 5 is "still the most technologically advanced title in the marketplace" after 12 years
 
 
Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra screenshot of Captain America facing off against Black Panther
Black Panther and Captain America team-up game Marvel 1943 delayed "beyond early 2026" to make sure it "meets the level of quality" the devs want
 
 
GTA 6
After another GTA 6 delay he called unlikely, Take-Two CEO says "bad things happen" when games are rushed and breaks out his favorite phrase: "I'm highly confident on the new date"
 
 
Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart
"I counted every box in Baldur's Gate 3": The real Baldur's Gate 3 completionist is the person who dug through the RPG's code to find every last crate, chest, and barrel
 
 
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake screenshot
JRPG grind is dead, the advanced Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake auto-battle system killed it – though devs say players may still "be in trouble if they get careless"
 
 
Latest in Features
Oscar Isaac as Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein
"All the main differences between Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein and the original novel that you need to know
 
 
Cropped Marvel Snap key art showing Wolverine, America Chavez, and Venom.
I couldn't hack Marvel Rivals, but Marvel Snap taught me more about PvP etiquette in 6 months than any game has before it
 
 
Arc Raiders best weapons
Arc Raiders has made me fall in love with getting my ass kicked by giant robots
 
 
Photo taken of the PS Portal by writer Rosalie Newcombe, running the cloud streaming feature.
The PS Portal just got a handy new upgrade, but should you buy one instead of a PS5?
 
 
Rumi in KPop Demon Hunters
KPop Demon Hunters 2: everything we know about the Netflix sequel
 
 
Predator: Badlands
Predator: Badlands ending explained – Does Dek kill the Kalisk? What happens to Tessa, and will there be a Predator: Badlands 2?
 
 
  1. Discussing Evelyn Dean with D'arcy in The Seance of Blake Manor's lobby
    1
    The Séance of Blake Manor review: "Like horror Clue come to life, this supernatural mystery against the clock is incredibly immersive"
  2. 2
    Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment review: "Zelda is a fantastic lead in this action-packed Tears of the Kingdom prequel, but boring missions hold the magic back"
  3. 3
    Carimara: Beneath the Forlorn Limbs review: "Playing as a goblin thing to crack a gothic fairy tale mystery with magical cards has quickly become one of my favorite gaming short stories"
  4. 4
    Spooktacular review: "This is the perfect family board game for Halloween"
  5. 5
    It’s hard to imagine there are many gamers who won’t enjoy this quick but tactical board game for 2 players
  1. Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi in Predator: Badlands
    1
    Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
  2. 2
    Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
  3. 3
    Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"
  4. 4
    One Battle After Another review: "One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic"
  5. 5
    The Conjuring: Last Rites review: "Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens' final chapter"
  1. Rhea Seehorn as Carol Sturka, looking scared, in Pluribus.
    1
    Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
  2. 2
    The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
  3. 3
    IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
  4. 4
    Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
  5. 5
    Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...