Every video game character you love is a combination of many parts, and their design is one of the most major of those. A strong silhouette and plenty of memorable traits, not just their actions and words – a little bit of everything. A major aspect for many might even be a stylish little backpack.
Backpacks come in plenty of different forms in games. Different materials, sizes, and shapes. Some of them are focused purely on aesthetics, while others actually provide a whole new layer of mechanical depth to a game. There’s plenty to choose from, but we’re going to focus on those that left the greatest impact.
8/8 Banjo’s Backpack – Banjo-Kazooie
Banjo and Kazooie are some of gaming’s most iconic platforming mascots, up there with Sonic and Mario. The duo is a renowned pair, a big happy bear and a bright red bird that are constantly out to protect their home from the schemes of Gruntilda. Surely, any day now, they’ll be back to stop her again.
After an incredibly long hiatus, Banjo and Kazooie made their reappearance in Smash, the first time their design was featured in such a detailed manner. Despite all the funny quirks of the characters, somehow, the bright blue backpack of Banjo is one of the standout aspects. Why is he storing grenades in there?
7/8 All The Backpacks – Pokemon
There are many aspects of Pokemon that are iconic, though its designs are always at the forefront. The reveal of a new pokemon and region is always so exciting, and ever since X and Y, trainer customisation has been greater than ever. Even before that, though, the backpacks worn by your trainer have been well-known.
Everything in Pokemon is stored in your bag, and much of the UI is actually styled like you’re rummaging through your bag for goodies. The added touch in later games, letting you pick your own bag, makes it feel all the more personal. It’s a wonderful blend of both aesthetic and function in one.
6/8 Sean’s Backpack – Life Is Strange 2
Following the runaway success of Life is Strange and its prequel Before The Storm, the sequel had quite a big name to live up to. LiS2 has you take on the role of Sean and Daniel Diaz, just two kids on the run after a horrible accident left your family fragmented.
Being constantly on the move, Sean’s backpack is one of the only things you have left. It’s the mementos of your entire journey and everything you have to your name. You can even find little patches and charms across your journey to add a little more personal flair to it. It’s always in sight and a symbol of the journey.
5/8 Beedle’s Unfoldable Shop – Breath Of The Wild
Originally introduced back in Wind Waker, Beedle is a beloved character in the grand gallery of Zelda characters. A merchant unlike many others, he actually rewards you for being a loyal customer and is a friendly face in general.
He’s always been a bit unconventional though, and that’s still true in Breath of the Wild. He’s a travelling merchant and has his whole shop quite literally on his back at all times. It’s all packed into a neat beetle-shaped backpack that’s bursting at the seams, unfolding whenever a customer comes near.
4/8 Clank – Ratchet And Clank
The Ratchet and Clank series is what shot Insomniac Games to prominence, now the foremost creator of Marvel games in the industry. The heart of their work lies in Ratchet and Clank, the duo that have a wonderful love-hate relationship. Packed with plenty of tools of destruction, Clank is maybe the most deadly of them all.
In almost every game, Clank functions as your companion planted firmly upon your back. By all means, he’s a backpack for storage. He just so happens to also be able to transform into a helicopter or even a jetpack, which offers him a bit more functionality than the usual backpack. Plus, he talks, so you’re never lonely – that’s a talented backpack.
3/8 Artyom’s Backpack – Metro Exodus
After two incredibly well-received games set within the, well, metros of collapsed Russia, Metro Exodus chose to create a dramatically different game that is much more focused on exploring the surface and offering a world of new survival mechanics into the mix.
For Artyom, everything is stored in his backpack. But it’s no simple menu you bring up. Instead, Artyom actually takes the bag off his back to rummage through it for all the items you need. Immersion is core to the Metro games, and Exodus commits to the bit. It’s by no means a fancy-looking bag, but it feels like a central mechanic to your whole adventure in a logical way.
2/8 The Backpack – Death Stranding
Kojima loves to talk about his games in a rather unconventional way. Who else would really have the confidence to say their upcoming game is a whole new genre or even medium? Not many. That said, Death Stranding really is something special. Playing as a delivery man at the end of the world, you make deliveries few others can, and the journey is the whole point.
As a result, the backpack is pretty central. In Death Stranding, everything you hold is visible on you, from your equipment to your cargo, and you can just as easily drop it too. The backpack is as much a character as anyone else, towering well over Norman Reedus, an incredibly literal metaphor for the weight on his shoulders.
1/8 Bodega Cat Suit – Miles Morales
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Another entry belonging to Insomniac Games, their Spider-Man games achieved the rare achievement of making Spider-Man’s web-swinging actually feel good. There are plenty of generic elements to the first game, though so many of those issues are ironed out in Miles Morales, giving the game a much stronger sense of identity.
Of course, with such a wide variety of outfits to choose from Spider-Man’s history, there are plenty to outfit yourself with in-game. There’s a pretty easy number-one outfit, though, and that’s the Bodega Cat suit. Sure, you could argue it’s the cat that makes the outfit, not the backpack. They come as a pair, though, and complement each other perfectly. I mean, look at his little mask as he peeks out! Adorable!
