Troy Baker Still Embarrassed by Mass Effect 3 Role

Ever had a role you'd rather forget? Troy Baker knows the feeling. The actor, known for playing Joel in The Last of Us and Higgs in Death Stranding, recently opened up about a role he's not exactly proud of: Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3.

In a video with YouTube channel Partychat, Baker was shown clips from his career. He happily shared stories about working with creators like Neil Druckmann and Hideo Kojima. But when Kai Leng appeared on screen, Baker immediately said, "Don't. Next clip. Nope, next clip." He laughed and grimaced as he watched his character get stabbed through the torso. "Yeah, I deserve that," he admitted. "There's so many reasons why I shouldn't have played that character."

So why the hate? Kai Leng is widely considered the worst character in the Mass Effect franchise. He's supposed to be a badass, but his dorky goggles, ninja moves, and samurai sword make him more meme-worthy than menacing. The fact that he's presented as Chinese but acts out Japanese tropes only adds to the cringe. Even 14 years after launch, fans still debate whether he's the worst character ever. There are mods that cover his face and delete his dialogue entirely. That's some serious dedication.

The hate has probably gone too far, as online negativity often does. But the core dislike is real—even for Baker himself. He's not alone in regretting the role; fans have been vocal for years. Mass Effect 3's legacy is already controversial thanks to its ending and DLC, but Kai Leng might be the most hated part of all.

With Mass Effect 5 on the horizon, could we see a return of Kai Leng? Probably not, given the reception. But it's a reminder that even beloved actors have roles they'd rather forget. What do you think? Is Kai Leng the worst Mass Effect character, or does he get too much hate?