Top 10 Animal Heroes in Video Games

Heroes come in all shapes and species. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 video game animal heroes.

For this list, we counted down our favorite animal main characters in games. They can be fictional animals or anthropomorphic figures, but they have to be the main playable character, and have to originate in video games—so Ninja Turtles are out. As usual, one entry per franchise.

You can’t expect a clean mouth from this vulgar squirrel, but he can be quite entertaining if you’re okay with hearing some obscenities. He’s an alcoholic who’s just as cynical as he is hysterical. One night, his binge drinking gets out of control, and you have to help him navigate home safely in world that’s nothing short of surreal. It’s most advisable to keep open flames away from this little critter, because he has been known to pee on folks. Literally.

This title didn’t sell well at first, but that didn’t stop its sun god protagonist from leaving an impression on gamers everywhere. Being a god, she’s technically not an animal, but she still takes the shape of a wolf for the majority of the game as she battles the evil Orochi alongside her trusty guide Issun. The character’s sheer beauty, as rendered through the game’s unforgettable cel-shaded graphics, was more than enough to guarantee her a spot on our list.

Even though this character looks cute, he’s actually an infamous master thief, or Gentlemen’s theif as he calls himself. He comes from a long line of criminal geniuses, and he’s certainly adopted the family traits, as he has no problem breaking into locations like Cairo’s Museum of Natural History, as he does in the series’ second game. In addition to his natural talents, he has plenty of awesome tools to help him get the job done, like his hooked cane.

Another PlayStation mascots on our list, and he’s probably not the last. This Australian Marsupial became who he is now because the evil Doctor Neo Cortex, along with his henchman Doctor Nitrius Brio, who mutated Crash with their powerful Evolvo-Ray. Luckily for Crash, the mutation worked out for him quite well, giving him powerful jump and spin moves (10:20) which he uses to stop Cortex from taking over the world.

The ace pilot of the Star Fox Team, Fox took up the role of leader after his father was betrayed and murdered by one of his teammates, but he’s certainly no slouch as he singlehandedly lead his 4 man team across the Lylat System to defeat Andross. Out of the cockpit, Fox is just as experienced in hand to hand combat, being one of the fastest characters one can choose in the Smash Bros games.

Why settle for one badass animal character when you can have two held together? You wouldn’t think birds and bears would be a natural fit for a team, but these guys make an incredible pair. As Kazooie rides around in Banjo’s backpack, the two cooperate well as platforming teammates and collectors of Jiggies, the puzzle pieces that unlock levels. Don’t take our word for it—just ask the witch Gruntilda, whose nefarious plans get foiled by the two.

Not only is this character among the most adorable in all of games, thanks his simple but memorable design, he also makes a formidable foe for whoever gets in his way. Originally introduced as a side character, the lovable Dinosaur eventually went on to star in his own games. His long tongue easily allows him to swallow enemies whole, enemies he promptly turns into eggs to throw back at enemies. That’s pretty messed up when you think about it.

Don’t let this guy’s pint-sized appearance fool you—he’s one tough fighter. Whether he’s ramming his horns into enemies, or dousing them with fire, Spyro proves that great things come in small packages. Younger gamers would probably recognize him better from his Skylanders adventures, while those who grew up with a PS1 would know him best as the dragon best to barbeque sheep. Whatever incarnation you prefer, his legacy to appeal to gamers of different generations gets him high on this list.

Here he is, the character that was Nintendo’s first breakout star. Though Mario later surpassed him to become the company’s most recognizable character, the ape predated him by four years. Yet Donkey’s made a legacy of his own, particularly with his nephew and sidekick Diddy Kong in “Donkey Kong Country” games. And while he may have been out of action for its sequels, Retro Studios made sure that when he returned, the limelight was always on him.


Before we get to our number one, let’s take a look at some honorable mentions:


Earthworm Jim
“Earthworm Jim” series (1994-95)

PaRappa the Rapper
“PaRappa the Rapper” series (1997-2007)

Klonoa
“Klonoa” series (1997-2002)

Ecco the Dolphin
“Ecco the Dolphin” series (1993)

Who else to top our list than the character who at one time was considered just as big as Mario. The blue hedgehog has become one of the most iconic characters in all of video games thanks to his mischievous smile, blistering speed (:10), and all out cool persona, which was present even in his 16 bit Genesis adventures. Also bringing along with him iconic characters like Tails and Knuckles along with other’s we’d rather forget, Sonic may have tripped up quite a bit over the last few years, but his legacy is undeniable.
Do you agree with our list? Which animal character makes you howl at the moon? For more primal top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.