I’ve been playing video games for as long as I can remember, and over the years I have connected and grown attached to several characters from the realms of video games. Here are 10 of my favorite video game characters of all time, and I just want to reiterate that these are my own opinions and they do not reflect what should or shouldnt be the best characters of all time. If you disagree on some of these, great! Let me know in the comments who your favorites are!

10. Cryptospiridium

Cryptospiridium, AkA Crypto, is the main protagonist of the Destroy All Humans! video game franchise. Crypto is a Furon who came to Earth from the Planet Furon in efforts to find Furon DNA on Earth in order to save his species from extinction. What he does however, is something completely different. Through many different motives and events, Crypto begins to become more hostile with the human race and, as a result, does some really messed up things with them. His hostile nature, as well as his laid back and joking demeanor, are a great combination for his games where the main focus is beautiful chaos.

9. Kratos

Kratos. The Undisputed God of War and the destroyer of Olympus. The epitome of ultra-violence. In his games, Kratos never failed to be merciless, violent, and overpowering. He was the definition of a no-nonsense protagonist who could cut through and kill anything in his path. It always felt extremely satisfying to me to play as Kratos through any game he was in, because he was just an all-around badass everywhere he went. There’s no other way to really describe Kratos than a blood-thirsty god-killing psychopath who wont let anything stand in the way of his objectives, and that is why i love him so much.

8. Sonic the Hedgehog

The fastest thing alive sped right into my heart the first time I picked up a game of his. The very first game I ever played was the original Sonic the Hedgehog, and it was from then on that I knew this guy was special. Using a relatively obscure animal to rival the popularity of Nintendo’s famous red-clad plumber, Sega created a character that has truly stood the test of time with his edgy personality and cocky attitude. Over the years, and the evolution of gaming machines, Sonic was able to grow and develop these characteristics that would make him stand out above the rest as a true video gaming icon. The blue blur is truly a thing of beauty and an incredibly important pillar in the video gaming world.

7. Scout (TF2)

For some reason, the Scout stuck out to me when I first started playing Team Fortress 2. Maybe it’s because I’m a fan of an underdog, and the Scout had no outstanding abilities or expertise over any other class in the game other than his incredible speed. This regular guy from Boston comes into battle with a scattergun, a baseball bat, and a can of cola and he absolutely annihilates. His ability, coupled with his quips and cocky attitude appealed to me for some reason, and I absolutely loved his play style. An often overlooked character in an often overlooked game, the Scout has won my heart and is one of the figures I think of when I think of multiplayer video gaming.

6. Tails

Come on now, you can’t help but love Tails. The lovable sidekick to none other than the fastest thing alive himself, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tails has proven to be a worthy ally and friend to the hedgehog. Tails is a very childlike figure, which comes with all the wonder and ignorance you would expect from a child. However, Tails is more mature than he usually lets on, as he is incredibly intelligent and can make rational decisions when needed. He’s saved Sonic from harm numerous times with his inventions and quick-thinking, and is extremely underrated in his own mediums.

5. Ratchet (&Clank)

This pair of unlikely heroes had me hooked the second I started playing their games. From their chemistry together, to their own individual characteristics, to their quips and demeanors, Ratchet and Clank together can be used to symbolize video gaming in one statement. This pairing is truly an iconic one that has truly stood the test of time due to their charm, charisma, relatability, and development.

4. Sly Cooper

Sly Cooper is one of those rogue-like figures that you can’t help but love. The video game equivalent of Robin Hood, Sly is a lovable thief who is able to form a bond of comraderie and family with his allies and friends. His ability to love despite the cruelty he has experienced in his life is a true inspiration and underlying message of his character. His cool and slick nature coupled with the compassion of his loved ones and determination make him a fantastic character, an extremely underrated one if you ask me.

3. Luigi

The brother that always seems to be playing second-fiddle to his brother, Luigi is the definition of an underdog figure in video gaming. Despite all of his weaknesses in his character, he is physically better than his brother in every single way. He can jump higher, run faster, and get twice as much tail (not just the tanooki suit) as his brother, but for some reason, is always shoved into his shadow. The reason I love Luigi so much is that he seems human, in contrast to his brother who seems like Superman. Luigi is scared, frightened, alone, and worrisome, but that doesn’t stop him from doing what needs to be done and doing his part in the rescue of Princess Peach from Bowser, saving the Mushroom Kingdom, or whatever is going on that day. Luigi fights through his own shortcomings and the belittlement of his own brother to be an invaluable asset to the Mushroom Kingdom, and I will never understand why Mario gets so much more recognition than his brother.

2. Spyro the Dragon

When I was a kid back in the Playstation 1 era, this little purple dragon stole my heart. To watch this little dragon save the entirety of the dragon realms on his own due to his determination, grit, and one-liners was an absolute joy when I was young. That, coupled with his inexperience and relative lack of knowledge of the situations around him, made him relatable to me as a child. The fact that you had to go through the game learning new moves and growing your expertise as a dragon can be correlated to real life, especially with a younger audience. His cocky nature (which seems to be a common denominator with a lot of the featured characters on this list) shines through in his environment and how he deals with the obstacles in his way. All of that, not to mention that he was probably the most adorable thing that I had ever seen, makes him my 2nd favorite video game character of all time.

1. Crash Bandicoot

I feel like I need to stop putting this guy at the top of every one of my lists…but I seriously can’t help it! I can’t quite explain it, but Crash has always been the most relatable character I could find in video games to myself. He’s goofy, lovable, lazy, good-hearted, and just wants to protect his loved ones and the world from certain destruction. He wins his battles in the most light-hearted and goofy ways that when youre in the midst of a huge battle, you can believe that Crash isn’t actually angry. He’s just…Crash. I think I love him for the simple fact that he can have a smile on his face, no matter what is going down, and that is something you don’t see very often at all. Crash doesn’t need complexity and depth to his character, he just needs to be simplistic for the sake of his games and that shines through with his happy-go-lucky nature. I love Crash, bottom line.

So what did you think of my list? Who are your favorite video game characters? Sound off in the comments below and don’t forget to like us on Facebook! You should also follow The Bandicoot Banter with your E-mail to get notified when every future article publishes!