Rockstar Co-Founder Names Arthur As His Best Character Ever

From the chaotic Trevor Phillips to the conflicted John Marston, the Rockstar Games’ protagonists have become cultural icons that transcend the medium. But when Dan Houser, the co-founder and former lead writer behind many of Rockstar’s greatest hits, was asked which character he considers his best work, he gave quite an interesting answer.

During a rare appearance on the Lex Fridman podcast, Houser discussed his decades-long career at Rockstar. The conversation naturally turned to the characters he’d created, during which he named Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2 as his finest creation.

“The lead characters are different from the side characters, and I think he’s the most rounded and works the best,” he explained, praising Arthur’s completeness as a protagonist who functions effectively across multiple dimensions of storytelling.

However, Houser immediately acknowledged that Arthur doesn’t stand alone. Houser names Niko Bellic, the Serbian war veteran and immigrant who served as the protagonist of Grand Theft Auto 4, as a close second, saying, “It’s always sort of a toss-up, you know?”.

Arthur and Niko represent different approaches to protagonist design. Arthur Morgan is a complex outlaw struggling with loyalty, morality, and his own mortality within the context of a dying Wild West. Niko Bellic, on the other hand, is an Eastern European immigrant who came to America seeking the supposed dream but instead finds himself trapped in cycles of violence eerily similar to what he experienced during the Yugoslav Wars. Unlike Arthur, who achieves a form of redemption before his death, Niko never truly escapes his demons, regardless of which ending players choose.

In a way, Niko is a more tragic character compared to Arthur. Niko’s story ends with him still fundamentally trapped, having failed to find the peace or purpose he sought. It’s a darker, more pessimistic conclusion, reflecting the overall tone of GTA 4. But, according to Houser, Arthur works so well as a character because of his design and his specific relationship dynamics, from his flawed relationship with his old girlfriend and the various elements that turned up around him throughout the story. He isn’t just an empty vessel molded by player actions. He has opinions, history, relationships, and vulnerabilities that make him feel like a complete person rather than a blank slate.

With that said, the fact that Houser considers both characters his most ambitious work suggests they pushed boundaries in ways other Rockstar protagonists didn’t. It’s only fair then to wonder if his absence will have a negative impact on future Rockstar titles, particularly when Red Dead Redemption 3 is finally released, which, according to Houser, is inevitable.

For what it’s worth, it’s important to remember that Houser was simply one member of larger writing teams. Rupert Humphries, who worked on Red Dead Redemption 2‘s narrative alongside Houser, remains with Rockstar and is involved with Grand Theft Auto 6, and there’s no indication that he’s leaving the studio anytime soon.

Rockstar is currently hard at work on GTA 6, dropping sporadic updates for Red Dead Online. It’s believed that a modern re-release for Red Dead Redemption 2 is in development with a Nintendo Switch 2 launch on the cards, but this remains unconfirmed.

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