I cannot ever recreate some ideal version of "myself" in a game. It would make me feel like a pretender/imposter.
I take the 'fantasy' aspect of games as an explicit opportunity not to be me.
Depends what looks good in the creator, what kind of gear is available in-game, how the character needs to fit the story, and - where applicable - what backstory I can come up with. Also, what fits with their VO, if they have one.
I've made everything from a black gunslinger (RDO)...
...to a trans-female samurai (Dark Souls)
Whatever works.
The ones I really like are my team in Wasteland 2. There's a stoic female muslim sniper with a permanent limp; a sinister male Russian science-punk with a penchant for drugs and treachery; a grizzled male hippie who kills in the name of Buddha; and their leader - a smart-arse female Mexican gunslinger with a good throwing arms and a bag of explosives. They've all got what I consider decent, humorous backstories and skill-sets to match. Really enjoyed coming up with them.
I have to admit though, I do have a major bias towards giving characters white hair.
I'm a white woman with a disability so I make my characters as close to my real world self as I can, cause I gotta make my own representation. Unfortunately disability isn't usually a common toggle in customisers... I also just like playing dress up, lol.
If it's a first person game with a character creator, I don't even play the game.
Joking (sort of) aside, I don't have a "rule". Sometimes I make male characters, sometimes I make female characters, sometimes (like in Dragon's Dogma's case) I make hideous monstrosities that I can troll other players with. My Main Pawn in Dragon's Dogma was a 7-foot tall juggernaut who looked like Dr. Phil, dressed in wizard's robes, and was obsessed with collecting buckets. Only buckets. He would stop casting spells in the middle of heated combat to pick up buckets and bring them to whoever he was helping.
He was my favorite idiot.
The Outer Worlds has them under make-up I believe.
This is true. But I think our approach does differ slightly. Also...
My god, that's a well thought out roster of characters you wanted to play as.
4. Always play the same race and gender as yourself (As a man of colour)
Unfortunately, many character creators are far too limited, so I sometimes find myself creating a white person if I want a halfway decent looking character.12. Select the same race but different gender (As a man of colour)