Over the past three decades, the video game industry has spawned many heroes, many of whom have become recognizable not only for gamers, but also for people far from gaming.
Sometimes these heroes are full of virtue, determination and decency. In other cases, they have a "gray morality"; willing to do terrible things for a great purpose or personal motive.
Below is a list of iconic videogame characters, both old and new, that have made a significant impact on the gaming industry over the years. Its members are arranged in no particular order. As new games are released, the list will be expanded.
Important: the description of the characters contains spoilers for the games!
25.Dovahkiin (The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim)
Our top 25 most famous video game heroes are revealed by the Dragonborn, a prophesied warrior destined to save Nirn from the dragon Alduin, the World Eater. He or she has the ability to absorb the soul of a slain dragon and gain its knowledge and power.
This makes Dovahkiin an extremely powerful creature, whose help countless people and factions need.
Depending on the will of the player, Dragonborn does not always make the most ethical choice. But when the fate of the world is at stake, this hero will protect him at all costs.
24.Sam Fisher (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell)
There are heroes who act in the shadows. One of them is Sam Fisher, a field operative working for an NSA unit called Third Echelon.
He is well trained in martial arts, has a technical understanding, is a master at gathering intelligence, and has used these abilities many times to fight terrorism.
He is by no means perfect, and he has his skeletons in the closet. But even when allies rebel against him, you can always count on Fischer to do the right thing.
In 2011, the Guinness Book of World Records ranked Sam Fisher at the 24th spot in the top 50 best computer game characters.
23. Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil)
There are many heroes in the Resident Evil franchise, but Leon is the most popular of them all. He has come a long way: from a rookie policeman who arrived in Raccoon City at the very beginning of the T-virus epidemic, to a special agent who is "one tooth" for a zombie.
Despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Leon excelled in Resident Evil 4, battling a host of vermin-infested humans and monsters, all the while remembering to throw a joke or two to ease the tension.
He helped save the world once again in Resident Evil 6, with the help of Secret Service agent Helena Harper. Over and over again Leon Kennedy has demonstrated his ability to both survive and carry out whatever task is assigned to him with a calm and cold-blooded demeanor that makes him the perfect person for the job.
22. Niko Bellic (Grand Theft Auto IV)
This is not a traditional hero, and it could even be argued that he is not in the least a classic goodie.
But, as with any good anti-hero, it is Niko's tortured and confused soul that makes him an irresistible type; someone you can root for despite his cold-blooded actions.
21. Booker DeWitt (Bioshock: Infinite)
A private detective is tasked with going to Colombia and freeing the girl Elizabeth, the daughter of Zachariah Comstock, from captivity.
However, "this is the twist" is that Booker and Comstock are one and the same person from parallel realities. In essence, this makes Booker both the hero and villain of Bioshock: Infinite, who fight each other to determine their daughter's ultimate fate.
20. Doom Soldier
Doomguy (the guy from Doom), Executioner, Doom Soldier - you can call this character whatever you want.
You know and love him not for his name, and not even for his appearance (it is hidden behind a combat suit), but for the masterful extermination of crowds of demons in one of the scariest PC games of all time... Of course, under your careful guidance.
19. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
In the list of the best video game characters of all time, there is an obvious bias towards men. However, Lara Croft will give odds to many of them. She is a strong, beautiful and intelligent female archaeologist who travels the world exploring many different tombs and mysterious places in order to ultimately save the world.
Lara Croft has become so popular over the years that she has achieved success not only in the gaming world, but also in the entertainment industry, appearing in short films, feature films, and comics.
18. Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher)
The Witcher makes his living by killing monsters and does his best not to interfere with the affairs of other people. But, like any positive hero, he cannot pass by when he sees an innocent and needy person.
This does not mean that Geralt does not do terrible things. The Witcher's life encourages him to do the dirty work that others will not do. And often he has to make a choice between "do good" and "do bad" or "do nothing."
It's nice to see that the development of the plot and the ending entirely depend on the actions of the character, and therefore the player.
In 2018, Igromania included Geralt of Rivia in the top most coveted video game characters.
17. John Marston (Red Dead Redemption)
Marston is the last person to ever consider himself a hero. He spent most of his life with bandits and did terrible things.
This is a complex character who, on the one hand, is ready to do everything for the good of his family and has his own moral code, and on the other, he will not hesitate to fire a bullet at his former accomplices.
16. Ezio Auditore (Assassin's Creed)
One of the most popular heroes in computer games is charming, humble and demonstrates an unshakable sense of justice.
Driven by a self-centered thirst for justice and revenge, Ezio has become the ultimate assassin, whose deeds have profoundly influenced the history of the world in which he "lives."
15. Android 2B (NieR: Automata)
One of the most beautiful characters in computer games demonstrates to the players exactly as much naked virtual flesh as is needed to revel in fantasy. This makes the gameplay not only interesting, but also exciting and sexy.
Chopping up enemies with the help of a charming girl with a blindfold on her eyes and charming music - what could be more enjoyable for a gamer of any age?
14. Kratos (God Of War)
We follow Kratos' story throughout the God of War series, so he's a hero in that sense. But, guided solely by his desires, he is as reprehensible as possible for a playable character.
Yet it is on his journey that Kratos follows the path of redemption. While it doesn't necessarily wash away his sins, it adds versatility to the character of one of the best anti-heroes in the video game industry.
13. Mario (Super Mario Brothers)
Of course, the top most significant video game characters of all time are unthinkable without this mustachioed and nosed plumber (who, by the way, was originally a carpenter with the name Jumper). His first appearance was in 1981 at the Donkey Kong arcade.
Due to the fact that Mario and his brother Luigi are known by the term "Mario Brothers" (Mario Brothers) fans have assumed that the hero's full name is Mario Mario.
He became the first video game character to receive his own wax image at the famous Hollywood Wax Museum. And the Guinness Book of Records gave him the palm in the ranking of the best characters in computer games.
12. Marcus Phoenix (Gears Of War)
There is no shortage of tough Space Marines in the world of video games, but Marcus Phoenix is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding. Despite his brutal and ruthless appearance, he displays a genuine dedication to his comrades in arms and a stoic determination.
These defining characteristics gave him and the Delta Squad the ability to single-handedly turn the tide of the war with the Locust horde several times and ultimately win the war.
11. Sonic the Hedgehog
This famous character was first introduced to gamers in 1991. Sonic the Hedgehog, like Mario, has achieved great success over the decades, has appeared in other game universes, and has also received his own film and television series, and even a comic strip.
He won the hearts of many fans of computer games, and continues to do so to this day.
10. Nathan Drake (Uncharted)
Objectively, it is difficult to see Nathan Drake as a traditional heroic figure. He killed many people, deliberately endangering his friends, trying to find an ancient lost city or some valuable archaeological site.
However, Drake does it with such charisma and a great sense of humor that you can't help but be on his side.
In real life, you should stay away from people like Drake, but in the world of computer games you want to stand by his side every reckless step of the way.
9. Liu Kang (Mortal Kombat)
He may not be the most iconic character in the Mortal Kombat game series, but he fits into the hero archetype better than anyone else, as the fate of the Earthrealm has fallen on his shoulders several times.
Liu Kang was the champion of four Mortal Kombat events. It is a feat that has not been repeated by anyone else.
Unlike many of his peers, he fights not for the sake of selfish desires, but for the sake of protecting his world and the people in it. He is pure in body and soul, making Liu Kang the very best Mortal Kombat has to offer and a hero worth rooting for.
8. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
It's not just that Cloud looks very cool, as befits the main character. By the end of Final Fantasy VII, he is not who he was at the beginning.
His journey is as internal as it is external, which makes him an especially layered character to play as.
Cloud has been ranked among the Greatest PC Game Characters by Empire Magazine, Guinness World Records, Electronic Gaming Monthly and Dengeki PlayStation.
7. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life)
This is a perfect example of how unusual circumstances can turn even a meek person into a hero. Freeman begins in the first Half-Life as a theoretical physicist, just doing his job at Black Mesa. But when a failed experiment opens the way to Earth for an army of extraterrestrial beings, Freeman is forced to take a crowbar and go to save the world.
His actions speak louder than words could, pushing him into a leadership role against the Alliance. Despite Freeman's impressive achievements, we still don't know the ultimate fate of the warrior scientist.
6. Solid Snake (Metal Gear)
Through his many exploits, Solid Snake has earned a reputation for making the impossible possible. He defeated many Metal Gear incarnations and thus helped the world to avoid nuclear disaster.
He has experienced betrayal, hostile environments, and even accelerated aging. He was the perfect soldier until his retirement and lived the rest of his life in peace. A worthy end to an eventful life.
5. Master Chief (Halo)
The character named John-117 is a biochemically enhanced super-soldier, and is easily recognizable for his green armor and helmet with a "gilded" part.
Despite the fact that the Master Chief has become one of the cult heroes of computer games, he also received negative reviews related to the fact that hiding a person behind a helmet throughout the game is a sign of his weakness as a person and as a weapon.
However, aside from these negative emotions, John-117 has made a lasting impact on fans and gamers around the world.
4. Link (The Legend of Zelda)
This is one of the most popular, iconic and recognizable figures in the history of computer games, and rightfully so. Few heroes are more virtuous than Link.
He wields tremendous power through the use of legendary weapons, but never uses it to carry out selfish plans or harm the innocent. His actions are altruistic, and his thoughts are pure.
Also worth mentioning is Princess Zelda, who is constantly rescued by Link. This character debuted in 1986 and is often portrayed as a "damsel in trouble" in early games.
However, as the games in The Legend of Zelda series have evolved over the years, Princess Zelda has gradually become a more selfless character. In 2009, the Official Nintendo Magazine named her one of the three most outstanding heroines ever created by Nintendo in 2009. And Chip magazine included Zelda in the top 3 best female game characters.
The popularity of the game has also led to the creation of animated television series, books and comics.
3. "BJ" Blaskowitz (Wolfenstein)
To become a hero, you need to kill a dragon. But killing hordes of fascists would also do. And the hero of "Wolfenstein" BJ Blaskovich does it better than anyone else.
In the games in the Wolfenstein series, Blaskowitz is shown to be thoughtful, insightful, and resourceful, making him much more than just a one-dimensional character. And his relationship with Anna and his motivation to ensure her safety makes Blaskowitz also human.
2. Commander Shepard (Mass Effect)
Whether male or female, Commander Shepard is the person to be emulated.
The perfect blend of pragmatism and idealism has allowed him (or her) to befriend and motivate some of the galaxy's most powerful people and nonhumans for important actions.
Using all his talents to save the galaxy from destruction by the terrifying power of the Reapers, Commander Shepard is unhesitatingly willing to sacrifice his life for the good of humanity.
1. Arthas Menethil (Warcraft)
An integral part of Warcraft III, as well as the online game World of Warcraft, Arthas Menethil is one of the main characters that players will meet. His story is a reminder of where good intentions, multiplied by despair and pride, can lead.
He was once the beloved prince of Lordaeron, but eventually became one of the most sinister and powerful figures in Azeroth history. This ultimately led to Arthas, now known as the Lich King, becoming the most prominent antagonist in the Warcraft universe.
where is CAPTAIN PRICE? !!!!!!!!!!!!
I would put Arthur Morgan instead of John Marston
Where is Dante ??
Where is Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead ???