Retro game characters hold a special place in the hearts of gamers. These classic video game characters represent the pioneers of gaming and the foundation for many of today's most popular franchises. Their pixelated forms exude retro gaming nostalgia, taking us back to countless hours spent in front of chunky CRT televisions. This list showcases some of the most famous retro game characters that have stood the test of time as legendary video game icons.
The Pioneers Who Laid the Groundwork
The early days of video games introduced us to many of the most recognizable faces in gaming. With simple designs and limited technology, these retro game characters broke new ground with their concepts and laid the framework for future titles.
Pac-Man – The Dot Munching Hero
No list of iconic retro characters is complete without Pac-Man. This simple, round, yellow character first appeared in 1980 and became a global phenomenon. Pac-Man's goal was simple – munch through a maze eating pac-dots while avoiding ghosts named Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde. With no arms or facial expressions, Pac-Man's charm comes from his simplicity. The game captured something magical, selling over 50,000 arcade units across the world. Pac-Man remains one of the most classic retro game characters today.
Mario – The Mustachioed Mascot of Nintendo
Mario first entered the scene in 1981 as "Jumpman" in the Donkey Kong arcade game. He sported red overalls, a blue shirt, white gloves and a thick mustache. Mario's look evolved over the years, but his status as Nintendo's frontman remained intact. Early Mario games like Super Mario Bros., Super Mario World and Super Mario Kart made him a legend. Mario has appeared in over 200 games selling more than half a billion copies. He laid the foundation for Nintendo's dynasty and remains their most iconic retro game character.
Donkey Kong – The Mischievous Ape
This cheeky ape first appeared as "Jumpman's" nemesis in the 1981 arcade classic bearing his name. With his red necktie and incessant barrel tossing, Donkey Kong quickly became a star. We loved to hate this barrel-tossing bully who imprisoned Mario's lady friend Pauline. The game was an early entry in the platform genre and introduced Mario before he became Nintendo's mascot. Donkey Kong was also the first prominent game character designed by Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Mario and The Legend of Zelda.
Sonic the Hedgehog – SEGA's Speedy Mascot
Sonic burst onto the scene in 1991 as SEGA's mascot and answer to Mario's dominance. The cool blue hedgehog sported red sneakers and a rebellious attitude. Sonic's signature ability was his speed, blowing past enemies in a blur. His series focused on racing through levels at breakneck speeds rather than precise platforming. Sonic represented the 90s "radical" attitude and gave SEGA their first true gaming mascot to rival Nintendo. To this day, Sonic remains a beloved retro game character closely associated with the SEGA brand.
The Masters Who Dominated Their Genres
Beyond the early pioneers, some retro game characters became synonymous with their entire genres. These icons mastered their domains, starring in classic games that set the standard for others to follow.
Link – The Legendary Hero of Hyrule
The Legend of Zelda games propelled Link into stardom with his green tunic, sword, shield and elf-like ears. Link first appeared in the original Legend of Zelda game in 1986 as a humble hero saving Princess Zelda. The series established many conventions of action-adventure games. As the silent protagonist, Link allowed players to embody the role of the hero. With each new quest, Link's courage and determination to defeat evil captured our hearts. His masterful swordplay and gadgetry made him one of the most iconic action-adventure game characters ever.
Samus Aran – The Metroid Blasting Bounty Hunter
Samus made waves in the 1986 game Metroid, not only for her armor-clad bounty hunting skills but for her end reveal as a woman. The sci-fi adventure game on the Nintendo Entertainment System established the Metroidvania genre combining action, platforming and exploration. Samus could roll into a ball to traverse tight spaces, blast enemies with beams, and search for upgrades. Her mysterious identity hidden behind her helmet kept players guessing through many installments. Samus showed the world that female protagonists could hold their own in the male-dominated games industry.
Mega Man – The Blue Robot Who Could
Mega Man blasted his way onto the scene in 1987 with his plasma cannon and robot master defeating prowess. The 2D side-scrolling platformer focused on run-and-gun gameplay and begging bosses for mercy. Mega Man could acquire new weapons and abilities from defeated robot masters, adding an element of strategy. With tight controls, challenging levels and catchy 8-bit music, the Mega Man series defined the action-platforming genre for years to come. Mega Man himself endeared fans as a noble robot hero with a sense of justice.
Lara Croft – The Treasure Hunting Adventurer
Lara Croft brought sex appeal to the gaming world when Tomb Raider launched in 1996. With her iconic short shorts, pistols and braided ponytail, Lara exuded attitude. As an aristocratic British archaeologist, she explored ancient tombs and ruins collecting artifacts and blasting enemies. The 3D action-adventure platforming of Tomb Raider blew fans away. Lara brought cinematic appeal and a female protagonist to the genre. She remains the queen of treasure hunting adventures to this day.
The Lovable Mascots
Beyond the pioneering heroes and genre-defining characters, retro gaming also produced lovable mascots that captured our hearts. These characters fronted popular franchises and leveraged their personalities to build iconic brands.
Crash Bandicoot – The Wacky Marsupial
Crash Bandicoot burst onto the PlayStation in 1996 as Sony's answer to Mario and Sonic. This goofy genetically enhanced marsupial got his name from his tendency to crash into crates and obstacles. The 3D platforming challenges of the Crash series thrilled gamers. Crash's outlandish personality and animations leveraged advanced graphics of the PlayStation era. His sister Coco, enemy Dr. Cortex and pet polar bear Polar also became fan favorites. Crash remains one of the most beloved mascots of the 90s.
Spyro the Dragon – The Cocky but Courageous Dragon
Spyro flew onto the scene in 1998 bringing attitude and fire-breathing fury. This small purple dragon starred in an innovative 3D platformer for the original PlayStation. His gliding ability, flame attacks and head rams made for fun and fast-paced gameplay. Spyro's cocky yet cute personality endeared him to fans worldwide. Two sequels cemented Spyro as a favorite PlayStation mascot and star of his own trilogy. Spyro proved that not all iconic game characters had to be human.
Pikachu – The Electric Mouse Pokémon
Beginning with Pokémon Red and Blue in 1996, the Pokémon franchise took the world by storm. At the heart of this success was the iconic electric rodent Pikachu. With his red cheeks, lightning bolt tail and squeaky voice, Pikachu became the adorable face of Pokémon. The anime and countless games propelled Pikachu to stardom. Pikachu represents the thrill of collecting Pokémon, battling them against friends and watching them evolve. An entire universe of magical creatures originated from this one iconic retro game character.
Master Chief – The Stoic Spartan Hero
As the protagonist of Halo in 2001, Master Chief put the Xbox on the map as a console for serious gamers. His futuristic green power armor and golden visor made him an imposing figure. As a genetically enhanced "Spartan", Master Chief fought alien threats with an assault rifle and witty one-liners. Halo's legendary multiplayer also relied on Master Chief as an avatar. Even with his face obscured, Master Chief expressed emotion through body language and vocal performance. He remains one of Xbox's most iconic heroes.
The Legacy Lives On
Retro game characters represent the roots of gaming and exemplify timeless design. Their pixelated forms still resonate today as icons of our childhood and symbols of gaming's early days. Through their simple designs, they conveyed complex personalities and stories. These digital beings overcame technical limitations to become more than just pixels on a screen. The retro pioneers, genre definers and loveable mascots highlighted here are just a sample of the characters who made gaming special. Their legacy lives on today in the hearts of long-time gamers and modern gaming classics. When we look back at retro game characters, we see how far gaming has come while remembering where it all began.
