C/D: These are the Top 5 most iconic video characters of all time

Top 5 (objectively and in order) Most Iconic Video Game Characters of all time according to me:

1. Mario
2. Pac-Man
3. Pikachu
4. Luigi
5. Sonic

*By iconic, I mean the most famous, influential, popular, and recognizable video game characters in history, with the biggest brands outside of video games and can be be identified by most general audiences worldwide spanning all demographics.

Agree/disagree? Why or why not? If not, who would be your top 5?

I came so close to replacing Sonic with either Donkey Kong or Link , but I figured Sonic was perhaps a bit more recognizable and influential than those two, given the Sonic brand outside of video games (merch, media/entertainment, pop culture, etc.). Plus I figured more "outside-of-the-loop" audiences, like older generations and non-gamers, would still likely be able to at least identify who Sonic is over the other two, maybe. But idk. Tell me your thoughts.

Luigi doesn't belong there. Outside of people who are being too Internet, he's just a side character.

The guy from Minecraft, Lara Croft, Doomguy, Halo bloke, Snake, Link, Samus, the fucking Tetris Block. They all outrank Luigi.

replace luigi with master chief

I'm only voting against Luigi just because including two characters from the same franchise is kinda lame.

Replace him with John Halo and the list is perfect.

Real list should be

Mario
Luigi
Yoshi
Lara Croft
Wario

I think the only arguable one on the list is Luigi.
And even then, it probably is Weege

I'd replace Luigi with Link instead of Master Chef.

I'm probably not hanging around the right people, but I feel like most of the non-gaming people I know would immediately recognize Donkey Kong, but not have any idea who Master Chief is.

Lazy_Haar posted...

I'm probably not hanging around the right people, but I feel like most of the non-gaming people I know would immediately recognize Donkey Kong, but not have any idea who Master Chief is.

It's not solely about recognition, but also influence. Halo was the franchise that kicked off the huge popularity of console fps games, which is still the most popular video game genre out there. If it weren't for John Halo we'd still be playing platformers.

I would say Lara Croft rather than Luigi

ai123 posted...

Luigi doesn't belong there. Outside of people who are being too Internet, he's just a side character.

The guy from Minecraft, Lara Croft, Doomguy, Halo bloke, Snake, Link, Samus, the fucking Tetris Block. They all outrank Luigi.

Even Tetris Block won a popularity contest on this very site.

Using both Mario and Luigi is... completely correct, actually.