The 20 most iconic video game characters of all time

Mario is beyond iconic. This video game character is such a force in pop culture that it’s hard to remember that he originated in the video game sphere. Now, he’s a veritable movie star, too. Mario is that dude. 

Sonic is so famous that when you mention his name, people have to use context clues to know whether they’re talking about him or the fast food chain. He’s got an easily recognizable look and lightning-fast speed, making him an iconic video game character. 

Kirby is weird and enigmatic, but that’s what makes him so iconic. His puffy pink body just sort of floats, and it’s landed him into the hearts of everyone who’s ever played his games. Nintendo has lots of iconic video game characters, but Kirby stands out among the pack. 

Speaking of pac(k)s … No matter how long you’ve been playing video games, you know who Pac-Man is and what he’s about. And that’s a special quality. Other video games are well-known, but there are few whose main skills are known in conjunction with their name. 

It's unclear what exactly a bandicoot is to many people, but everyone knows who Crash Bandicoot is. He runs through various landscapes collecting apples, and he does so shirtless but with shoes. He’s a fearless legend. 

What other video game character has a Nicki Minaj song named after them? No one. That alone solidifies Chun-Li’s icon status. She’d still be an icon sans Barbie reference, but the rap definitely helps. 

Lara Croft of Tomb Raider is so iconic that if you search her on Google, she’s listed as a movie character, not a video game character. That’s right, she’s transcended her video game roots. It could be because she was played by Angelina Jolie, but that’s a minor detail. 

You know you’re an iconic character when you’re more famous than the eponymous one. Link from The Legend of Zelda is the true star of the video game series, and his quest to save Zelda has pulled in millions of people since the late ‘80s. 

If you can only name one Pokémon character, it’s Pikachu. That little yellow dude is everywhere. He’s in movies, TV shows, phone apps. He’s even available at Build-A-Bear Workshop. Pikachu is one of the most recognizable characters of all time. 

Minecraft may be one of the newer video games in history, but its impact has been massive. It’s the best-selling video game of all time, meaning Steve has made his way into millions of homes. His reach needs to be recognized. 

Ellie Williams hasn’t had an easy life, but she’s become ultra-famous, and that’s worth something. Ellie’s been especially embraced by the queer community, and her star power rose even more thanks to the 2023 HBO screen adaptation of The Last of Us. 

There is no one singular Sim, but the group as a whole makes for one iconic character. While they’ve evolved over the past few decades, they’ve never lost their odd way of speaking or bizarre charm. As long as the Sims keep doing weird things, they’ll remain iconic. 

With a name like Solid Snake, how could a character flop? The Metal Gear character sets out to destroy his enemies, and he’s got a ton of backstory, making gameplay rich and entertaining. 

Tom Holland is in the business of playing iconic characters. Spider-Man, Nathan Drake … who’s next? Nathan Drake from Uncharted is an absolute beast, and he’s also got plenty of lore to add to his intrigue as a character. 

Agent 47 from Hitman has many characteristics that make him iconic. He’s smart and efficient, and he’s got a look about him that’s menacing and intimidating but in a way that still makes you trust him. 

Even if you haven’t heard of Master Chief, you know the game he comes from is Halo. But in the video game world, Master Chief is a huge deal. He’s armored and loaded, and he’s more recognizable with his mask than without. 

God of War is another of the best-selling video games of all time, so, of course, Kratos is an iconic character. To the outside world, he may seem a bit scary. But within his sphere, he’s a veritable hero. 

Sweet Tooth from Twisted Metal is another character that is a bit scary if you don’t know much about it. Actually, it might be scarier the more you know about it. But Sweet Tooth deserves icon status, given that it’s a vehicle and not a person. 

Casey Hudson took time to make sure that both the male and female versions of Commander Shepard were about as good-looking as they could possibly be. They’d still be icons even if they didn’t look like models, but their face cards certainly help their cause. 

Dragon Ball is a super famous video game series, and Son Goku is a super famous video game character. Known for his strength and speed, he’s lethal in combat and many players’ favorite character to play.