We recently witnessed a bizarre spectacle at the World Cup trophy presentation, where Spain claimed victory. A certain political figure hovered awkwardly near the winning team, desperate to muscle in on a group photo, only to be promptly nudged aside. The global reaction was one of collective ridicule: "Why are you trying to hitch a ride on their success?" It was a pathetic attempt to piggyback on the historic achievements of players who had bled for their moment in the sun.

Amusingly, the gaming world is no stranger to such 'highlights.' Whether it’s characters claiming the glory after riding the coattails of a weary protagonist, or opportunistic power-mongers switching sides with spineless flattery once the tide turns, these parasites are everywhere. We’ve rounded up the most shameless freeloaders who just love to stick their spoons in where they don’t belong.

Wulbren Bongle, the leader of the Deep Gnomes in Larian Studios' 'Baldur's Gate 3,' is a piece of work. He first appears trapped in the Moonrise Towers prison in Act 2, and rescuing him is as exhausting as it sounds. If not for the tearful pleas of Barcus, his genuinely concerned friend, you wouldn't bother. From the moment he's freed, Wulbren offers no thanks, only arrogance—to the point where even Barcus eventually cuts ties.

Unless you decide to dispose of Wulbren early, you’ll witness his shamelessness peak. After the protagonist navigates the political minefield, rallies the factions, and secures a bloody victory, Wulbren pops up to claim that all the glory belongs to him and the Ironhand Gnomes. Since killing him and installing Barcus provides better rewards, remember: for the sake of your sanity and the peace of the realm, just get rid of him. You heard me.

Technically a manga character, but he appears in enough games to earn a spot here. At number 4 is Mr. Satan from the Dragon Ball series. In the Cell Games, where the fate of the planet hung in the balance, he challenged Cell with nothing but bravado, only to be swatted away instantly. While Goku and his son risked everything to finish the job, he seized the moment to claim, "I defeated Cell!" It was the ultimate free ride, exploiting the fact that cameras were broken and the chaotic light show left no witnesses.

As a result, Mr. Satan was hailed as the Savior of the Earth, raking in global wealth and fame. Even during the Majin Buu crisis, he stayed safely tucked away, only to show up at the last second flashing a V-sign. While he does redeem himself later, his 'piggyback' strategy during the Cell Games remains the gold standard for opportunism in gaming.

Melli, a Warden of the Diamond Clan in 'Pokémon Legends: Arceus,' is the embodiment of petty, baseless elitism. Amidst a global crisis where Pokémon are rampaging, Melli treats the out-of-control Voltorb as a 'divine blessing' and lets it run wild. He even goes so far as to obstruct the protagonist, who is actually trying to solve the problem. A true master of creating chaos.

Even worse is the attitude after the crisis is resolved. Once the protagonist works their fingers to the bone to calm the Voltorb, Melli acts as if the previous incompetence never happened, claiming it was all part of a 'grand plan.' While Melli eventually realizes the error and vows to train, the preceding narcissism makes it hard to feel any sympathy.

Dandelion, the bard and Geralt’s almost-only best friend, is a legend in his own right. As an elite artist, he’s the primary reason Geralt’s deeds are known to the world. But look closer, and he’s a master of the free ride. He spends his time chasing skirts, getting involved in romantic scandals, or sticking his nose where it doesn't belong—all of which require Geralt to bail him out. Geralt himself once remarked that Dandelion should be paying him a salary.

The real issue? Every quest log, character entry, loading screen narration, and even the books rely on Dandelion’s account. Thanks to his penchant for tall tales, everything is heavily embellished. Read his journals or ballads after a mission, and Dandelion is suddenly a brilliant strategist standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Geralt. Even when Geralt points out the discrepancies, he doesn't budge. He’s the undisputed champion of 'sticking his spoon in,' but in the brutal Witcher universe, he’s a rare, lovable rascal, so we’ll keep him at number 2.

If you want the eternal mascot of FromSoftware—spanning Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring—look no further than 'Patches.' This bald rogue is infamous for backstabbing players. His classic pattern is to lure the player into a death trap, promising 'great treasure' below. While the player fights for survival, he sits safely above, plotting to loot their corpse.

But as is the way with FromSoftware protagonists, you inevitably survive the hellhole. Patches then flips his personality in a heartbeat, claiming, "I knew you’d make it" or "It was just a misunderstanding." It’s exactly like that politician who tries to jump into a victory photo after the team wins. Patches is almost endearing after a while, but in reality, that kind of behavior would just make your blood boil. Sometimes, games can't quite capture the sheer audacity of real life.