Link Voted One of the Most Iconic Video Game Characters in BAFTA Poll, Results Leave Fans Puzzled
Posted on April 08 2024 by Nick Miller
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has released what they’ve determined are the 20 most iconic video game characters of all time. The list comes as the result of a poll which was held in conjunction with the upcoming 20th BAFTA Games Awards, which will take place on Thursday, April 11th.
With over 4,000 respondents, the results of the poll list a wide range of characters from all corners of the gaming landscape. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider) took home the top spot, while Mario (Super Mario Bros.) and Agent 47 (Hitman) round out the top three. The Legend of Zelda‘s very own Link even made the list, placing in seventh place. Nintendo’s Pokémon mascot, Pikachu, also made the ranks at twelfth place.
The full list is as follows:
- Lara Croft (Tomb Raider)
- Mario (Super Mario Bros.)
- Agent 47 (Hitman)
- Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog)
- Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet)
- Pac-Man (Pac-Man)
- Link (The Legend of Zelda)
- Master Chief (Halo)
- Kratos (God of War)
- Shadowheart (Baldur’s Gate 3)
- Arthur Morgan (Red Dead Redemption 2)
- Pikachu (Pokémon)
- Steve (Minecraft)
- Solid Snake (Metal Gear Solid)
- Crash Bandicoot (Crash Bandicoot)
- Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
- Astarion (Baldur’s Gate 3)
- Kazuma Kiryu (Yakuza)
- Ellie Williams (The Last of Us)
- Nathan Drake (Uncharted)
The results have caused a buzz among online gaming communities, however. What has some fans scratching their heads is not only how Mario — arguably the most recognizable video game character ever — didn’t take the top spot, but also how legacy characters like Donkey Kong or Kirby were snubbed while Baldur’s Gate 3 claimed two slots. Some point to recency bias.
What’s equally confusing is how Agent 47 took home third place. Hitman is a great franchise; but does its leading character really deserve to be ranked that high on the list against bigger characters like Link, Master Chief, or Pikachu (the face of the most profitable entertainment franchise in the world)? There are also some questions about Lara Croft’s first-place ranking. Anyone who followed gaming in the nineties knows how influential Lara Croft was as a gaming icon. However, her popularity waned after her initial trilogy of games and hasn’t quite reached that peak since.
Regardless, gamers can at least appreciate that organizations like BAFTA are formally recognizing video games as an entertainment medium. This kind of recognition is bringing gaming into the limelight and helps legitimize video games as an art form. Even if we may not agree on how the list panned out, we should at least appreciate that such lists from accredited organizations exist.
So, what do you think? Is this a fair ranking of video games’ most iconic characters? What changes would you make to this list? Is Link’s seventh-ranked placement reasonable? Let us know in the comments below.
Source: BAFTA (via My Nintendo News)
Nick is a writer for Zelda Dungeon and a longtime fan of the Zelda franchise. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, archery, skateboarding, and some good ol’ fashioned family time. He’s an advocate for physical media and an avid video game collector. His favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time, though Breath of the Wild and the Link’s Awakening remake are close contenders.
