Gamers have taken protagonists through countless adventures. Often, they are taking control of athletic, tough, or otherwise physically dangerous specimens who sometimes temper their abilities with intelligence. But every so often, these heroes can’t make it on their own; they require the help of a nerdy, sometimes awkward, super genius supporting them.

This is our list of the heroes who stand outside of the spotlight. These are the top five nerdy characters in video games.

Image Credit: Li Kovacs