The best games where the main character uses prosthetics

Summary

• Pirates used peg legs and hook hands in shipwrecks in the 18th century, which spurred creativity in prosthetic design.
• The fiction creatively explores prosthetics, from devastating effects on characters to comical malfunctions.
• Video games feature prosthetics with recognizable gameplay effects, from bionic arms to supernatural limbs.

Prosthetics, in their simplest definition, are devices that are used to replace a missing body part. Throughout history, there have been many different ways to lose body parts. Accidents and violence are common. Even today, there are still situations where a medical emergency may require the removal of a limb. Alternatively, some people are just born missing an arm or a leg.

Because of this, people throughout history have looked for ways to get around a missing body part. One of the main reasons pirates are so commonly associated with peg legs and hook arms is that there were many ways to injure yourself on 18th century sailing ships, and they were simple prosthetics that could be assembled using anything was at hand. In modern times, people have become much more creative with prosthetics and have developed incredible designs that change the lives of their users.

In fiction, prosthetics (especially arms) can be used creatively. A more dramatic take on this theme can explore the devastating impact the loss of an arm has on a character, how they adjust to the prosthetic, and ultimately grow from the experience. In a more comedic setting, the prosthetic itself can be a comedic device that regularly fails or doesn't work as intended.

Sci-fi is particularly fond of this for the simple reason that if a character loses an arm, they can replace it with a cool robotic arm, though fantasy sometimes offers equivalents. However, the interactive nature of video games also means that a prosthetic arm can lend itself to very interesting gameplay. Many games can be creative with how they design the arm itself, but finding interesting ways to use or modify it can make for some very unique experiences.

For simplicity, this list is focused specifically on single-player games where the main playable character has prosthetics. This means that the list avoided multiplayer-only games and NPCs that could be their own lists. In addition, the selection was further narrowed down to examples where the prosthesis has a clear impact on the game.

8 Bionic Commando

Grapple hero

This classic 1987 arcade title (later ported to the NES before going through a series of remakes and sequels) follows Nathan “Red” Spencer, a soldier whose left arm has been replaced with a grappling hook. How he got this bionic arm is unclear (unless you count the 2009 game that claimed his bionic arm was made from the remains of his dead wife), and compared to other items it might seem simple.

After all, it only has one function (grappling), compared to the upgradeable/modifiable limbs of the others. The decisive factor, however, is the relatively straightforward grab arm Bionic Commandogameplay. Due to level design and the (at the time) unusual decision not to have a jump command, Nathan must rely on a grapple to move around his environment. He can use it to get through wide openings and onto higher platforms. But it is also useful as a weapon. When used in conjunction with his weapon, the grapple can also be fired or swung at enemies.

7 Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Double prosthetics

Settings Deus Ex is a world where cybernetic body modification is commonplace and powerful shadowy figures like to experiment with using cybernetic enhancements to create super soldiers. Naturally, almost every protagonist in the series has been a cyborg to some degree, and acquiring and installing expansions is a central part of the game. But Adam Jensen from Human revolution and Humanity divided it goes a step further. Most of the characters on this list only lose one hand. Adam Jenson does both arms replaced with prosthetics. And they can be upgraded (along with the rest of his body) to give him several combat advantages.

For example, there are upgrades that increase the strength of the arm or stabilize it for more accurate aim. At the more advanced end, he can augment it with a hidden blade Assassin's Creed –style, or enable remote hacking of enemy equipment. The ability to experiment with different augmentations for a unique playstyle is easily one of the biggest draws of the series.

6 Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

The Hand of the Void

Meanwhile, Billie Lurk went through a lot of trauma Dishonored 1 and 2and in the second game she lost an eye and her right arm. But things changed when she became playable in the spin-off game Death of the Outsider. In a strange turn of events, the very being she is about to kill gives her Black Shard Arm. Being a Void Artifact, this is a strange looking prosthetic. The hand is barely attached to the arm and looks like it should fall off easily, but somehow it works quite smoothly.

In any other context, this would be the worst prosthetic ever, but it has a strange way of working here. It actually comes with the advantage of self-replenishing energy, which means Billie doesn't have to worry about regenerating mana the same way others do Dishonored the protagonists do, and that gives her some superpowers. It's an odd choice on the Outsider's part, especially since it cancels out a potential inside choice Dishonored 2but it seems to be a reaction to not wanting the grade he usually gives other people.

5 The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Arm transplant with a surprise

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild had an item named Sheikah Slate which allowed Link to collect runes that gave him special abilities. When you bring this mechanic back for Tears of the KingdomNintendo decided to go in a slightly different direction by having the arm fill the role instead. When Ganondorf is resurrected (again), he manages to use his new powers to shrink Link's left arm.

Fortunately, the ghost Raur he is able to save Link and perform an impromptu limb transplant. This isn't exactly a prosthetic in the most common sense, as it's Rauru's real arm literally grafted onto Link's arm. It may sound morbid, but it is done to give him an advantage in his quest to save Hyrule. Rauru's arm allows Link to find and collect special abilities that range from simplistic (picking up heavy objects) to crafting and even minor time reversals. These can help him with everything from solving puzzles to combat, which often becomes necessary to navigate Hyrule.

4 Lies P

Interchangeable arms for different situations

AND Dark souls– inspired redesign by Carlo Collodi Pinnochio it may not be the place you expect prosthetics. After all, Pinnochio is a wooden puppet, right? And yet their version, known simply as “P”, actually has a metal prosthetic arm, known as a arms of the legion. However, there is a twist. Instead of a single upgradable prosthetic, there are different legion arm models that P can craft during his journey, each of which comes with a different secondary ability that can be used in conjunction with his primary attack.

These skills range from simply grappling with enemies to launching projectiles to launching landmines into the ground. While P is limited to one function at a time, the arms are interchangeable, giving players room to experiment to find the one that best suits their playstyle.

Losing an arm is hard, but now you're armed with a robotic arm

The fifth entry in Solid metal gearbox series begins with its new protagonist, Venom Snake, waking up in a hospital after surviving an explosion, where he realizes he is suddenly missing an arm (presumably amputated for medical reasons). This injury is even mentioned in the game's title, as “phantom pain” is a common sensory phenomenon where a person feels pain in a missing body part.

His first prosthesis, a hook quickly dropped by another patient, was not very effective. However, once he (finally) escapes from the hospital, Venom gets a bionic arm which can be upgraded with several combat features such as shooting missiles or shocking enemies. Since much of the gameplay involves observing, infiltrating, and/or attacking enemy strongholds, the bionic arm could have a variety of applications for Venom Snake to work with.

2 Phantom Fury

A robotic arm with special skills

3D Realms' sequel to their retro shooter Ionic Fury begins with protagonist Shelley “Bombshell” Harrison waking up after undergoing surgery for injuries she sustained in the previous game. The first thing he notices is her missing right arm, and he barely has time to process it as the device is already under attack from the game's antagonists. The good news is that he now has a fancy robotic arm that can hit enemies with enough force to make them explode, and he can get upgrades throughout the game that offer more options, such as creating a force field that blocks projectiles.

The arm itself actually becomes quite a plot point as it turns out to be much more than just a prosthetic. This turns out to have ties to Shelley's own family history and a deeper conspiracy that now threatens global security.

1 An axe

A restless but very useful arm

FromSoftware's adventure in feudal Japan begins with protagonist Wolf tasked with protecting the heir of an ancient clan, only for things to go wrong when he encounters his nemesis. Their epic Kendo match ends somewhat anticlimactically when Wolf's left arm is cut off in one hit before he can do much. Luckily, before he can bleed out, he somehow ends up in the house of a sculptor who gives him some strange prosthetics. Unlike many examples on this list, this one is supernatural instead of mechanical and appears to be made of bones.

The forearm itself is a skeleton made up of three different bones, and the same goes for the fingers. In true FromSoftware fashion, this ends up leaving him with more questions than answers about what exactly is going on. The new arm proves to be very valuable in his quest for revenge and can even be upgraded with various “tools” found throughout the game.