20 Best Video Game Heroes Of All-Time

10. Link

Hyrule’s multiple time saviour, Link has taken plenty of forms over the years, whether that be young, old, pixelated or cel-shaded. One thing has remained a constant though: he’s the best hope Hyrule has at defeating that awful Ganon, if he could stop breaking into houses and smashing their pottery, that is.

When he’s not plundering everyone’s rupees, Link is tackling difficult dungeons, fighting incredible bosses and just generally being one of the most competent and enduring video game protagonists ever seen. We would ask that you never change, but you do with every new iteration, so ignore us. You do you, Link.

 

9. Cloud

Look, it’s everyone’s favourite JRPG lad, Cloud Strife. Some of you might already be racing to the comments section to “well, actually, Final Fantasy VIII was my favourite”, but I don’t see Squall in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. I don’t see VIII getting the remakes that VII does, so I guess the evidence speaks for itself. Cloud is the best and let’s move on.

Cloud starts out his adventure as somewhat of an arrogant jackass, but over the course of the game, he learns there’s more to life than being buff ‘n’ tuff, ultimately choosing to fight in order to protect his friends. It’s a great story arc bound to one of the finest JRPGs ever made, making Cloud one of the best video game protagonists by default.

 

8. Solid Snake

Ignoring the fact that Snake is heavily based (see: pretty much stolen) from Kurt Russell’s Snake in Escape From New York and Escape From LA, the Metal Gear Solid version of Snake is one of the most distinguishable designs in video games. The beard, the bandana and that stupid sexy ass help form a truly iconic hero. Also, we’d love to be able to point at our own heads and proclaim we had “infinite ammo”, but that’s another story.

Though the temptation was there to throw the nod to Naked Snake, because Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater is a goddamn masterpiece, it has to go to clone boy Solid Snake. Aside from being the one that everyone remembers and associates with the series, Naked Snake had that thing where he became Big Boss and turned into a bad lad, which is somewhat of a blot on an otherwise perfect record. Solid, meanwhile, remained virtuous until the end.

 

7. The Walking Dead’s Lee

The Walking Dead Season 1 put Telltale Games on the map for a number of reasons: its focus on player choice, the fantastic story where death was never too far away or the incredible voice acting, but for us, playing as Lee Everett was the definitive highlight.

Like Shepard, Lee’s personality is dependant on the choices you make, meaning he could be an utter dick to everyone. Well, everyone except Clementine. How could you be mean to her, you monster? Still, Lee’s tale is one of redemption, as he seeks to atone for the crimes he committed before the outbreak, while teaching Clem the values she will need to survive in a world filled with bandits and walkers. We miss you, Lee. It still hurts to this day.

 

6. John Marston

Another tale of (Red Dead) redemption, John Marston isn’t really looking to be a hero. In fact, if it were up to him, he’d much rather retreat to his family home with his wife and son than scour the dying landscape of the Wild West for his old gang members, but the Bureau of Investigation have other ideas.

Though he spent the majority of his life living as an outlaw, it was in his final moments where John becomes a true hero, laying down his life in an attack perpetrated by those same government agents so that his family could escape unharmed. It was a heart-wrenching decision which cemented Marston’s status as one of gaming’s best heroes, and it totally didn’t bring us to tears. Nope, not at all. Someone must have been cutting onions or something.

 

5. Lara Croft

Often considered one of the first ladies of video games alongside fellow list entry Samus Aran, Lara Croft has enjoyed plenty of mainstream success over the years. You know you’ve made it when you find yourself adorned on the side of a bottle of Lucozade. That’s the dream that we all share in this life.

Though she’s been rebooted more times than our shitty downstairs computer, she’s always been a mainstay in the video game industry, remaining one of its most popular characters. Whether she’s dual wielding pistols and doing backflips off raptors or taking down mercenaries with her bow and arrow, Lara Croft is here to stay.

 

4. Geralt

The White Wolf has become one of the biggest breakout stars of gaming in recent memory, even if he did originate from a book. We’ll ignore that though, because video game Geralt has captured the hearts and minds of gamers around the world with his dry wit, exceptional combat skills and his uncanny ability to shag his way around the Continent.

While Geralt is again mainly defined by your choices, he’s generally bound by code to do the right thing. His epic quest to find Ciri and ensure her safety in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is born out of a place of love, and if that’s not the sign of hero, I’m not really sure what is.

 

3. Master Chief

Taking our bronze medal spot is everyone’s favourite enigmatic space marine and humanity’s saviour on more than one occasion, John-117 AKA Master Chief. Genetically engineered and given the best armoured suit that the UNSC have to offer, Master Chief is a pretty cool guy who kills aliens and doesn’t afraid of anything.

You heard me.

Over the years, he’s taken on the seemingly infinite Covenant forces, the somehow more infinite Flood and the less impressive and kind of underwhelming Prometheans, and somehow the Chief finds a way to come out on top, usually by shooting his way. He thought he’d mix things up a little.

 

2. Sonic

Silver medal goes to a video game hero that often plays second fiddle to our number one spot. Poor Sonic can’t catch a break, no matter how fast he can go. The Blue Blur has experienced somewhat of a tumultuous time when it comes to his games, going dizzying highs (Sonic 2, 3, Knuckles) to crippling lows (Sonic ‘06, Sonic Unleashed), returning to form (Sonic Mania) before crashing out again. Bloody Sonic Forces.

Despite that, Sonic has maintained a healthy and loyal following, some of them going so far as to delude themselves into believing that Forces was actually good. Still, though the hedgehog might have fallen from grace in recent years, his legacy within the gaming industry is indelible. Though many might hate what Sonic has become, we’ll always love what he was.

 

1. Mario

It wasn’t going to be anyone else other than Mario, was it? It’s not even up for debate: Mario is the biggest video game protagonist in the world. The famous Italian plumber has been a mainstay in video games since his first appearance as Jumpman in 1981’s Donkey Kong. Over 35 years later, Mario is still as popular and as relevant as ever.

With the latest release, Super Mario Odyssey, redefining what it means to be a Mario game on the Nintendo Switch, and dozens and dozens of licensed games and more on the way, Mario has become so much more than a video game hero: he’s a one of kind cultural icon.

MORE BEST LISTS:
– The Best Switch Games
– The Best PS4 Games
– The Best Xbox One Exclusives