Top 50 Most Iconic Fighting Game Characters - Part 4

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 fourth 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 third entry, we have the antagonists edition!

Cervantes de León

Soulcalibur

Cervantes de León is a dreadful pirate and one of the series’ main antagonists. He’s a self-serving man whose only goals are satisfying his own ego and gaining more and more power. Since he tasted the might bestowed upon him by Soul Edge, he sought this cursed sword again, as nothing else in the world could grant him his wishes.

Cervantes is iconic not only for his role as an antagonist of Soulcalibur but also for his gameplay and visuals. He wields dual swords, one with a pistol embedded in its hilt, dresses in a flamboyant pirate manner, and has a nasty attitude toward everyone else. His gameplay translates his personality well, as he has unblockable pistol shots, mad air dashes across the arena, and setups that would make even the best pirates proud.

Shao Kahn

Mortal Kombat

Shao Kahn might as well be synonymous with the fighting game antagonists. If there was an article based on the villains of this genre, his picture should be the header. He’s not as shrewd and deceitful as Shang Tsung or Quan Chi, nor is he vengeful and manipulative like Shinnok. He’s simply intimidation incarnate. Shao Kahn has this ephemeral final boss energy very few can match.

Shao Kahn, the Emperor of the Outworld, wields a giant hammer that crushes his foes in a single blow. His most iconic design has him wearing a Kabuto helmet with an Oni-like demonic skull mask, a long cape, and spiky shoulder pauldrons. However, his latest variation, General Shao from MK1, is significantly less intimidating, as the reboot has him portrayed as merely a general who has yet to reach the height of his power.

Akuma

Street Fighter

Akuma, also known as Gouki in Japan, is a legendary figure in the Street Fighter series, renowned for his unparalleled strength, stoic demeanor, and mastery of the dark arts. With his distinctive red hair, prayer beads, and imposing presence, Akuma strikes fear into his opponents with his sheer intimidating presence alone. His fighting style, Ansatsuken, is a deadly combination of karate and the mysterious Satsui no Hado, granting him devastating techniques like the "Shun Goku Satsu."

What truly makes Akuma iconic is his enigmatic nature and relentless pursuit of martial perfection, often challenging worthy opponents to test their skills against his overwhelming power, as well as his legacy as a fierce warrior consumed by the darkness within him.

I-No

Guilty Gear

I-No is a character you won’t ever forget if you saw her once. It’s as if she was tailor-made to become iconic. She’s provocative, both in her attire and her demeanor; she wields a guitar as her weapon, and her motives can never be discerned.

Her bright-red outfit, which underlines her incredible beauty very well, huge witch hat, and teal guitar, along with her Femme Fatale attitude, make her stand out even among the roster that already consists of quirky fighters and genuine weirdos, and her gameplay only adds to this, as she uses the aforementioned guitar in combat. This instrument, as well as her general looks, are speculated to be an homage to the Queen of Japanese Pop Music, Shiina Ringo.

Kazuya Mishima

Tekken

Kazuya Mishima is the primary, secondary, and tertiary protagonist, antagonist, victim, and villain of the Tekken series. Yes, he’s all of the above, and that should tell you how convoluted the story and the relationships in the Mishima clan are. Tekken’s storyline has been continuously running for the past 30 years, and apart from a small omission in Tekken 3, Kazuya has been involved in it front and center.

Recipient of the cursed Devil Gene, he gradually gains more and more power, getting rid of the hindrances like his father, Heihachi, and the entire Mishima Zaibatsu along the way. But his goal isn’t as simple as just world domination; he wants the return of the rule of might, with stronger and more powerful people being on top of the food chain.

Being a Mishima, his gameplay is also iconic – electrified attacks, rising uppercuts, hellsweeps, sharp and crisp kicks and punches. Some say maining a Mishima is like a second job, but everyone wishes to be good at it.

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