Nintendo's most iconic characters — and why they still matter

[soulsas]

For over five decades, Nintendo has remained a cornerstone of the gaming world. With franchises that defined generations and characters that became cultural icons, the company has built a catalog of heroes—and villains—that continue to influence game design, marketing, and player experience.
That’s my list of characters. Now I’m curious—what would be on yours?

#Mario
There’s no way to start this list without him. Mario is without question the face of Nintendo, and for many, the face of video games as a whole. From his early days as a red-overalled plumber to his latest appearances in Odyssey, Mario embodies the Nintendo formula: accessible gameplay, simple narratives, charismatic design, and massive replay value.
#Ash and Pikachu
Ash, the Pokémon trainer, and Pikachu, his inseparable companion, represent the long-term success of the Pokémon franchise. Ash’s persistence and sense of justice create an emotional bond with players. Pikachu, meanwhile, has become more than just a character—he’s a global brand. Even people who’ve never played Pokémon recognize him instantly.
#Donkey Kong
Originally a villain, DK evolved into a protagonist with his own series—most notably Donkey Kong Country. He represents Nintendo’s investment in unique settings (jungles, mine carts, caves) and platforming that challenges without overwhelming.
#Bowser
Some characters don’t need constant reinvention—Bowser is one of them. The fire-breathing, spike-shelled villain is Mario’s most recognizable antagonist. His motivations are simple: domination, kidnapping, disruption. Within Nintendo’s universe, Bowser remains a solid example of how a traditional villain can stay effective through consistency, humor, and strong visual identity.
#Miis
The customizable avatars introduced with the Wii were a clever design move. They allowed players to see themselves within the game world in a lightweight, accessible way. Miis were key to the commercial success of Wii Sports and other titles. While more subtle in recent years, they showed how personalization—when done right—strengthens player connection.
#Wario
Wario is chaotic, greedy, loud—and somehow likable. He found his footing in the WarioWare series, which focused on rapid-fire mini-games and experimental mechanics. While often seen as a secondary character, Wario proved that Nintendo could explore humorous and offbeat archetypes without sacrificing quality.
#Kirby
Kirby is the perfect example of simple design with creative depth. His copy ability introduced countless gameplay variations. Titles like Kirby’s Epic Yarn even reinvented his look and mechanics without losing what made him work. He’s one of Nintendo’s most flexible and enduring characters.
#Link
As the hero of The Legend of Zelda, Link is a silent protagonist built for immersive storytelling. His games are known for deeper narratives, open exploration, and long-form puzzles. Link’s strength isn’t in his personality but in the role he plays: the player projects themselves into his journey.
#Dimitri (Fire Emblem)
A more recent addition, Dimitri debuted in Fire Emblem: Three Houses. He stands out thanks to the franchise’s deeper narrative and character arcs. As leader of the Blue Lions, Dimitri evolves from a traumatized prince into a respected commander.
This isn't just about nostalgia—it's about understanding why these characters still work today.

 

[bigstinkie]

who in the twelve bananas is dimitri? is he really considered one of the more iconic nintendo owned characters? perhaps i am behind on my fire-embleming

 

[soulsas]

Man... Dimitri, "The Boar Prince"

Honestly? Dimitri is the most compelling character Fire Emblem has ever given us. The guy starts off as this textbook noble prince — polite, honorable, kinda stiff — and then just unravels in the most gut-punch, emotionally brutal way possible. Watching him descend into madness, become the "Boar Prince," and then claw his way back into the light? That’s storytelling with actual weight. You feel it.
He’s not just a good unit in battle — Dimitri is a walking narrative arc. He gives Three Houses the kind of character depth that gets people hooked even if they’ve never played a tactical RPG in their life. And for folks in the West — especially in places like the U.S. or Brazil, where Fire Emblem wasn’t nearly as mainstream — Dimitri was the gateway character. Most people outside of hardcore Nintendo circles had never even heard of the franchise until Three Houses blew up.
In Brazil especially, Three Houses is basically the Fire Emblem game. Ask around and most folks haven’t even touched the older titles. But they know Dimitri. His story sticks with you. He’s not just the sad prince trope — he’s got actual trauma, redemption, and real growth. And let’s be real: that messy, broken, emotionally wrecked hero energy? That hits hard in today’s media landscape.

 

[beefbowl]

Thanks chatgpt.

You didnt even take time to edit it fucking lmao

 

[MemeAlert]

You can't called Ash a Nintendo character when he never appeared in a Pokemon game (not counting Puzzle League for obvious reasons). Don't know why you mention Dimirti, if hes so iconic why is he in Smash Bros? The most obvious answer is Donkey Kong because of the arcade game Nintendo would of failed back in the day.

Post automatically merged: Jul 3, 2025

Most people outside of hardcore Nintendo circles had never even heard of the franchise until Three Houses blew up.

Thats BS, everyone plays Smash Bros.

 

[fake-kun]

I'm so tired of people trying to pass off AI-generated crap as their own work.

 

[bjork]

It's Mario and it's Donkey Kong, period. Everything else is popular but iconic is a stretch. You can walk down the street and show someone Mario and DK and people will go "oh yeah." MAYBE Link. Depends on where you walk, I guess.

 

[ciro64]

You can't called Ash a Nintendo character when he never appeared in a Pokemon game (not counting Puzzle League for obvious reasons).

I never liked the fact that Ash was never included in any game. It's fair that he wasn't in the portable games because the anime came later, but he could have made an appearance in other games such as Pokémon Stadium or as a skin for Pokemon Trainer in Smash Bros.

 

[MemeAlert]

I never liked the fact that Ash was never included in any game. It's fair that he wasn't in the portable games because the anime came later, but he could have made an appearance in other games such as Pokémon Stadium or as a skin for Pokemon Trainer in Smash Bros.

Nah, Ash is a wimp (if you seen the first season of the anime you know). I like Red better.

Post automatically merged: Jul 3, 2025

I'm so tired of people trying to pass off AI-generated crap as their own work.

Am I missing something?

 

[CyberRabbit]

Ok I am confused is it ai or not ai? I’m lost

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Ah yes Dimitri, truly an iconic character standing next to pillars like Pac Man, Galaga, Alien from Space Invaders and Mario.

 

[MemeAlert]

Ah yes Dimitri, truly an iconic character standing next to pillars like Pac Man, Galaga, Alien from Space Invaders and Mario.

And Bomberman.

 

[bigstinkie]

Ah yes Dimitri, truly an iconic character standing next to pillars like Pac Man, Galaga, Alien from Space Invaders and Mario.

i read that as george from space aliens

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

And Bomberman.

who? /j
*cries*

 

[MemeAlert]

who? /j
*cries*

"Looks at Smash Remix 2.0.0" WHY DIDN'T YOU PUT BOMBERMAN IN THIS!?!?!?

 

[beefbowl]

Am I missing something?

Yes.

Ok I am confused is it ai or not ai? I’m lost

It's ai.

 

[Nebulon_Galaxy]

Most people outside of hardcore Nintendo circles had never even heard of the franchise until Three Houses blew up.

We are just going to ignore Fire Emblem Awakening huh? The game that made Fire Emblem super popular thanks to the 3DS at the time for having no games.

 

[Morgana Veil]

Pardon me, I'm going to be a little shit here and say Mini Spek.

 

[CyberRabbit]

It's ai.

Ok thank you dude :)

 

[Faust03]

We are just going to ignore Fire Emblem Awakening huh? The game that made Fire Emblem super popular thanks to the 3DS at the time for having no games.

I thought they were all smash bros ocs

 

[Evaccaneer Doom]

Don't know why you mention Dimirti, if hes so iconic why is he in Smash Bros?

Well that’s because Byleth fills the role of every single house leader in one character, who’s also the protagonist, something that Smash has a history of prioritizing. Not to mention that not being a fighter in Smash doesn’t dictate something isn’t iconic.

There’s no point in downgrading or adding three different Fire Emblem characters just to be consistent

Post automatically merged: Jul 3, 2025

I never liked the fact that Ash was never included in any game. It's fair that he wasn't in the portable games because the anime came later, but he could have made an appearance in other games such as Pokémon Stadium or as a skin for Pokemon Trainer in Smash Bros.

Kinda same but for different reasons. I never liked how they prioritized original characters over including protagonists. If Ash was named Red, there’d be no real difference. Doesn’t help they’re slowly erasing protagonist characters from the series completely. The last one was Serena. That’s depressing. Never forgiving the anime for fumbling the opportunity for a sassy Scottish secondary protagonist in Gloria. Instead we got whatever the fuck happened in Journeys because that arc was super rushed.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

I never liked the fact that Ash was never included in any game. It's fair that he wasn't in the portable games because the anime came later, but he could have made an appearance in other games such as Pokémon Stadium or as a skin for Pokemon Trainer in Smash Bros.

I think GameFreak wanted to make absolutely sure that Ash and Red were separated characters entirely, and that Ash was an anime-only(ish) creation. I guess that's why so much of what he does in the anime goes against the principles established on the Manga and games, because they could experiment with him without hurting the main entries that were making GF and Nintendo's revenue.

 

[ciro64]

I think GameFreak wanted to make absolutely sure that Ash and Red were separated characters entirely, and that Ash was an anime-only(ish) creation. I guess that's why so much of what he does in the anime goes against the principles established on the Manga and games, because they could experiment with him without hurting the main entries that were making GF and Nintendo's revenue.

It get that, but... It feels uncanny. The way I see it, Pokemon's identity was only fully cemented in the anime.

Just to give you an idea, when I was a child, I thought Pikachu in Smash Bros 64 was a Cartoon Network character, not a Nintendo one.

GameFreak wanted to make absolutely sure that Ash and Red were separated characters entirely

They weren't very successful at that, once I went to a anime con cosplayed as Pokemon trainer and everyone called me Ash.

 

[fake-kun]

I think GameFreak wanted to make absolutely sure that Ash and Red were separated characters entirely, and that Ash was an anime-only(ish) creation. I guess that's why so much of what he does in the anime goes against the principles established on the Manga and games, because they could experiment with him without hurting the main entries that were making GF and Nintendo's revenue.

It could also be because Ash is a fucking failure.

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

They weren't very successful at that, once I went to a anime con cosplayed as Pokemon trainer and everyone called me Ash.

That may be because we are from the West, where the anime made the foothold the games and Manga series WISHED they had -- I didn't know who Red was as a kid.