We've seen a lot of incredible video game characters debut in the 21st century. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at the deepest, most engaging video game characters of every year from 2000 to 2024.
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00:00For when my days have come to an end, you shall be king.
00:07Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest video game characters of each year this century.
00:14Now, we did our best to avoid repeat characters and franchises, but sometimes you just have to stick with the classics.
00:20Light spoiler warning for some games ahead.
00:30Number 25, Skull Kid, The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask.
00:44If Ocarina of Time was the Godfather, then Majora's Mask is the Godfather Part 2.
00:49Kicking off the millennium with a masterpiece sequel that has fully stood the test of time,
00:53Nintendo proved that they could get dark and weird like their more mature competitors,
00:57thanks to the sad, complicated, mass-dawning villain, Skull Kid.
01:07He's one of the creepiest and most formidable foes Link has faced to date,
01:11and his scarecrow-like design wearing the titular Majora's Mask has made him a timeless icon.
01:16Please put him in the next Smash Bros. Nintendo.
01:18Number 24, Master Chief, Halo Combat Evolved.
01:30Captain Keys.
01:33Good to see you, Master Chief. Things aren't going well.
01:36While not the first globally popular first-person shooter, Halo Combat Evolved absolutely revolutionized the genre.
01:43This is thanks mostly to John-117, better known as Master Chief.
01:46The badass Spartan has become one of the most recognizable video game characters in history,
01:51and is beloved by anyone who's played an Xbox.
02:04His dark green armor and yellow visor give him an air of mystery surrounding the Chief.
02:08His proficiency with various iconic weapons is unmatched,
02:12and his voice actor Steve Downs' performance will go down in history as one of the greatest ever.
02:18Halo, it's finished.
02:20No, I think we're just getting started.
02:27Number 23, Sora, Kingdom Hearts.
02:29Are you still dreaming?
02:31It wasn't a dream.
02:33Or was it?
02:34I don't know.
02:35When Kingdom Hearts was originally revealed, like many others, we were pretty skeptical.
02:39Square Enix of Final Fantasy fame, and Disney collaborating for an RPG?
02:44Well, luckily, the doubts were quickly laid to rest once we actually got our hands on controlling series protagonist Sora,
02:50a young Keyblade wielder from the Destiny Islands,
02:53who sees himself thrust into an unlikely adventure spanning countless worlds.
02:58Okay, why not? I'll go with you guys.
03:00Donald Duck!
03:02Lame's Goofy.
03:03I'm Sora.
03:05All for one, one for all.
03:07He even changes form in some of these worlds, like Halloween Town, where he, Donald, and Goofy,
03:12sport their best spooky costumes, or Atlantica, where they all look at home under the sea.
03:17His strength of heart and duty to his friends makes Sora's story the epitome of the hero's journey,
03:22and his skills with the Keyblade are absolutely iconic.
03:25Here's hoping Kingdom Hearts 4 brings this sort of feeling back.
03:28The heart may be weak, and sometimes it may even give in, but I've learned that deep down there's a light that never goes out.
03:37Number 22, Soma Cruz, Castlevania Aria of Sorrow.
03:40Castlevania Aria of Sorrow on the Game Boy Advance broke from tradition, and many diehard fans weren't convinced.
03:56Symphony of the Night has long been considered the best in the series, so this had a pretty high bar to reach.
04:01But boy, did it reach it, and then some.
04:03Playing more like an RPG than other entries, with the soul system and wide variety of weapons,
04:14the biggest, and best, departure from the classic formula is in its protagonist, Soma Cruz.
04:20Soma is a high school exchange student in 2035 Japan, who is mysteriously transported to Dracula's castle,
04:26and fights to save his fellow student and friend Mina.
04:28Soma's white hair and trench coat create one of the sleekest hero designs in the series,
04:33and his appearance in later titles solidified him as a fan favorite.
04:44Number 21, Gordon Freeman, Half-Life 2.
04:47So, wake up, Mr. Freeman.
04:51Wake up and smell the ashes.
04:54Dr. Gordon Freeman of the Black Mesa Research Facility is another unlikely hero
04:59that gets thrust into a complicated worldwide battle for the fate of the planet.
05:03I'm all but certain it was Gordon Freeman.
05:08Packing an arsenal of memorable and iconic weapons, like the crowbar and the gravity gun,
05:13Freeman is a full-on badass sci-fi hero that FPS fans have grown to adore over the years.
05:19He has this unassuming look thanks to his glasses,
05:21but that just adds to his charm as one of the greatest video game heroes this century.
05:26Dr. Freeman, I presume.
05:28Number 20, Leon S. Kennedy, Resident Evil 4.
05:31I was to assume the responsibility of protecting the new president's family.
05:35The king of cheesy one-liners since Resident Evil 4's original release in 2005,
05:40U.S. agent Leon S. Kennedy is arguably the survival horror franchise's most popular character.
05:45His second outing here in Not Spain is his best,
05:48as he sasses and scoffs his way through the game to rescue the president's daughter, Ashley.
05:53I've been expecting you, my brethren.
05:56No thanks, bro.
05:58Goofiness aside, he's also a certified badass and handles a wide array of different weapons,
06:03excels in close-quarter combat, and suplexes everyone left and right.
06:07Luckily for us, the 2023 remake made sure to keep his silly characterization around, one-liners and all.
06:12Where's everyone going? Bingo?
06:17Number 19, Amaterasu Okami.
06:26Capcom's answer to the Legend of Zelda series,
06:29Okami is an action-adventure game with a gorgeous cel-shaded art style.
06:33Set with a backdrop of Japanese mythology,
06:35players take control of Amaterasu, goddess of the sun, and adorable doggy.
06:39She wields the Celestial Brush, an ancient tool used by the gods that you can use to draw on your
06:44screen in real time for various effects. A cult classic of that era, Okami is widely available
06:49to play almost anywhere. And in 2024, Capcom and creator Hideki Kamiya announced a sequel.
06:55So now's the perfect time to familiarize yourself with one of the best doggos in gaming.
06:59Number 18, Nathan Drake. Uncharted Drake's Fortune.
07:08Are you sure you want to be defiling your ancestors' remains like that?
07:12You make it sound so dirty.
07:16Naughty Dog's first foray into their globetrotting, swashbuckling adventure introduced Nate,
07:20Sully, Elena, and the gang, who all became one of the most memorable cast of characters up to that
07:25point. Nate's quippy, one-liners, and sarcastic demeanor are bolstered by voice actor Nolan
07:30North's performance.
07:31He just jumped. Count to five. Pull the cord. How hard could that be?
07:40Oh, crap.
07:42And his parkour and firearm skills make him even more impressive.
07:45Four mainline titles and a couple of spinoffs have solidified Nathan Drake onto many fans'
07:50Mount Rushmore video game heroes.
07:52Oh, and, you know, why does nobody comment on the absolute mass murder Drake commits in every game?
07:57Goodness gracious.
08:06Number 17, Sackboy LittleBigPlanet.
08:09Now you probably want to look stylish and sexy as you're gadding about LittleBigPlanet.
08:15PlayStation and Media Molecule's puzzle platformer LittleBigPlanet stole the hearts of players with
08:20its charming design, immersive creation tools, and, of course, its adorable, playable cutie pie,
08:25Sackboy. Imagine Oogie Boogie from Nightmare Before Christmas, only little and, well, you know,
08:30not disgusting.
08:37Sackboy is one of PlayStation's most popular mascots for a reason, appearing in numerous other
08:42games and paving the way for future platformers like Astro Bot to have success on the system.
08:52Number 16, Ezio Auditore da Firenze, Assassin's Creed 2.
08:56It is a good life we lead, brother.
08:58The best may never change.
09:02Ubisoft Montreal's sophomore outing in their epic historical series sees protagonist Ezio
09:07Auditore da Firenze take up the mantle, this time scaling the rooftops of Renaissance-era
09:12Italy. The series has seen many notable assassins come and go, like Edward Kenway and Altair,
09:17but Ezio is far and away the most iconic, with deep character development and a strong presence
09:22throughout multiple games.
09:23Antonio, this is Leonardo, the master inventor who built this, this, pezzo di merda.
09:29Not to mention his skills as an assassin.
09:31Non trova alcuna gioia in questo, ma non c'è altro modo. Requiescat in pace.
09:40Number 15, John Marston, Red Dead Redemption.
09:43That ain't fair, Bill. You were as my brother. I've come to try to save you.
09:49Rockstar Games' rootin', tootin', Wild West shootin' epic is one of their greatest
09:53games, thanks mostly to protagonist John Marston. A former outlaw forced into hunting down his
09:58old gang, Marston's adventure takes him all over the American West.
10:03Sure. Somewhere between a threatening stare and the soldier's arm to the teeth?
10:07Yeah. Yeah, you had me.
10:09Welcome to Mexico, amigo!
10:11Taking on other gangs and riding horses in a similar vein to Rockstar's other powerhouse
10:16franchise, Grand Theft Auto. John's character development is a masterclass in writing,
10:20and the gut-wrenching ending in which he meets his demise has gone down in video game history as
10:25one of the best moments of all time.
10:33Number 14, GLaDOS, Portal 2.
10:36Oh, it's you.
10:38You know her?
10:39It's been a long time.
10:41How have you been?
10:43Taking place in the same universe as the Half-Life games, Valve's first-person puzzle
10:47platformer wowed players with its intricate design and hilarious writing.
10:51GLaDOS, or genetic lifeform and disk operating system, is the game's villain and is quite
10:56the contemptuous computer system.
10:58After being destroyed by protagonist Chell in the first portal, GLaDOS makes her return
11:02to wreak havoc across the Aperture Science Enrichment Center.
11:05Oh, hi.
11:07So, how are you holding up?
11:10Because I'm a potato.
11:12Constantly getting in your way, trying to kill you, and dropping hilariously dark dialogue.
11:16It's your old friend, deadly neurotoxin.
11:19If I were you, I'd take a deep breath and hold it.
11:23Number 13, Vos Montenegro, Far Cry 3.
11:27I'm sorry, what did you say?
11:28What did you say?
11:29Did you want me to slice you open like I did your friend?
11:32Did Vos ever tell you the definition of insanity?
11:35Well, if you've played Far Cry 3, then you'd know that this monologue and actor Michael
11:39Mando's performance lend themselves to one of the greatest villain portrayals in all
11:43of video games.
11:45Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?
11:50The brother of primary antagonist Sitra, Vos clearly has a few screws loose and terrorize
11:55you throughout the entire of the game, offering up quite the challenge physically and mentally,
11:59at least up until, you know, you kill him.
12:01Did I ever tell you the definition of insanity?
12:09Number 12, Joel Miller, The Last of Us.
12:14You're not my daughter.
12:18And I sure as hell ain't your dad.
12:22Naughty Dog's latest Titanic IP, The Last of Us, is a post-apocalyptic survival horror game
12:27with one of the most tragic main characters ever.
12:29Joel Miller, in the opening moments of the game, loses his daughter Sarah during the initial
12:33outbreak, leading him to close himself off emotionally.
12:36Fast forward 20 years, and Joel still hasn't reconciled the loss of his daughter, and has
12:41become a smuggler in the authoritarian government that has since taken over.
12:44Then comes Ellie, a preteen girl who is immune to the infection plaguing the world, who Joel
12:49needs to deliver to scientists to potentially save the planet.
12:52Now, we won't go into the details here, but Joel and Ellie's journey of sneaking around
12:56clickers and taking out bad guys is one of poignancy, selfishness, and personal growth,
13:01and it's well worth your time.
13:03I'm taking this home.
13:10I'm sorry.
13:11In 2014, first-person shooter pioneer Wolfenstein made its glorious return thanks to Machine
13:26Games and Bethesda Game Studios.
13:28Longtime protagonist and all-around badass William BJ Blazkowicz is back as well, mowing down Nazis
13:34and doing so with a smile on his face.
13:36Despite the balls-to-the-wall nature of its gameplay, the New Order actually tells a deep
13:40and personal story, with BJ at the center.
13:42Excuse me, what's your status?
13:44Well, I'm on the motherf***ing moon.
13:48The mouse on this one.
13:50I will clean it out with soap.
13:53Extending into 2017's Wolfenstein The New Colossus, where, and yes, I'm serious, BJ
13:58gets his freaking head cut off and then reattached.
14:01It's crazy.
14:02If that's not iconic, then yeah, I don't know what is.
14:04Can you hear me, Captain?
14:06Am I clear to fire?
14:11You're clear.
14:13Number 10, Geralt of Rivia, The Witcher 3, Wild Hunt.
14:16I returned the sword, but nothing's changed.
14:19It's not his brother's ghost that haunts him, tortures him.
14:22What's wrong with him?
14:23The titular White Wolf in CD Projekt's massively successful video game adaptations of Andrzej
14:29Sapowski's fantasy novels has quickly become one of the most popular characters in recent
14:34memory.
14:34His raspy voice and dry demeanor are weirdly charming and yet relatable.
14:38I don't know, Yen.
14:41Honestly, sounds too beautiful to be possible, even.
14:44You can always return.
14:46If after a month we can't stomach each other's company.
14:48And his monster hunting skills, thanks to his role as a witcher, make him a force to be reckoned
14:53with, especially in his third outing from 2015.
14:56Geralt of Rivia is forced to track down his adopted daughter, Ciri, sending him on an epic
15:01quest full of magic, monster slaying, sexual tension, and so much more.
15:04Strange, I've done that so many times.
15:07But it felt like our first kiss to me.
15:10It was in a way.
15:13Besides, once you say I love you, a kiss has to taste differently.
15:17Number 9, BT, Titanfall 2.
15:21Trust me.
15:21Generally agreed by gamers as having one of the very best first-person shooter campaigns
15:32in recent memory, Titanfall 2 is an epic sci-fi tale that sees players not only battle on foot,
15:37but in huge mech suits called Titans.
15:40BT-7274 is one such Titan, who protagonist Jack Cooper forms a deep connection with after
15:46losing his mentor, BT is an easily lovable companion, using the three Vanguard-class protocols to
16:02protect Jack, and get them both through the story in one, or I guess two, pieces.
16:06He also brings a bit of levity to the game, giving us some tension breaks with a few good laughs.
16:10Protocol 3, protect the pilot.
16:14BT, what are you doing?
16:17Trust me.
16:18BT!
16:21Number 8, Link, The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild.
16:35Nintendo's reinvention of their legendary series also reinvented its longtime protagonist,
16:40Link, the silent, strong hero of Legends Passed Down, has a new arsenal of moves and weapons
16:45at his disposal in his first-ever open-world adventure.
16:54Having the freedom to go wherever and do whatever, whatever you want breaks from the
16:59traditional Zelda norm, and Breath of the Wild is all the better for it.
17:02Link uses a ton of new weapons that aren't just his traditional sword,
17:06and can don a wide variety of armor to suit any given playstyle.
17:09We're dying to see how Nintendo can take Link to new heights after this game and Tears
17:13of the Kingdom.
17:15Thank you, Link.
17:18The hero was finally here.
17:20Number 7, Kratos, God of War 2018.
17:23What are you doing?
17:25Now his guard is up.
17:27Only fire.
17:30Only fire when I tell you to fire.
17:33In his first few games, Kratos was an extremely unlikable, crass, violent protagonist that was
17:39hell-bent on vengeance.
17:40And fast forward to 2018, and the titular God of War is once again a father, living secluded
17:46in the Norse woods with his son Atreus.
17:48The two are grieving the loss of Fae, Kratos' wife and Atreus' mother, with the goal of spreading
17:53her ashes atop the highest mountain in all of the Nine Realms, the game's main objective.
18:05Throughout their adventure, Kratos, of course, rips enemies to shreds like you'd expect,
18:09but goes through some of the best character development we've seen in any piece of fiction,
18:13slowly softening up and bonding with his son.
18:16Is someone cutting onions in here?
18:18So what should we do?
18:19I trust you to decide that.
18:22Oh.
18:23Number 6, Cal Kestis, Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order.
18:26No!
18:29Look at this.
18:31A knife, baby.
18:35Cal Kestis, a young Padawan being trained under Jedi Master Jaro T'Pol, is one of the very
18:40few survivors of Order 66.
18:42The Emperor's vile plan to eradicate all Jedi from the galaxy.
18:46In his adult years, Cal is hiding out on the planet Bracca, trying to survive until confronted
18:50by Darth Vader's Inquisitors.
18:52These Jedi hunters serve as the main antagonists of the game, giving Cal a great excuse to show
18:57off his skills with the Force and a lightsaber.
19:08And he surely delivers here.
19:10He's quickly become a favorite of many long-time Star Wars fans, and his portrayal by actor
19:15Cameron Monaghan is a huge contributing factor.
19:18You would be wise to surrender.
19:24Yeah.
19:27Probably.
19:28Number 5, Johnny Silverhand, Cyberpunk 2077.
19:31Wake the f**k up, Samurai.
19:35We have a city to burn.
19:41Lead singer of punk band Samurai and known activist, Robert John Linder, aka Johnny Silverhand, is
19:46one of Night City's most legendary Edgerunners since blowing up Arasaka's corporate headquarters.
19:51Upon his death, his consciousness was uploaded onto the Relic Engram, which, in Cyberpunk 2077,
19:57is implanted in protagonist V's head.
19:59Johnny then serves as a major role in the story, offering you advice and even taking
20:03over V's body for some of his own fun.
20:05Keanu Reeves' portrayal is another in a long line of amazing celebrity performances in video
20:10games.
20:11And his, you're breathtaking moment from E3 2019, will go down in history as one of gaming's
20:16best.
20:24Number 4, Lady Demetresque, Resident Evil Village.
20:26Oh, be careful what you wish for, Ethan Minters.
20:34The internet was obsessed, to put it mildly, with the big lady when trailers for Resident
20:39Evil Village started dropping, and for good reason.
20:42Maggie Robertson's portrayal of Lady Demetresque earned her a Game Award for Best
20:46Performance, and who was well-earned.
20:48The smooth, pompous demeanor of the Vampire Mistress gave Ethan Winters a run for his
20:52money, forcing him to sneak about her castle.
20:55And the final transformation she has was grotesque and over-the-top, just like you'd expect from
21:00this long-running series.
21:09Number 3, Melania, Blade of Mickela, Elden Ring.
21:11You might have heard us talk about Melania over on Mojo Plays a lot, but there's a good
21:29reason for that.
21:30She's one of the hardest and most badass souls-like bosses of all time, thanks to an iconic design
21:35and tragic backstory.
21:36Cursed by the scarlet rot, her body is in a constant state of decay, giving off an extremely
21:41intimidating appearance.
21:42In combat, she wields a massive blade, and her swipes take up most of the screen.
21:52She's become both an icon and a meme, and is one of this console generation's best villains.
21:57For more on Melania's story and backstory, check out our video on her complete origin story.
22:06Number 2, Asterion, Baldur's Gate 3.
22:11Well, that would certainly spice up this evening.
22:16Let's wait until things quieten down.
22:19Once the others are asleep, we'll find each other.
22:23Neil Newbon's game-award-winning performance as Asterion is just a raindrop in the larger
22:27puddle of amazing performances in Baldur's Gate 3.
22:30But his character is far and away the most iconic.
22:33The high-elven vampire rogue is found very early on in Act 1, and can join your party
22:38from the get-go.
22:39I was expecting an all-powerful brain to have a layer that was a little, uh, flashier.
22:44Not immaculately designed or anything, just to have a sense of drama to it.
22:49His charlatan background shines through in his characterization, leaning on charm, cunning,
22:53and wit to navigate conversations.
22:55In battle, Asterion is proficient in rogue-related weapons like longbows and swords, and is a worthy
23:00addition to your party.
23:01What I've lost, what I've gained, it's all so much.
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23:24Number 1.
23:26Luis Guiabern, Metaphor Re-Fantasio
23:28That dream died long ago.
23:31You should have done the same.
23:37Metaphor Re-Fantasio tells an epic tale full of politics, identity issues, acceptance, and
23:42tolerance.
23:42And the game's main villain brings these and more to the forefront of the game's story.
23:46Count Luis Guiabern is an extremist and part of the Clemmer tribe, this world's most
23:50common and ruling ethnic group.
23:52He's a powerful, cunning, and unforgiving villain, as seen in his many boss encounters,
23:57and bid to be chosen as the realm's next king.
23:59But he's more than just his linear motivations will lead you to believe.
24:02I will never let injustice be repeated.
24:07Never again!
24:10By the end of the game, I found myself empathizing with Luis a bit, thanks to the stellar writing
24:15and performance by voice actor Joseph Tweedale.
24:18Your fantasy is naught but lies!
24:22It's been a quarter century of some of the most iconic video game characters, and these
24:26are just the ones we could fit on this list.
24:28Let us know what iconic characters you hope to see in the near future in the comments below.
24:32She wasn't true.
24:35Patriot.
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24:58Let us be comic bookmark.
25:16The reason I choose to watch yoko!
25:17Let's just run after this video.
25:17If I do before you think youtube tutorial on this video, I would like to move through it and
25:20decide why I don't have to be remembered.