Few video game characters are as iconic as Mario. It makes sense — he's been around for over 40 years, and each new Nintendo system comes with a slew of new Mario games. With so many games across so many genres, it's more than likely that many players' first video game was one starring the Italian plumber.
However, just because Mario is the most iconic Nintendo hero doesn't mean the company doesn't have other wildly popular characters. People can recognize these characters without ever picking up a controller. They are likely some of the first names that come to mind when fans hear Nintendo.
10 Captain Falcon Doesn't Need Games To Be Popular
The F-Zero games are not very popular. On the other hand, their protagonist, Captain Falcon, is iconic. He is the only person, real or imagined, to pull off a skin-tight jumpsuit paired with a scarf. His various Super Smash Bros. catchphrases are some of gaming's most memorable voice lines.
Despite not starring in a game since 2004, Captain Falcon still consistently finds his way onto lists of top video game characters. Prima Games named Falcon Punch as the #8 most iconic fighting game move of all time.
9 The Belmont Family Helped Define A Genre
The Castlevania series has had such an impact on video games that fans refer to similar games as a "Metroidvania." Many of the Castlevania games feature members of the Belmont family as the protagonist, and these characters have become almost as iconic as the games.
Two Belmonts, Richter and Simon, were featured in the latest Super Smash Bros. game, a rite reserved only for Nintendo's most recognizable characters and random Fire Emblem characters. Netflix's Castlevania series has also helped the Belmont family expand their popularity to new audiences who might not play the games.
8 Samus Was One Of The First Iconic Female Game Characters
Representing the "Metroid" half of Metroidvania is Samus Aran. This interstellar bounty hunter is one of the first female protagonists in a mainstream video game franchise and is often lauded for breaking through the medium's glass ceiling.
Similar to the Belmont family, Samus is iconic enough to have a sub-genre of games named for her series. Several live-action Metroid fan films about Samus have even been made, including Metroid: The Sky Calls starring IGN host and voice actor Jessica Chobot.
7 Fox & Falco Are The Stars Of Star Fox
Fox Mccloud and his wingman, Falco Lombardi, from Star Fox are an interesting case when it comes to popular Nintendo heroes. Though Star Fox doesn't get as frequent of installments as other series, these two specifically have managed to stay relevant.
Fox and Falco have stayed more popular than their Star Fox companions thanks to the Super Smash Bros. games. Both Fox and Falco have appeared in numerous iterations of the popular fighting game, and Fox has been a top-tier player in several of them.
6 Kirby Is A Unique Video Game Hero
A lot of Kirby games are fun; Kirby and the Forgotten Land especially stands out as a highlight of the series. However, Kirby isn't popular just because he stars in some good games. His unique look and abilities are what elevate Kirby to icon status.
Kirby is squishy and adorable. Pair that with his propensity for eating things whole, and it becomes clear why Kirby differentiates himself from other video game heroes. "Blob that consumes everything around it" sounds more like a sci-fi horror villain than a noble hero. Despite constantly taking the shape of others, Kirby is one of a kind, and that's why he's an icon.
5 Zelda Has An Iconic Franchise Named After Her
The Legend of Zelda is one of Nintendo's most popular game series, rivaled only by Mario and Pokémon. As the title character, it only makes sense that Princess Zelda herself is one of Nintendo's most iconic heroes.
Zelda may only be playable in one of the mainline Zelda games, but she has often been present and making a meaningful impact on the events of her games. She frequently appears on lists of favorite female video game characters alongside playable protagonists like Samus Aran and Lara Croft. Though she, unfortunately, falls into the damsel in distress role more than she should, Zelda and the games named after her continue to be fan favorites.
4 Donkey Kong, You Know Him Well
Though the world was introduced to Donkey Kong as a villain, the most popular version of the character is a hero. In fact, the most iconic version of the character is actually Donkey Kong III, with the original DK being nicknamed Cranky Kong in his old age.
Donkey Kong and the Kong family, also referred to as the DK Crew, have starred in some of Nintendo's best platforming games. Outside his own games, Donkey Kong has also appeared in plenty of Mario titles, which have only made him more popular.
3 Pokémon Trainers Have An Iconic Style
Pokémon is one of the few video game franchises that could actually give Mario games a run for their money. If there's one thing that keeps the heroes of Pokémon from dethroning Mario, it's the fact that there are too many of them for there to be one mascot.
While no single Pokémon protagonist stands out, there is an iconic trainer style that players can see from a mile away. A young person carrying a backpack and wearing some Poké-themed headwear is easily recognizable as a Pokémon protagonist.
2 Luigi Is The Most Famous Second Fiddle
-Cropped.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=750&dpr=1.5)
Debuting alongside Mario in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros., Luigi has been around almost as long as his twin brother. Luigi appeared alongside his brother in most of the earlier Mario games and is what many players imagine as the personification of player 2.
In 2013, Nintendo celebrated Luigi's 30th anniversary with "The Year of Luigi," a promotional event that saw the release of several Luigi-helmed games. It's clear that they know Luigi is a fan favorite and possibly just as iconic as his brother. It would likely be hard to find someone who couldn't complete the phrase "Mario and..."
1 Link's Popularity Continues To Grow
Link is the closest Nintendo character to reaching Mario's level of popularity. He is such an icon for his series of games that many people mistakenly think he must be the Zelda from the title. The Zelda series received a successful redesign with Breath of the Wild and will likely only continue to get more popular.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild sold nearly three times as many copies as the next best-selling Zelda game, Twilight Princess. For a franchise that has been around for more than 35 years to continue to grow in popularity is impressive and speaks to how many Zelda fans there are. As the main hero of such a prolific series, it only makes sense that Link would be one of Nintendo's most iconic characters.