Look, let's be honest: it is absolutely sweltering out there. Temperatures in Seoul have been smashing past 37 degrees Celsius, and Paju? A staggering 40 degrees. I feel like I'm suffocating the moment I step out of a building for a field report. I’m half-tempted to build a shrine to Willis Carrier, the patron saint of air conditioning. For this summer, the man is quite literally the greatest person on Earth (though come autumn, I suppose he'll be yesterday's news).

In any case, this heatwave leaves some of our game-world neighbors feeling rather neglected. They’re the ones who look like a walking furnace—the sort you’d welcome in the dead of winter but would actively avoid during a heatwave. It’s a bit tragic, really. If there’s ever a time to offer them a warm embrace, it’s now. Fancy binge-watching some streaming dramas, sharing a hot pot, or frolicking in the sun? Here are the video game neighbors you should spend your sweltering summer with.

We simply cannot have a list like this without a character who is literally on fire. There are plenty of blaze-infused characters out there—take Ace from One Piece, for instance... oh, wait, has that flame already been extinguished? Regardless, when it comes to iconic fire-dwellers, Brand takes the crown. He is the 'Burning Vengeance' incarnate, fueled by a singular, scorching ambition to set the world alight.

The reason Brand makes for such a stellar companion is his surprising practicality. Just listen to the line, "You're not flammable, are you?" It’s clear the champion has been diligently sorting and incinerating the trash all along. Plus, while most 'incarnations of fire' in games tend to run around in the buff, Brand is fully kitted out—from his default look to his various skins. You won’t have to worry about the police dragging the champion away for public indecency, which is a relief for anyone looking to hang out.

Even if they aren't literal fire-starters, some characters just radiate heat. Usually, they are hulking, sweaty, or possess that classic 'hot-blooded' muscle-bound aesthetic. If they happen to make sun-tanning their hobby? You're in for a real scorcher. Enter Hakan, the Turkish powerhouse from Super Street Fighter 4, who checks every single one of these boxes.

With a 190cm, 110kg frame, a sun-baked red complexion, an outgoing personality that would exhaust any introvert, and a fighting style that involves coating the body in cooking oil to grapple opponents—Hakan is the perfect catalyst to make a hot summer feel even more intense. Spending a day in the sun with Hakan, sliding around on the asphalt after an oil-wrestling session while laughing boisterously, will make you completely forget about the actual temperature.

A list about 'warm' friends wouldn't be complete without a fire spirit. They are a dime a dozen in gaming, from Warcraft’s Ragnaros to countless others torching their way through virtual landscapes. Most of these creatures are made of molten rock or raw flames, making it impossible to share a hug or even a friendly pat on the back. Plus, let's face it—most of them aren't exactly cute. In that regard, Ifrit from Trickcal Revive is a rare find.

Sure, a hobby of arson and a preference for 'charred food' might need some professional intervention, but Ifrit is undeniably cute, prone to being a bit of a coward, and surprisingly easy to manage. Before the Revive update, there was even a human-style skin that garnered plenty of attention with its wild, blonde-haired girl aesthetic. Dear Trickcal players, why not bring an Ifrit home during this heatwave?

Karlach, an Origin character in Baldur's Gate 3, is a tiefling on the run from the Hells. Thanks to some demonic 'help,' she has a hell-engine instead of a heart. This means she’s a walking time bomb who risks exploding if she steps outside the infernal planes. It’s a precarious, tragic existence, so naturally, she deserves a bit of love. And for heaven's sake, don't you dare choose the option to behead her.

At any rate, Karlach is a genuinely charming character. She’s got a good heart, and her look is exactly the kind of 'tomboy' aesthetic that’s currently in vogue. Behind that boisterous exterior lies a surprising softness—she even cuddles a teddy bear while sleeping. And when I say her body is 'hot,' I mean it literally; touch her, and you’ll get a burn. Larian Studios really missed a trick by not putting such a charmer front and center in every marketing campaign.

While the humanoids mentioned above are warm, they have their limits. Humans are fickle, after all—prone to petty arguments or falling out over minor differences. A giant beast, however, offers a much more stable foundation for friendship. Burying your face in a mane of burning fur or riding on a back through a literal heatwave are unique gifts that only the 'Kaiser Dragon,' Teostra, can provide in the Monster Hunter series.

For the record, the series also features the 'Empress Dragon' Lunastra, who is of the same species but a different sex. However, we’ve specifically chosen Teostra for this list. The reason? That magnificent, lion-like mane. It is the pinnacle of fluffiness and warmth. The female’s mane is significantly sparser, and she doesn't offer the same spectacular fireworks display using powder explosions. If you want a truly warm companion, you’d best set your sights on the male, Teostra.