I don't know about you, but I've spent way too many hours in 2026 replaying old favorites and daydreaming about the spin-offs we never got. We all love a good main character, but sometimes a supporting star walks in, steals the entire show, and leaves me begging for a solo adventure. Loyalty missions, side quests, and DLC have given us just enough to spark that interest—and then nothing. So here are the ten side characters I'd pre-order a solo game for tomorrow, no questions asked. 🎮
10. Sam Drake
Nathan Drake's older brother has already been through a lifetime of trouble. Sam was presumed dead, then returned in Uncharted 4: A Thief's End with a charming grin and a lot of baggage. He isn't as heroic as Nate, but that's exactly why I want to play as him. By the end of the game, he and Sully are teaming up. A buddy adventure following those two would keep the Uncharted spirit alive without forcing Nate out of retirement. With the series quiet in 2026, this feels like a missed opportunity.
9. Steph Gingrich
Steph already proved she can carry a story in the Life is Strange: True Colors DLC Wavelengths. She's quirky, nerdy, music-obsessed, and genuinely warm. I loved every minute of her radio booth moments, but that DLC only made me hungry for a full game. Her life before or after Haven Springs is wide open. Deck Nine has kept the Life is Strange universe alive, and Steph deserves more than a supporting role. Give her a full-length adventure, please. 🎧
8. Rivet
Okay, calling Rivet a 'side character' in Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart is a bit unfair—she's basically co-lead. But she still deserves her own game. This alternate-dimension Lombax lived a completely different life, fighting a resistance against her dimension's Nefarious. She lost friends, struggled, and became a hero the hard way. I want to see her before she met Ratchet, or after the events of Rift Apart. Insomniac has plenty on its plate, but Rivet is too good to leave in the vault.
7. Yuna
Yuna is one of the best parts of Ghost of Tsushima. She's a brutal survivor, a gifted killer, and a character shaped by trauma and tragedy. She saves Jin more than once, and their partnership is the emotional core of the story. We learn a lot about her past, but her future is left uncertain. Now that Ghost of Yotei has expanded the franchise in 2025, I'm still waiting for a Yuna-led game. Let her fight back the Mongols as the protagonist. That would be incredible. ⚔️
6. Nick Valentine
Nick Valentine is a synthetic with the personality of an old detective uploaded into his mind. He escaped tormentors, wandered the wasteland, and set up shop as a private investigator in Diamond City. That is a perfect premise for a detective RPG. I would happily play case after case in a neon-soaked, post-apocalyptic noir. With the Fallout TV show bringing new fans into the wasteland, a Nick Valentine spin-off feels like a no-brainer. 🕵️
5. Tommy Miller
Joel's younger brother is more compassionate, but he's still a survivor of the apocalypse. In The Last of Us Part 1, Tommy mentions nightmares about the things he and Joel did to stay alive. A prequel about their early survival days would be brutal and fascinating. Alternatively, a game about Tommy's time in Seattle hunting his brother's killers would give us a different perspective on revenge. The Last of Us HBO series has made Tommy a bigger name, and I'd love to see him headline his own story.
4. Johnny Silverhand
Johnny lives in V's head in Cyberpunk 2077, but he lived a wild life before that. Rocker boy, corporate nightmare, labeled terrorist—Johnny Silverhand is a walking legend. We get flashbacks, but I want a full game about his earlier years. Playing through his fights against mega-corporations or his time with Samurai would be a thrill. He isn't always likable, and that's what makes him interesting. With Cyberpunk 2 in development, a Johnny prequel would be a welcome addition to the lore. 🎸
3. Garrus Vakarian
Garrus is one of the coolest characters in science fiction, period. He joins Shepard and immediately establishes himself as someone who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. His disdain for red tape comes from watching criminals escape thanks to C-Sec's inaction. I would play a whole game about his time on Omega, where he became Archangel. He caused so much chaos that the crime syndicates formed an alliance just to take him down. Mass Effect 5 is still cooking, but Garrus's Omega years deserve their own spotlight.
2. Ciri
Ciri was always main-character material. Adopted and trained by Geralt, she's a gifted Witcher with her own form of magic, making her unlike any other Witcher in existence. The Witcher 4 is finally putting her in the protagonist role, which proves my point. But I'd also take a spin-off set during her travels between games. She's rich with potential, and her story can go in so many directions. In 2026, this is the one dream that's actually coming true—and I couldn't be happier. 🐺
1. Sadie Adler
From rancher to outlaw to bounty hunter, Sadie Adler had one of the best arcs in Red Dead Redemption 2. She went from hiding in a cellar from her husband's killers to becoming a lethal gunman. By the end, she's a bounty hunter ready to go her own way after helping John take down Micah. Her story is left wide open. I can't stop thinking about how great a game about bounty-hunting Sadie would be. Rockstar is busy with GTA 6, but after that? Please, give Sadie the reins. 🤠
Final Thoughts
| Rank | Character | Dream Spin-Off |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sadie Adler | Bounty hunting across the frontier |
| 2 | Ciri | Witcher adventures between games |
| 3 | Garrus Vakarian | Archangel years on Omega |
| 4 | Johnny Silverhand | Rocker boy vs. corporations |
| 5 | Tommy Miller | Apocalypse survival prequel |
| 6 | Nick Valentine | Diamond City detective RPG |
| 7 | Yuna | Mongol-fighting revenge story |
| 8 | Rivet | Resistance fighter origin |
| 9 | Steph Gingrich | Music and mystery in Haven |
| 10 | Sam Drake | Buddy adventure with Sully |
I know I'm not alone in wanting these games. Side characters often get the best moments, the sharpest lines, and the most room to grow. In 2026, the industry is full of sequels and remakes, but I'd love to see more studios take a chance on the supporting stars who stole our hearts. Until then, I'll keep replaying their missions and dreaming. 💭