Echoes of Aincrad NPCs

Iori

Primary AI companion and story co-lead -- an original character created for this game. Wields a one-handed sword and shield, fills the healer role via her signature Healing Circle support skill (a ground zone that steadily restores HP to allies standing inside it). During the SAO beta she played under an older male avatar and came across as boisterous; her real, more reserved self is revealed once custom avatars are stripped away at the death game's start.

Voice: Jessica Peterson (English); Kana Ichinose (Japanese)

Argo

"Argo the Rat" -- the legendary info-broker from the wider Sword Art Online franchise, making her live-action game debut here as a recruitable party member.

Voice: Kimberly Ann Campbell (English)

Zash

Confirmed party member.

Voice: Keiran Reigan (English)

Wyzeman

A polite, level-headed party member -- after Stella's player-killer ambush scatters the group, he's the one who takes responsibility for leaving the protagonist behind, and has little patience for streamers who profit off other players' deaths.

Voice: Kylen Deporter (English)

Saayu

Confirmed party member.

Voice: Rebecca Wang (English)

Cal

A renowned solo clearer known for clearing the High Elven Ruins alone, who fights with a rapier and joins the front-line group forming for the Floor 1 boss raid.

Stella

The story's antagonist -- a player-killer who streams her murders for an audience while hunting other players for loot and "content," a genuinely dark subplot within the broader story.

Kirito and Asuna

The canon leads of the wider Sword Art Online franchise, referenced through the game's framing and character creator rather than serving as full playable party members in this specific story.