# What makes a likable character?

**URL:** <https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-makes-a-likable-character/146335>\
**Category:** Writing and Content\
**Tags:** tips\
**Created:** [December 19, 2023, 3:36am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-makes-a-likable-character/146335 "2023-12-19T03:36:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LiliArch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/liliarch/32/120749_2.png) [@LiliArch](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/LiliArch)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-makes-a-likable-character/146335/22 "2023-12-20T16:04:47Z")

</div>

> [@batmansrobin](#):
>
> If I say something hurtful, they say something hurtful back.

I mean, that _does_ sound like a reasonable expectation (as long as the character in question is willing to say something hurtful _ever_).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![batmansrobin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/batmansrobin/32/212908_2.png) [@batmansrobin](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/batmansrobin)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2023, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-makes-a-likable-character/146335/23 "2023-12-20T16:15:51Z")

</div>

Sure. Not really the point of the example though 🙂

The point is that character interactions often feel like a _direct_ predictable result of whatever I choose, instead of characters having their own believable personal and unique thoughts.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![alienburger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@alienburger](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/alienburger)\
**Post date:** [December 21, 2023, 3:38am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-makes-a-likable-character/146335/24 "2023-12-21T03:38:19Z")

</div>

I think at the very basics, a likeable character is interesting and motivated. And by motivated, I mean, they move the plot, the plot doesn’t just happen to them, because that’s boring and boring isn’t likeable in fiction. What makes people interesting isn’t an answerable question imo, because everyone will have a different answer and only the author can really make that decision. But generally speaking, subverting tropes is interesting. Secrets and mysteries are interesting. Tension is interesting. I don’t know, am I even being helpful? 😅

[Previous page](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/what-makes-a-likable-character/146335.md?page=1)