gaming console

Top 10 Video Game Characters

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Video game characters have been a part of our lives for decades. As time has progressed, they’ve become more and more detailed because of gaming consoles’ graphic capabilities. Some have faded with time and others have been around for the long run and will probably never leave. We’ve seen them on screens of various sizes or memorized what they look like to buy a game for a loved one. We may have even dressed up as one for one reason or another. Depending on someone’s age, a character’s iconic status may differ. However, there are a few I think we can all agree deserve their flowers and the hype they have. Here are ten of the most iconic and recognizable video game characters over the last three decades.

#10: Lara Croft

The Tomb Raider games are classics and the franchise has definitely progressed as the years have gone on. Lara Croft is the first video game character many of us saw brought into the live action world. Her look on the PlayStation 1 games is iconic and somewhat of a meme but the legacy began there. Angelina Jolie brought the character to life in two live action movies and many people were interested in them without even knowing her character came from a game series. In 2013, the series returned for the consoles of the time. Lara Croft was one of the first women to star in a game and her name is synonymous with history because of that. The last game released in 2018 and a new one is being developed by Amazon Games with few details available currently.

#9: Crash Bandicoot

Crash is an iconic character and a true pioneer in the world of platforming games. He’s been around for years and while he may not have been getting brand new games across the years his legacy remains intact. His first three games have been remastered for current generation consoles proving that people are still nostalgic for him. This type of treatment is how generations can connect. Crash has always represented the pure fun aspect of gaming where precise timing and patience are the keys to victory. Players agree that sometimes it can be very difficult but they still want to keep playing. The bright and colorful world he’s in is the perfect place for his silly over the top personality. His most recent game, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, released in 2020.

#8: Sora

Sora’s keyblade weapon is the most recognizable aspect of the Kingdom Hearts series. People may not recognize his face immediately but they definitely know the keyblade – and his large shoes. His outfit is very popular amongst cosplayers and it’s also common for streamers to have a keyblade on their wall. Sora is truly the face of the Kingdom Hearts series and along with his associates, stick out amongst the instantly recognizable Disney characters that are in the games. The series is a Japanese made RPG so naturally there are multiple versions of each game with various expansions. This has allowed players to experience them through various generations of consoles. It’s always nice to have a nostalgic experience while still getting something brand new out of it too. The upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4 is the fifteenth game in the series.

#7: Sub – Zero

The concept of Mortal Kombat is known by many people who have never done a single move in the game. The iconic graphic violence of the game and the “FATALITY” voiceover has been referenced by fans and people who know fans for decades. One of the most popular characters from the game is Sub-Zero. Many gravitate towards him due to his abilities to create/manipitale ice in a variety of ways to destroy his opponents. True fans also know there are actually two people who have taken the “Sub-Zero” name, – Bi Han and his successor Kuai Liang. Sub-Zero is a character that has been in every Mortal Kombat game since the very first one in 1992 and the “Cyber Sub-Zero” variant was available in 2011’s Mortal Kombat (a reboot of the series but officially the 9th game in the series.)

#6 Ezio Auditore da Firenze

The populr Assassin’s Creed video games are another series with an iconic lead character – but players will quickly inform you almost every game has a different lead character. However, they do share a similar look. This look is the iconic hooded face, an adorned chest and waist area and of course the extended hidden blade on the left hand. When most people picture the series, they think of Ezio who debuted in Assassin’s Creed II from 2009. His character gave the series even more attention and he paved the way for the other characters who followed in his footsteps. Out of all of them, many cite Ezio as their favorite since he may have been the first one they played as or that his game took the franchise to the next level.

#5: Kratos

Kratos is another character many people recognize and it’s very hard to mistake him for someone else. With his white skin, red markings and full beard, he has a very intimidating presence. Kratos first appeared in God of War for the PlayStation 2 in 2005. You’ve likely seen his most recent iteration in God of War: Ragnarok which released in 2022. This game is a sequel to the reboot from 2018 also titled God of War. Kratos is not the most pleasant character in the gaming world but considering what he’s been through, it is completely understandable. Players are drawn to him because of his cold personality and how his combative abilities reflect his ruthlessness. The way the games integrate both Greek and Norse mythology also give players insight onto that world and many have taken interest in both outside of the game because of it.

#4 Master Chief

While the “Halo Guy” is not a completely inaccurate name, video game players will still correct you if you use it. The Halo series is a staple in the history of the Xbox and many players remember the original game on the first generation Xbox. Master Chief’s armored suit that comes with a full face helmet is iconic. He’s easily one of the most cool looking first person shooting games characters. In fact, many of us may remember seeing full size cardboard cutouts of him standing in GameStop and Blockbuster. The Halo games have been around for years and were pioneers in the sci-fi first person shooter world of gaming. It’s only right the iconic nostalgic imagery stick in people’s minds for years.

#3 Kirby

Everyone may not know what Kirby technically is but they do agree that he is cute. His look is simplistic but iconic and has made drawing him in various ways fun for artists all over. Like several characters from our childhood, children of this generation may be more familiar with seeing him as a meme. The character debuted in 1992 in Kirby’s Dream Land and like his fellow Nintendo characters on this list, has become a staple symbol for the company. Kirby can adapt and gain new abilities with his copy ability. And of course, his iconic ability to inhale things comes in handy and his flying does too. Kirby is a legacy character and several of his original games have found their way to the Nintendo Switch.

#2 Sonic

Sonic is one of the first video game characters that people viewed as cool. His debut in 1991’s Sonic The Hedgehog was iconic because it took the side scrolling platform game concept to the next level. The speed at which Sonic moved was his claim to fame and the games showcased this very well. As time went on, the camera shifted behind him and players could really get a full sense of his speed essentially from his perspective. Sonic has appeared in multiple games across the years along with other characters from his world with various unique mechanics appearing in many of them. Most recently, he entered the world of open world games with Sonic Frontiers which was released in 2022. Sonic’s positive attitude and witty humor make him a standout character and his look is timeless.

#1 Mario

Mario is the most recognizable video game character of all. He’s been around since 1981 after making his debut in the Donkey Kong arcade game. Once he got his own game, Super Mario Bros. , for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1985, he continued to appear in multiple games for Nintendo game consoles across the years. Mario is another character many people have used for memes most recently but his legacy in the gaming world is iconic and timeless. Many families have seen him when playing Mario Kart and he’ll always be one of the characters from games that parents have no issues with. As a character from a platformer, he is truly a part of the foundation of what video games are. It’s only right he makes his move into the (animated) movie world with The Super Mario Bros. Movie which releases April 7,2023.

Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments section.

Microtransactions Could Be Ruining Gaming

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Microtransactions could be ruining gaming for players. With games already being a whopping $70 for the latest generation consoles, spending additional money on them adds up. Most older players do not feel obligated to make microtransactions but younger ones often have a different experience. Having the latest skin for your character is a status symbol. In some cases, microtransactions are “pay-to-win” which means you can purchase items that give you an advantage over other players. This is many players’ main issue with microtransactions.

However, with younger players, their parents are usually spending the money on the microtransaction. Sometimes, the child takes matters into their own hands and this often does not work out well. Older players often don’t make microtransactions because they feel the items are not worth their price. Item bundles are often around $20 which is around ⅓ of the price of the game itself. With games like Call of Duty, many players feel more attention is given to the bundles instead of maintaining the quality of the game itself.

In games like Fortnite, bundles are often connected to large IPs (Intellectual Properties). This means players can use characters from Marvel, DC, Dragonball Super or even John Wick himself. Sometimes music artists like Travis Scott are in the game. Younger players are the main target with these bundles while some older players see them as cash grabs. Fortnite does collaborations like these pretty regularly which provides constant income for the free-to-play game. The headlines of the characters/people in the game generate interest every time.

The Bundles Of Video Games

(L-R) Christian Watson, Rahsaan Lewis, and Bo Melton play in the COD game play area during Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II event at the 2022 NFL Draft. (Photo by Denise Truscello/Getty Images for Activision)

In several cases, when one bundle is purchased on a game’s store page, another one takes its place. After making a purchase, a player may see something they are far more interested in than the one they just bought. The refund process is complex and players often would rather accept the loss of money than attempt that process. The store page often shows up differently for all players so one player may have something available on their screen that another player cannot even see.

Additionally, with bundles, sometimes items are promised but not delivered. In shooting games, a gun may be one color on the store page. But once you buy it, the color is slightly different once your character is holding it. The same thing can happen with a gun’s tracer rounds. Bullets naturally look yellow-orangish when shooting so players feel advertising a gun with “yellow” or “orange” tracer rounds is not fair. Many players often directly call these situations false advertising.

Microtransactions have seen two iterations in recent years: blind/loot boxes and bundles. With the former, you are taking a risk because you do not know what items you are even getting. The incentive for these is you are often guaranteed you won’t get any items you already have. Or, you are guaranteed one item specifically. With the bundles, you know exactly what you are getting but out of the five or so items, you may only be interested in three of them. There is no a la carte option.

This Has Been A Huge Issue For Video Gamers

Atmosphere seen during Call of Duty: Vanguard launch event with a first-ever verzuz concert. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images For Activision )

Microtransactions have become such an issue for players that games who don’t have them use that as a selling point. Naturally, this separates them from those that do but other aspects of the game may suffer. The gameplay itself may have issues or there may be issues with server connectivity. Not every developer has the same budget but even the multi-million dollar ones have the same issues as the smaller ones. This causes confusion amongst players as they wonder what is being done with the money they are spending.

However, a more favored microtransaction is a battle pass. A battle pass is often $10 but players get 100 “tiers” worth of items for the game. These items are all cosmetic and like with bundles, some items are much more enticing to players than others. The item at the 100th tier of the battle pass is often the “best” one but naturally this depends on the player’s preference. Progression through this battle pass is connected to how much time players spend playing the game.

Furthermore, another more pleasantly received microtransaction is a season pass. A season pass allows the player to pay a one time fee to get Downloadable Content (DLC) in the game’s cycle. They are not getting new items for “free” but getting them for no additional fee as they are released. This method completely eliminates the need for separate purchases. But, if something comes out that a player doesn’t want they’ve essentially still paid for it.

There Have Been Attempted Boycotts

T-Pain speaks onstage for Call of Duty: Vanguard launch event with a first-ever verzuz concert. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Activision)

Players have attempted to boycott the unfair practice of microtransactions by not purchasing a game’s battle pass or bundles for the current season. Players believe once the developer sees the numbers are lower for the amount spent on the microtransactions they will change their behavior. However, in most cases the amount of players who do this is significantly lower than those who continue to purchase the bundles overall. Additionally, most players who are boycotting were already not regularly spending money on the bundles.

Furthermore, microtransactions can often lead to other microtransactions. A specific bundle may not be available until a different bundle connected to it is purchased. This, once again, forces players to get something they may not want to access something they do actually want. Additionally, there is usually a waiting period between when the first purchase is made and when the second level of additional items can be accessed. Many players think this greedy because it helps inflate the number of purchases for the bundle in the company’s earnings report.

Microtransactions have been around for multiple years. In the past, Call of Duty had microtransactions in the form of map packs. Players could pay a set price for up to 5 additional maps to play on. The original issue with this format was players who did not have the map packs would naturally be separated from those who did. This is one of the first instances of microtransactions causing a divide amongst a game’s player base. In the years since, Call of Duty has changed this format and offers new maps to players for free.

Microtransactions Also Occur In Fighting Games

Signage seen during Call of Duty: Vanguard launch event with a first-ever verzuz concert. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Activision)

In fighting games, microtransactions are how players obtain more characters for their roster. With games like Dragonball FighterZ, new characters are regularly appearing in the anime so they are added to the game as time progresses. With games like the Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat series, players feel some characters should not be in the game at launch to make room for characters players want more. This way they don’t have to make a microtransaction to get them.

With single player games, microtransactions are often DLC that expands the storyline of the game. In the case of Marvel’s Spider-Man, these stories involved Spider-Man getting involved in new situations with new characters. In Ghost of Tshushima, the DLC involved lead character Jin Sakai traveling to a new location in the game and doing new activities with new characters.

Also, in some cases, the novelty of a microtransaction is what makes it worth it for players. In the Call of Duty games, there have been microtransactions where players could purchase surprising but fitting bundles. These bundles included being able to play as Sylvester Stallone’s character Rambo, Bruce Willis’ character John McClain from the Die Hard film series. In Call of Duty: Vanguard, you could play as Snoop Dogg. In other games, Snoop Dogg’s voice could also be purchased as an announcer as well as Method Man’s.

Microtransactions are not likely to be removed from games on a grand scale any time soon. They have proven to be a huge source of income and they will continue to be. All game developers claim to “listen to their community” but more often than not this isn’t fully true. They may fix some issues the game is having but will not initiate the removal of the number one aspect players want removed: microtransactions.