Our Favourite Game Characters from the 80s and 90s
Trying to rank the best video game characters of all time turned out to be no mean feat, in fact it quickly turned out to be pretty much impossible. There are so many of them, and the criteria for popularity was so varied, it was more than tough to organise. So we thought we would just pick our top four favourite video game characters of the 80s and 90s and see if you agree with our choices. We think you’ll nod your head and smile at some of these picks, and we know you will recognise all of them. Iconic and simply great fun over the years, these characters are some of the best-loved of all time. Let us know which characters make your top 4.
Pacman
We couldn’t really have a list like this one without including this guy. He has been everything to all men when it comes to video games, and ever since the very first iteration, he has simply blossomed. If you were around in the 80s you will remember the ubiquitous character simply gracing everything that kids (and adults) got their hands on, from lunchboxes to trading cards. He is very much untouchable as a solid character, and you would be hard pressed to find anyone on the planet who hasn't played or heard of him.
Mario
Back in 1982 a game called Donkey Kong came out, and it made everyone go crazy. But the real star of the game was most definitely Mario, the Italian plumber who had been tasked with the job of defeating the giant ape. Mario was not to be ignored, and his name graced a number of games, and most recently a super-popular title on the Wii-U. On top of that, he is one of the few video game characters who has had a movie made that was based on him alone. That’s right, he is so popular they can build an entire film around him.
Lara Croft
Pick a streetwise, charming young lady and make her into one of the most iconic video game characters of all time? Easy. Lara Croft first hit the big time in her own game in 1996,and from then on it was all about the franchising. She even turned up (like Mario) in her own movie, worthy of the biggest star on the planet playing her (Angelina Jolie). This makes her an absolute legend. Since her biggest exposure period of the 90s, Lara has also been immortalised in an app that was released in May 2015 (Relic Run). A truly iconic lady, and one that strikes a blow for all those gamers who are female and proud of it.
Sonic
Back in 1990 Sega unleashed Sonic the Hedgehog. He was supposed to beat Nintendo’s Mario for popularity. He never quite made it to that level (he wasn't far off) but he has still become a pretty popular character. Loved by many, and part of a franchise that still produces games and apps, Sonic deserves his spot on our list.
So those are our top four characters from videogames in the 80s and 90s. We think you'll agree they deserve to be on the list, and their popularity certainly doesn't seem to be anywhere near waning.
About the author
Zeeshan Mallick
Co-Founder of SuperRetroGamer.com
