Top 50 Most Iconic Fighting Game Characters - Part 2

Fighting games are very old in terms of video game age, and through these decades, we've seen hundreds of games with thousands of characters come and go. Some of these characters become fan-favorites, while the others are forgotten. But there also are those whose legacy will remain etched in the history of the FGC forever. This is our second part of the new project that celebrates the Top 50 Most Iconic Fighting Game Characters.

However, it's essential to note that while this list aims to highlight some of the most iconic characters within fighting games, the inherent subjectivity of such rankings means that many other characters may not find themselves among these fifty names. Fighting games are as diverse as the amount of existing opinions, so pardon us if one your favorite isn't on the list eventually!

In the first entry, we have two retired antagonists, two femme fatales, and a weido.

M. Bison

Street Fighter

Rarely does any form of media succeed in presenting megalomaniacal villains in an endearing light, but Street Fighter managed to achieve just that. M. Bison serves as the primary antagonist throughout the series, donning a red uniform, peaked cap, and a grand cape that embody the image of a classic military dictator, reflecting his true nature. His aspirations surpass those of ordinary individuals, as he desires world domination.

Beyond his appearance and the narrative, M. Bison's iconic moveset adds to his allure. His imposing floating stance, arms crossed, exudes intimidation, and when he unleashes his Psychic powers, opponents find themselves rendered helpless.

Despite the Street Fighter movie's failure, Raul Julia's portrayal of M. Bison has been immortalized in everyone’s memories.

Mai Shiranui

Fatal Fury, King of Fighters

Mai Shiranui is a contemporary practitioner of the Shiranui-ryū ninjutsu, inheriting the legacy of a venerable ninja clan. Despite her captivating appearance and playful demeanor, she aspires to embody the Yamato Nadeshiko archetype – a symbol of the idealized Japanese woman.

Mai is the prime example of a character that garnered her reputation based on her look and personality, not her story or gameplay. She’s a very beautiful ninja who wears exceedingly revealing attire, makes flirtatious comments, and can sometimes be a complete airhead. She’s fighting games’ foremost sex appeal icon. The amount of cosplay and fan art she generates is second to none. As such, she’s SNK’s most popular character by the amount of merchandise and side projects she’s been in.

Voldo

Soulcalibur

Voldo stands out as one of the most easily recognizable characters in the realm of fighting games, making his debut in Soul Blade and maintaining a consistent presence in every subsequent installment of the series. And it’s understandable – Soulcalibur wouldn’t be what it is without him.

In a roster dominated by characters wielding conventional weapons like longswords, katanas, polearms, greatswords, and scythes, Voldo brings a unique flavor by brandishing the relatively uncommon Katar. This distinctive weapon becomes an extension of his unorthodox fighting style, where he utilizes both the pointed edges of his Katar and various other sharp protrusions on his body.

His entire fighting style is him being really weird. He contorts his body, attacks from unexpected angles, and is as much a threat with his back turned to you as he normally is.

Although not the most visually appealing or physically imposing character, Voldo has managed to cultivate a devoted fanbase and attain cult status among the broader fighting game community. His unconventional approach and enduring presence contribute significantly to the allure of the Soulcalibur series.

Heihachi Mishima

Tekken

“Heihachi Mishima is dead.” Those were the words uttered by Raven in Tekken 5’s opening movie, yet the old man endured. A powerful and merciless head of the Mishima Zaibatsu, he usually was the organizer of the King of Iron Fist Tournament that pitted the most powerful fighters of the Tekken universe against each other.

However, following the events of Tekken 7, Heihachi has indeed met his end. This decision appears to be a tribute to Unshō Ishizuka, the esteemed voice actor for Heihachi, who passed away in 2018. Demonstrating immense respect, the developers opted to retire the character rather than recast someone else in the iconic role.

Heihachi may be dead, but his legacy lives on. As Harada once said, this promiscuous old man has more than a dozen unconfirmed illegitimate children that could be added to Tekken's roster at any point in the future.

Kitana

Mortal Kombat

Kitana is a regal presence in the Mortal Kombat universe. A princess of the Outworld, she left an indelible mark on the series. With a grace befitting royalty, she first appeared in Mortal Kombat II and continued to be a pivotal figure in subsequent Mortal Kombat games. Despite the various challenges she faced, her resilience and lethal prowess in combat earned her a revered status among players, and that’s one of the reasons for her iconic status.

During the earlier titles, Kitana donned a distinctive blue leotard, setting her apart from her sister Mileena, who favored a pinkish-purple ensemble. The rivalry and deep-seated animosity between the two sisters served as pivotal plot points, providing a rich foundation for substantial character development. This dynamic relationship added layers to Kitana's persona, making her storyline more compelling for players invested in the Mortal Kombat narrative. In the latter entries, Kitana started to dress more modestly, but she never lost her charm or her fan blades that became so popular.

Join us next week to find out who the next five characters are!