Name As Many Classic Video Game Characters As You Can In 2 Minutes!

Video games have been around for decades. When they first started out as massive arcade cabinets, many developers came up with the idea of creating characters to help establish a brand with the audience. This way, consumers would get attached to certain characters and be more likely to come back to related entries in the future.

As such, the use of characters in gaming has grown exponentially. Many companies and development teams are now using them to formulate a connection with players (it has basically been Nintendo's strategy since they started making video games). It has been a successful business tactic that would be perpetuated for many years.

Fast forward to modern times, and there are numerous characters that have been used to establish games. While some of them haven't been quite successful, there are plenty that are still remembered today. There are newer characters that are created for more modern audiences, but those aren't the ones we'll be discussing today.

We'll be focusing on the past as we challenge you to name as many classic video game characters as you can in 2 minutes. If you plan on passing this test, you'll need to scour every inch of your childhood to name all of them.

Question 1

Who is this game character?

This character is one of the oldest gaming characters in history. Originating by having an arcade cabinet dedicated to him, he was actually the villain of the game. He kidnapped the protagonist's girlfriend and proceeded to throw barrels to try and stop him from saving his loved one. Eventually, this giant ape would become the star of his own series, where he would work tirelessly to save all of the bananas in the forest. He would gain help from his relatives and friends as well.

Question 2

Who is this game character?

This character has had a long history with Nintendo. After appearing in an arcade cabinet as a plumber who had the innate ability to jump really high, he was eventually given his own game series where he would stomp on sentient mushrooms and evil turtles. He has since become the star of the gaming world, being the main focus of various sports titles, party games, and even fighting tournaments. While his ethics are questionable at best, he's a beloved piece of gaming history.

Question 3

Who is this game character?

This character was created as SEGA's answer to the various video game mascots. This blue hero was designed to have a bit more attitude than the standard gaming character. The premise of his character was that he could run extremely fast and his games built themselves around it. While his later entries could use a lot of work and polish, there is still a lot of love for this character. When SEGA brings in fan developers to create new games, it turns out really well.

Question 4

Who is this game character?

This was the tentpole character of Capcom for quite some time. Debuting on the NES, this character's games were known for being brutally hard yet extremely fun. Always carrying a blaster on his arm, this character would become renowned with shooting down viruses and collecting their powers for himself. The character went on a hiatus for quite some time before having a resurgence in recent years. After appearing in the biggest fighting crossover game in history, his series is continuing.

Question 5

Who is this game character?

This character is synonymous with going on grand adventures. The thinking behind his series was to encourage the player to go on journeys they would've taken in their minds as children. Because of this, this series usually involved finding useful equipment and then traveling to various dungeons to defeat bosses until he came to the Demon King himself. It's there that he would use a sacred object to save the day and rescue the princess from certain death. He is the Hero of Legend.

Question 6

Who is this game character?

When Game Freak was brought in to work with Nintendo, they created one of the most successful game franchises of all time. In a brilliant decision, they decided to choose one of their characters to become the mascot of the entire series. This little critter has since exploded in popularity- you'd be hard pressed to find a person in the world that didn't know its name. This character would later become one of the main characters in the franchise's anime adaptation.

Question 7

Who is this game character?

When Nintendo created this character, they designed her to be revolutionary by having players think they were playing as a man until the very end. On top of that, they recreated their own formula with the gameplay design as well. This character was a bounty hunter who roamed the galaxy looking for a new monster to hunt down once and for all. That said, the creatures that she hunted put up a serious fight and she would have to use her best equipment to get the job done.

Question 8

Who is this game character?

The story behind this character is interesting. When HAL was working on a new title, they created a placeholder character who has purposefully simply designed. However, the more they tested the game, the more they liked this test character, and it became the official protagonist of the franchise. Known for being able to inhale just about anything and spit it out to attack, this character became quite the adorable yet powerful hero. It would later be able to take the abilities of the enemies it inhaled.

Question 9

Who is this game character?

This character is known for throwing bombs. In a series developed by Konami, this character would be placed in levels that were based on a grid. Bombs that were put on the ground would explode in four directions. This formula would become quite a popular feature when four-player modes were added, further making the game a lot crazier. The character, like Mega Man, would go on a long hiatus before making a fairly impressive return in recent years. Put him in Smash Bros now.

Question 10

Who is this game character?

This character first appeared in arcades everywhere. The whole point of his game is that he would be placed on a level separated by squares. The goal was to jump on each square and turn them all to the same color. While he hops from square to square, there are enemies that try to hunt him down and stop his progress. He was big back in the day, but he hasn't been that relevant nowadays apart from a few movie appearances.

Question 11

Who is this game character?

This character was one of the first arcade characters ever created. The brilliance of his design came in how simple it was. It made it easy to draw in-game, recognizable to everyone who saw the shape, and memorable for all of time. While the character doesn't have many current series as of right now, he doesn't need any, as his mark has already been made on the gaming industry. He is big enough to be used as an addition in numerous titles.

Question 12

Who is this game character?

This character first appeared in one of Nintendo's franchises. He was a ride-able character who could swallow enemies and spit them out (similar to Kirby). However, he would later be deemed popular enough to gain his own franchise where he could lay eggs and throw them at obstacles. He would also gain the flutter jump to help him reach higher points in each level. His games aren't the biggest, but they have a following big enough to keep it going.

Question 13

Who is this game character?

This character was created late when compared to the rest of the characters on this list. He came about when Sony decided to play their hand at the gaming market. This character was created to purposefully be bold and expressive where other gaming mascots weren't. His games involved pseudo-3D platformers where he would jump, spin, and slide his way to victory. He would gain a cult following and drop off the face of the industry before being revived fairly recently.

Question 14

Who is this game character?

This character is one of the most popular antagonists in gaming history. Appearing decades ago, he made his presence known by continuously kidnapping a princess and sending his minions to stop the protagonist. He was known for being able to spit fire on a whim and being extremely large. He would come up with some elaborate schemes in order to get ahead. They would range from conquering galaxies to kidnapping fairies and trying to stage a forced wedding for a girl.

Question 15

Who is this game character?

This character isn't the oldest in his respective series, but he certainly made the most impact. Debuting on the Sony PlayStation, the game was such a success that he immediately became one of the most known characters in the RPG genre. He was a gruff soldier who had a lot of attitude and mystery about him. His most defining trait is that he carried a massive sword that was much bigger than anything a person of his size would be able to reasonably hold.

Question 16

Who is this game character?

This character was introduced decades in the past. His game involved controlling a ship and shooting enemies down through each level. He would communicate with his allies through a radio system on-board the ship. Being the leader of his own team, he was confident and a little cocky. He was constantly prepared to shoot first and ask questions later. Part of the reason for this was his father was a pilot as well and lost his life in the field. This character just wanted to live up to his legacy.

Question 17

Who is this game character?

This character is one of the best when it comes to espionage. Constantly used to help take down deadly programs happening overseas, there is none that can outdo his skills. Taking with him a tactical suit and all of the ammo he needs, he hides in the shadows and takes out enemies before they even know what hit them. As time went on, more people began knowing his name and feared what he could do. Again, he was the best there was.

Question 18

Who is this game character?

This character had a rough upbringing. Her father was an explorer who discovered some interesting secrets across the world. She follower her dad's footsteps and decided to become an explorer herself. Getting involved in some nasty plots, she would eventually become the person known as the Tomb Raider. She would go through graves and ancient tombs, scouring the area for any ancient artifacts she could find. That said, getting involved in that business was always going to put her in harm's way.

Question 19

Who is this game character?

This character had a much more dire journey to take. Awaking one day when a meteor crashed in his neighborhood, he was wrapped up in an adventure when his neighbor's little brother disappeared as a result of it. This character had special PSI powers that he would effectively use in battle. Despite how impressive he was, his abilities would quickly be put to the test as he learned that the entire world was threatened by an other-worldly being known as Giygas.

Question 20

Who is this game character?

This character was another attempt from Sony to have a mascot that could rival Mario and Sonic. He was a tiny dragon who was tasked with saving the universe when all of the adult dragons were frozen into statues. Despite his small stature, he had a powerful charge and fire attack. The deck was stacked against him from the very start, but he managed to overcome it and come out as a better hero for it. He will be getting a revival of his own.

Question 21

Who is this game character?

This character debuted all the way back in the 80s. Instead of having his own dedicated series in arcades or on a console, there were a series of handhelds developed with his name attached to them. Each handheld was a different minigame that players could try and get a high score. These obscure games would later be celebrated when this character was added to the Super Smash Bros series. Instead of turning him into a 3D model, though, Sakurai kept him 2D for accuracy.

Question 22

Who is this game character?

This character was one of the first females in gaming history. Her debut involved getting kidnapped by a giant ape and taken to the top of an incomplete building. The ape kidnapped her as a way of getting back at the game's protagonist for mistreating him. After her initial appearance, this character would be getting dropped fairly soon in favor of someone a bit more regal. However, Nintendo wouldn't be so quick to forget her impact on the industry and brought her back to the series.

Question 23

Who is this game character?

This character is known as the mascot for fighting games. Developed by Capcom, he became widely known when he was added into a string of arcade releases. His series involves the use of complicated combos and powerful moves to win. This character is renowned for putting his fists together to send out blasts of energy called hadoken. He can also perform a massive uppercut known as a shoryuken. When using this character, there are lots of options for powerful attacks.

Question 24

Who is this game character?

When the galaxy is in danger, it's up to a special individual to save the day. Being a literal star himself, he rockets himself across each planet, trying to save the creatures from the evil force that's been possessing them. His method of attack is quite interesting, though. His limbs are extremely stretchy, so he extends his arms, grabs onto an enemy, and smacks into them. This also allows him to climb up trees and walls from any angle. He can also use them to gain momentum and swing himself to high speeds.

Question 25

Who is this game character?

This character was created by Rare- the development team that was responsible for the Donkey Kong Country series. This character signified their biggest attempt at a 3D space. This little bear would have to go on an adventure when his sister is kidnapped by an evil witch. However, he wouldn't be traveling alone, as an extremely chatty bird would be hiding away in his backpack. The two work together to perform awesome moves to fight enemies and get to secret areas.

Question 26

Who is this game character?

This character is interesting because he's just a regular worm with a consciousness. Once he jumps in his space suit, though, he immediately turns into a space captain with movable limbs. He also has a blaster at his side that he uses to decimate all sorts of enemies in his path. His greatest enemy is an evil fish in a fishbowl (that is quite easily defeated). What made his games so memorable is that the animations were hand-drawn, giving everything a timeless look.

Question 27

Who is this game character?

This character would be one of the oldest in the industry. Appearing in a simple arcade game, players would have to control him across a busy highway and a rushing river, jumping to safe spaces and avoiding hazard in order to get him to the end. Later on in his lifespan, companies would try to expand his series as well as give him more character. While it wasn't nearly as successful as Mario or Sonic, his name is still recognizable to most.

Question 28

Who is this game character?

Back in the day, games were created with a much more brutal difficulty curve than today. One such game involved the teaming up of three different toads who all had a knack for combat. They could alter the size of their limbs for more effective fighting combos. That said, even their amazing abilities wouldn't stop the countless deaths that players would experience when trying to beat the game. They've also been criticized for being a rip-off of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Question 29

Who is this game character?

Konami has a few memorable characters, but this guy is one of their biggest. In his world, it was haunted by terrible monsters and vampires. Being a member of the renowned "vampire hunter" family, he inherited their hatred of the demons as well as their love of fighting. He would make his way across castles, defeating dark creatures with ease. Due to his actions, everyone across the land would recognize his last name and ask him for help in serious situations.

Question 30

Who is this game character?

This character was the "chosen one" who had the power to save his race from being turned into tasty food by terrible businessmen. When trying to save his people, he would discover that he had the potential to summon impressive magic to give him the upper hand. While he was never good at face-to-face combat, it was his ingenuity in solving problems that made him the legendary savior that the rest of his people needed. And they love him for it.

Question 31

Who is this game character?

This character is extremely old and, while many people loved his game, it's kind of frightening when you think about it. He would travel underground through various tunnels and go face-to-face with several enemy types. Instead of just avoiding them, he would attack them by attaching an air pump to them. Through slow pumps, he would inflate them enough so that they would expand and explode. The worst part is that many of the game's enemies looked cute and harmless.

Question 32

Who is this game character?

Life works in such a way that your whole world can change in a single moment. That's exactly happened to this dolphin character. He was out with his friends and engaged in a competition to see who could jump the highest. He launched himself in the air, but when he came back down, all aquatic life had been sucked out of the ocean. He then went on an adventure to save his family and friends and fight the evil that lurks in the depths.

Question 33

Who is this game character?

What if your dreams lived in their own reality? That's exactly what happens in the world of Nightmaren. It's there that several entities act out the dreams of humans. This character is the hero of Nightmaren, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it is happy and bright. It, instead, still lives in the nightmare world and has some fairly unsettling qualities to it. It can fly and use several magic powers to get the job done. It also resembles the circus.

Question 34

Who is this game character?

This character is associated with the quirky side of video games. Expressed as a little guy with no limbs, less is definitely more with his design. Having no limbs means that he can wind up his fists and legs and release them for some devastating attacks. This character has also learned the art of jumping on walls, freerunning, and using his hair as a propeller to glide. His most recent games were a triumph for Ubisoft and are some of the best 2D platformers ever made.

Question 35

Who is this game character?

Those who played Tekken 3 back on the PlayStation would soon realize that one of the fighters wasn't quite like the rest. Instead of being a full person like the rest of the cast, it was nothing more than a little dinosaur with a big head and a lot of attitude. Apparently, this character originated from its own manga series and was brought into Namco's fighting game. It would never appear in subsequent entries, partially for it being a little overpowered.

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