1. Mario (Super Mario Series)
- The beloved plumber and Nintendo’s mascot, known for his adventurous spirit and platforming prowess.
2. Link (The Legend of Zelda)
- The courageous hero of Hyrule, known for his quest to rescue Princess Zelda and defeat the evil Ganon.
3. Sonic the Hedgehog
- The fast and rebellious blue hedgehog, synonymous with Sega and known for his high-speed platforming and vibrant personality.
4. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
- The iconic archaeologist and adventurer, famous for her explorations in ancient ruins and her groundbreaking role as a female protagonist in gaming.
5. Master Chief (Halo Series)
- The silent, armored super-soldier known for his leadership in humanity’s fight against the Covenant in the Halo series.
6. Samus Aran (Metroid Series)
- The bounty hunter in the Metroid series, often hailed as one of the first strong female characters in gaming.
7. Pikachu (Pokémon)
- The electric-type Pokémon and the face of the Pokémon franchise, beloved by millions of fans worldwide.
8. Kratos (God of War)
- The vengeful Spartan warrior turned god, known for his brutal combat skills and complex emotional arc throughout the God of War series.
9. Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher Series)
- The monster-hunting witcher, renowned for his complex personality, swordsman skills, and moral dilemmas in The Witcher series.
10. Nathan Drake (Uncharted Series)
- The charismatic treasure hunter and adventurer, known for his wit, action-packed adventures, and cliffhanger moments.
11. Donkey Kong
- The giant ape who has been a staple of Nintendo’s early arcade days and an enduring character in platforming and adventure games.
12. Zangief (Street Fighter)
- The Russian wrestler known for his powerful grappling techniques and iconic spinning piledriver in the Street Fighter series.
13. Ryu (Street Fighter)
- The stoic martial artist and one of the most recognizable fighting game characters, symbolizing discipline and the pursuit of strength.
14. Mega Man
- The robot hero known for his blaster and ability to steal powers from defeated bosses, one of the earliest platformer icons.
15. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
- The iconic protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, known for his Buster Sword and his journey of self-discovery, blending sci-fi and fantasy elements.
16. Solid Snake (Metal Gear Series)
- The legendary stealth operative known for his tactical expertise and complex narrative in the Metal Gear series.
17. Ellie (The Last of Us)
- The tough, resilient survivor from The Last of Us, whose emotional journey has captivated gamers through both games.
18. Pac-Man
- The yellow, circular character from one of the most influential arcade games of all time, symbolizing the golden age of video games.
19. Duke Nukem
- The macho, wise-cracking action hero, known for his over-the-top personality and one-liners in the Duke Nukem series.
20. M. Bison (Street Fighter)
- The main antagonist of the Street Fighter series, a ruthless dictator with psychic abilities and an iconic fighting style.
21. Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2)
- The morally complex outlaw from Red Dead Redemption 2, whose story of loyalty, redemption, and loss captivated players worldwide.
22. Ashley Williams (Mass Effect Series)
- The no-nonsense soldier and fan-favorite character in Mass Effect, known for her strong will, loyalty, and complex relationship with the protagonist.
23. Waluigi (Super Mario Series)
- The eccentric, over-the-top rival of Luigi, known for his comical personality and being an iconic villain in the Mario franchise.
24. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life Series)
- The silent scientist protagonist of Half-Life, known for his intelligence, iconic crowbar, and his critical role in the series’ world-shaping events.
25. Kratos (God of War)
- The legendary god-slayer from the God of War franchise, whose rage-driven narrative has evolved into one of gaming’s most poignant stories.
26. Arthur Dent (The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)
- The reluctant traveler who becomes embroiled in a cosmic adventure, originally from the text adventure game based on Douglas Adams’ novel.
27. Alucard (Castlevania)
- The half-vampire protagonist of the Castlevania series, known for his complex backstory and mastery of a variety of weapons and powers.
28. Tommy Vercetti (Grand Theft Auto: Vice City)
- The main character of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, a ruthless criminal known for his rise to power in the seedy underworld of 1980s Miami.
29. Rayman
- The limbless hero from the Rayman series, known for his quirky adventures and vibrant, colorful platforming levels.
30. Aloy (Horizon Zero Dawn)
- The skilled hunter and archer from Horizon Zero Dawn, praised for her intelligence, resilience, and the gripping narrative of her world.
31. Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy VII)
- The strong yet caring fighter from Final Fantasy VII, known for her martial arts skills and deep bond with Cloud Strife.
32. Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher Series)
- The monster hunter known for his wisdom, complex morality, and high-fidelity role in one of the best open-world RPGs.
33. Pikmin (Pikmin Series)
- The lovable, miniature creatures from the Pikmin series, known for their puzzle-solving abilities and teamwork-based gameplay.
34. Ash Ketchum (Pokémon)
- The determined young Pokémon trainer who travels the world, capturing creatures and battling in his quest to become a Pokémon master.
35. Jack and Daxter
- The dynamic duo from the Jak and Daxter series, known for their action-adventure gameplay and platforming challenges.