They have everything you need.
Before you go on a big trip to save the world from evil monsters and disasters that could cause the end of the world, it’s always a good idea to stop by a local shop to get extra supplies. Even the strongest main characters need the help of sellers to get the things they need.
In most games, NPCs with no names sell you whatever you need, but in others, the traders are memorable and have their own personalities. Some of them like to take advantage of your character’s situation by charging high prices for things they need, but they’re all good people at heart, and you’ll want to visit them even if you don’t have any money.
Drebin 893 – Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns Of The Patriots
When Snake goes on his last task in Metal Gear Solid 4, the military and PMCs have gotten so good at using technology that he can’t even use a gun without an ID chip. Luckily, the old hero meets Drebin, a smooth arms dealer who helps Snake on his trip by giving him artillery and ammunition.
Like most of the other characters in Metal Gear Solid, Drebin does a lot of strange things that make him just as recognisable as anyone else. He often does small magic tricks, like making apples appear out of thin air, and his catchphrase “Eye Have You” reminds Snake of how good he is at customer service.
Porkrind – Cuphead
Cuphead and Mugman have to save themselves by collecting the souls of huge bosses after they lose a deal with the Devil. It won’t be easy, but if they earn enough coins in the game’s run-and-gun levels, they can go to Porkrind’s Emporium and buy new weapons and charms.
Porkrind might not be as cute as the other people who live on the Inkwell Isles, but the things he sells are important for Cuphead and Mugman to have a better chance of surviving. He looks like a secret boss because of how tough he is, but he is always ready to help the duo get powerful new skills as long as they have the money to pay for them.
Shopkeeper – Crypt Of The NecroDancer
Most games have shops or stores that are always in the same place, so you know where to go when you need to restock. Others, like roguelikes, keep things interesting by moving helpful shops around randomly, so you never know where you’ll find one next.
In Crypt of the NecroDancer, the Shopkeeper is cleverly hidden in some stages, but he is easy to find thanks to a funny sound. As you get closer to one, he starts to sing over the music in the background, which gets louder as you get closer. The Shopkeeper may not have as much personality as some of the other characters, but his voice will stick with you long after the game is over.
Tom Nook – Animal Crossing
Tom Nook has been in every Animal Crossing game since the first one, and he is usually the first person you see when you arrive. He will help you get settled and find a place to live, and then he will send you a bill for the services he provided. To make bells, you have to spend bells, so you’ll have to go to his store to buy tools and sell things to pay him back.
Tom Nook is not a bad person, even though he has a hold on the real estate business. He mostly wants to help you live better, but improving your house or moving to a new neighbourhood costs bells. He is a trustworthy businessman until he can retire and give his business to Timmy and Tommy.
Ravio – The Legend Of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a great game that mixes known parts from previous games with new game mechanics to make you think something different. Most Zelda games hide valuable items like the Hookshot or Boomerang in dungeons, but in A Link Between Worlds, you can rent or buy them from a store run by a mystery merchant named Ravio.
When you first meet Ravio, he seems very strange, so he turns Link’s house into a temporary shop to help you on your goal to beat Yuga. At first, it might be hard to tell how important he is, but as you get closer to the final fight, you’ll find out that Ravio is key to one of the best plot twists in the whole series.
Anna – Fire Emblem
Some of the most memorable merchants in video games only show up once, but Anna is the most common figure in the Fire Emblem series. Since her first appearance in Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light, she has been in almost every game, usually as a travelling merchant with great deals on hard-to-find things.
Anna is always funny and carefree, with a sneaky attitude that might make you wonder where she got her stuff in the first place. Anna normally makes small appearances in other games or joins your army in games like Fire Emblem Engage when she’s not there to sell you useful items.
Emil – Nier Automata
In a game’s sequel, it’s not often that one of the key characters becomes a merchant. In the first Nier, Emil is a small kid who joins your party. After he merges with his sister, he changes into a different person. In Nier Automata, 2B and 9S find Emil as a trader in the City Ruins, thousands of years after he disappeared.
Even though a lot of time has passed, Emil is still a child at heart. Whenever he sees an android walking by, he plays the catchy tune from his shop. Emil has one of the best side quests in the game. It helps him understand his journey and leads to an amazing optional boss fight and one of the 26 endings in Nier Automata.
Beedle – The Legend Of Zelda
Other than Link, Impa, and a few others, not many characters from The Legend of Zelda series show up in more than one game. Beedle first showed up in Wind Waker as a travelling trader with unique items. Since then, he has been in five other Zelda games, where he continues to offer great deals to his customers.
Beedle is always a fun figure to talk to, whether you meet him in Skyward Sword or Phantom Hourglass, and being a loyal customer often pays off. Most versions of Beedle give his customers Membership Cards. These cards give savings and other perks if you spend a certain amount of Rupees.
Brok And Sindri – God Of War
Few shopkeepers in video games leave their shops to go on adventures, but Brok and Sindri from the God of War series spend just as much time wandering around the Nine Realms as they do selling Kratos new armour and items. They are important friends for Kratos and Atreus, and their story is also one of the most important parts of the Norse duology as a whole.
In the 2018 game God of War, Brok and Sindri aren’t close to each other, which holds them back from reaching their full potential. At the end of Basket Random game, they make up, and by the time Ragnarok starts, they are back to working together. Even though they are great blacksmiths, what makes them even better is that they are friends with Kratos and with each other.
Merchant – Resident Evil 4
Since Resident Evil 4 came out, many games have been inspired by its over-the-shoulder view, action and horror elements, and nameless Merchant, who made buying things more fun than ever before. The Resident Evil 4 Merchant might look sketchy, but he just wants to help in return for some Pesetas.
The Merchant’s Store has everything you’ll need on your journey to save the President’s daughter, including new weapons, treasure maps, and a place to sell things. Even though he may not be important to the story as a whole, the Merchant is one of the most friendly people in a game full of scary monsters and stress.