Sadie is a computer science student at MIT who comes from a wealthy, Jewish family in Los Angeles. She faces extreme sexism in the 1990s tech industry, which pressures her to adapt her behavior to be accepted by male-dominated gaming audiences. As an ambitious game designer, she prefers to create conceptually complex games rather than focusing solely on commercial viability.

Samson is a math student at Harvard raised by his Korean grandparents in Koreatown, Los Angeles. He lives with chronic pain from a severely crushed foot, yet he consistently conceals his physical discomfort from his friends. Driven by a desire for greatness and financial stability, he handles the business strategy and marketing for Unfair Games.

Marx is a college student and theater actor born in Tokyo. He funds the launch of Unfair Games and manages the company's administrative tasks. He mediates arguments between Sadie and Samson, offering steady support and optimism to both of his friends.

Dov is a famous game designer and instructor at MIT known for his technically impressive game, *Dead Sea*. He acts as a harsh taskmaster who frequently dismisses his students' work but recognizes Sadie's unique talent. He enters into a boundary-pushing romantic relationship with her that affects her personal and professional development.

Anna is Samson's late mother, a beautiful Korean American actor who moved to Los Angeles to raise her son. She works as a spokesmodel for a game show, enduring workplace harassment to provide a secure life. Her sudden death in a car crash serves as the foundational trauma of Samson's childhood.

Dong Hyun is Samson's Korean American grandfather who steps in to raise him after Anna Lee's death. He runs a local business and provides a stable, loving environment for his grandson. He offers wise perspective on friendship and enduring love when Samson faces personal crises.

Zoe is a talented musician who works with the Unfair Games trio on their early projects. She dates Marx during the company's formative years, bringing a grounded perspective to the group's dynamic before pursuing her own career in opera.

Simon is a young game designer hired by Unfair Games. Working closely with his partner, he helps develop the highly successful title *Counterpart High* under Sadie's mentorship.

Antonio is a designer who joins Unfair Games as an employee. He contributes to the company's commercial success by co-creating *Counterpart High*.

Alice is Sadie's older sister. She undergoes treatment for childhood leukemia, bringing Sadie to the hospital where she first meets Samson.

Bong Cha is Samson's Korean American grandmother. She helps run the family pizza restaurant and acts as a maternal figure for Samson following his mother's death.

George is Samson's father. He remains largely absent from his son's upbringing, leaving Anna Lee to raise Samson on her own.

Mrs. Watanabe is Marx's mother, an artist who lives in a separate apartment from her husband in Tokyo. She shares her aesthetic inspirations, including William Morris prints, with her son and his friends.

Watanabe-San is Marx's father, residing in Tokyo. He represents traditional expectations and sometimes questions his son's unconventional career and lifestyle choices.

Lola is Samson's former high school classmate. She reconnects with him in Los Angeles, leading to a brief romantic relationship that highlights Samson's physical insecurities.