Non-player character

A Non-player character or Non Playable Character is any character within a video game that cannot be controlled by the player. This includes most enemies and bosses, although some enemies such as Malak from Final Fantasy Tactics later join the hero's party after circumstances lead them to unite (therefore, Malak is not an NPC though he is an enemy at one point in the game). Allies can also be NPC's however (most damsels in distress fall into this category).