Many video game characters are present in our minds every day, due to our beloved memories of playing their games or their iconic personalities. From Vault Boy’s memorable smile to Mario’s bright overalls, here are the most iconic video game characters, ranked.
10. Vault Boy
This could be recency bias, but Vault Boy is much more iconic than he used to be, partially thanks to the Amazon Fallout TV show. This figure is seen in the fictional propaganda from the United States government, before the universe’s nuclear fallout occurred. He adorns all the tutorials for players in the game and has a smile that you can’t forget.
He’s on shirts, mugs, and there are many toys based on the character, including an odd rubber duck figure. Overall, his design works so well because he perfectly encapsulates the cheesy advertising we’d expect from the mid-20th century to an almost creepy extent.
9. Crash Bandicoot
WOAH! Crash Bandicoot is the first PlayStation mascot who truly took a stand to Nintendo’s might. Calling out Nintendo outside their HQ with a speakerphone in an infamous ad campaign, this marsupial is an iconic character from the ’90s.
The difficult, yet well-crafted level design in his PS1 trilogy of games made him stand out even more. His tongue-in-cheek attitude was more appealing to older fans who have moved on from Nintendo, and while he’s less in the limelight nowadays, Crash Bandicoot‘s remake N’Sane Trilogy sold over 10 million copies worldwide.
8. Cloud Strife
He’s dreamy. He’s strong. But most of all, Final Fantasy 7‘s Cloud is iconic to many, especially those who grew up during the original PlayStation era. With his impressive Buster Sword, he is a mighty hero facing a devastating villain known as Sephiroth. He may be tough and quiet in the beginning, but as the story unveils itself, he becomes a relatable hero as he learns to open up more. The spiky yellow hair and green eyes also make him stand out among the rest, especially with his updated appearance in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
7. Link
The Hero of Time is an iconic character within the gaming landscape. His green tunic, Hylian Shield, and of course the Master Sword are all distinct visual signifiers in their own right.
Link acts as our view into the world of The Legend of Zelda. And yes, he might not speak a single word, but Nintendo captures his personality through his yells and physical communication. The blonde hero solves tough puzzles with cool items, gadgets, masks, and more, and triumphs over evil in the end.
6. Lara Croft
While many scoff at BAFTA’s list of most iconic video game characters for having Lara Croft in first place, she is still an important figure in the industry’s history. She’s arguably the most popular female protagonist in video games. The Tomb Raider games were critically acclaimed and sold millions. She was featured in many advertisements for Pepsi, Lucozade, and other brands; I vividly remember seeing them as a kid. She even had her own movies starring the popular Angelina Jolie, in a time video game adaptations weren’t common.
Lara Croft proved to many that a strong female protagonist can lead a successful video game franchise. It has sold over 95 million copies since her debut in the ’90s. She and her dual pistols are iconic.
5. Pac-Man
Before there was Mario or Sonic, Pac-Man ruled through conquering arcades. His high-score-focused game took over the world. “Pac-Man sold 400,000 gaming cabinets to arcades around the world and made $3.5 billion in lifetime sales by 1990,” according to Statista.
In a world before consoles, that’s a huge number. While his presence isn’t as well-known nowadays, you can still buy plenty of merchandise from stores like a Lego version of the cabinet, watch his Disney TV show, and of course, play the exciting World’s Largest Pac-Man in modern arcades today. He even got a cameo spot as a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate character.
4. Master Chief
Locked and loaded, Master Chief took over the gaming zeitgeist when Halo: Combat Evolved was released in 2001. This armored hero has been Xbox’s figurehead for over two decades, leading one of the most popular sci-fi storylines in gaming. The green suit and visor is iconic, as millions of players stepped into his boots for the campaign and took part in online multiplayer. He is a figurehead for the Xbox era of gaming, as we shifted more towards multiplayer.
The Super Bowl Halo 3 trailer still stands as some of the best marketing a game has received with impressive visuals, and Master Chief right in the center of the action. He’s a badass.
3. Sonic the Hedgehog
Going “faster, faster, faster” has always been riveting in the Sonic the Hedgehog games. Sonic’s depicted as the “cool” mascot next to Nintendo’s cheerful Italian plumber. He spins on the floor, can dash through the air at breakneck speeds, and runs around the Green Hill Zone with no problem. He even wags his tail at the title screen and taps his foot if you leave the game idle.
Most of his games, especially the original tetralogy, have memorable stages, music, and boss battles that remain in our memories. He’s even a popular movie character, making over $700 million at the box office with two films. A third Sonic film is on the way, with Keanu Reeves voicing Shadow. Sonic is likely to spindash on our consoles and mobile systems for many more decades to come.
2. Pikachu
The most adorable creature ever created, Pikachu, takes the second spot. Characterized heavily by the anime in popular culture, this Pokémon is beloved for its bright red cheeks, lightning (or heart)-shaped tail, and cute voice by the talented Ikue Ōtani. You just want to reach out to this electrical mouse and pet its fur, hence why so much merchandise like plush has been released.
This particular creature is so popular that it has five of its own games: Pokémon Yellow, Pokémon Let’s Go: Pikachu, Detective Pikachu, Detective Pikachu Returns, and the infamous Hey You, Pikachu! The last game has you speak to the Pokémon through a microphone and interact with it on the Nintendo 64.
The electric mouse even starred in a movie, Detective Pikachu, with Ryan Reynolds lending his voice to the Pokémon. According to The Numbers, the film’s box office growth is over $425 million. It certainly caught us all.
1. Mario
Wahoo! Mario is the most iconic video game character, without a doubt. He helped bring back a love for video games after the crash in the ’80s with thrilling platforming and ingenious marketing. He took the world by storm with one stellar game after another. When a new mainline Mario game is announced, it’s a huge deal to the gaming community.
Nintendo was “playing with power,” as the Italian plumber warmed everyone’s hearts with his plucky attitude and smile. He has remained a cultural icon, from his style to his voice, performed by Charles Martinet. The whimsical tone and funny Italian accent Martinet provided added so much to the role.
When Chris Pratt was announced as the voice of Mario for The Super Mario Bros. movie, almost everyone scoffed at the idea. However, the Illumination film was beloved by a wide audience around the world, breaking over $1.35 billion at the box office, according to The Numbers. Mario is simply iconic.
