Nintendo has created some of gaming’s most famous mascot characters over the years, with Princess Peach being one of the most popular. What few fans realize, however, is just how many princess characters Nintendo has created across its many successful franchises.
While many of these female characters originally started out as damsels in distress for the likes of Mario and Link to save, they’ve evolved over time. These days, the best Nintendo Princesses are heroines, strong enough to give the male heroes a run for their money. Seeing as they all hail from different worlds and their powers can change from game to game, ranking these leading ladies in strength is no easy task. Based on their feats and powers within their own universes as well as across franchises, here’s how they stack up.
Related
8 Best Anti-Hero Nintendo Characters, Ranked
These Nintendo characters walk the fine line between good and evil.
8 Princess Daisy – Super Mario Series
A Power Athlete
Super Mario Land
- Released
- July 31, 1989
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo R&D1
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Princess Daisy first appeared in 1989 in Super Mario Land as the ruler of Sarasaland, and has been a recurring character in the Mario series ever since. Ranking her power level isn’t easy since Daisy has appeared as a playable character in quite a few games, with her powers often changing between entries.
Related
10 Video Game Mascots Inspired By Nintendo’s Mario
Due to Mario becoming an iconic mascot for Nintendo, there are several companies that tried to replicate that magic for their own.
For a start, the various Mario sports games have shown Daisy to have enhanced strength, agility, endurance, and reflexes compared to “normal” humans. Other games have given her the ability to summon everything from flowers and rainbows in combat to deadly crystals. While these abilities make her a formidable opponent, most Mario characters have shown similar feats at this point, earning Daisy the bottom ranking.
7 Princess Eirika – Fire Emblem Series
Speed And Skill Rule The Day
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
- Released
- October 7, 2004
- Genre(s)
- Tactical RPG
As one of the best Fire Emblem protagonists, Princess Eirika deserves her spot on this list. First Appearing in Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Princess Eirikia is known for her fearsome combat abilities and leadership skills. In particular, she’s a skilled swordfighter, wielding the Rapier and Sieglinde effortlessly. Her agility and speed mean she’s able to strike most opponents twice before they can hit her.
This all makes Eirika a princess no one would want to mess with. By Fire Emblem standards, she’s pretty strong. That being said, compared to other princesses on this list, she’s a bit low-level. Eirika is a powerful warrior, but other Nintendo princesses can wield magic and warp reality.
6 Princess Celica – Fire Emblem Series
Wields A Sword And Magic
Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia
As both the princess of Zofia and a priestess with magical powers who also wields a sword, Celica makes for a formidable opponent. In melee combat, Celica wields the sword Beloved Zofia, which allows her to combine magical attacks with deadly sword strikes. While not as physically strong as Eirika, her magical abilities put her a step above.
Related
Fire Emblem: 7 Best Villains, Ranked
Out of all the villains that have appeared throughout the Fire Emblem series, these are the ones that have made the biggest impression on fans.
By the end of the game, Celica can cast powerful spells like Ragnarok and Seraphim, with Ragnarok being particularly powerful. When injured, she can also heal herself with magic. Unfortunately, while impressive, these magical abilities pale in comparison to some of Nintendo’s other princesses.
5 Princess Hilda – The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Zelda’s Dark Counterpart
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- Released
- November 22, 2013
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
When people think of the Legend of Zelda, obviously Princess Zelda is the first royal to come to mind, but there are others. The series has plenty of great female characters, and Hilda is arguably one of the best. Princess Hilda is a dark version of Zelda who rules over Hyrule’s shadow version (kind of) Lorule. While she’s technically yet another version of Zelda, Hilda is also a character in her own right.
4:26
Related
10 Darkest Nintendo Characters, Ranked
These are some of the darkest and most despicable characters ever to grace a Nintendo console…
While she doesn’t possess the power of Goddess Hylia like Zelda does, Hilda is still plenty powerful. She wields Lorule’s Triforce of Wisdom and can use powerful dark magic like creating barriers and summoning shadow entities.
4 Princess Midna – The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess
The Power Of Shadow Magic
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- Released
- November 19, 2006
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
Midna may not have access to the power of a goddess, but as the true ruler of the Twii, she has access to a dizzying array of abilities. Among other things, she can create portals, summon energy fields, phase through walls, and, using the Fused Shadow, transform into a giant creature.
In fact, in her shadow form, she’s the only character in the game strong enough to destroy the Mirror of Twilight, allowing the heroes to defeat Zant. Midna doesn’t just have one of the best backstories in The Legend of Zelda series; she’s one of its strongest princesses. Midna should be able to hold her own against the majority of Nintendo’s princesses.
3 Princess Peach – Super Mario Series
No Longer A Damsel In Distress
Princess Peach: Showtime!
- Released
- March 22, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Princess Peach has been around for a long time. When she first appeared in 1985’s Super Mario Bros., she was little more than a damsel in distress with no agency. Boy, has she grown since then. With countless game appearances under her belt, she’s grown into not just one of the best female Mario characters, but one of Nintendo’s most powerful princesses.
On paper, Peach’s abilities may not sound that impressive, but they’ve increased over time. In Super Mario Bros. 2, she can float; in Super Princess Peach, her emotions give her magical powers; and in Super Smash Bros., she’s a fierce combatant. With each new game she appears in, Peach gains new powers, making her incredibly versatile. Throw in the fact that, like Mario, she can use power-ups, and Princess Peach quickly starts to look overpowered.
2 Princess Rosalina – Super Mario Galaxy
Wields Cosmic Powers
Super Mario Galaxy
- Released
- November 1, 2007
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- 3D Platformer
Peach might be powerful, but she’s got nothing on Super Mario Galaxy’s Princess Rosalina. Rosalina is arguably the most powerful of all of Mario’s lady friends, wielding powers on a cosmic scale. It’s her responsibility to protect Mario’s entire multiverse/cosmos, and she has the powers to perform this duty.
Related
Mario: Rosalina’s Most Iconic Outfits, Ranked
Rosalina has had some gorgeous looks over the course of her time in the Super Mario franchise, but some stand out more than others.
Rosalina is either immortal or almost immortal, having witnessed the death and rebirth of entire universes. Able to use cosmic magic, she was able to take on Bowser’s entire fleet and is responsible for creating the Comet Observatory, which allows Mario to traverse the best galaxies in Super Mario Galaxy. She’s an absolute powerhouse, which makes one wonder why she needs the little Italian plumber at all.
1 Princess Zelda – The Legend of Zelda Series
The Reincarnation Of Hylia
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
- Released
- May 12, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
Talking about the Legend of Zelda series’ wider canon and Princess Zelda’s connection to the goddess Hylia opens up a ridiculously massive can of worms, so we’re going to sidestep it as much as possible. Much like Princess Peach, the original Princess Zelda was little more than a damsel in distress for Link to rescue, but over time, Nintendo has developed her into a heroine in her own right.
As the lore behind the multiple incarnations of Zelda has expanded, so has her power set. She’s a powerful magic user, a skilled warrior, and can reinforce her powers through various transformations, like the Sheik Transformation. On top of this, her use of the Triforce of Wisdom grants her heightened intelligence and the ability to foresee and influence events. Fans may argue over the precise nature of Zelda’s connection to Hylia, but that connection makes her Nintendo’s strongest princess, and gives her seemingly limitless potential.
More
The 8 Best Nintendo Characters, Ranked
Nintendo is well-known for its roster of memorable characters, and the following are practically universal gaming icons.