What is it about video games that keep us hooked? Some say it’s the story, while others say it’s the gameplay.
I say it’s the characters.
A story is as good as its protagonist and video game characters are no different. It’s why we stay loyal to certain franchises more than others. We love seeing our favorite characters grow, triumph, fail, and in the process, evolve.
The characters on this list have entertained, inspired, and prompted players to stay loyal to their respective franchises for as long as they have existed. Here are the evergreen names of the video game industry:
Mario
Ask anyone who they think is the most popular video game character, and they will probably say its Mario. Created by Nintendo and video game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, Mario is depicted as a short, pudgy Italian plumber. Nearly everyone who has ever held a controller has played a game with this amusing character, from the first side scrolling Super Mario Bros game to a number of spin offs. There’s a Mario for racing, sports, role-playing, partying, and even a combat version courtesy of the all-time classic, Super Smash Bros.
Today, there’s a Mario for everyone, yet he’s as basic as characters come. He looks simple and his story is always the same – rescue Princess Peach from the Koopa villain, Bowser. Plus, he was on NES, which no other game console even got close to beating during its time. Mario became their mascot, just like Sonic was to Sega – and fans still love him to this day.
Lara Croft
Lara Croft became popular before feminism and women empowerment became buzzwords. Like the heroine from Metroid Prime, she is one of the few playable-human-female-characters that you can count on your fingers.
Created initially by Core Design, Lara Croft first appeared in Tomb Raider in 1996 and has managed to amass an impressive fan following. The Guinness Book of World Records even acknowledged her as the “Most Successful Human Virtual Game Heroine” at one point. Her design has changed considerably over the past few years but has survived every reboot.
Though Lara Croft has been re-written so many times in recent years, to the point where she’s totally unrecognizable from the original 1996 version, she still retains everything that her character was meant to represent.
Kratos
When you think about influential video game characters, Kratos from the “God of War” franchise deserves a spot on this list, and that too for good reason. The “Ghost of Sparta” first appeared in 2005 when the first game was released for PlayStation 2. Over time, the gaming franchise evolved into a flagship title for PlayStation.
Tricked into killing his wife and daughter by his former master and the God of War, Ares, Kratos must embark on a quest to change his fate and exact revenge. During his quest, he engages in several morally ambiguous activities and extreme acts of violence.
The character has certainly been going strong for over 10 years. Throughout the series, Kratos battled almost every god in Greek mythology, and a number of mythical beasts, too. The fourth installment in the series, also named God of War, focuses on Norse mythology – and Kratos has a son. Judging from the trailer, it looks like the mantle is about to be passed down to his little boy.
Link
How can we forget Link, especially after Breath of the Wild launched on the Nintendo Switch? Link deserves a mention for being one of the most iconic characters that Nintendo has to offer. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto, Link is the main protagonist from the Legend of Zelda series tasked with rescuing the Kingdom of Hyrule and Princess Zelda from Ganon.
Unlike the other characters on this list, Link isn’t the same person in every title in the series. Every incarnation is a different person chosen by the Goddesses to protect the land when needed. Each Link possesses the “Spirit of the Hero” and has an unbreakable spirit.
Link’s design has pretty much stayed consistent during the years. Sure, the graphics changed, but that’s a given, considering Nintendo’s color palette, and the 16-pixel square grid, that Miyamoto and his colleagues had to work with in 1986 were pretty limiting. However, in recent versions, you can still make out Link’s elfin ears, shield, and sword that we know and love.
Pac-Man
Pac-Man first debuted during the 1980s, in arcades in Japan, and was one of the first video games that thrust gaming from a fad to a phenomenon. Originally released by Namco, the game was created by a Japanese designer, Toru Iwatani.
And boy was it a sight to see. During the time, games were limited to a black and white color palette. So, it didn’t take too long for Pac-Man’s brightly colored gameplay to draw crowds. In time, it became a pop culture sensation and the character is still recognizable after all these years.
That’s it for now. Which characters do you think deserve a place in the most iconic video game characters? Share your thoughts in the comments!
