These fighters helped their games leave an indelible mark on gaming history. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the most iconic fighting game characters of all time.
Category
🎮️
GamingTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 Fighting Game
00:15Characters of All Time.
00:27Number 20.
00:28Heihachi Mishima – Tekken Series A host of several Iron Fist tournaments and
00:36the head of the Mishima Zaibatsu, Heihachi is a power-hungry arrogant curmudgeon and
00:41possibly the worst parent and grandparent ever.
00:45When a dad or granddad has a habit of dumping family members out of planes without parachutes,
00:50he definitely qualifies.
00:53Despising weakness, this septuagenarian is well-versed in Mishima-style fighting karate
00:58and still skilled in battle.
01:01And have you seen him?
01:02This dude is absolutely shredded.
01:04Heihachi's actions are so brazen and ego so huge he can also be very funny.
01:09Even at times where he has a rare moment of comeuppance are downright comical.
01:14With actions as iconic as his hairstyle, Heihachi doesn't need a devil gene to make his victims
01:20Number 19.
01:29Homaru – Samurai Shodown Series Homaru, the ronin vagabond, perfectly embodies
01:40the spirit of feudal Japan, drawing inspiration from the legendary swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.
01:46His sake-drinking, easy-going attitude is the perfect contrast to his fierce samurai
01:51swordplay, with his iconic special move Ougi Senpuu Retsuzan creating tornado-like projectiles.
01:57He's one of SNK's most recognizable fighting game characters and has solidified his place
02:03in fighting game history thanks to his appearances in multiple crossover games.
02:12Number 18.
02:13Bridget – Guilty Gear Series Ever since her debut all the way back in
02:24Guilty Gear X2, Bridget has been a key figure in the franchise.
02:28However, her popularity skyrocketed when she finally made her return 10 years later as
02:33DLC for the latest release, Guilty Gear Strive.
02:37With a playful personality, this bounty hunter unconventionally wields a yo-yo in battle
02:42as well as a strange teddy bear known as Roger.
02:45Bridget is seen as a groundbreaking character within the fighting game community, and her
02:49development over the years has been praised for its high sensitivity and depth, addressing
02:54themes such as identity and self-acceptance.
03:02Number 17.
03:03Yori Yagami – The King of Fighters Series Every fighting game protagonist needs their
03:15very own rival, and Yori Yagami stepped into that role perfectly for Kyo Kusanagi.
03:21His bad-boy personality and flashy appearance instantly struck a chord in the King of Fighters
03:26fandom.
03:27As the heir of one of the three clans that sealed away Orochi, Yori is a master of pyro
03:32kinesis and wields powerful bright purple flames.
03:36His unhinged fighting style makes him stand out from the rest of the fighters, and is
03:40a perfect pick for players who want to rush right into their opponent.
03:48Number 16.
03:49Akira Yuki – Virtua Fighter Series Whereas most fighters join tournaments for
03:59the chance of fame and glory, Akira Yuki takes part in order to further improve his
04:03abilities and test himself.
04:05A master of the Chinese martial art Bajishen, he brings an explosive and powerful fighting
04:11style to the World Fighting Tournament, even going as far to win its second iteration.
04:16Despite his stoic and calm demeanor, he's had plenty of fierce rivalries throughout
04:21the series, with the biggest standout being Kajimaru.
04:24As the poster boy for the Virtua Fighter series, Akira led the charge for fighting
04:29games for Rei into 3D, cementing him as one of the genre's defining characters.
04:38Number 15.
04:40Kazuya Mishima – Tekken Series Perhaps the most intriguing character in the
04:48Tekken franchise, Kazuya made his debut all the way back in 1994 as the protagonist
04:54and hero of the first game.
04:56His good guy image wasn't to last, however, as he'd take on a more villainous route
05:00in the subsequent entries after becoming Power Bad.
05:04Caught right in the middle of the Mishima family drama with his father Heihachi and
05:08son Jin, Kazuya inherited a gene from his mother which grants him the ability to turn
05:13into Devil Kazuya.
05:18With each new Tekken entry, Kazuya's complex motivations make him a fascinating character
05:23who remains integral to the series' storyline.
05:31Number 14.
05:33Akuma – Street Fighter Series The OG secret boss of the fighting game genre,
05:44Akuma made his debut in Super Street Fighter II Turbo when certain special conditions were
05:48met by the player.
05:50Wielding the dark energy known as Satsui no Haru, the man known as the Raging Demon
05:55is a force of pure destructive power.
05:58As one of the main reoccurring antagonists in the series, Akuma is without a doubt Ryu's
06:03greatest enemy.
06:04Although his moveset is very similar to other Shoto-based characters, his Shungoku Satsu
06:09super combo is not only one of the most powerful, but one of the coolest looking in all the
06:14fighting games.
06:22Number 13.
06:23Mai Shiranui – Fatal Fury and the King of Fighters Series
06:27Alright, calm down guys.
06:36I'm pretty sure she only has eyes for Andy Bogard.
06:40While she started out in the Fatal Fury series, Mai was also in King of Fighters 94, the first
06:46game in the series.
06:47As a mainstay in both the Fatal Fury and Women's teams throughout the tournaments, Mai is a
06:52combatant who's full of surprises.
06:55Skilled in the art of Shiranui-style ninjutsu, she can fly like a squirrel, throw a seemingly
07:00unlimited number of battle fans, and summon fire techniques.
07:04One of SNK's most popular characters in general, said popularity led her to making a guest
07:10appearance in the Dead or Alive series.
07:17Number 12.
07:18Fulgore – Killer Instinct Series
07:27Cyborgs are awesome, and when it comes to Fulgore, he's a titan.
07:31Designed by Ultratech, it's a robotic, quarter-ton armor of death and destruction.
07:36Containing the brain of a warrior that opposed Ultratech, Fulgore's vast might is firmly
07:42under the corporation's control.
07:44Trading off speed for power, Fulgore is who many see as the figurehead of this series.
07:49Featured on the boxes of Killer Instinct for the SNES and Killer Instinct Gold for the
07:54Nintendo 64, that terrifying, cold mechanical face is synonymous with actually having instincts
08:01or programming for killing.
08:03With his razor-sharp claws and nuclear-powered arsenal, finding another fighter of Fulgore's
08:09caliber is rare.
08:16Number 11.
08:17Ragna the Bloodedge – BlazBlue Series
08:29Suffering from an incredibly tragic past, costing his family and his arm, Ragna the
08:34Bloodedge is the bane of the militaristic Novus Orbis Librarium.
08:39Being chased by NOL officers and bounty hunters, he can more than handle his own.
08:44With his replacement arm, the Azure Grimoire, and his weapon the Blood Scythe, Ragna drains
08:50a substance called Seether from his opponents and uses it to form the claws or teeth of
08:55the feared Black Beast.
08:56Nicknamed the Grim Reaper, Ragna has earned himself a fearsome reputation.
09:02Fans of the series however, also see his more heroic and kind-hearted treats throughout
09:06the series.
09:07It's this blend of dark power, unshakable resolve, and an epic theme song that puts
09:13the edge in Bloodedge.
09:23Number 10.
09:24Kasumi – Dead or Alive Series
09:30Known as the Kunoichi of Destiny, Kasumi has been the central role throughout all of the
09:35Dead or Alive franchise.
09:36To say her story has been a rollercoaster would be an understatement, as she's had
09:41to deal with all sorts of matters relating to the Mugen Tenshin clan, such as seeking
09:45out revenge against her evil uncle Raido in the very first game.
09:50Combining both grace and deadly precision, Kasumi's fluid ninja abilities make her
09:55a formidable opponent in the World Combat Championship tournament, and one of the most
10:00recognizable figures in fighting games.
10:07Number 9.
10:08Ivy – Valentine – Soulcalibur Series
10:16Many characters have suffered because of the Soul Edge, and Isabella Valentine may be one
10:21of the worse off cases.
10:23Ivy is focused on destroying the demonic sword after her adopted father's obsession with
10:28it led to the ruination of their family, both parents dying shortly after.
10:33Ironically, she was the birth daughter of the pirate Cervantes, who wielded the Soul
10:37Edge.
10:39With a less than modest design, and her enchanted sword that can transform as a whip, Ivy was
10:44a sharp contrast from the earlier characters.
10:47That contrast made her one of the most recognized faces in the series.
10:51Ivy can certainly always be our Valentine.
10:59Number 8.
11:00Sub-Zero – Mortal Kombat Series
11:09A mainstay of the Mortal Kombat franchise, Sub-Zero's mastery of ice accompanied by
11:15his intriguing backstory have made him a fan favorite.
11:18The Sub-Zero mantle was originally taken on by Bi-Han before he met his demise at the
11:23hands of Scorpion in the original game.
11:26From Mortal Kombat 2 onwards, his brother Kuai Liang dons the name and outfit and seeks
11:31out revenge, creating one of gaming's greatest rivalries in the process.
11:36Things ended up getting a little more complicated in the most recent release of the series,
11:40where Kuai Liang ends up becoming Scorpion, with Bi-Han becoming Sub-Zero once more.
11:46But no matter which version, Sub-Zero's abilities make him unique amongst the other
11:51cast of characters.
11:52And let's be honest, he has some of the coolest fatalities out there.
12:04Number 7.
12:05Chun-Li – Street Fighter Series
12:14Chun-Li is one of the most important characters on the list due to the fact that she's one
12:19of the first female fighters in gaming history, and she continues to kick-butt all these yus
12:24later.
12:25Chun-Li has a wide array of iconic signature moves, such as her spinning bird kick, as
12:30well as her lightning fast kicks known as Hyakure-Sukyaku.
12:34Not only is she an expert martial artist, but she also works for Interpol, seeking out
12:39justice against the evil M. Bison for killing her father.
12:43Chun-Li was definitely a trailblazer in the fighting game genre, and no doubt inspired
12:48many female fighters in the years to come.
12:56Number 6.
12:58Saul Badguy – Guilty Gear Series
13:05A scientist in a previous life, Saul Badguy was changed when he was forcibly transformed
13:10into a gear, a magically imbued bioweapon with superhuman speed, strength, and longevity.
13:17In the heat of battle, this super-powered bounty hunter knows how to do damage.
13:22Developing his own fighting style and skilled with fire spells, all created Fire Seal, a
13:27sword that increases attack range and magical abilities.
13:30Being the protagonist of the Guilty Gear series, he's a great pick-up and play character with
13:35a complex backstory.
13:36Did we mention that Saul's based on both Guilty Gear's creator Daisuke Ishiwatari and rock
13:42legend Freddie Mercury?
13:43No doubt, Saul proves that sometimes it's good to be the bad guy.
13:52Number 5.
13:53Morrigan Ainslin – Dark Stalker Series
14:02Born a demon of the nobility of the Ainslin clan, Morrigan is a powerful succubus with
14:07skills in spells and strikes.
14:09She possesses the powers of flight, shapeshifting her clothing into bats and weaponry to casting
14:15her trademark soul fist.
14:17Provocative and flirtatious, Morrigan evolved from a 300-year-old party girl to S-Class
14:23demon.
14:24The standout star of the Dark Stalker series, Morrigan would be featured in many Capcom
14:29crossover games, sometimes acting as a catalyst for other Dark Stalker characters to join
14:34her.
14:35She also went from strong secondary main character to muscling vampire character Dimitri out
14:41of his protagonist position.
14:42It's easy to see why fans love her big set of bat wings and green hair.
14:52Number 4.
14:53Jin Kazama – Tekken Series
15:00Haunted by the devil gene and caught in the crossfire of his family's legacy, Jin Kazama
15:05is a compelling character that has captivated players for years.
15:09Making his debut in Tekken 3, Jin was trained by his grandfather Heihachi in the Mishima
15:14style fighting karate in order to avenge the death of his mother.
15:18Of course, in fighting games, things are never that simple and Heihachi ends up betraying
15:22him, resulting him in transforming into Devil Jin and creating a whole new slew of family
15:27drama.
15:28Jin's goal to end the Mishima bloodline is one of the key narratives in the ongoing
15:33plot of Tekken, and he's constantly evolving, both in story and in the hands of players.
15:43Number 3.
15:44Terry Bogard – Fatal Fury and The King of Fighters Series
15:48Lawned, baseball cap, riding trains to Mount Rushmore, yep, he's American alright.
15:58Out of the three legendary Hungry Wolves, Terry is one of the most dynamic fighting
16:03game characters in history.
16:05Learning the art of Hakyokuseiken, Terry was able to learn devastating ki attacks.
16:10In addition, he also developed his own fighting style using the art along with boxing, karate,
16:16kung fu, kickboxing, and yes, even street fighting.
16:20He took these skills and defeated Geese Howard, the man who killed his father.
16:24Another King of Fighters stalwart since inception, Terry is a fan favorite and has some of the
16:29most repeatable dialogue in fighting games.
16:40Number 2.
16:42Scorpion – Mortal Kombat Series
16:49Out of all of Mortal Kombat's many multicolored masked ninjas, it's always going to be Scorpion.
16:55A minion for villains at his darkest, and an anti-heroic assassin at his lightest, the
17:00undead Hanzo Asashi seeks vengeance against the forces of Outworld, especially his former
17:06master Quan Chi.
17:08Scorpion is a quick but savage fighter, only made more deadly with his Command of Hellfire
17:13and his trademark spear.
17:15While some of the other good characters have dark sides, Scorpion has embraced his, gaining
17:19some deep voice commands as a bonus.
17:22Before he crowned the tournament champion, these competitors earned some honorable mentions.
17:33Before he crowned the tournament champion, these competitors earned some honorable mentions.
17:38Twin Masters – Street Fighter Series Nina Williams – Tekken Series
17:52Kiyo Kusanagi – The King of Fighters Series Kitana – Mortal Kombat Series
18:09Nightmare – Soul Calibur Series
18:34Ryu – Street Fighter Series An orphan from Japan, raised by a martial
18:42arts master, Ryu wants nothing more than to fight strong opponents.
18:46Whereas his friend and rival Ken will usually find time out of his busy life to accompany
18:51Ryu to tournaments, Ryu will fight simply because it's his life.
18:55Mastering several potent techniques, most notably his Hadouken, Ryu's charm is his
19:00dedication to essentially being the perfect fighting game character.
19:04Sure he gets wrapped up in the plots of the bad guys, and he had to deal with the dark
19:09power of the Satsui no Haidou both fighting Akuma and within himself.
19:14Despite all of that, the world warrior is always seeking the answer that lies in the
19:18heart of battle.
19:27Who do you think is the greatest fighting game character of all time?
19:30Let us know in the comments below!