Heck, even Mario creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, claims that Pac-Man is his favorite videogame character! But whether shes upbeat and friendly, or downbeat and sarcastic, shes constantly believable and relatable. First appearance in a game: The Witcher (2007). This is a list of characters in Battle for Dream Island, Battle for Dream Island Again, IDFB, Battle for BFB, Battle for Dream Island: The Power of Two, BFDI Mini, BFDI Mini Again, BFDI Mini Deluxe, and BFDI Mini, Seriously! Venom Snake is one of the more complex characters in all of Metal Gear an impressive feat, to be sure. Donkey Kong was certainly based on King Kong from Universal Studios, with the latter even suing Nintendo over trademark infringement. She's well educated and can kick butt with the best of them. Toad has the distinction of being one of the only non-playable iconic video game characters to be featured on our list (though he is playable in a couple of spinoffs and in Super Smash Bros). Willows dialogue from accusing me of flirting with her ex to starting rumors about me on Twitter is so delightfully over the top and campy that I cant help but get sucked into the drama. While the first title in the Watch Dogs series explored how hacking could complement a gritty vigilante justice angle, the sequel, Watch Dogs 2, placed those talents in the hands of a more engaging and relatable protagonist. As the game progresses, we learn of the prior loss of her brother, and her feelings about his death. Alphabetical List Of Board Games. First appearance in a game: BioShock (2007). Fox McCloud is every gamer's favorite anthropomorphic fox. An investigation of her lookout and an inspection of her belongings reveals more of her quirky, slightly tragic personality. He is the main protagonist in the story and the leader of the player's party throughout the game. But harm the Little Sisters, and a player will be facing quite a menacing foe. His traits differ slightly from Mario, however. A hulking brute with a frightening voice, Bowen is in fact a grandmother, transformed by the Forced Evolutionary Virus. Her stubborn determination to reach the top of Celeste mountain, despite a Part of Madeline telling her that she cant do it, is an apt metaphor for pushing past insecurity and self-criticism. In short, hes a badass hero who appeals to the ideals of self-assertion and duty. From the moment she appears in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood, she has a single-minded determination to destroy my reputation and career. While she's artificially intelligent, she also contains real emotional depth, which critiques the idea that robots are incapable of the same levels of humanness as humans. Something went wrong. YOU. His mobility has been affected by a wasting disease, hes not driving any fast cars or shooting guns, and he stays behind the scenes. As a young rookie agent, she makes mistakes. The first human specter, the fearless vanguard, and leader of the Normandys crew. Nobody. Instead I stopped, toe-rolled the ball back a couple of paces, and lobbed Danny a cross, which he headed in for a hat trick. Florence Yeoh, the namesake of Mountains Florence, is a stunning character, one more affecting in an hours worth of mobile gameplay than plenty of characters Ive spent many hours with. Although the action is pure gunplay fantasy, Cocchiolas interwoven story manages to feel both true and touching. Hes a dandy dear leader type who rules the Himalayan nation of Kyrat with a toxic mixture of personal charm, relentless propaganda, criminal sponsorship, and brutality. One of the earliest video game characters ever, Donkey Kong has come a long way from those days of throwing wooden buckets down a series of slopes at "Jumpman." "Get over here!" BK is her friend but hes an asshole, and Mira works a lot to get him to be a better person. First appeared in Street Cred Football. In the 1994 film version of the game, Ryu is played by Byron Mann, and both Ryu and his brother Ken have found their way into many animated films and shorts, as well. But they bring the best out of each other, creating an interlocking tale of love and learning. The list is presented in alphabetical order. Ellie is a tough teenage girl, living through the nightmare of a global pandemic. This doesn't leave him with much of a personality, of course, which makes him all the more attractive to many fans. Its the story of Scarlett, a teenage girl, and her troublesome younger brother Finn. The ultimate steampunk robot dream, Big Daddy is essentially a mechanized human who's been heavily "spliced." The lifer sent out to pasture on the LAPDs arson desk, Herschel Biggs grumbles at wonderboy Cole Phelps theories that some workaday house fires are actually connected to a larger or more sinister conspiracy. While he's certainly a bad dude in the game, however, Philips actually has a heart and cares about some people in his life. Instead, the main character of those games is named Red, who the anime character known as Ash Ketchum is based on. The earliest versions of Cloud had him with slicked-back hair and a more muscular physique. Who do you think of first when you think about video games? These are characters who are genuinely loved by their many fans. archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore. Mighty the Armadillo. In 2018s God of War, he retains his skills as a warrior, but is now a father whose gruff, tough-love approach to parenting belies a touching capacity for love and tenderness toward his son, and a deep grief for his late wife. Also known as the Queen of the Blades, Kerrigan is an assassin in-game, using her psychic powers to gain knowledge and take down her enemies. In Borderlands 2, he is a constant presence throughout the game. First appearance in a game: Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991). Playing Hunter as a central attacking midfielder in Norwich Citys 4-2-3-1, with Danny as striker, I was more than happy to help. The following is a list of lists of characters who appear in various games and franchises published by Nintendo arranged in alphabetical order. The picture that comes through is of a funny and creative young woman with a tender and rebellious heart. In Animal Crossing: New Leaf, shes the pure, helpful pal opposite Tom Nooks thieving landlord eyes. First appearance in a game: Street Fighter (1987). It also makes our list of best video game by year of birth an impressive four times! And while Nintendo certainly claims the most famous video game characters, you'll find representatives from most major video game publishers of the last thirty years. Scorpion is an undead ninja out to avenge his death and his family's. Since hes a silent hero, his own feelings are never put into question as the plot revolves around him. And he did it all while wielding a humble shovel. Cute as Spyro is, he can still breathe fire with the best of them. Mario is classic, of course . Atreus' story loosely follows the story of Atreus from Greek mythology, who murdered his father in a quest for the throne of Olympia. But Rocksteady Studios Arkham trilogy offers us an intimate look at the pair. Luigi was inspired by a pizza parlor near the Nintendo offices in Washington. Like all lists, this list of iconic video game characters is subjective, and we're certain that we've missed a few fan favorites. As the game begins, we see de Witt as the savior, but it soon becomes clear that Elizabeth has all the power. Even more impressive is that theyre never annoying. The games design particularly its clever use of touchscreen mechanics gives these connections a tactile feel that brings depth and nuance to Florence as we learn about her love, life, and worries. This made him fairly unique in the platform gaming world and made the gameplay more unique. Which he naturally doesnt appreciate nearly enough. Like a sick man getting his hunger back, Biggs is a crime fighter again. His life is a series of closing doors, and Dutch cant stop making compromises. While Aloy seemingly falls into the same category of strong female protagonists as Bayonetta and early Lara Croft, the narrative world that Guerrilla Games builds around her in Horizon Zero Dawn prevents her from being a one-dimensional character. Her ascension to the throne is sudden, and comes at the death of her mother. Finch opens doors, fiddles with mementos, and writes in her diary. They appear in several Nintendo titles as the minions of Bowser or Wart. He won many hearts when he debuted in 3D in Donkey Kong Country and has since become one of Nintendo's most iconic characters. In-game, Sweet Tooth's ice cream truck is decked with some wicked machine guns and the screams of his victims. First appearance in a game: StarCraft (1998). Tom Nook's character is based on a tanuki or Japanese raccoon-dog, legendary in Japanese culture as sly and mischievous little creatures. Many critics note that what makes Big Boss such a great character is his believable evolution into a villain. Borowskis not always likable, but shes always relatable. Plays. She dies of heart failure after saving her son (the games protagonist) from drowning. When you buy a tool or material through one of our Amazon links, we earn a small commission as an Amazon Associate. We hope you'll enjoy this list of the most iconic video game characters! However, she is given an interesting and somewhat complex personality compared to most video game vixens. A-10 Tank Killer series Silent Thunder: A-10 Tank Killer II ( Sierra, 1996) A2 Racer ( Davilex Games, 1997) A3 Online ( Anipark, Siam Infinit, 2005 in MMORPG) Aa-Ac Aaahh!!! Duke Nukem wrote an autobiography. Ultimately, though, Madeline is inspiring not because she destroys her demons, but because she embraces them. First appearance in a game: Street Fighter II (1991). In later games, he has a kind and adventurous personality that really embodies the video game industry as a whole. What if we shattered the reality of the game and worked in direct conflict with the whole concept of the game itself? Shes at turns brash, gregarious, and tender. And thus, this list was born. He can be controlled by another agent, who is the player. The earliest designs of Big Daddy weren't anywhere near as impressive as what he became. First appearance in a game: Grand Theft Auto V (2013). A big part of the success was due to its main character, who appears in the game as the descendant of Desmond Miles. These are lists of characters in video games. The main character in what some call the greatest video game ever made, Cloud Strife is immediately recognizable to most video game fans with his blonde, spikey hair and massive sword, The Buster Sword. A/X-101 A-10 Attack! PLAY QUIZ . Go Orange. He swears simple frontier justice on the firebug carrying out the plot, but of course this case ends up so much bigger than that. And Paarthurnax has certainly committed horrible crimes in his blood-soaked past. The following is a list of the most badass characters to ever be featured in the world of video games. Tracer has been a vital character for the Overwatch franchise. Like Venom Snake, we arent heroes, but we play them well enough. What initially seems to be a straightforward mystery story turns into a surprisingly real portrait of adolescent queerness. First appearance in a game: Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001). To secure his family's safe return from the US government, Marston must hunt down and kill his former gang members. Some games have been officially licensed by Nintendo, and some are unlicensed. A genuine tear-jerker. Thank you Mario, but our Princess is in another castle! She shows surprisingly vulnerable insights as she ponders her own life choices. To date, Mario has appeared in more than 200 video games for the Nintendo franchise, giving him the record for the most video game appearances. As if straight out of a classic Western film, John Marston is the playable protagonist in the Red Dead Redemption series and everybody's favorite gun-for-hire. Geralt of Rivia. Joel is a very likable character in the game if a bit complex at times. Now she grapples with a complex past life that shapes her worldview. When you're as dangerous as he is, you can pretty much wear whatever you want. Like plenty of other Overwatch heroes, Tracer is often portrayed in fan art, as fans have reclaimed the characters and made them their own. He works hard to avoid unnecessary killings, most especially in the world of Yakuza rivalries. Later seasons show Clementines debt to Lee, and the lessons she learned from her redoubtable mentor. Marguerite is trying to offer you hospitality, while Jack serves as the immortal, protective patriarch of his twisted family. He is a study in self-evaluation, remorse, and redemption. There's nobody more in love with themselves than Duke Nukem! First appearance in a game: Donkey Kong Country (1994). Oh, and his first name is Albert, as another nod to the great physicist. Desmond returns to his ancestor's memories by force so that a secret organization can learn the truth of the past. The actual location of Agent 47's safehouse has never been revealed in any of the Hitman games thus far. While many people mistakenly refer to Link as Zelda, it should be noted that Zelda is the name of the princess that Link attempts to rescue in the various Legend of Zelda games. As the storys peril ramps up, Henry begins to suspect that Delilah is hiding something. Hannah is that video gaming rarity: a human character played by an actor, without any technological overlay. First appearance in a game: Assassin's Creed: Lineage (2009). Lesters sarcasm, vulnerability, pettiness, and greed make him one of the games most memorable characters. Deliciously wicked Delilah Copperspoon begins her Dishonored journey as the leader of a colorful, murderous coven of witches. Resident Evil was one of the first games to offer alternate costumes for its playable character, which became a staple for the series and the gaming industry as a whole. You can't help but respect the White Wolf. And it doesn't hurt when you have your own film made about you (Pokmon Detective Pikachu), and you're voiced by Ryan Reynolds. He a sergeant for COG (The Coalition of Governments) and fights against the Locust Horde. Willow Pape is, hands down, the pettiest mean girl Ive ever encountered in video games. Returning to her old hometown after college, Mae Borowski finds herself shiftless and uncertain about her future, bogged down with depression and worry. First appearance in a game: Duke Nukem (1991). Nathan Drake (Uncharted) Dudley (Street Fighter) E E-123 Omega E. Honda Miles Edgeworth Doctor Eggman Henry Emily Shirou Emiya Ermac Lee Everett F F.A.N.G. He's just a plumber and dresses the part. Mephiles the Dark. Whats the Best Video Game From the Year You Were Born? Josh, played by Rami Malek, has to do most of the heavy lifting in Until Dawn. First appearance in a game: Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001). The silent protagonist is a standard-issue tool for games that allow players to insert themselves into the story without having the main characters thoughts and opinions influence their own. I can think of only a few real-life people who might be so bold as to title an autobiography like that. Over time, Ryu evolved into a more muscular figure with a widening array of attacks and defensive moves in the series. Some of the lines almost come off as silly in the moment, but multiple playthroughs help cement Josh as a complicated young man ruined by far scarier things than Until Dawns monsters. Hannah, played superbly by Viva Seifert, is often inconsistent in her replies. The main character in Sunset Overdrive simply named Player captures the hip, in-your-face attitude of the late 90s, which is impressive for a game released in 2014. Aloys upbringing as an outcast from her tribe imbues her with an unfailing sense of moral clarity on her quest to discover who she is. The greatest teammate in sports video gaming. I guess that's why we love him so much. There is no greater villain in the Binding of Isaac universe than Mom, an abusive religious zealot who stomps on her child with high-heeled shoes. All the world leaders in Civilization 6 are beautifully drawn and feature a range of emotions from obsequious to enraged. She has a complex relationship with Master Chief, who also appears on this list. Oops. So what's so appealing about a yellow circle that eats up little dots? Big Boss / Snake ( Metal Gear) His movement in the game was fairly novel at the time and has been repeated by many games since. First appearance in a game: Metal Gear (1987). Not everyone loves Marcus Fenixnot at all! In fact, including the player character and optional downloadable content, you basically fill your entire party with different versions of Mercer. FNF Mod Tier List V2. Mass Effect also happens to one of the best video games of all time and certainly one of the best-written games ever made. His earlier name is revealed to be "Naked Snake," though he's often just referred to as "Snake" in the game. He's likely the most iconic fighting-game character of all time. Parvati is the very first character you meet in The Outer Worlds, and if the internet at large is to be believed, shes also the very best. This list may not reflect recent changes. They are both lonesome custodians of firewatch towers out in the wilds of Wyoming. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She also has a drinking problem. Madeline is the most relatable character of the decade, at least for anyone struggling with anxiety and depression. By Jengajam. He has a special ability to hear the thoughts of the creatures of the forest, which players can use to their advantage in the game. One of the original playable characters in the game Mortal Kombat, he quickly became one of the fan favorites. Assassins Creed Odyssey is a huge game, spanning ancient Greek history and mythology. Philips is a playable character in Grand Theft Auto V and certainly the most remembered. Mecha Sonic. Essentially, Fox is a gun-for-hire, hired to perform various missions andyou knowsave the world. But its in the later episode, the more narrative-focused Left Behind, that she comes into her own alongside Riley, a teenage friend who has joined a radical group of fighters. Geary is a type-A corporate perfectionist, which is interesting enough, but on top of that shes genuinely hilarious. It was hard to decide between showcasing the image of Sweet Tooth himself or his iconic ice cream truck. Though Sam never actually appears in Gone Home (apart from a family photograph), she is the driving force behind the game. Ryu's Hadouken (or energy-ball attack) was inspired by the sci-fi anime series Space Battleship Yamato from the 1970s, which the game designer used to watch as a kid. Salomon. Sometimes theyre rude, or awkward at flirting, but that just makes them more relatable, never off-putting. At the start of the game, shes scared and sad and overwhelmed, and she has very little time to become some kind of ruler. The Big Boss character lost a lot with the switch from series regular David Hayter to celebrity voice talent Kiefer Sutherland. First appearance in a game: The Legend of Zelda (1986). Navi is told early in the game by the Great Deku Tree to follow Link and help him out in his journey. I would feed Danny scoring chances all day, like grapes to a lover. A-10 Cuba! When God of War first announced its Norse-era version of the game, fans were treated with a young boy emerging out of the digital forest. 5 article The Community Spotlight 2023.02.25. . Make no bones about it, Bowser is obsessed with Princess Peach, just as much as he's obsessed with gaining control of the Mushroom Kingdom. It also helps that Parvati is voiced by the extraordinary Ashly Burch. Isabelle protec, but more importantly, she attac. Many liken him to video gaming's answer to Luke Skywalker, as he exhibits great bravery and heroism throughout the series of games. In his anger, he reprogrammed many of the robots to become fighters with the final hope ofyestaking over the world. I mean, John DiMaggio there when I needed him. By platform [ edit] Acorn [ edit] List of Acorn Electron games Apple [ edit] List of Apple II games List of Apple IIGS games List of iOS games List of Macintosh games Amstrad [ edit] List of Amstrad CPC games Jill Valentine (Resident Evil) One of the most resourceful characters in gaming, Jill Valentine from Resident Evil is everything you need to prevail against Umbrella Corporation. Like the people in all great dramatic friendships, Max and Chloe are completely unalike; one is shy and studious, the other brash and rebellious. Jennifer Hales voice acting really sells Shepard as both a deadly space marine and a vulnerable protagonist facing impossible odds. Its a hard switch to make, and Malek really goes for it. Not only is Shovel Knight a stylishly designed character that stars in one of the decades best retro-inspired platformers, he also represents something much larger than himself. He's known mostly for his skills with sidearms and his trademark RayBan sunglasses. Joel Miller is likely to move way up our list once HBO releases their upcoming series based on The Last of Us. Dutch can be read as a proud man who is trying to tread water in a world that no longer has room for him, or a monster distracting from his own cruel, violent whims with grand gestures and patriarchal pressure. A cut scene will briefly show his eyes as he removes his helmet. We saywhy would you want to hurt that delightful mutt?! Isabelle is my best friend. 1 episode Game Mess Mornings 02/27/23. The character Kratos is based on the Greek god with the same name. Joe. We, as the player, fulfill the tasks the game sets upon us without questioning the process. Eventually, he turns his talents to running an orphanage and being a dad. Male. While Diddy Kong is certainly not as recognizable as Donkey Kong, he is a fan favorite and even has his own set of games from Nintendo, such as Diddy Kong Racing and Diddy Kong's Quest. Abadox Abandoned Places Abandoned Places 2 Abashera Florence is a game about connections, whether those are in friendship, in love, or with family. Trust us, you don't want to play these bad video games! Licensed games [ edit] His in-game powers include a famous energy attack where he spins in the air at his opponent. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. Blocky Bubble Coiny David (joined in "Reveal Novum") Eraser Firey Flower Golf Ball Ice Cube Leafy Match Needle Pen Pencil Pin Rocky Snowball Spongy . She's the main character in the Resident Evil series of games, which are downright scary to play. Clearly, Senua was researched and written with appropriate respect for a sensitive subject. But hes also bursting with internal trauma based on his violent past (his father was a drug baron) and a tragic love affair with his greatest rivals wife. Danganronpa is a Japanese video game series created and developed by Spike Chunsoft. He has no problem betraying his friends once they have served their usefulness. Certainly, there's certainly a case to be made for that too, particularly given the latest movie starring the hedgehog with sneakers, Sonic the Hedgehog, starring Jim Carey as Doctor Eggman. With multiple movies starring Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft, she shot all the way up our list to number two. When she finally stops running from Part of Madeline and instead joins forces with her, theyre both stronger for it. Comments. De Witt is a standard video game hero: a violent man with a dark past. We're hiring! Classic Atari 2600 Video Games; Complete List of NES Video Games from the 80s; Contra; Free Online Play of Atari 7800 Video Games from the 1980's; Free Online Play of Nintendo NES Classic Video Games from the 1980's; Free Online Sega Classic Video Games from the 1980's; Golden Era of Video Games - A history Shes chill but shes no pushover, and she sticks to her morals even when theyre badly tested. Cute but greedy would be one way to summarize Tom Nook's character in the game Animal Crossing. I defy you not to fall in love with her too. Dr. Wily is essentially a jealous hack that is angry about the achievements of Dr. Light, who created Mega Man. Since Gears of Wars debut in 2006, Ive probably spent more time controlling Marcus Fenix than any other avatar in all of video games. Well, it turns out that Namco, who owns the rights to Pac-Man, gave him an entire backstory. Few game characters of the olden days have been so transformed as Lara Croft. I meanjust look at those shoulders. First appearance in a game: Sonic the Hedgehog (1991). The restaurant was called "Mario & Luigi's," and thus, the names of the plumbers were born. Many players know her as the voice in their ears as they learn the storyline behind the Halo series of games. Others really love Tom Nook and see him as a shrewd businessman. All of the coolest video game villains you know and can't help but love! Fresh from picking the best games of the past decade, we decided to do a deep dive and make fond remembrance of the characters we liked the most. His much more cartoon-like character morphed into what we know as Cloud Strife once the graphics improved as the development continued. Parvati is painfully genuine, and serves as a lens through which the player discovers the game universe for the first time. There are many, many video game characters that have been voiced by famous actors. Im a sucker for this. (Image credit: Capcom) First appearance in a game: 2001. Notable appearance: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Tekken 7 s4. Known as Tenkai Nankb to the people/demons he doesn't brutally . Imagine getting kicked by Chun-Li. But when actual monsters emerge, Josh detaches from reality altogether. Like many other classic video game soldiers, he ends up being a loner for much of the game. Expelled after being framed for a crime she didnt commit, she lives a life of extreme poverty in Dishonoreds gritty underworld. The 50 Most Iconic Video Game Characters of All Time All your favorite characters and even a few surprises! And it's not hard to see what made her so popular with video gamers. He can grab objects with his tongue, spit them out aflame, or lay them into an egg thrown by the player. Kratos looks like he could be a bouncer at one of the toughest bars in the worldand in many ways, that's kind of what he is. He never quite loses his sense of drama and performance, even as everything else is worn away by time and civilization. Michael ( 175) May 15, 2021 0 Who do you think of first when you think about video games? We couldve gotten something so bland from these two characters, but Rocksteadys understanding of their need for one another helped them blossom. His popularity was immediate in one of the highest grossing video game franchises, and he's appeared in just about every Mario game since his first appearance. The plot or a narrator leads us down a path, and we see it through to its end willingly. 53. From there we get to know this highly likable chap, who just wants to get through life with as little hassle as possible while cracking excruciating skeleton puns. He tries to accomplish this through his underground crime syndicate known as Shadaloo. Although Allie comes from the well-worn tradition of tragic moms, shes outlined with great tenderness by developer Level-5, working in tandem with Studio Ghibli. But really, since her debut in New Leaf, shes become the mascot of Animal Crossing a very real icon. Kirsten Geary, the Illuminati faction leader for supernatural horror game The Secret World, breaks the mold in brilliant style. What do you do when your favorite NPC isnt a romance option? He's a classic and has to be in the top 10 of any list of famous video game characters.