player character

American  

noun

1. a character in a role-playing game or video game who is controlled by the person playing the game. PC

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Etymology

Origin of player character

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Following up 2020's Doom: Eternal, The Dark Ages plunges player character the Doom Slayer into a Medieval hellscape filled with demonic enemies and an arsenal of frankly ridiculous weapons.

From BBC • May 11, 2025

The attack on Jackson, for example, is something that’s possible because TV is not locked into the perspective of the player character.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2025

Marucci also provides data relating to player character traits and how efficiently they process and react to what they see on the field.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 30, 2022

If a player can do or say anything at any time, then there’s no room for narrative structure or developing relationships between the player character and non-player characters.

From Slate • May 18, 2021

Hence, a Berserker-Wizard is a player character that has achieved enough points to become a wizard, but only by killing other characters.

From The Jargon File, Version 2.9.10, 01 Jul 1992 by Raymond, Eric S.