Gaming Icons: 30 Famous Video Games Characters

Gaming Icons: 30 Famous Video Games Characters

Video Game is a game played by electronically manipulating images produced by a computer program on a monitor or other display.  Today, they have become a global phenomenon by growing the entertainment industry and also pushing the boundaries of technology. They offer great experiences allowing players to escape into fantastical worlds.

According to my reserch they provide challenges and enhance problem-solving skills. They also serve as powerful storytelling mediums by exploring complex themes. In this article have discuss characters who have made video games a great source of entertainment. Some of these characters include Sam Fisher, Arthur Morgan, and Garrus Vakarian among many others.

1. Sam Fisher

Sam Fisher is one of the most famous Video Games Characters. He gained fame when he was the protagonist in one of the popular video game series known as “Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell”. In this series which was developed by Ubisoft, he was highly skilled and worked for the secretive Third Echelon agency. He navigates through several missions in a world that is filled with high-stakes espionage and political intrigue.

All through the series it is easy to identify that Sam Fisher is an expert in espionage and covert operations. He faces big situations that often challenge his loyalty to his missions and the secretive Third Echelon agency that he serves but he doesn’t give up. This dedication to his mission makes him stand out as an enduring figure in the realm of video game characters.

2. Arthur Morga

Arthur is a famous fictional character and the main playable protagonist of the video game known as “Red Dead Redemption 2” which was developed by Rockstar Games. In this video game, he is one of the members of the Van der Linde gang, a group of outlaws which is led by Dutch van der Linde. Arthur is called to deal with the decline of the Wild West while he still attempting to survive against government forces and other adversaries in a fictionalized representation of the American Frontier.

As a result of his versatility in acting in video games, he has received acclaim from critics for his complexity and the path to “Red Dead Redemption 2” being the subject of praise. Clark received numerous nominations and was awarded Best Performance at The Game Awards.

3. Garrus Vakarian

Garrus is a fictional character in Mass Effect Franchise which was developed by BioWare. He takes the role of a party member or “squadmate” in all three games in the original trilogy. At the start of the game, he was introduced as a C- sec officer who is tired of all the rules and regulations his job includes. He joins Commander Shepard’s team in their request to help save the galaxy from various existential threats.

In this character, he shows his sharpshooting skills and a strong sense of justice. He gets tired of the rules in his quest for justice as he seeks to eliminate criminals and corruption beyond the constraints of official law enforcement.

4. Sylvanas Windrunner

Sylvanas Windrunner is a fictional character who appears in the Warcraft series of video games by Blizzard Entertainment. In this video game, Sylvanas is a high elf ranger- -general who later became the Banshee Queen and leader of the forsaken, the undead faction in World of Warcraft. Her character undergoes several development and transformations throughout the video game.

As a defender of her people, she gets into a battle against the Lich King known as Arthas Menethil and she is resurrected as a banshee under his control. Later she breaks free from the Lich King’s influence, seeks revenge, and becomes a complex and morally ambiguous figure. She tries everything to help secure a future for her undead followers by making gray decisions to ensure their survival.  This leads to a conflict between the Horde and the Alliance.

5. Cayde-6

Cayde – 6 is a fictional character from the Destiny video game developed by Bungie. He is an Exo, an advanced robot with a human mind uploaded into it. In this video game, he is also a former vanguard leader for the Hunters who is one of the Guardian factions.  In this game, he is known for his versatility in Joking and gambling attitude, adventurous spirit, and loyalty to his friends.

At the start of the play, he started as an explorer and later took up the Hunter Vanguard mantle after the death of his friend. He sacrificed himself in Destiny 2: forsaken hence leaving a major impact on the story. He is full of humor and his personality attracted the audience making the video game one of the best.

6. Samanosuke Akechi

Samanosuke is a video game character and the main protagonist of the Onimusha video game series. All through the video game, he has three things that he is mostly known for. He has a Stoic and serious demeanor, he has a strong sense of justice and a past that drives his motivations.

He is obligated to protect Princess Yuki from Nobunaga Oda who is an evil warlord who has made a pact with demons. Other than fighting demonic forces he is seen fighting other threats. This journey of fighting both demons and other threats is marked with many losses and sacrifices but eventually emerges victorious.

7. Dorian Pavus

Dorian is a fictional character in the video game Dragon Age franchise developed by BioWare. In this video game, he serves as a companion and a party member. He is a human mage from a proud noble bloodline of the Tevinter Imperium which is a realm governed by a powerful magic-using oligarchy located in the northern region of Thedas a continent in which the Dragon Age series is set in.

He is born with magical virtuosity. Dorian is a strong advocate for change in Tevinter. He loves his homeland and wants his vision of a Tevinter where prejudices don’t run rampant realized. He hopes one day to make the imperium a more just and equitable place. He is a powerful and versatile mage which makes him a valuable asset in battle.

8. Bella Goth

Bella is a fictional character in the video game The Sims Franchise. She is the wife of Mortimer Goth and the mother of Cassandra Goth in most iterations. She appeared in The Sims 1,2,3, and 4 with distinct storylines and appearances. In one of the Sims (Sims 2) she vanishes without a trace leaving cryptic clues like an empty grave and a strange painting.

Her disappearance fuels the “Goth family curse” narrative which is a popular fan obsession. Her fate ignites creativity in players inspiring countless stories and interpretations.

9. Solid Snake

William Tung from USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Solid is a fictional character from the video game Metal Gear which was created by Hideo Kojima.  He is a well-trained former Green Beret and highly skilled special operations soldier engaged in solo stealth and espionage missions who are often tasked with destroying models of the bipedal nuclear weapon-armed Mecha known as Metal Gear.

He is known for solo infiltration and espionage missions and is tasked with neutralizing Metal Gear which is a bipedal nuclear weapon. Solid Snake appeared in multiple GameFAQs “Character Battle” contests and was runner-up in three: the “Character Battle V”  in (2006 )“Character Battle VII” in (2008), and the “Character Battle IX” in (2013).

10. Master Chief

Master Chief is a fictional character in the Halo game series and spin-off media. The character also appears in spin-off Halo media such as the 2012 film Halo 4: Forward unto Dawn, the 2022 Halo television series, and several graphic novels and books.

He first appeared in Halo: Combat Evolved battling the Covenant alien alliance and the parasitic flood. He faced numerous threats throughout the series which included rogue Als, ancient alien beings, and internal conflicts within humanity.

11. Geralt of Rivia

Александр Степченков (Alexandr Stepchenkov), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Geralt of Rivia is a fictional character who is the protagonist of the Witcher series created by Andrzej Sapkowski and the hit video game by CD Projekt Red. He is a complex character grappling with his place in a world filled with prejudice and moral ambiguity. He is a mutated human trained to hunt and kill monsters for coin.

Geralt travels the continent taking on contracts for monster slaying while encountering political intrigue racial tensions and personal quests. He develops relationships with other characters which include Dwarves, fellow witchers, and sorceresses. He is a skilled fighter who provides thrilling action sequences in both games and books.

12. Samus Aran

Samus is the main protagonist of the video game series Metroid by Nintendo. She is an Ex-Soldier of the Galactic Federation raised by the Chozo bird-like aliens infused with their DNA. She is a skilled bounty hunter who battles space pirates and the parasitic Metroid creatures.

She executes missions given to her by the Galactic Federation and the Chozo tasked with hunting various antagonistic forces. She is celebrated for breaking gender stereotypes in video games as her identity as a female character was initially revealed as a surprise twist at the end of the original game.

13. Bowser

Bowser is known as King Bowser and is a fictional character and the antagonist in the Mario franchise video game created by Nintendo. In this film, he tries to kidnap Princess Peach. He is the king of the Koopa Troop which is a race of turtle-like creatures. His motivation varies across games.

 It ranges from simple love and conquest to seeking power or challenging Mario.  He has also teamed up with Mario on occasion against even greater threats showcasing a begrudging respect for his rival. His comedic moments and over-the-top schemes provide humor and light-heartedness.

14. Ellie Sattler

Ellie Sattler is a fictional character in the Jurassic Park franchise. She is a paleobotanist in both the novel and its film adaptation. She was introduced in the first Jurassic Park film as a consultant who was brought in by John Hammond to assess the safety of the park. In the film, we can highlight her intelligence, resourcefulness, and bravery in the face of danger.

She has a compassion for dinosaurs and her concerned for ethical animal treatment. She is confident and goes ahead to challenge authority when necessary. While she is at Jurassic Park, all lost not knowing what to do, she returns to Isla Sorna with a rescue team but again she is trapped with dinosaurs.

15. Scorpion

Scorpion is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Scorpio is a vengeful undead ninja resurrected from the Nether realm. He is filled with a burning anger to revenge for his murdered family and the Shirai Ryu clan. He was originally named Hanzo Hasashi and was killed by sub-Zero in the first Mortal Kombat tournament.

After he was killed, he was helped raised by Quan Chi with the promise of revenge. Over time his anger and hatred fuel up his participation in subsequent tournaments with glimpses of his former humanity occasionally surfacing.

16. Sub- Zero

greyloch, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sub-Zero is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat. Sub-Zero is a Cryomancer ninja warrior of the Lin Kuei clan who was initially given the task of eliminating enemies through stealth and assassination. At the start of the film, he was known as Bi-Han. He served his clan faithfully and faced challenges since he was clashing with Scorpio in the first Mortal Kombat.

During his service, when he refused to kill Shang Tsung, he was killed and later reincarnated as Noob Saibot an evil specter. After his death, his small brother took up the mantle of sub- Zero seeking revenge, and later vowed to redeem his clan and bring back its honor.

17. Diddy Kong

Diddy is a fictional character who appears in games that belong to the Donkey Kong and Mario video game franchises. Diddy is the best friend to Donkey Kong who accompanies him on adventures. At the start of the video game, he is seen to be a young and inexperienced adventurer but has grown alongside the series.

He helps his best friend Donkey Kong retrieve his stolen bananas and also fights other antagonists like King K. Rool. He has starred in his spin-off games such as Diddy Kong Racing and Donkey Kong Racing showcasing his versatility.

18. Princess Peach

Princess Peach is a character in Nintendo’s Mario franchise which was created by Shigeru Miyamoto. She is the ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom and is constantly kidnapped by the Villainous Bowser. All through the film, everyone can draw out some things like her kindness, compassion, and dedication to her people. She appears elegantly dressed in a pink dress and a beautiful crown.

As the lead character in the Super Mario series, her role is typically the damsel in distress who is rescued by Mario. Princess Peach is one of the best-known female protagonists in video game history and has been described by critics as one of the most iconic and influential female video game characters.

19. Luigi

Luigi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. At first, he appeared in Super Mario Bros as Player 2 and gained fame in spin-off games and solo adventures. He is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario.

He appears in many games throughout the Mario franchise and in most cases accompanying his brother. He has a green attire and trademark mustache while that of his brother is red. His confidence and leadership skills develop during the solo ventures becoming a playable character in Super Smash Bros.

20. Marcus Fenix

Marcus Fenix is a fictional character and the primary protagonist from the first three games in the Gears of War video game series. He is the former COG Soldier who turns to Gears of War a hardened unit fighting the monstrous Locust Horde. In this video game, Marcus is hunted by the death of his father and he emerges from prison to go and join the fight against the locusts.

He leads Delta Squad through numerous daring missions where they face losses, betrayals, and many odds. He is loyal to his friends and has a dedication to protecting humanity.

21. Leon S. Kennedy

Leon is a character in Resident Evil which is a survival horror video game series created by the Japanese company known as Capcom. He is a rookie police officer who was assigned to Raccoon City during a Zombie outbreak. While still at Raccoon City, he escaped the Zombie apocalypse rescuing Claire Redfield and facing mutated creatures.

He later became an agent of the government and tackled cases of bio-terrorism threats across the globe.  While doing his responsibility as an agent, he encountered dangers like Las Plagas parasites and the infected president’s daughter. Along the way, he develops a good relationship with other characters and shows loyalty.

22. Joel Miller

Joel Miller is a character in the video game series known as “The Last of Us” by Naughty Dog. In this game, Joel lives in a post-apocalyptic America which is lived by infected humans and brutal survivors. As a result of these insecurities, he is given the responsibility of escorting a teenage girl known as Ellie across the country for a potential cure.

Along the way, he is faced with difficult decisions, sacrifices others, and pushes ethical boundaries to protect Ellie. His relationship with Ellie evolves from a guard to deep affection and responsibility. In the end, he is forced to make a controversial choice with lasting consequences.

23. John Marston

John Marston is a fictional character in the video games Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2. His journey explores themes of redemption and loyalty.

He is a former outlaw seeking redemption by joining the Bureau of Investigation to capture his former gang members in the film (Red Dead Redemption). In Red Dead Redemption 2 he is seen as a notorious gunslinger living a lawless life before leaving it behind.

24. Commander Shepard

Commander Shepard is the player character in the Mass Effect video game series by BioWare.  He is a human soldier of the Systems Alliance Navy, an N7 graduate of the Interplanetary Combative Training military program, and the first human Spectre. His journey was filled with memorable companions each with their unique storylines and personalities.

25. Pyramid Head

Pyramid Head is a Character from the Silent Hill series a Survival horror video game series created by the Japanese company Konami. He is a type of monster that serves as the secondary antagonist stalking James Sunderland the primary Player character who comes to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife, Mary.

He is known for his large triangular helmet that conceals his head. His head lacks a voice or a visible face, and his appearance stems from the town’s past as a place of execution.

26. Dogmeat

Dogmeat is a character featured in the post-apocalyptic role-playing game series Fallout. He is a recurring canine companion found throughout the Fallout series.

His breed varies across games but is typically depicted as a German shepherd. The character was well received and widely regarded as a series highlight as well as one of the most popular Sidekick characters in Video games.

27. Doomguy

Doomguy is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Doom video game franchise of first-person shooters created by id Software. Doomguy is a demon hunter space marine dressed in green combat armor who rarely speaks onscreen and his personality and backstory were intentionally vague to reinforce his role as a player avatar. He has been featured in several other game franchises including his likeness as a Customizable skin for the Mil Gunner character in Super Smash Bros.

28. Chloe Price

Chloe Price is a fictional character from the Life is Strange video game series which was published by Square Enix. She appeared in the first video game in Life is Strange and its prequel Life is Strange: Before the Storm as the main protagonist. Her character was received positively by critics.

She is a rebellious teenager living in the coastal town of Arcadia Bay. Before the storm, the player explores Chloe’s past traumas and her rebellious actions hence shaping her relationships and personality. She reunites with Max and together they embark on a journey with life-altering decisions.

29. Tom Nook

Tom Nook is a fictional character in the Animal Crossing Series. In the video game, he operates the village store where he buys and sells items, offering loans, and expanding his business throughout the games.

In the video game, he is always looking for ways to expand his business and make a profit. At his business, he presents a helpful first impression to new players.  His business profit motives generate humor and speculation among players.

30. Guybrush Threepwood

Guybrush is a fictional character who serves as the main protagonist of the Monkey Island series of computer adventure games by Lucas Arts. He is an aspiring pirate with a dream of sailing the seven seas and amassing untold riches. Despite his aspirations of being a pirate, he lacks the skills and experience of a seasoned buccaneer thus leading to hilarious mishaps.

Mentioned above are a fraction of the many video game characters. They have helped improve the entertainment industry and also some of them used to pass very important education. In each character, I have listed games they have acted and in case you can watch and get ready to be entertained.