Escort missionsare notorious for being one of the worst gaming tropes around. They can range frommildly irritating to rage-inducing, especially when the escorted character doesn’t follow commands or stay close. However, not every escort mission is so unbearable. If the escortee is a central character or comforting companion, it can be rewarding to deliver them to their destination safely while learning about motivations and aspirations.
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While no escort is complete without difficulties, games that have mastered this kind of mission often use them as a large portion of their plots and balance their less enjoyable features with compelling stories, character arcs, and designs.
10Yoshi’s Island
Yoshi’s Islandis the secondSuper Mario Worldgame. In it, Yoshi leads Baby Mario through various stages to save his twin brother from Kamek, one of Baby Bowser’s minions who kidnapped Luigi. When Yoshi gets hurt, he must recover quickly to protect a crying Baby Mario from floating away in one of Kamek’s magic bubbles.
While Yoshi is usuallyMario’s companion or mount,the game reverses their roles, making Baby Mario a defenseless escort throughout the game. Baby Mario’s tears can be annoying or stress-inducing at times, butYoshi’s Islandis a central and enjoyable part ofSuper Mario’shistory.
9BioShock: Infinite
InBioShock: Infinite,the Lutece twins send Booker DeWitt tothe floating city of Columbiato escort a powerful young woman named Elizabeth, who can open rifts to alternate realities to New York. Pursued by the city’s authorities and Elizabeth’s robotic warden, Booker’s task is a difficult one. However, he is motivated to succeed and have his gambling debts forgiven.
While Booker’s quest includes escorting Elizabeth, she is never in danger during battles, and at times, their roles seem reversed. She leads him through alternate timelines, possible futures, and the truth about his mission. As they travel together,BioShock: Infinitemasterfully uses escort missions to guide both characters’ arcs and development.
8Portal
Portalfollows Chell,a lonely human test subjectfor Aperture Sciences. Guided by a sarcastic AI named GLaDOS, she must solve various tests using a portal gun to reach the next area. As one of the tests, GLaDOS introduces Chell to the Weighted Companion Cube, a pink cube with a heart at the center.
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While Chell only guides the Companion Cube through one test in the firstPortalgame, GLaDOS later taunts Chell for euthanizing the cube that would otherwise always want to be by her side. GLaDOS’ implication that Chell’s companion was sentient makes its short escort mission all the more bittersweet.
7Half-Life 2
TheHalf-Lifeseries takes place in the same universe asPortal,but its events occur before Chell’s tests begin. In the second game, the theoretical physicist Gordon Freeman awakens from stasis to realize aliens have taken over the world. As he reconnects with his old lab partners to push back against the aliens’ control, he meets his friend’s daughter, Alyx Vance.
As members of the Resistance, Gordon and Alyx become vital allies and friends. However, she gets injured during one of their missions, leaving Gordon to drive and escort her to safety. While the escort scene inHalf-Life 2has its difficulties, Alyx’s character and circumstances make it a rewarding drive.
6The Liar Princess And The Blind Prince
InThe Liar Princess and the Blind Prince,a wolf accidentally blinds a prince who comes to the forest to hear her sing every night, believing she is a princess. Driven by guilt and a desire to reconnect with the prince, the wolf exchanges her singing voice for the ability to shapeshift and lead the prince on a dangerous journey to restore his sight.
Although the prince agrees to travel beside the wolf, he doesn’t move forward unless the wolf, in the form of a princess, guides him by hand. While the wolf continues to hide her identity as theyexplore fairytale-like levels,the prince reveals his hobbies and affections, making him an endearing and mild-mannered companion throughout the game.
5Pikmin
Whenever Captain Olimar makes a crash landing on the planet inPikmin, he often finds himself alone without the resources to return home. Luckily, Olimar soon meets all kinds of friendly Pikmin that he can control and lead using his whistle.
As Olimar escorts the small yet helpful creatures throughout thePikminseries,he often accidentally sacrificeshis new companions to survive, gather resources, and overcome obstacles. While Olimar leads the curious Pikmin, it is clear that he relies on his companions as much as he escorts them back to his ship.
4The Last Guardian
Unaware of how he got lost, a young boy awakens beforea giant dog-like beastnamed Trico. Although the boy is determined to find his way home, he tends to Trico’s wounds, earning its affection and admiration. Together, they travel through ruins, solve puzzles, and confront other mythological beasts that impede their progress.
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The Last Guardianuses standard escort mechanics to help Trico navigate small spaces. The boy can call it, ask it to wait, and attack when necessary. However, one of the game’s best features is it allows the boy to pet Trico and calm it down after battles. Since the boy and Trico are often together, their friendship makesThe Last Guardiana compelling escort mission as a whole.
3The Last of Us
The Last of Ustakes place ina post-pandemic worldwhere the monstrous and violent infected roam. While trying to defend himself, Joel meets a young girl named Ellie, who is immune to the disease the infected spread. Determined to escort her to an organization that can use her genetics to formulate a vaccine, Joel and Ellie journey out into the violent and harsh world.
Ellie beginsThe Last of Usas an inexperienced child, but the more she works together beside Joel, the more resourceful and motivated she becomes. Still, even at the start of the game, Ellie’s relationship with Joel and their contrasting experiences make her a compelling escort.
2Ico
Blamed for all the misfortunes of his town,a young boy with hornsnamed Ico is brought to a mysterious castle and sentenced to starve or freeze to death in a coffin. Luckily, he manages to escape, freeing another prisoner, Yorda, along the way. However, shadowy guards chase after them, prompting Ico to lead Yorda to safety by hand since they speak different languages.
Althoughboth characters use their talents to escape the castle inIco,the horned boy acts as a guide because he can fight, climb, and jump better than Yorda.By the end of the game, Ico and Yorda share a beautiful relationship based on trust, and their bond makesIcosuch a well-received game.
1Resident Evil 4
InResident Evil 4,Special Agent Leon S. Kennedy is assigned to rescue the President’s daughter from a mysterious cult that has become active in Spain. Leon finds her in a church, forced to defend her from powerful and monstrous creatures until a chopper can bring them to safety.
While the President’s daughter, Ashley, expresses her fears, concerns, and thoughts while Leon guides her, she listens to his commands, staying out of the way as best she can. Still, given her importancein the horror game,Ashley’s escort is often regarded as a realistic and impactful moment inResident Evil 4.
