Top Ten Most Memorable Video Game Characters

We all have our favorite video game characters from Mario to Sonic or Master Chief to Samus, but one thing remains the same - they are all memorable characters.

Now join us for a look back at the top ten most memorable video game characters of all-time:

10. Samus Aran










The world shuttered in the moment when one of the greatest video game revelations spanned across the globe: Samus is a girl!? Ranging from a versatile killing machine to a wise choice in the Super Smash Bros. series, Samus is a character that Nintendo fans and casual gamers alike seem to have a soft spot for. Or maybe it's because the games she had been in are fantastic.


9. Lara Croft










Although no Tomb Raider game has even been above par, Lara Croft has been well received by gamers worldwide. Gee, I wonder why? It wouldn't be too much of a stretch to say that the design of Lara Croft has been mimicked as a standard in outlandish female character design and has brightened the faces of young boys who love to see her jump and run everywhere. Now it's almost like we see some form of Lara Croft in nearly every game


8. Mega Man







Who doesn't love this little guy. He's cute, he's blue, he runs and jumps funny, and he sucks the super powers from his foes' bodies after he annihilates them. The star of Capcom's painfully difficult series has always been a favorite for those very reasons. We all - at least secretly - wish that the classic Mega Man would return some day to vaporize the cartoonie reiteration of what our blue little friend once was.


7. Sonic the Hedgehog







If this was about 15 years ago Sonic would be near the top. Sadly, the glory days of Sonic appear to be over, but we can't forget about the fastest guy in the video game world. Running through our video game memories from childhood, Sonic is certainly the character that not only helped to build the once great Sega empire, but was a key figure in the ruthless battle between Nintendo and Genesis owners.


6. Solid Snake











Certainly the grittiest character on the list, Solid Snake still manages to capture our hearts with his winning smile. Okay, maybe not, but Solid Snake has been our constant hero from one of the greatest video game franchises of all-time. At some point or another, everyone has wanted to walk in Snake's shoes just to know how cool it feels to be the coolest and most stealthy guy on the video game block. I'm surprised he didn't infiltrate first place


5. Cloud Strife









Outside some gaming circles you will find people who don't even know his name, but if anyone knows anything about Final Fantasy VII they know about Cloud and his big sword. Certainly not the most sociable of video game characters, Cloud is someone you would certainly want on your side in a fight. Being one of the most dynamic and mysterious video game characters of all-time in one of the greatest video game stories of all-time, it is easy to see why Cloud Strife is so memorable.


4. Master Chief








Fear not, your beloved Master Chief made the list. Perhaps being the most played video game character of all-time it is hard to believe that Master Chief's faceless, identical features make him so memorable. Of course, he does have his gruff voice that I'm sure woes the ladies. Nevertheless, I'm sure that the fact that the Halo series pretty much created the standard upon which all other online multiplayer fist-person shooters are judged has something to do with it as well.


3. Link











What can we say about Link aside from "heeeyaaaa!" Although this cute little elf guy in green has yet to say a single, audible word he is one of the most memorable video game characters of all-time. Acting as the star in some of the greatest video games of all-time it is easy to see why we love him so much. Also, the complexity of classic Zelda puzzles and environments mean that we have all spent many intimate hours with him as we scratch our heads in the proverbial "I'm stumped" mode. This poor guy has been through a lot and we have been with him experiencing some of gaming's greatest moments of all-time.


2. Pac-man








Everyone, and most literally everyone, knows that a yellow circle with a triangle cut out of it is not just a yellow circle with a triangle cut out of it, it's Pac-man. You will be hard pressed to find anyone these days who has never played Pac-man: gamer and non-gamer alike. He is one hungry yellow circle with a triangle cut out of it and he really loves his blinking white balls. Too bad he's afraid of ghosts, but aren't we all? Pac-man has been changed and reintroduced in several different ways but he still remains one of the most memorable icons in the entire world.


1. Super Mario










When you hear the words "video game character" or even "video game" I am willing to bet that you will be thinking about the happy Italian plumber created by a Japanese guy. Mario is THE video game character that has captured the hearts and countless hours of millions - perhaps billions - of people across the globe. Mario is also easily the single image that the entire industry - and Nintendo's lifetime profits - can be described by. Everyone loves Mario and anyone who tells you they don't is a lying because for many of us, Mario is the first thing we can remember about the early days of playing video games dating back to his debut in 1985. Yet he still manages to be included in fantastic, well-received games to date. That is one character that has withstood the test of time and reins as the most memorable video game character ever.