You've probably seen the clips on TikTok. Or maybe you stumbled onto a YouTube compilation of Nicole being "unhinged" for ten minutes straight. SBN3’s Class of '09 isn't your typical high school simulator where you date the captain of the football team and go to prom. It is a bleak, nihilistic, and incredibly sharp critique of mid-to-late 2000s American culture. It’s mean. It’s loud. It’s oddly nostalgic if you lived through the era of flip phones and low-rise jeans. But beyond the shock value, players always end up asking the same question: which Class of 09 character are you?
It’s a loaded question. Honestly, none of these people are "good" in the traditional sense. That’s the point. The game operates on a spectrum of trauma, cynicism, and survival instincts. Finding yourself in this cast isn't about picking your favorite color; it's about identifying which specific brand of 2008-era teenage angst mirrors your own psyche.
The Nicole Archetype: Survival Through Cynicism
If you’re wondering which Class of 09 character are you and your first instinct is "the one who hates everyone," you’re probably a Nicole. Nicole is the protagonist, though "anti-hero" feels like a generous term. She is the embodiment of a defense mechanism. After moving to a new school following her father’s suicide, she decides that the best way to handle a toxic world is to be the most toxic thing in it.
She's sharp. Lethally so.
Being a Nicole means you use humor as a blunt force object. You’ve likely realized that people are generally disappointing, so you’ve decided to beat them to the punch. You aren't necessarily "evil," but you are exhausted. In the game, Nicole’s dialogue isn't just mean for the sake of it—it’s a way to navigate a school full of predatory adults and shallow peers. If you find yourself constantly scanning a room for exits or predicting exactly how someone is going to let you down, you’re operating on Nicole’s wavelength. You value honesty over politeness, even if that honesty burns bridges.
🔗 Read more: Amy Rose Sex Doll: What Most People Get Wrong
Jeannie and the "Normal" Struggle
Then there’s Jeannie. If Nicole is the edge of the knife, Jeannie is the person trying to make sure the knife doesn't slip and cut everyone. She’s often the voice of reason, or at least the voice of "can we please just get through the day without a felony?"
Most people who relate to Jeannie are the "mom friend" who is secretly one bad day away from a total meltdown. You’re likely the person in your social circle who actually tries to follow the rules, not because you love authority, but because you’re terrified of the chaos that happens when the rules break. Jeannie represents the part of the player base that remembers high school as a series of awkward social navigations and the desperate hope that things will eventually make sense.
The Chaos of Ari and Kelly
Ari is a fascinating case study in the Class of '09 universe. Her relationship with Nicole is... complicated. To put it mildly. If you resonate with Ari, you’re likely someone who feels things incredibly deeply but lacks the tools to process those emotions safely. You might be a bit of a romantic, even in a world that doesn't reward it. Ari’s tragedy is that she looks for validation in all the wrong places, often confusing intensity for affection.
Kelly, on the other hand, is the quintessential "popular girl" who is actually just as bored and disillusioned as everyone else. She’s not the Regina George type; she’s more of a passive observer of the madness. If you’re a Kelly, you probably spent high school wondering why everyone was taking things so seriously. You’re chill, maybe a bit detached, and you’d rather just watch the drama from the sidelines with a coffee in your hand.
💡 You might also like: A Little to the Left Calendar: Why the Daily Tidy is Actually Genius
Why We Project Onto These Characters
Why does this game resonate so much? Why do we care about which Class of 09 character are you?
It’s the lack of polish. Most media portrays the 2000s as a neon-soaked party or a simplified era of "mean girls." Class of '09 captures the specific, grimy feeling of being a teenager in a pre-smartphone world where the internet was still the Wild West and school felt like a prison. The characters are reflections of real social dynamics that haven't actually gone away; they’ve just changed clothes.
When you identify with Nicole, you’re identifying with the desire to have agency in a world that gives you none. When you identify with Jeannie, you’re acknowledging the stress of performance. The game’s creator, SBN3, used real experiences and cultural touchstones—like the prevalence of prescription drug abuse in suburbs or the specific "bro" culture of 2000s athletics—to ground these caricatures in a reality that feels uncomfortably familiar.
The "Rejection" Factor
One thing most people get wrong about these characters is thinking they are "relatable" in a wholesome way. They aren't. They are coping mechanisms with hair.
📖 Related: Why This Link to the Past GBA Walkthrough Still Hits Different Decades Later
If you find yourself relating to the more extreme traits of these characters, it’s worth looking at the "why."
- Nicole’s sociopathy: Is it actually malice, or is it a response to a lack of safety?
- Crispin’s "nice guy" energy: Is it genuine kindness, or is it a performative attempt to get what he wants? (Spoiler: In the game, it’s usually the latter).
- The Teachers: They represent the absolute failure of the systems meant to protect us.
Understanding which Class of 09 character are you requires a level of self-honesty that the game itself demands. It asks you to look at your worst traits—your cynicism, your passivity, your anger—and see them on screen.
Actionable Takeaways for the Fans
If you’ve spent any time in the Class of '09 fandom, you know it can be a rabbit hole. But once you’ve figured out your character alignment, what do you actually do with that information?
- Analyze your "Nicole moments." If you find yourself using sarcasm to deflect from real issues, try to identify the trigger. Nicole’s power comes from her words, but her pain comes from her isolation.
- Look for the "Jeannie" in your life. Every cynical person needs a grounded friend. If you don't have one, or if you are that person, recognize the emotional labor involved in keeping the peace.
- Revisit the 2000s context. To really understand these characters, look into the actual cultural shifts of 2007-2009. The transition from analog to digital, the economic crash, and the specific fashion trends all informed why these characters act so "fried."
- Play the Re-Up. If you’ve only played the first game, the sequel (Class of '09: The Re-Up) adds layers to these characters that make the "who are you" question even more difficult to answer. It dives deeper into the domestic lives of the cast, showing that everyone is a product of their environment.
Ultimately, being a Class of '09 character isn't a badge of honor, but it is a sign of a survivor. Whether you’re the one leading the rebellion or the one just trying to pass math class without losing your mind, there’s a piece of that specific, 2000s-era chaos in all of us. Use that realization to navigate your own world a little more clearly—maybe just with slightly fewer insults than Nicole would use.