Mika is a twelve-year-old boy living in a dilapidated fold-down apartment in The Shadows of London. He possesses a genetic mutation—webbed feet—and a powerful psychic bond with his twin sister, Ellie. Defiant and suspicious of authority, Mika is the only person who refuses to accept the government's claim that Ellie is dead. He uses his exceptional instincts in the new Pod Fighter arcade game in hopes of winning a contest to find her.

Ellie is Mika's twelve-year-old twin sister who was kidnapped by government forces a year ago. She possesses extraordinary psychic abilities and a profound empathy for animals. Held captive on an orbiting space station, she searches for ways to escape and reunite with her brother while resisting her captors' demands to exploit her powers.

Mal Gorman is the decrepit, centenarian Minister for Youth Development. He stays alive through the continuous use of Everlife pills, leaving him with papery skin and bulging eyes. Cold and manipulative, he views children merely as tools for his grand schemes, orchestrating the Pod Fighter arcade competition to recruit mutant youths for a mysterious military agenda.

Audrey is a highly skilled gamer who becomes Mika's gunner in the Pod Fighter competition. She possesses "borg eyes"—having been born sightless—which grant her enhanced visual and targeting abilities. She quickly forms a strong bond with Mika, offering him both technical expertise and emotional support during the intense and escalating tournament.

Asha is Mika and Ellie's mother, living in the poverty-stricken slums of London. She cares deeply for her family but is easily swayed by the government's promises of a better life. Exhausted by her harsh living conditions, she complies with authoritarian rules and pushes Mika to do the same in exchange for safety and material rewards.

David is Mika and Ellie's father. Like his wife, he works hard to provide for his family in The Shadows but struggles against the crushing poverty of their environment. He means well but often defers to authority, pressuring Mika to conform to school mandates to avoid fines.

Kobi is Mika's friend and a fellow social outcast at the refugee school. He enjoys tinkering and building small mechanical creatures out of scrap metal. Kobi introduces Mika to the Pod Fighter arcade game, unaware of the sinister recruitment effort behind it.

Helen is Mika's sympathetic therapist. She recognizes that Mika is special and harbors her own doubts about the government's official narratives. She provides Mika with covert advice, urging him to play the Pod Fighter game while warning him to be careful.

Ruben is a talented but aggressive competitor in the Pod Fighter tournament. He frequently targets Mika with physical and verbal abuse. Possessing his own psychic abilities, Ruben serves as a direct and dangerous obstacle to Mika's progression in the games.

Puck is a live black-capped capuchin monkey. In a world where citizens are taught that animals are dangerous, plague-ridden monsters, Puck proves to be intelligent, gentle, and fiercely loyal to Ellie.

Tom is a young boy who enters the Pod Fighter tournament alongside Kobi. Driven by the need to win prize money to care for his sick mother, he is vulnerable to the government's exploitative tactics.

Leo is a confident young competitor who possesses a genetic mutation—a tail. He emits a golden aura that Mika can uniquely perceive, indicating his strong latent abilities.

Mrs. Fowler is Mika's teacher at the refugee school. She enforces the government's mandates, such as distributing the suspicious Fit Mix, but shows underlying distress over what happens to her students when they are taken away.

Awen is a "Dream Dog" that manifests in Mika's visions. Soft and friendly, the dog contradicts the government propaganda about feral, plague-infected animals, serving as a protective guide and early-warning system for Mika.