Top 10 Video Game Teen Heroes

Ordinary art student, or destined heroine? That's the question surrounding April, a young woman steadily being drawn into the magical realm of Arcadia. What makes April interesting is that despite being eighteen, she maintains a healthy balance between being snarky and having the makings of an honest-to-goodness saviour. She's resourceful, quick-witted, and capable of appreciating the past as much as she works towards ushering in the future – qualities we can respect.

Even in the early days of game characters, teenage heroes could be awesome. Take this young lad for example – as the nephew of famed scientist Dr. Jones, Mike has quite a legacy to live up to. Fortunately, the kid gets a chance when his uncle goes missing and antagonistic aliens are the culprits. Besides his use of a yo-yo as a weapon, Mike is primarily defined by his perseverance and his compassion; he's a friend to those in need of help, and he refuses to falter in the face of adversity.

Appearances can certainly be deceiving. In “Chrono Trigger”, this silent red-haired boy is at first glance a stereotypical teenager; seemingly unmotivated and not quite heroic. However, as the game proceeds Crono's true nature becomes clear: he's the archetypal hero, leading his friends and comrades through time in order to right wrongs and save the world. On top of that noble drive, he's no slouch in combat; Crono wields a katana with which he doles out punishment. Fight on, Crono.

Don't underestimate this cheerleader – especially since she's wielding a chainsaw. The middle child in a zombie-killing family, Juliet was looking forward to enjoying her eighteenth birthday in style. Yet when her school gets overrun by the undead, she doesn't hesitate to jump into the action, and it's here that her true character emerges. Juliet straddles the line between being carefree and innocent, and having the kind of know-how to save those she loves. Which makes it uniquely thrilling to watch her slice and dice zombies, while never losing her charm.

Sometimes friendship is the only power you need. For Sora, one of several denizens of the Destiny Islands, this is everything. His loyalty to friends and allies is matched by a talent for wielding the Keyblade, a magical tool that selects its master. In a twist of fate, however, Sora is not a chosen hero; he's instead just passionate and sincere enough about his love of friendship to earn that status. Young though he may be, we can't deny that Sora is strong at heart and worthy of his place among the greats.

The city of Yokosuka has a hero, and his name is Ryo. His motivation is simple: find the man who killed his father and ransacked the dojo that he once called home. Yet Ryo is not a simple man; though he fills his time with practising martial arts and roaming the city as a loner, he is not without kindness or a soft-spoken nature. And when it comes time to stand his ground, he's masterful in combat. We can't help but root for him to succeed.

Antisocial does not mean inhuman. That's important to remember with Neku, our anti-heroic character in “The World Ends With You”. Awakening with his only knowledge being his name, this psychically-gifted teen channels negativity through-and-through: he's not keen on socializing, he hates it when society or circumstance tries to restrict him, and he doesn't think much of friendship. Strip that away, though, and you have a quick-thinking guy who can hold his own in a fight – not to mention someone who cares about people more than he lets on. We can see the good in him.

Some kids like to talk, some kids like to punch. Little Mac is the second kind, a silent seventeen-year-old who finds himself pitted against some of boxing's toughest foes. Outside of the ring, he trains in his patented pink jumpsuit with pride – while in the ring, he's equal parts fast and dangerous. Whether his foe is an aged champion, giant island king or a raging group of Smash brothers players, Mac proves age has nothing on a good uppercut.

In the world of “The Last of Us”, hope and idealism are in short supply. So it's refreshing to find Ellie, Joel's apparent sidekick with a heart of gold and a healthy dose of snark. She manages to keep things light, infusing tough or awkward situations with wit and ensuring Joel doesn't lose touch with his humanity. What's just as impressive is how strong she is on her own terms – when the time comes to fend for herself, Ellie proves to be a resourceful character. We're endeared to her, from start to finish.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

Pit
“Kid Icarus” series (1986-)

Isaac
“Golden Sun” series (2001-10)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series (1989-)

Alice
“American McGee's Alice” (2000)

Sakura Kasugano
“Street Fighter” series (1989-)

An unexpected hero, Jimmy defies many of the standard tropes. He's left to the whims of the Bullworth Academy boarding school, pulled between cliques and called upon as an errand boy. As a result, Jimmy can be irritable, self-centred, and somewhat hostile – and yet never evil. He still lends a hand to those who ask for help, and he willingly helps friends with even the oddest tasks. What other person would fight off a group of students while dressed as a ninja? No one but Jimmy.

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite teenage hero in gaming? For more adolescent-centric Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.