Mario, the mustachioed plumber and Nintendo’s most famous character, debuted in Donkey Kong before starring in his own adventures across the Mushroom Kingdom. Known for his incredible jumping skills, he has taken on countless roles, from kart racer to doctor to galaxy explorer. A surprising fact is that Mario was originally a carpenter in Donkey Kong, and his plumbing profession only became canon in Mario Bros. to fit the game’s pipe-based levels.

Lara Croft, the legendary archaeologist of Tomb Raider, is known for her intelligence, agility, and twin pistols as she explores ancient ruins and uncovers lost artifacts. She was one of the first female protagonists to become a gaming icon. A cool fact is that Lara was originally designed as a male character, but the developers changed her gender to make the game stand out and avoid comparisons to Indiana Jones.

Master Chief, the faceless super-soldier of Halo, is a Spartan warrior trained from childhood to be humanity’s last defense against alien threats like the Covenant and the Flood. Despite his minimal dialogue, his actions speak volumes about his unwavering heroism. A fun fact is that his real name, John-117, was chosen to make him feel more grounded and relatable despite his superhuman abilities.

Duke Nukem, the wisecracking, muscle-bound action hero of Duke Nukem 3D, is known for his one-liners and over-the-top personality. He was a parody of ‘80s action heroes. A hilarious fact is that many of Duke’s famous quotes were lifted directly from classic action movies, making him a walking reference machine.

American McGee’s Alice is a twisted, darker version of Alice in Wonderland, where Alice returns to a nightmarish Wonderland after experiencing trauma. Her journey is filled with surreal horror elements. A fascinating fact is that American McGee originally worked at id Software on DOOM before creating his own eerie take on classic literature.

Donkey Kong is one of gaming’s earliest icons, originally appearing as the antagonist in Donkey Kong (1981), where he kidnapped Pauline and faced off against Jumpman, later known as Mario. Over time, he evolved into a heroic character in the Donkey Kong Country series, where he defends his home from villains like King K. Rool. A fun fact is that the name "Donkey Kong" was intended to mean "stubborn gorilla," but the unusual English translation ended up making it even more memorable.

Agent 47, the bald, barcoded assassin of Hitman, is a master of disguise and silent eliminations, using creative methods to take down his targets. A fascinating fact is that his barcode, 640509-040147, actually contains his birth date (September 5, 1964) and his series designation (47).

Bowser, the King of the Koopas, is Mario’s long-time nemesis, constantly kidnapping Princess Peach in an attempt to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom. Despite his villainous ways, he has a goofy and charismatic personality, often showing a softer side, especially when interacting with Bowser Jr. Bowser was originally envisioned as an ox by Super Mario Bros. designer Shigeru Miyamoto, but artist Yoichi Kotabe mistook the design and turned him into a turtle-dragon hybrid.

SHODAN, the rogue AI from System Shock, is one of gaming’s most terrifying antagonists, with her cold, omnipresent voice and twisted god complex. She manipulates and experiments on humans, treating them as mere playthings in her quest for dominance. An eerie fact is that her fragmented speech patterns were a result of technical limitations, but they ended up making her sound even more unsettling, setting a precedent for future AI villains in gaming.

Kratos, the vengeful Spartan warrior of God of War, is known for his brutal combat style and tragic backstory involving the Greek and Norse pantheons. His signature Blades of Chaos symbolize his rage and cursed past. An interesting fact is that Kratos was originally meant to wear blue war paint instead of red, but the change was made to make him feel more aggressive and striking.

Solid Snake, the stealthy protagonist of Metal Gear, is a genetically enhanced soldier who specializes in infiltration and tactical espionage. He’s known for his gruff voice and endless supply of cardboard boxes. A cool fact is that Snake’s design and personality were heavily inspired by Kurt Russell’s character from Escape from New York, with similar speech patterns and a tough-guy attitude.

Pac-Man, the arcade icon, has been gobbling pellets and avoiding ghosts since 1980. His simple yet addictive gameplay made him a legend. A fun fact is that Pac-Man’s design was inspired by a pizza with a missing slice, which explains his round shape and endless appetite.

Sephiroth, the legendary antagonist of Final Fantasy VII, is a former hero turned genocidal villain after uncovering the horrifying truth about his origins. His long silver hair, black coat, and Masamune sword make him one of gaming’s most iconic bad guys. A chilling fact is that his theme song, “One-Winged Angel,” was the first Final Fantasy track to feature full orchestral-style chanting, making his boss fight even more epic and terrifying.

Gordon Freeman, the silent protagonist of Half-Life, is a theoretical physicist turned resistance hero after a disastrous experiment at Black Mesa unleashes interdimensional horrors. Wielding his iconic crowbar, he battles aliens and oppressive Combine forces while remaining eerily silent throughout the series. A fascinating fact is that despite never speaking, Freeman was named “Best Character in Gaming” by PC Gamer, proving that actions speak louder than words.

Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega’s speedy blue mascot, was designed to compete with Mario, emphasizing fast-paced platforming and a rebellious attitude. His signature red shoes were inspired by Michael Jackson’s Bad album cover. A fun detail is that Sonic originally had fangs and a rock band in early concept art, but these elements were scrapped before his final design.

Link, the green-clad hero of The Legend of Zelda, is the reincarnated champion of Hyrule, wielding the Master Sword to battle Ganon and save Princess Zelda. Though he rarely speaks, his actions define him as a courageous and selfless warrior. A neat detail is that his name, "Link," was originally meant to symbolize his role as a connection between the player and the game world, as well as his link across time in different reincarnations.

Nathan Drake, the treasure-hunting rogue of Uncharted, is often compared to Indiana Jones due to his charm and reckless adventures. His motion capture was performed by Nolan North, who helped shape Drake’s personality. A fun fact is that the developers deliberately gave him a half-tuck shirt to make him look more naturally disheveled.

Ryu, the stoic martial artist from Street Fighter, is the embodiment of discipline and mastery, dedicating his life to honing his skills in battle. His Hadouken, Shoryuken, and Tatsumaki Senpukyaku are among the most iconic fighting moves in gaming history. A cool fact is that Ryu's original color scheme featured red shoes and a white headband, but in Street Fighter II, his design was modified to the white gi and red headband that became his signature look.

Vault Boy is the ever-smiling mascot of the Fallout series, appearing on Pip-Boy screens and in perk illustrations with his signature thumbs-up pose. His cheerful demeanor contrasts with the dark, post-apocalyptic world of the games, making him an ironic symbol of survival. A cool detail is that his thumbs-up gesture was inspired by a real-life nuclear blast safety trick—if your thumb covers a distant mushroom cloud, you might be outside the immediate danger zone.

Cloud Strife, the brooding protagonist of Final Fantasy VII, starts as a mercenary with false memories before uncovering his true past and purpose. His massive Buster Sword and spiky blond hair are instantly recognizable. A cool fact is that Cloud was originally designed to have black hair, but it was changed to blond to contrast more sharply with Sephiroth’s silver hair.

Guybrush Threepwood, the bumbling yet lovable protagonist of Monkey Island, aspires to become the greatest pirate in the Caribbean, often finding himself in ridiculous situations. His wit, charm, and ability to hold his breath for ten minutes make him an unforgettable adventure game character. A hilarious fact is that his name came from an internal file name ("guy.brush"), which was never meant to be final, but the developers liked it so much that they kept it.

Brucie Kibbutz, the over-the-top fitness fanatic from Grand Theft Auto IV, is obsessed with masculinity, wealth, and his own self-image. His exaggerated personality makes him a hilarious side character. A fun fact is that Brucie’s love for "alpha male" behavior is so intense that he even runs an illegal organ-harvesting business on the side.

The Nameless One, the immortal protagonist of Planescape: Torment, is cursed to endlessly reincarnate, losing his memories each time he dies. Throughout the game, players unravel his past lives and attempt to break the cycle. A mind-blowing fact is that his character design was inspired by Buddhist concepts of reincarnation and self-discovery, making Planescape: Torment one of the most philosophically deep RPGs ever made.

The Lemmings, the tiny green-haired creatures from Lemmings, march endlessly forward, relying on the player to guide them to safety. Their game introduced unique puzzle mechanics where different Lemmings had distinct roles to play. A dark yet humorous fact is that the game was inspired by the myth that real lemmings mindlessly follow each other off cliffs, though real-life lemmings don’t actually behave this way.