Tomb Raider's Lara Croft has been voted the most iconic video game character of all time at the BAFTAs.
Over 4,000 gamers from all over the world took part in voting, narrowing down the impossibly large selection to a top 20 – but we want to know which character will come in second place. is. your favorite!
Could it be Mario, the Italian plumber? He has been the face of Nintendo since 1985 and is a very well-known character in the wide world of video games. With his signature red hat, blue overalls, and bushy mustache, he has adventured through his more than 200 video games across a variety of genres and platforms. Mario has moved beyond games and into pop culture, appearing in movies, comics, merchandise, and even an emotional theme park. His enduring appeal and timeless gameplay continue to captivate audiences of all ages. But do you think he's really the most iconic character?
Of course, in the opposite corner is his powerful rival Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega's Blue Blur appeared on the scene in his 1991 game, captivating players with his lightning speed and charismatic personality. He became an icon, representing the epitome of his 90s cool. Sonic has starred in over 100 of his games, including platformers, racing titles, and various spin-offs due to his vibrant demeanor and ability to break the sound barrier. Beyond gaming, Blue's wonders have spread to manga, comics, and merchandise, cementing his status as a pop culture phenomenon. Despite the inevitable ups and downs, Sonic's legacy endures, reigniting nostalgia with each new release and introducing the beloved hedgehog to a new generation of fans. Will Sonic get your vote?
Perhaps you prefer Agent 47 from the Hitman series? Conceived by Danish video game developer IO Interactive in 1998 and debuting in 2000 with the release of Hitman: Codename 47, Agent 47 is a legend in the gaming industry. He became a popular figure and captivated gamers all over the world. The genetically engineered assassin has since appeared in eight mainline games, two spinoffs, two books, one comic book series, and even a movie. Is he your number one?
And how can we forget Lara Croft, a heroine for generations? Star of the Tomb Raider series, Lara made her first appearance in 1996 and has since appeared on TV, movies and videos many times, appearing in her games and even for her own live immersive experience in London. It has been mastered and evolved. This year alone, Tomb Raider I-III Remastered was released on multiple platforms, and her long-awaited Netflix TV show Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft is set to be released later this year. Is Lara your most iconic video game character of all time?
If you don't see the survey, click here
Agent 47 to Minecraft Steve
There are a lot of video game characters out there, so we took a cue from BAFTA and put together some famous ones to jog your memory.
agent 47, hitman
Agent 47, a genetically enhanced clone with murderous tendencies, made his video game debut in 2000's Hitman: Codename 47. Since then, he has appeared on screens big and small, appearing in over 10 games, two novelizations, and two live-action film adaptations.
Arthur Morgan “Red Dead Redemption 2”
Arthur Morgan, the protagonist of 2018's Red Dead Redemption 2, is one of the few characters on this list to only appear in one game.
Astarion, Baldur's Gate 3
Much like his fellow party member Shadowheart, Astarion's rogueish charm has made him a fan favorite since his introduction in 2023's Baldur's Gate 3.
Cloud Strife, Final Fantasy VII
A mercenary of few words, Cloud Strife made his video game debut as the main character in 1997's Final Fantasy VII and has since made over 30 appearances in both video games and a wide range of media properties.
crash bandicoot
Introduced to the world in 1996's Crash Bandicoot, this genetically enhanced marsupial appeared in more than 20 video games throughout its lifetime.
Ellie Williams “The Last of Us”
Ellie Williams, best known as the star of 2013's The Last of Us, didn't actually make her first appearance in the game. The world was first introduced to this foul-mouthed teenager in her four-issue comic series, The Last of Us: American Dreams, which served as a prequel to the game. Since then, she's appeared in sequels to The Last of Us series, her DLC, and even her 2023 TV version of the game.
Kazuma Kiryu, Yakuza
Kazuma Kiryu, a surly ex-yakuza gangster, has appeared in 10 games in the Yakuza series, as well as multiple film and stage adaptations of the series.
Kratos, god of war
From murder-hungry Spartan warrior to protective parent, Kratos has appeared in eight games in the God of War series. He has also appeared in two comic book series, three novels, and several games outside of the God of War series.
lara croft, tomb raider
First introduced to the world in 1996 with Tomb Raider on the Sega Saturn, Lara Croft has been featured in over 15 games, three movies, multiple novels and comic book adaptations, and an upcoming Netflix animated series. I'm appearing.
link, the legend of zelda
Link, the silent protagonist of the Legend of Zelda franchise, has appeared in 20 games in the series, as well as his own animated series and multiple comic book and manga adaptations.
Mario
One of the oldest characters on this list, Mario was created in 1981 not as the star of his own series, but as a player character in the first installment of the Donkey Kong series. Starting his humble career, he has appeared in over 200 video games, two movies, and numerous other multimedia productions.
Master Chief, HALO
Full name Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, this Spartan supersoldier appears in six games in the HALO series. He appears as the main character in three of his 19 HALO novels, and also appears in the 2012 film Halo 4: Forward until Dawn and his 2022 HALO TV series. doing.
Nathan Drake “Uncharted”
Nathan Drake, a gentleman explorer with a penchant for violence, has appeared in six Uncharted games, as well as several comic book series and live-action film adaptations.
Pac-Man
This little yellow hockey puck has appeared in over 50 games and countless other trans media properties.
pikachu, pokemon
The only Pokémon to appear on this list, Pikachu has appeared on over 100 screens, both big and small, and has also appeared in multiple comic books and manga.
Sackboy, Little Big Planet
One of the most customizable characters on this list, Sackboy made his video game debut in 2008 as the star of Sony's LittleBigPlanet and quickly received critical acclaim. Since then, he's appeared in all six of LittleBigPlanet's mainline games, as well as numerous other games in his franchise, from playable characters to adorable Easter Eggs. .
Shadow Heart, Baldur's Gate 3
One of the youngest characters on this list in terms of release date, Shadowheart captured the hearts of players around the world with the release of Baldur's Gate 3 in 2023.
solid snake, metal gear solid
Debuting in 1987's Metal Gear, Solid Snake (real name David) is a stealth super spy who has appeared in more than ten games in the Metal Gear series, as well as multiple novelizations of the game series.
Sonic the hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog entered the hearts of fans around the world in 1991 as the star of Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis. He has appeared in over 100 of his video games as both the main character and supporting cast, and has appeared in several TV shows and his two movies, with the third being his It is scheduled to be released at the end of 2024.
steve, minecraft
Steve, the iconic player character in 2011's Minecraft (as of 2024, the best-selling video game of all time), has also appeared in four other games, including Minecraft spinoff Minecraft Dungeons.
