A study was published in 2009 by the University of Southern California called: "The virtual census: representations of gender, race and age in video games" and it showed that Black characters appear in video games in proportion to their numbers in the 2000 US census data, but mainly in sports games and in titles that reinforce stereotypes. Following is a list of Black video game characters, excluding sports and music titles. The game character roles are either a player character (PC) or a non-player character (NPC).
Before 2000 Character GameRelease dateRoleNationalityNotes Julius Erving (Dr. J)One on One: Dr. J vs. Larry Bird1982Kid QuickPunch-Out!!1984Appeared in the Arcade version of Punch-Out!!Mr. SandmanPunch-Out!!1984Roadblock G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero1985PCAmericanEdgarQuartet1986Doc LouisPunch-Out!!1987First appeared in the NES version of Punch-Out!!!BirdieStreet Fighter1987AmericanCelieThe Colonel's Bequest1989MojaLegend of the Ghost Lion1989StormX-Men; X-Men: Gamesmaster's Legacy; Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes; X-Men: Mutant Academy 2; Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects; Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, etc.1989, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2006PCStorm has appeared in numerous gamesAxel FoleyBeverly Hills Cop1990Michael MaxFatal Fury1991BalrogStreet Fighter II: The World Warrior1991AmericanAdam HunterStreets of Rage1991PCEddie "Skate" HunterStreets of Rage 21992PCAlso known as Sammy HunterErnie LeachThe Dagger of Amon Ra1992SCAT member CollinsNight Trap1992NPCPawnshop OwnerKing's Quest VI1992NPCWatchman Toussaint GervaisGabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers1993Jax BriggsMortal Kombat II1993AmericanAlvin Hooper (Yo Money)Police Quest: Open Season1993NicolettePolice Quest: Open Season1993Raymond JonesPolice Quest: Open Season1993Dee JaySuper Street Fighter II: The New Challengers1993PCJamaicanJeffry McWildVirtua Fighter1993PCNick FuryThe Punisher; Marvel Super Hero Squad Online; Marvel Puzzle Quest; Marvel Contest of Champions; Disney Infinity 2.0; Disney Infinity 3.0; Marvel: Future Fight; Marvel Strike Force; 1993, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2014, 2015, 2015, 2018PCNick Fury has appeared in numerous games; he is not always depicted as blackKahlilBebe's Kids1994LaShawnBebe's Kids1994T.J. ComboKiller Instinct1994SheanaTough Guy1994PCLucky GlauberThe King of Fighters '941994Heavy-D!The King of Fighters '941994ColonelShaq Fu1994VoodooShaq Fu1994PCCyraxMortal Kombat 31995PCBotsvanianGraceFighting Vipers1995Bruce IrvinTekken 21995ZackDead or Alive1996MayaKiller Instinct1996Kenneth J. SullivanResident Evil1996Barret Wallace Final Fantasy VII1997TaurusInterstate '821997Eddy GordoTekken 31997PCTiger JacksonTekken 31997PCKaiMortal Kombat 41997PCBoman DelgadoRival Schools: United by Fate1997DudleyStreet Fighter III: New Generation1997PCBritainElenaStreet Fighter III: New Generation1997KenyanSean MatsudaStreet Fighter III: New Generation1997PCBrazilianEli VanceHalf-Life, Half-Life 21998, 2004AmericanMarvin BranaghResident Evil 21998Donald Anderson Metal Gear Solid1998DARPA chiefMohammed AvdolJoJo's Bizarre Adventure1998PCEgyptianLaheesa1 on 11998PCMash1 on 11998PCWar MachineMarvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes; Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes; Iron Man 2; Marvel Super Hero Squad Online; Marvel Avengers Alliance; Lego Marvel Super Heroes; Marvel Heroes; Marvel Contest of Champions; etc.1998, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2013, 2014PCWar Machine has appeared in numerous other games HauserSuikoden II, Genso Suikogaiden Vol. 1.1998, 2000PC, NPCAkujiAkuji the Heartless1999PCAfro ThunderReady 2 Rumble Boxing1999PCSethThe King of Fighters '99 Evolution, The King of Fighters1999, 2000PCMichael LeRoi (Shadow Man)Shadow Man1999PCMark KimberleyShenmue1999D'arci SternUrban Chaos1999Tom JohnsonShenmue, Shenmue II, Shenmue III1999, 2001, 2019
2000s CharacterGameRelease dateRoleNationalityNotes BladeBlade; Blade II; Marvel: Ultimate Alliance; Marvel Puzzle Quest; Marvel Heroes; Marvel Contest of Champions; Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2; Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order, etc.2000, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019PCBlade has appeared in numerous gamesValygar CorthalaBaldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn and Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition2000, 2013Samuel WilliamsDesperados: Wanted Dead or Alive2001Sergeant Major Avery Junior JohnsonHalo: The Fall of Reach2001FortuneMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty2001NPCVanessa LewisVirtua Fighter 42001Lance VanceGrand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories2002NPCVictor VanceGrand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories2002NPCAgent JMen in Black II: Alien Escape2002PCIrving LambertTom Clancy's Splinter Cell2002Don Donatelouse (Dona-dona)Way of the Samurai2002PC, NPCJames HellerPrototype, Prototype 22002, 2012PCLisa HamiltonDead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball2003Dead or Alive History -Team Ninja Freaks- p. 160.AymeBaten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean2003Jim ChapmanResident Evil Outbreak2003Mark Wilkins2003John DaltonUnreal II: The Awakening2003SigJak II; Jak 3; Jak X: Combat Racing2003, 2004, 2005NPCCarl "CJ" JohnsonGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004PCAmericanKendl JohnsonGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004NPCAmericanMadd DoggGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004NPCAmericanOG LocGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004NPCAmericanSean JohnsonGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004NPCAmericanBig SmokeGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas2004NPCAmericanAlyx VanceHalf-Life 2, Half-Life: Alyx2004, 2020PCMalay-AmericanDarriusMortal Kombat: Deception2004PCAishaRumble Roses2004PCAmericanTorqueThe Suffering2004RavenTekken 52004PCTyler MilesFahrenheit2005Garcian SmithKiller7200550 Cent50 Cent: Bulletproof and 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand2005, 2009PCMace WinduLEGO Star Wars: The Video Game; LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy; LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars2005, 2006, 2011 PCCyborgTeen Titans; Injustice: Gods Among Us; Infinite Crisis; Injustice 2, etc.2005, 2013, 2014, 2017PCCyborg has appeared in numerous gamesBrad GarrisonDead Rising2006NPCKian AlvaneDreamfall: The Longest Journey2006FranFinal Fantasy XII2006MattWii Sports2006PCJohn StewartJustice League Heroes; Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham; Lego DC Super-Villains, etc.2006, 2014, 2018PCJohn Stewart has appeared in numerous gamesAugustus ColeGears of War, Gears of War: Judgment, Gears of War 4 , Gears 5, etc.2006, 2013, 2016, 2019Luke Cage (Power Man)Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Marvel Heroes, Lego Marvel's Avengers2006, 2013, 2016PC, NPCBlack PantherMarvel: Ultimate Alliance; Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2; Marvel Super Hero Squad Online; Marvel Avengers Alliance; Marvel Heroes; Marvel Contest of Champions; etc.2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014PCBlack Panther has appeared in numerous gamesStaff Sgt. GriggsCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare2007Laurence Barnes (Prophet)Crysis2007Shinobu JacobsNo More Heroes2007David AndersonMass Effect2007DemomanTeam Fortress 22007PCScottishZach HammondDead Space2008NPCThree DogFallout 32008LouisLeft 4 Dead2008PCAmericanCrying WolfMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots2008PCDrebin 893Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots2008NPCDwayneGrand Theft Auto IV2008Disco KidPunch-Out!!2008DonaWay of the Samurai 32008NPCLucius FoxLego Batman: The Videogame2008PCLucius Fox has appeared in numerous gamesMaster Sergeant Matthew "Coops" CooperARMA 22009RolandBorderlands2009Sergeant FoleyCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 22009Sazh KatzroyFinal Fantasy XIII2009RomeoHalo 3: ODST2009EkkoLeague of Legends2009PCLucianLeague of Legends2009PCSennaLeague of Legends2009PCPykeLeague of Legends2009PCRellLeague of Legends2009PCK'SanteLeague of Legends2009PCAmbessa MetardaLeague of Legends2009NPCMel MetardaLeague of Legends2009Aaron CashBatman: Arkham Asylum2009AmericanRodinBayonetta2009NPCBritishCoachLeft 4 Dead 22009PCAmericanRochelleLeft 4 Dead 22009PCIsaac WashingtonThe House of the Dead: Overkill2009Black BaronMadWorld2009Josh StoneResident Evil 52009AmericanAfro SamuraiAfro Samurai2009PCSheva AlomarResident Evil 52009West African Commander GoreShin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey2009
2010s