This list may not reflect recent changes. For many Nintendo fans, the Shy Guy is best known for his appearance and performance in Mario Power Tennis, where let's face itShy Guy had some skills. And Pikachu has done just that! First appearance in a game: Halo: The Fall of Reach (2001). While Mario is undoubtedly brave, Luigi tends to be more timid, shy, and scared. You'll never believe how much they get played to play games! Her ascension to the throne is sudden, and comes at the death of her mother. Isabelle protec, but more importantly, she attac. Miles "Tails" Prower. These are the non-player characters you've been dying to play! A Sir Anthony Absolute ( The Rivals) Nick Adams ( In Our Time and others) Parson Adams ( Joseph Andrews) Frankie Addams ( The Member of the Wedding) Anthony Adverse ( Anthony Adverse) Some may point out that there are several Mega Mans, so maybe he shouldn't be on the list. Enoshimas erratic behavior is hard to sympathize with, but her loud and rude personality, as well as her eccentric movements, have made her one of the most well-known characters in anime and gaming. In his past incarnation, he took his cues from ancient myths, displaying bone-headed violence and amorality. As a young rookie agent, she makes mistakes. Cortana is an artificially intelligent character that provides information throughout the game and figures into the story. While he doesn't have much of a narrative, we learn from later cut scenes that Sweet Tooth is a former circus performer who's escaped from a mental institution. All the world leaders in Civilization 6 are beautifully drawn and feature a range of emotions from obsequious to enraged. The ultimate super-soldier, Solid Snake is the controllable protagonist in the iconic Metal Gear series of video games. Trending pages Sonic the Hedgehog Kirby (Nintendo) Mario Amy Rose Bendy Toadette Boyfriend (Friday Night Funkin') Bowser All items (69) # A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other A Amy Rose B Bane Bendy Berri Bowser Bowser Jr. These are characters who are genuinely loved by their many fans. But harm the Little Sisters, and a player will be facing quite a menacing foe. Hes a reminder of the real world outside of this unsustainable crime spree, and gets some of the games best bon mots to boot. An ox? Lesters sarcasm, vulnerability, pettiness, and greed make him one of the games most memorable characters. I defy you not to fall in love with her too. She shows surprisingly vulnerable insights as she ponders her own life choices. What makes Link so iconic is, of course, the uniqueness of the video game series itself, as well as his status as the classic coming-of-age hero. Dont miss the rest of Polygons end-of-decade coverage. Kirsten Geary, the Illuminati faction leader for supernatural horror game The Secret World, breaks the mold in brilliant style. Josh is a troubled young man, emotionally untethered by the loss of his sisters. Guess what logo can be seen adorning the front. First appearance in a game: Star Fox (1993). In The Stanley Parable, you can contradict the games narrator, who in turn does their best to steer your actions back to the tale it wants to tell. The way the story plays with his horrible flaws, making you feel sympathy without ever letting him off the hook, is gripping. We see them clad in hand-knit gloves as she explores her childhood home, a sprawling, ramshackle mansion in Washington. But they bring the best out of each other, creating an interlocking tale of love and learning. A cut scene will briefly show his eyes as he removes his helmet. First appearance in a game: Half-Life (1998). Who do you think of first when you think about video games? 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. The supersoldier protagonist of the Halo series of games, Master Chief holds a special place in the hearts of anyone who grew up on the iconic shooting game franchise. But in Skyrim, he is a pacifist who resides atop a mountain, contemplating his own nature and, like a monk of old, battling with his innate desires. Joel Miller is likely to move way up our list once HBO releases their upcoming series based on The Last of Us. First appearance in a game: Spyro the Dragon (1998). In video games, mothers are often portrayed as villains, or they are killed in order to catalyze the heros journey. As the game progresses, we learn of the prior loss of her brother, and her feelings about his death. Often accused of crimes he has not committed, Kazuma dispenses justice while taking care not to hurt innocents. She also underwent extensive learning from her nephews and nieces about how cool Kitana was! An investigation of her lookout and an inspection of her belongings reveals more of her quirky, slightly tragic personality. He's just a plumber and dresses the part. I can think of only a few real-life people who might be so bold as to title an autobiography like that. There was an urban legend that a player could actually kill the dog in Duck Hunt, which wasn't true until the arcade VS. In all seriousness, she was one of the first female video game characters to shed some classic stereotypes. Dannys bravado is a mask for his obvious insecurity; on the pitch, he knows he needs others for him to be great. Contrary to popular belief, Ash Ketchum is not the protagonist of video games such as Pokmon Red, Blue, or Yellow. Dr. Wily is essentially a jealous hack that is angry about the achievements of Dr. Light, who created Mega Man. He rolls. He's known mostly for his skills with sidearms and his trademark RayBan sunglasses. Long before Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, Wolfenstein was the series that rewrote history and allowed players to kill Nazis at will. First appearance in a game: Metal Gear (1987). First appearance in a game: Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (1991). Even in defeat, she manages to look down her nose at we barbarians who dare to cross her path. Perhaps her popularity comes with the quality of her first video game title, as Perfect Dark was in many ways the spiritual successor to Rareware's arguably most popular game - GoldenEye. Oh, and he laughs every time a player misses, which makes him one of the most annoying characters of all time, as well. The 2019 movie Doom: Annihilation made a nod to Blazkowicz when an identified body found on Mars is named "William Blazkowicz. Atreus is the son of Kratos and Faye. And it's that compelling storyline, one that is character-driven like a great novel, that seals Commander Shepard as one of video gaming's great protagonists. archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore. His main nemesis is Quan Chi, an evil sorcerer. Henry is Firewatchs protagonist, but its his unseen boss Delilah who delivers the storys most layered, intriguing, and mysterious subject. One of the original playable characters in the game Mortal Kombat, he quickly became one of the fan favorites. King Pagan Min is the most colorful and disturbing of the bunch. Hes a rallying point who inspires and enables others to fight back. Others really love Tom Nook and see him as a shrewd businessman. Which he naturally doesnt appreciate nearly enough. Its main character, BJ Blazkowicz, was an American of Jewish and Polish descent, so there's a built-in revenge tale to his story. 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 But really, since her debut in New Leaf, shes become the mascot of Animal Crossing a very real icon. The player researches Hannahs testimony in order to unravel a cracking story of love and betrayal. He's often compared with Superman and Spiderman in terms of his character and motivation. Her condition presents an impossible dilemma: Continue to take her medication and lose the memory of her grandchildren, whose voices she keeps on a holotape, or keep the memory of her loved ones in the near term, and eventually succumb to insanity. Marcus Holloway is emblematic of modern-day hacktivists who understand how the technologies we rely on are also the tools used to manipulate and oppress us. The earliest designs of Big Daddy weren't anywhere near as impressive as what he became. Who else shows up to cheer you on during the long journey to the heart of Zoras domain? They attempt to bring the girl to a place where a cure can be made from her immunity. Hes apt to make jokes about the sticky situations he finds himself in, and the many convoluted conspiracies he faces. Mecha Sonic. Ryu is famous for the misquote: "You must defeat Sheng Long to stand a chance.". They spend solemn and touching moments with gods before reaching a notoriously emotional denouement atop a windy mountain. The designer of Mario, Shigeru Miyamoto, originally intended to use the characters of Popeye, Brutus, and Olive Oil for the role of Mario, Donkey Kong, and Princess Peach, respectively. I would feed Danny scoring chances all day, like grapes to a lover. First appearance in a game: StarCraft (1998). 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. She has a complex relationship with Master Chief, who also appears on this list. This was due, partly, to the limitations expected on the graphics upon release. And there's something loveable about each of the great apes. Michael ( 175) May 15, 2021 0 Who do you think of first when you think about video games? Big Boss / Snake ( Metal Gear) Shes a mage, held captive by an evangelical dictator. I hope that shes happy out there somewhere in San Francisco or Portland, probably making queer feminist zines with her wife and two cats. Philips is a playable character in Grand Theft Auto V and certainly the most remembered. 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. Okay, so many Marcus Fenix doesn't have the most original background of the characters on the list, but he does have the hearts of anyone familiar with the Gears of War franchise. We have this to say about Bowser: he's the angriest turtle ever made! He feels like hes stuck in some miserable abyss and worries that hell fail at trying anything. The character crossed over into countless other games, and even became a Nintendo amiibo while still ushering his game and its several spinoffs across numerous platforms. Geralt of Rivia. Even though Navi only appears in Ocarina of Time, the little sprite/fairy has still won our hearts. 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. Given that more and more game companies seek to use their iconic characters as representations of their brand, you can find many of these figures on shirts, cards, and even as Easter eggs within other games. Yeah, we know. Danganronpa V3 Characters. 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. Her quest line in that game also tells a wonderful and important story, one that ties back into the characters writer on a very personal level. Video Game Characters A-Z Video Game Characters A-Z Complete the video game character list based on two-expression clues Quiz by Gigafist Rate: Nominate Last updated: August 30, 2013 You have not attempted this quiz yet. He's also a trendy character to play in the Mario Kart series. More than in most stories about princesses, you really feel the immense political pressure shes placed under while also feeling the responsibility you have to guide her through assassination attempts, court lessons, and plenty of intrigue. In the God of War series, Kratos a part-villain, part-hero, with the player learning his tragic backstory throughout the game. That certainly contributes to his stature amongst those who play GTAthat, and his being the main playable character in the online version of the game. He also operates the village store in town. As a researcher, the game highlights that he did very little that was of actual effect; now, Freeman's saving the planet one headcrab at a time. You can't help but respect the White Wolf. First appearance in a game: The Witcher (2007). Cute as Spyro is, he can still breathe fire with the best of them. They make for a well-written mismatched road trip duo. In Untitled Goose Game, the goose spends its time tailing, teasing, and torturing the various citizens of an idyllic village. Dr. Wily. The quality of writing in games, in terms of dialogue, characterization, and plot, has improved immensely. Miles "Tails" Prower (Classic) Category:Mobians. Like plenty of other Overwatch heroes, Tracer is often portrayed in fan art, as fans have reclaimed the characters and made them their own. In Blizzard lore, she contains many narratives and is featured in many of the novels written about StarCraft. Helltaker Gals. When you're as dangerous as he is, you can pretty much wear whatever you want. While there's no real evidence that an assassin's guildlike the one portrayed in the gamereally existed, the closest such organization was a medieval Islamic guild that preferred public displays instead of secret killings. Danny Williams begins as a mouthy antagonist to the player-controlled Alex Hunter in FIFAs The Journey career mode, but then they both end up on the same side in the Football League Championship, and a real bond forms as both guys try to get to the Premier League. But most importantly, his trial gives us a better look into the otherwise stoic and introverted Geralt. The restaurant was called "Mario & Luigi's," and thus, the names of the plumbers were born. In The Last of Us, shes teamed up with gruff antihero action man Joel. 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. 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. He's likely the most iconic fighting-game character of all time. His traits differ slightly from Mario, however. The following is a list of the most badass characters to ever be featured in the world of video games. Instead, the main character of those games is named Red, who the anime character known as Ash Ketchum is based on. Shane is an aimless, depressed alcoholic who stocks shelves at the local JojaMart. Marguerite is trying to offer you hospitality, while Jack serves as the immortal, protective patriarch of his twisted family. Note that the video below is quite scary and might be too frightening for some. And it's not hard to see what made her so popular with video gamers. Dates with Shane reveal layers of insecurities. Make a physicist and researcher a weapon-wielding hero, and you're going to end up with some cool weapons. The 70 best video game characters of the decade. For one, he's got a killer shade of green on his outfit. There is truly no sadder feeling than sympathizing with your longtime enemy. Like many villains, M. Bison's ultimate goal is to take over the world. I meanjust look at those shoulders. 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). 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. His movement in the game was fairly novel at the time and has been repeated by many games since. In his earliest iterations, Duke Nukem barely spoke and played like more of a silent assassin. Alex is a teenager who, along with a small group of friends, sets out on a jaunt to an island near her home. What initially seems to be a straightforward mystery story turns into a surprisingly real portrait of adolescent queerness. Licensed games [ edit] The game takes place at a confusing time for the two, as Scarlett moves into adulthood, threatening to leave Finn behind. Chun-Li holds the distinction of being the first playable female character in ANY fighting game! Shes chill but shes no pushover, and she sticks to her morals even when theyre badly tested. 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. First appearance in a game: Gears of War (2006). Donkey Kong was certainly based on King Kong from Universal Studios, with the latter even suing Nintendo over trademark infringement. (Image credit: Capcom) First appearance in a game: 2001. Notable appearance: Onimusha 3: Demon Siege. Ask anyone to name a video game charactereven someone who's never played oneand they'll likely say "Mario!" A complete character list from the Danganronpa series. 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. The gangsters gangster, Kiryu Kazuma is a criminal who abides by a code of integrity. A hulking brute with a frightening voice, Bowen is in fact a grandmother, transformed by the Forced Evolutionary Virus. First appearance in a game: Red Dead Redemption (2010). 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. His earlier name is revealed to be "Naked Snake," though he's often just referred to as "Snake" in the game. Mephiles the Dark. In her three-game reboot, she shook loose her origins as 90s boy-gamer fantasy fodder and emerged as an actual person. A/X-101 A-10 Attack! Sometimes theyre rude, or awkward at flirting, but that just makes them more relatable, never off-putting. Are you a passionate writer? I guess that's why we love him so much. There's even talk of an upcoming film starring John Cena as Duke Nukem. But we include him as one character from the classic video game series from Capcom, Mega Man. Male. What is consistent about the Shy Guys are their iconic masks and robes, as well as their cute and sneaky nature. It's Mario's twin brother! Heres the thing: Spider-Man has been around for a while. The writing from Rocksteady for these moments is some of gamings best, enhanced by Mark Hamills and Kevin Conroys performances as Joker and Batman. Metal Sonic. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon, By submitting your email, you agree to our, The 70 best video game characters of the decade, Sign up for the Someone who 's never played oneand they 'll likely say `` Mario! torturing the various citizens of an film! Ryu is famous for the misquote: `` you must defeat Sheng long to stand a chance. `` torturing... We include him as one character from the classic video game charactereven someone who 's never played they. 1998 ) was fairly novel at the death of her lookout and an inspection her! Characters of the great apes hospitality, while Jack serves as the Mortal..., partly, to the throne is sudden, and torturing the various citizens of an village! 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