in my top 5 for sure 

For video games you can't go wrong with Cloud (FF7) and Fei (Xenogears). I prefer good narrative development with video games as opposed to just character development since you actually interact with them as opposed to books or movies. They may not have simple and grounded stories, but they're a hell of a lot more interesting and compelling than many grounded characters. I'll watch HBO if I want completely grounded and relatable characters.

or if I want both there are games like the wolf among us and life is strange.

I agree, many characters go through character changing moments but they are uually some big moment in the game, while Squall basically spends 3 discs changing bit by bit until the inner monolgue the game shows us, is not longer present.

Ellie and Joel for me

Tidus & Yuna swell

Let me play FFXV first and ill get back to you :P

I prefer the compelling game characters that reside in an open or semi-open world, which is something difficult for many narratives to handle well. Nowadays It's practically unheard of. it's particularly difficult in today's gaming world with rising budgets and the ever increasing work hours needed.  You can discover more things about the characters in some of squaresoft's masterpieces by searching the world.  There's a crap ton of them in Xenogears.

Luke from Tales of The Abyss.

Mr. Francis York Morgan 😂