Video games have become a staple of our society, and there are some video games that certainly take the cake with iconic characters and interesting story-telling. However, in the sea of so many great games, there are some that have stood out strongly against all others, especially with their respective characters.
These games come from across the spectrum of video games, and each has its own fantastic story to tell. These are the top 10 most iconic video game characters of all time:
10. Doomguy (DOOM)
One of the most iconic figures in all of gaming, Doomguy is definitely one of the top. Sometimes referred to as Doom Slayer, he made his first appearance back in 1993 and defined the first-person-shooter genre for years to come.
The game received a fantastic reboot in 2016’s Doom and then the latest release, Doom Eternal, saw the Slayer in all his rippin’ and tearin’ glory.
9. Steve (Minecraft)
Minecraft has taken the world by a storm when it comes to games, being named one of the best games of all time and becoming an icon of modern gaming. And nothing is more iconic than its frontman, Steve.
The default skin is no basic character–Steve is one of the most recognizable faces in gaming history. Kids, adults, and everyone in between can enjoy the wonders of this sandbox game all with Steve at the helm.
(Maybe it’s just me, but I used to watch videos trying to summon Herobrine back when I was a kid, but I’m still convinced he’s out there. It’s like one of those urban legends I’m going to tell kids about fifty years from now or something).
8. Pac-Man
Pac-Man’s simple, but effectively recognizable design has made the dot-eating ghost-killer one of the most iconic characters in video game history.
Pac-Man helped popularize the arcade, and started a gaming revolution. Since then, there have been many remakes of Pac-Man and even some weird animated shows about the character.
7. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
Appearing in Tomb Raider, Lara Croft was an icon from the beginning in video games. Not only was she one of the first female characters to make a major splash in the video game industry, but she’s still easily recognized and beloved to this day.
Lara Croft has gotten film adaptations and is known for taking on ancient evils throughout her time in the video game world.
6. Pikachu (Pokemon)
One of the most adorable and powerful characters in Pokemon, Pikachu is probably an icon in the video game world. Pikachu has appeared in so many things, it’s hard to remember everything.
Pikachu has quickly become an icon, becoming the face of Pokemon and a lot of Pokemon card boxes as well. Pikachu has captured the hearts of so many, and the loveable yellow creature is easily the most recognizable out there. Also Ryan Reynolds played a detective version of Pikachu, so the fuzzball’s definitely made it at this point.
5. Niko Bellic (GTA IV)
GTA’s Niko Bellic is a character with a rough past and a complex personality. He’s more than just a powerful fighter. Bellic introduced GTA to a more deep character with an engaging personality that had not really been seen at that point just yet.
Bellic first appeared back in 2008 with the release of GTA IV and has since then become an icon of the franchise.
4. Mario (A lot of games, let’s be honest)
Mario has become the face of the Nintendo world, with Mario also being one of the most iconic and recognizable characters out there. I don’t think that there’s a single person that really doesn’t know who Mario is, to be honest.
Mario first appeared in Donkey Kong as a random plumber and has over 200 video game appearances and even a Super Mario World theme park in Japan. He’s even in a game with Ubisoft’s Rabbids. I think Mario can go just about anywhere at this point.
3. Captain Price (Call of Duty)
Call of Duty’s most iconic character, Captain Price is the stoic and powerful SAS member that takes down the bad guys and wins the day, and he’s one of the best at it too.
Captain Price made a splash in the gaming world with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and has since then made it back into the Call of Duty mix with Call of Duty Modern Warfare.
2. Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Ezio Auditore is more than just a standard character. He’s practically the face of the entire Assassin’s Creed franchise, and is still one of the most beloved and recognizable characters ever.
Appearing first in Assassin’s Creed II back in 2009, Ezio quickly became the icon of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Ezio’s Family has also become the theme of the entire franchise as a whole, and his assassin robes are easily one of the best ever designed in the franchise.
1. Master Chief
Basically the face of Xbox, Halo’s Master Chief is one of the most iconic video game characters to ever exist. His full title is Master Chief Petty Officer John-117 and he is a member of the Spartans, a group of highly trained and powerful super soldiers.
A conscripted member of the UNSC, Master Chief has had to fight against the Covenant for most of his life. Master Chief has not only become an iconic face for Xbox, he’s also gotten several adaptations, including a Paramount+ TV show (we don’t talk about that one though), novels, comics, and even more.
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