10 Most Extraordinary Astronaut Characters in Video Game History

In the realm of video games featuring space travel, protagonists typically belong to fictional aerospace organizations with no ties to real-world agencies. Consider iconic examples like Isaac Clarke serving the Concordance Extraction Corporation in Dead Space or Amanda Ripley working under the Weyland-Yutani banner in Alien: Isolation.

However, certain science-fiction titles strive for a measure of realism by centering their narratives around astronauts. These characters might serve as primary protagonists unraveling deep-space mysteries or fighting for survival on distant worlds, while some aren’t even human. Each brings unique qualities to their respective games and finds themselves navigating extraordinarily challenging circumstances.

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10. Kosmos – The Great Perhaps

Astronaut countdown begins with a character from an atmospheric 2D side-scrolling adventure called The Great Perhaps, an under-appreciated indie gem whose narrative extends well beyond conventional space exploration. The game follows astronaut Kosmos who returns to Earth only to discover it transformed into an apocalyptic wasteland, prompting his search for answers.

Kosmos, clad in a distinctive blue and white spacesuit, travels alongside an artificial intelligence named L9 and carries a special lantern whose illumination provides glimpses into the world’s past. The game’s puzzle mechanics revolve around retrieving items from these past timelines for use in the devastated present. The visual transition between what once was and what remains creates a particularly striking artistic contrast.

9. Kerbonauts – Kerbal Space Program

Kerbal Space Program emphasizes spacecraft design physics and launch simulation over character development, but its volunteer alien astronauts deserve recognition as some of gaming’s most endearing space travelers. These diminutive green beings, known as Kerbals, bear a charming resemblance to the minions from Despicable Me and display boundless enthusiasm for space exploration.

The simulation-focused nature of the game offers limited opportunities to directly control these characters, but these cheerful creatures populate your construction hangar as you build rockets and maintain constant, often comical communication throughout your aerospace endeavors.

8. The Astronaut – Lifeless Planet

Lifeless Planet features an unnamed astronaut who lands on what initially appears to be a barren desert world, only to discover remnants of an abandoned Soviet Union settlement. The increasingly complex narrative unfolds as you progress, supported by excellent sound design that includes authentic Russian voice acting in the colonists’ recovered audio logs.

The game presents numerous eerie environments, with exploration across its desolate landscapes involving environmental puzzles and platforming sequences assisted by the astronaut’s limited jetpack capabilities. The spacesuit design mirrors NASA’s real-world equipment with remarkable accuracy, from the distinctive gold helmet visor to the detailed life support systems.

7. Ava Turing – The Turing Test

While Lifeless Planet builds its mystery around a fictional world, The Turing Test transports players to Jupiter’s moon Europa as engineer-astronaut Ava Turing. She serves on an International Space Agency team establishing a research facility on the lunar surface but awakens to discover her colleagues have mysteriously vanished.

Through Ava’s first-person perspective, you navigate the research station by solving chamber puzzles using a specialized rifle that manipulates energy orbs to distribute power and unlock subsequent areas. The omnipresent A.I. companion named T.O.M. creates an atmosphere reminiscent of Portal, culminating in a brilliantly executed narrative twist.

6. Dr. Morgan Yu – Prey

Arkane’s Prey departs significantly from their Dishonored series, presenting an alternate timeline with an accelerated space race and focusing on a chief researcher experiencing memory loss during an alien catastrophe aboard the massive Talos I Space Station. The game offers players the choice to determine Dr. Morgan Yu’s gender, adding a layer of personalization.

This narrative-driven first-person shooter RPG allows player choices to influence multiple possible endings, creating a stronger connection to your character’s journey. What truly distinguishes this astronaut protagonist are the innovative weapons and supernatural abilities available for combating the shapeshifting Typhon entities.

5. Buzz Lightyear

Venturing beyond Pixar’s animated films, Buzz Lightyear makes numerous appearances in the gaming universe. Beyond the classic Toy Story adaptations, he features in Disney Dreamlight Valley, Disney Mirrorverse, and Kingdom Hearts 3. Though named after real-life astronaut Buzz Aldrin, his Space Ranger persona embodies more action hero characteristics than traditional astronaut qualities.

Experiencing adventures alongside Buzz delivers genuine excitement, whether in Kingdom Hearts 3’s Toy Box world or as part of your team in Disney Mirrorverse mobile combat. Particularly enjoyable are the gameplay mechanics in the Toy Story 3 game, where players can control his platforming movements and flight capabilities.

4. Cosmo – Guardians Of The Galaxy

While the primary members of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy would resist the astronaut classification, one supporting character proudly carries the title. Cosmo, an irresistibly charming Golden Retriever mix, draws inspiration from the first Soviet space dog launched into orbit.

Unlike his historical counterpart Laika, Cosmo developed telepathic abilities and other powers during his cosmic journey, eventually becoming Chief of Security for the sprawling space station Knowhere. Characterized by his thick Soviet accent, this lovable canine plays a crucial role in the game’s narrative as an endearing supporting character.

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3. Astroneer

Astroneer presents a more whimsical approach to cosmic exploration, sharing thematic elements with No Man’s Sky. As the title suggests, you control a cleverly named “Astroneer” rather than an astronaut, freely exploring open-world planets equipped with a versatile terraforming tool that can extract terrain material and transform it into new resources.

Additional gameplay mechanics include crafting various transportation methods—from buggies and rovers to interplanetary spacecraft—and constructing essential base facilities. Astroneer deliberately avoids narrative elements, instead encouraging players to fully immerse themselves in the authentic experience of being a space explorer.

2. Selene Vassos – Returnal

Some astronauts in gaming have traveled through time, uncovered planetary mysteries, or battled alien threats. ASTRA Corporation pilot Selene Vassos experiences all these challenges in Returnal, with the additional complication of being trapped in an endless temporal loop.

The enigmatic circumstances begin when Selene crash-lands on the planet Atropos while investigating a signal designated “White Shadow.” She encounters terrifying tentacled entities that launch projectile attacks and must navigate diverse biomes while confronting challenging boss encounters reminiscent of Soulslike games to escape her cyclical predicament.

1. The Astronaut – Deliver Us The Moon

Deliver Us The Moon presents an astronaut narrative worthy of an Andy Weir novel, skillfully balancing third and first-person perspectives. You play as a World Space Agency astronaut dispatched to Earth’s moon to investigate disruptions to the global energy network now powered from the lunar surface.

The experience combines authentic astronaut simulation with compelling storytelling filled with environmental lore and centered on a high-stakes mission to restore power and save humanity. The beautifully rendered lunar environment strikes a remarkable balance between artistic design and scientific accuracy, enhanced by a robotic companion and immersive zero-gravity movement mechanics. Certain sequences evoke the cinematic qualities of acclaimed space films like Gravity and Interstellar.