Is it so wrong to just want attractive characters? TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-27 | I’ve always found it very interesting when some players say they don’t care what their characters look like, “they just want a good game.” 🧐This video is part commentary, part confession, and yes, part celebration of pretty characters, in pretty games. We’re talking about why character design matters more than most people admit, and how beauty (when done right) actually helps tell (and sell) the story! ✨ Topics include:Why we’re wired to care about beauty (and that’s okay)When a design hits (Stellar Blade, Baldur’s Gate 3, Red Dead 2)When it misses (Concord, Starfield, Intergalactic)Fandoms, anime cosplays, VTuber vibesAnd yes… why I bought the Faye Valentine skin in Fortnite without blinkingLet me know: → Who is a character you fell in love with at first sight? → What game made you live in the character creator for a lonnggg amount of time?Twitter/X: twitter.com/BGroundNPCTikTok: tiktok.com/@thebackgroundnpcInstagram: instagram.com/thebackgroundnpcTwitch: twitch.tv/thebackgroundnpc
Why do they keep doing this?? TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-07-23 | This all started when I happened across a video with over 900k views asking one very specific question… “Why is Jade bald”? 🤔And suddenly I was digging through 30 years of Mortal Kombat lore, video game adaptation trauma, and accidentally spiraling about why modern media keeps doing this to us. Today we chat about: Jade’s mysterious hair lore?My uh… honest thoughts on The Last of Us HBO show 🥲A few adaptations I believe have gotten it right (Arcane, Edgerunners)And why all of this really comes down to one thing: respect 🙏 📢Let me know:Which game adaptation broke your heart the most?And which one gave you hope?#mortalkombat2025 #thebackgroundnpc #videogameadaptations #mortalkombat2 #thelastofus
Disney does NOT want you watching this... TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-07-10 | I didn’t think a movie called K-Pop Demon Hunters would hit this hard… but here we are. From its fun animation, well-crafted characters, to music that’s topping charts… somehow I ended up caring way more than I anticipated 😅This video is basically:Me slowly losing my mind (in a good way)Why this movie hits harder than recent stuff from studios like Disney/PixarWhat I think it does right with story, character, and styleAnd a small plea for more stuff that’s allowed to just be fun and good, please 🙏Honestly, it reminded me of what animation used to feel like. So, if you’re into animated movies or just want to see what the hype’s about, let’s chat about it. 😎 Gameplay: RIME#kpopdemonhunters #thebackgroundnpc #disney #elio #eliomovie
Freedom from TYRANNY! Stop killing games! TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-07-04 | Happy Fourth of July, friends! 🎆In the spirit of the holiday, today, we’re airing out a few grievances and drafting a Declaration of Player Independence! Because somewhere between always-online DRM, console kill switches, and paying more to own less… we kinda forgot what gaming freedom actually looks like.✨ In this video:My personal journey from true ownership to digital serfdom The European revolution trying to save our games (Godspeed, Ross!)Nintendo’s wild console-bricking crusadeWhy gaming’s heart is worth fighting forStop Killing Games Resources: Ross Scott’s Channel: youtube.com/@Accursed_Farms?si=ZE4gAqhwgj4GoOLFLink to European Citizens' Initiative: https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/homeLink to UK Government Petition: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074✨ What gaming tyranny would you dump in the digital harbor first?#stopkillinggames #gamingcommentary #gamepreservation #TheBackgroundNPC
Are they gaslighting us?? TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-06-26 | Sometimes it feels like we’re being told not to trust our own eyes. Like when CD Projekt Red said “we didn’t change Ciri’s face”, or when EA and Ubisoft blamed us for their games flopping… oof 🫤But this isn’t just about one company… It’s a growing pattern. And honestly? It’s chipping away at something pretty precious: our trust.Cozy up ‘cause the blanket is back, and we’re chatting about a few different things:CDPR Ciri confusionEA’s ultimate blame gameUbisoft’s ‘gamers complain too much’ sagaWhy indie studios are the real MVPs (and can hopefully help AAA find its way back)The “toxic gamer” label and how it’s losing all meaningDo you think the AAA gaming industry is getting worse at listening to players… or have we just gotten better at noticing? 😔Swen Vincke's Full Speech: youtu.be/YvRm4HKK4gQ?si=CAueOBO9IkhTSSNnBackground gameplay is Neva! From the studio that made Gris 😊
We need more men like Arthur Morgan... TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-06-17 | We love Arthur Morgan ‘round these parts. 🐴Not just because he’s rugged, iconic, and (in my humble opinion) the greatest video game protagonist ever written, but because he showed us what quiet, intentional heroism actually looks like.This video essay is a tribute to the kind of man Arthur became: someone who chose kindness, who carried regret with grace, and who decided to be better, even when no one expected him to. He didn’t have to change, but he chose to anyway. If you’ve ever cried at that mountaintop sunrise scene (me, every time), or found yourself very emotional about a fictional cowboy… this one’s for you. 🤠What’s your favorite Arthur moment? Low or High honor? No judgment here lol...#arthurmorgan #reddeadredemption2 #videoessay #storytellingingames #TheBackgroundNPC
Switch 2 is the last straw... Im done with Nintendo 😞 TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-06-10 | Sadly… Nintendo and I have broken up.Because for a while now, it’s been feeling a little one-sided. 🥲And while I’m all in my feels over here - I’m not here to bash anyone who bought the Switch 2 and is loving it! Seriously, I mean that.In this video, I’m diving into how my personal relationship with Nintendo has shifted, not just because of the Switch 2, but because of how the company has been operating as a whole.From $80 games to locking away legacy content, fan takedowns, and some questionable lawsuits… it’s been a weird few years. And as someone who grew up loving these games and Nintendo, the company, it’s been hard not to feel a little off about it all.🎮 In this one, we chat about:The Switch 2 launch + $80 Mario Kart World as a flagship titleWhat’s been going on with Nintendo and their fans (PointCrow, GilvaSunner)The Gary Bowser case, Palworld lawsuits, and “control over joy”Darknet Diaries Episode: youtu.be/E0ihjLKM0QI?si=AL9q3lMUIiuSu9z_GARY BOWSER INTERVIEW: youtube.com/watch?v=IGHDuYkdK7M&ab_channel=NickMoses05And Nintendo Online… just being Nintendo Online 🙃💬 Let me know in the comments:What made you originally fall in love with Nintendo?Are you still in love… or have you also hit an “ehhh” stage too?#nintendoswitch2 #gamingnostalgia #gamingcommentary #nintendo
Anime ruined me... TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-06-06 | I never really knew much about Anime.Then I watched one show… and everything changed. ⚔️Suddenly, I was crying over sword-wielding teens, quoting monologues, and wearing an AOT jacket like it was high fashion. This is the story of how I accidentally became a weeb, and how it completely changed the way I see storytelling, especially in games. 💬 What show got YOU hooked? Drop it in the comments. Please… I need recs 🙏🏠 Also… mini life update:The reason this video took so long to go live is because… I moved! This is actually the last video I filmed in my old space 🥹Some of the comments on my last community post had me giggling lol, but yes, this move has been planned for months! It just so happened to land right in the middle of all the YouTube craziness 😅So… thanks so much for sticking with me! And a new level design for The Background NPC dropping soon ⛰️#anime #attackontitan #demonslayer #voiceacting #animecharacters
Asmongold reacted to my video... TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-22 | Asmon's Video: youtu.be/4Cy_hBK3ClkAhhaha. So apparently my video ended up in front of Asmongold. Which… yeah, I did not have on my 2025 bingo card.In this follow-up, I thank the roaches (nicest ones I’ve ever met), respond to some of Asmon's takes, defend Triss (because someone has to lol), and double down on why so many female characters in games just aren’t landing like they used to.We talk defeminization, goddess-tier character creators, Ripley supremacy, and the deep desire to play someone who feels iconic again.💬 Drop your favorite unhinged or unforgettable female character in the comments. I’m building a list. 😎Twitter/X: twitter.com/BGroundNPCTikTok: tiktok.com/@thebackgroundnpcInstagram: instagram.com/thebackgroundnpcTwitch: twitch.tv/thebackgroundnpc#womeningames #gamedesign #gamingcommentary
DID NOT grow up with GTA, but Lucia & Jason peaked my interest!#gtatrailer2 #gta6 #gta6reaction TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-16 | ...
I MISSED GTA growing up. Here’s my redemption arc 🙌 #gta6reaction #gtatrailer2 #gta6 TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-15 | ...
Ive never cared about GTA... Until now TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-14 | I’ve never really cared about the Grand Theft Auto series... until now 😅As someone who completely missed the GTA era growing up and who only tried GTA Online long enough to get repeatedly blown up 😔 I never thought I’d be interested in this franchise. But after falling hard for Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar showed me they’re capable of much more than explosions and chaos. They know how to tell stories that stick!So when Trailer 2 for GTA 6 dropped last week… everything changed.This video is part reaction, part commentary, and part emotional spiral as I unpack: - Why RDR2 is still my favorite game of all time - My honest thoughts on Lucia and Jason’s relationship- How Lucia already feels like more than a “strong female lead” trope- And whether GTA 6 could possibly top the legacy of Arthur Morgan (spoiler... it probably won't, and that's okay!) Twitter/X: twitter.com/BGroundNPCTikTok: tiktok.com/@thebackgroundnpcInstagram: instagram.com/thebackgroundnpcTwitch: twitch.tv/thebackgroundnpc#gta6 #gtatrailer2 #rockstargames #gta6reaction #reddeadredemption2 #arthurmorgan #vicecity #gamingopinions #gamingyoutuber #storydrivengames
Over time so many AAA have lost their spark. #expedition33 , #bg3 & others are bringing it back 🙌 TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-08 | ...
Games bringing the love back 🙌 #baldursgate3 #emotionalgames #clairobscurexpedition33 TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-07 | ...
4 Types of Greek Love - and how Games/Fantasy use them (pt 2) #agapelove #storge #gamingcommentary TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-06 | ...
@thebackgroundnpc The 4 Greek Loves - and How Games Use Them (Pt 1) TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-05 | ...
You cant make a good game without LOVE... TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-05-05 | Love in video games is powerful stuff! It can turn a rowdy shoot‑out into a tear‑jerker, a fetch quest into a friendship bracelet, and a 100‑hour RPG into the best therapy you never asked for (You're a good man, Arthur Morgan 🥹). In this video we unpack the four Greek kinds of love: Eros, Philia, Storge, Agape, and track how each one forges legendary titles like The Last of Us, Baldur’s Gate 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, God of War Ragnarök, Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, Claire Obscur 33, It Takes Two, and more. All while some Oblivion remaster gameplay waves at us in the background. 💚💙⏱️ Timestamps0:00 Intro - fun gets you in, love makes you stay0:55 Greek crash course (Eros/Philia/Storge/Agape)2:35 Romance that ruins mascara (Tidus & Yuna, Arthur & Mary)3:36 Ride‑or‑die friendships (Split Fiction, Arcane, Kingdom Hearts)5:12 Family feels (Joel & Ellie, Kratos & Atreus)6:55 Sacrifice level: heartbreaking (Shadow of the Colossus, Ghost of Tsushima, TotK)9:55 When modern games could've used more heart (Far Cry 6, Starfield)11:44 A quick love letter to Oblivion jank (STOP! You violated the law!)12:18 Hope is not lost! Claire Obscur 33 & other newcomers bringing love back14:40 Your turn – which game made you feel real love?🎞️ GAMEPLAYBackground gameplay: *The Elder Scrolls IV – Oblivion Remastered* Twitter/X: twitter.com/BGroundNPCTikTok: tiktok.com/@thebackgroundnpcInstagram: instagram.com/thebackgroundnpcTwitch: twitch.tv/thebackgroundnpc#LoveInVideoGames #GameStorytelling #Oblivion #ClaireObscur33 #RedDeadRedemption2 #BaldursGate3 #TheLastOfUs
The Problem With Women in Games (…and Why It’s Killing Hype) TheBackgroundNPC 🧙♂️ 2025-04-24 | Western AAA games keep trimming femininity out of their heroines. Today, we examine why the charm dropped off, what Eastern studios still get right, and how to bring back balanced, memorable women.🎮 WELCOME TO MY SPIRALBooks, shows, and movies all get complex, gorgeous women. Games? We get Tactical Beige™. -_- Today I drag the “modern Western female protagonist” template, flex my Baldur’s Gate 3 Tav, and show how Capcom & FromSoft keep the drama alive.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 Geralt’s bath & Current landscape00:44 The Tactical-Gear-No-Mascara epidemic02:00 Pretty + Personality ≠ "Oversexualized"03:09 Flop files: Forspoken • Star Wars Outlaws • Dragon Age: The Veilguard04:17 Proof we crave RANGE (*ahem...my BG3 Tav and other ICONS) 05:19 Bring Back BALANCE (and great male leads!)07:01 Eastern devs who still get it (Resident Evil • Monster Hunter Wilds • Elden Ring)09:03 Femininity = narrative BUFF, not liability09:56 Final thoughts 💬 LEMME KNOWWhich game girlie lives rent-free in your head...and why is it Lady D? Drop your pick below! 👇🎞️ GAMEPLAYBackground gameplay: **The Elder Scrolls IV – Oblivion Remastered** (character-creator).Twitter/X: twitter.com/BGroundNPCTikTok: tiktok.com/@thebackgroundnpcInstagram: instagram.com/thebackgroundnpcTwitch: twitch.tv/thebackgroundnpc#womeningames #gamedesign #gamingcommentary
