Three's Company

Mike Haggar is a retired pro wrestler and the mayor of Metro City. When his daughter Jessica is kidnapped by a notorious street gang, he immediately decides to become a vigilante. Fortunately, he’s joined by Jessica’s boyfriend, Cody Travers, and a modern-day ninja named Guy. They’re opposed by knife-wielding punks and a surprising number of Andre the Giant clones, so it’s a good thing that all three of them can hold their own in a fight. Haggar relies on his famous wrestling moves, Cody is a natural brawler, and Guy studied martial arts in Japan. Although they share a common goal, their styles are completely different. They only completed one mission before the gang was dissolved, but they made one heck of a first impression. If they would have stuck together in the sequels, they may have been ranked higher on this list.

The Devil May Cry series has always rewarded players for creativity. The combat in the fifth entry is even more varied than its predecessors since it features three playable characters. Dante is a sarcastic mercenary who runs his own demon-hunting business, Nero is a smart-mouthed demon slayer, and V is a mysterious man who requires a cane to get around. Each character has a completely different fighting style, and the game feels radically different depending on who you’re playing as. Dante fights with an assortment of swords and over-the-top melee weapons, Nero relies mostly on firearms (and a robotic arm), and V is able to summon three oversized familiars to fight on his behalf. The combat is over-the-top regardless of who you’ve chosen, and the game does a great job of balancing the characters.

After losing his parents at a young age, Sly Cooper was raised in an orphanage. Thankfully, he made quick friends with a timid turtle named Bentley and a burly hippo named Murray. The three of them formed the Cooper Gang, and they established themselves as partners in crime by stealing cookies from the headmistress. Their heists only became more complex as the years went by, and they dabbled in everything from basic thievery to time travel. Their skillsets and personalities compliment one another perfectly. Sly is a master thief who relies on his quick wit and charm. Bentley is the brains of the operation, and he takes care of the technical jobs. Murray acts as the enforcer, and he mostly relies on brute strength. Their bonds of friendship become more pronounced over time, and they become a more cohesive unit as a result.

Randi is a teenage boy who is exiled form his village, Primm is a noble girl who leaves home to avoid an arranged marriage, and Popoi is a sprite child who loses her memories after her village is washed away in a flood. All of them are trying to find their place in the world, and that’s what brings them together. The group dynamics aren’t especially unusual, so they’re mostly being recognized on this list for gameplay reasons. One of the things that separates Secret of Mana from other games in the genre is its three-player co-op support. Players are free to drop in or out at any time, and they can switch characters on the fly. The CPU will try to pick up the slack if you don’t have anyone to play with, but the game proves that it’s more fun to save the world with a couple of friends by your side. That’s kind of the point of this entire list.

Justin grew up in a small town and spent most of his days playing make believe with his best friend, Sue. When he finally decided to leave home, Sue tagged along despite being much younger than him. They were out of their element, so it was a stroke of luck when they met a young woman named Feena, who just so happened to be the poster girl for the Adventurer’s Society. Although the characters each have their own distinct personalities, they’re all defined by unbridled optimism. The plucky band of misfits is charming, courageous, and downright hilarious, and it’s impossible not to root for them as they venture toward the end of the world. Sadly, the story takes an nose dive after the group is split up. An assortment of new party members are introduced, but Justin, Sue, and Feena were clearly the heart and soul of the entire game.

No group encapsulates the spirit of this list more than the Lost Vikings. Their adventure begins when aliens abduct them for their intergalactic colosseum. Finding themselves in a world they don’t understand, they work together to find a way back home. None of them would be able escape on their own, but their combined skills give them a path to victory. Erik the Swift moves faster than the others and can smash through walls with his helmet. Baleog the Fierce can attack nearby enemies with his sword or pick off distant targets with arrows. Olaf the Stout can use his shield as a makeshift hang glider or as a platform for his friends to stand on. Their journey is filled with clever puzzles and an inordinate number of fart jokes, but its mostly defined by teamwork. The Lost Vikings would be lost forever if they didn’t have each other.

Grand Theft Auto V follows the exploits of a retired bank robber named Michael De Santa, a street gangster named Franklin Clinton, and an unhinged drug dealer named Trevor Philips. These characters have different backgrounds and are accustomed to different lifestyles, but they are united by their criminal aspirations. The scenario could be described as an unholy union of three disparate crime sub-genres, but the motley crew works well together despite their clashing personalities. Even though they’re dysfunctional human beings, they pull off a series of high-profile heists. They all bring something to the table, and the ability to switch between them mid-mission makes the game feel more involved that its predecessors. It would be a step backward for the series if it were to ever return to a single protagonist.

Donald Duck and Goofy have been around since the 1930s, and they can’t realistically be classified as video game characters. They’re being mentioned here anyway because they were given brand new roles in Kingdom Hearts. Goofy is still a clumsy simpleton and Donald is still defined by his short temper, but they’re largely defined by their relationship with Sora. They initially follow him on the orders of their king, but they’re quick to abandon the poor kid at the first sign of trouble. The group becomes closer throughout the course of their adventures, however, and it’s fun to watch their friendship evolve. I especially love the way all three of them bicker with each other. Donald and Goofy help out in battle and drive the story forward. They also keep Sora grounded since they have completely different ways of looking at the world.

At the beginning of Pokémon Red and Blue, players choose from one of three Pokémon to accompany them on their journey. Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle are aligned with grass, fire, and water respectively, and they each have distinct advantages over the others. It’s an intentionally difficult choice, so you’ll be compelled to trade with other players if you want all three of them in your Pokédex. Every mainline game in the series has introduced a new trio of starting Pokémon, but none have been as impactful or memorable as the original three. Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle aren’t part of a team in the same way that some of the characters on this list are, but they are intrinsically linked. The Pokémon Company obviously views them as a proper group, which is why they’re often bundled together for the purpose of merchandising.

Sega created Sonic the Hedgehog because they needed a character who could rival Mario’s popularity. Their efforts paid off immediately, and the gaming world accepted the promising new mascot right out of the gate. Although Sonic was popular enough to carry the franchise by himself, his entourage continued to grow with each new adventure. Tails serves as a sidekick to Sonic, and looks up to him like a younger brother would. Knuckles is introduced as Sonic’s rival, however, so he often butts heads with him. The reason why they’re so effective as a group is because each member has their own area of expertise. Sonic’s gotta go fast, Tails has the ability to fly, and Knuckles can rely on his brute strength. Gams like Sonic Heroes give them an opportunity to act as a proper team, but they’ve been together in one capacity or another for three decades.