Arguably, the most iconic green character in all video game history is Mario’s brother Luigi. The plumber’s cowardly younger brother originally debuted in the 1983 arcade game Mario Bros., even before the duo became super. While this incarnation of Luigi was just a simple palette swap of Mario for Player 2 to use, Luigi has evolved into a much more complex character through his own adventures in games like Luigi’s Mansion and New Super Luigi U. However, Luigi isn’t the only famous green video game character to exist, and these 10 other icons of gaming have come to represent the best of the color’s use throughout the medium’s history.
Video Game Myths That Felt Like Chasing a Four-Leaf Clover
These five captivating video game myths from across the decades had players spending hundred of hours in wild goose chases (sometimes literally).
Cactuar: Final Fantasy’s Iconic Foe
- First appearance: Final Fantasy 6 — 1994
Making its debut in the fan-favorite Final Fantasy 6, the Cactuar has become a staple enemy of the Final Fantasy franchise and is one of its most recognizable mascots. The design of this creature blends the ancient Japanese Haniwa figures with a traditional saguaro cactus plant. While Cactuars have primarily been terrifying enemies in older Final Fantasy games, with the ability to inflict massive damage with their 10,000 Needles attack, they have also been used as friendly summons throughout the franchise, such as in Final Fantasy 8 and Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Cactuar has appeared in 49 Final Fantasy games and 16 non-Final Fantasy games, including Mario Hoops 3-on-3, Dragon Quest 10, and Monster Hunter: World.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s)Medium (5.0s)Hard (2.5s)Permadeath (2.5s)
Chie Satonaka: Persona 4’s Chariot Social Link
- First appearance: Persona 4 — 2008
Persona 4 players will quickly get to know Chie Satonaka as they live their day-to-day lives attending Yasogami High School and exploring the mystery of the Midnight Channel. Chie represents Persona 4‘s Chariot Arcana Social Link while also being a Physical and Ice Magic user through her Persona, Tomoe. An iconic part of Chie’s design is her green jacket, which provides a nice contrast to the rest of Persona 4‘s Investigation Team and their color palettes.
Jade: Beyond Good and Evil’s IRIS Network Operative
- First appearance: Beyond Good and Evil — 2003
Beyond Good and Evil‘s protagonist, Jade, has a strong connection to the color green just by her name alone. The photo-journalist-turned-IRIS-Agent is recognizable by her green jacket, which is accented by her green headband and lipstick. Throughout Beyond Good and Evil, Jade acts as a beacon of hope for the orphans she cares for at the Lighthouse, which plays into the color green’s symbolic meaning of hope and prosperity. Jade has been confirmed to return in Beyond Good and Evil 2, but the sequel’s status still remains up in the air nine years after it was officially unveiled.
King K. Rool: Donkey Kong’s Recurring Nemesis
- First appearance: Donkey Kong Country — 1994
Donkey Kong’s Kremling foe often steals the show in the games he appears in, portraying the main villain in the original Donkey Kong Country trilogy (as his Kaptain K. Rool and Baron K. Roolenstein personas in the second and third games), bent on stealing the Kongs’ banana horde. Most recently, King K. Rool appeared as a twist antagonist in Donkey Kong Bananza, appearing in the 11th hour after DK and Pauline defeat Void Kong. Beyond that, K. Rool’s green reptilian visage can be found as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and the 2008 baseball spin-off Mario Super Sluggers.
Lae’zel: Baldur’s Gate 3’s Githyanki Companion
- First appearance: Baldur’s Gate 3 — 2023
A more recent addition to the pantheon of beloved green video game characters is the Githyanki Lae’zel, who appears as a party member in Baldur’s Gate 3. The yellowish-green-skinned Githyanki race is known for being brutal warriors and conquerors of the Prime Material Plane throughout Dungeons and Dragons lore. In Baldur’s Gate 3, Lae’zel starts as the Fighter class and excels in the Battle Master subclass, and her character arc can be one of the most morally complicated quests in the game for players who see it through to the end.
Link: The Legend of Zelda’s Hylian Hero
- First appearance: The Legend of Zelda — 1986
Aside from Luigi, Link is likely the most iconic green character in gaming history. Ever since the original Legend of Zelda game, Link can be recognized by his green tunic and cap, which complement the sleek Master Sword that is a staple of his character design. Although more recent games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom put Link in a blue tunic by default, players can still access his classic green outfits from games like Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess.
Lucio: Overwatch’s Support Hero DJ
- First appearance: Overwatch — 2016
A core member of the original Overwatch roster that debuted in 2016 is the Support Hero Lucio, who sports a neon green outfit complete with futuristic green skates. This Brazilian-based member of Overwatch moonlights as a DJ, and his in-game kit allows him to use his music to passively heal and buff teammates. Lucio’s speed, passive healing, and ability to “boop” enemies off the edge of a map make him an incredibly fun Overwatch character to play, and his distinguishing green outfit cements him as a modern green gaming icon.
Master Chief: Halo’s Spartan Commando
- First appearance: Halo: Combat Evolved — 2001
The most decorated veteran of the UNSC and icon of the FPS genre, John-117, better known as Master Chief, is Halo‘s legendary protagonist. The green Spartan armor that Master Chief wears makes him one of the most recognizable characters in gaming history and has helped the Halo franchise maintain its identity for nearly 25 years. This armor is so integral to the core of Master Chief’s character that the Halo franchise rarely shows him without it. After earning almost every known medal in the UNSC and fighting threats like the Covenant and the Flood, it’s safe to say that Master Chief does his fellow green video game characters proud.
Rayquaza: Pokemon’s Sky High Legendary
- First appearance: Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire — 2002
The Legendary Sky High Pokemon Rayquaza debuted as an optional battle atop the Sky Pillar in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire, but later became the focal point for the conflict between Groudon and Kyogre in Gen 3’s third entry, Pokemon Emerald. This Dragon/Flying-Type creature has become a fan-favorite over the years, partially due to the incredibly powerful Mega Evolution it gained in Gen 6, and by having one of the best Shiny variants in the Pokemon franchise. Rayquaza also plays a pivotal role in Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire‘s post-game Delta Episode, where players ride atop the creature to battle Deoxys in outer space.
Yoshi: Mario’s Lovable Companion
- First appearance: Super Mario World —1990
Luigi isn’t the only iconic green character to come from the Mario franchise. Mario’s rideable companion, Yoshi, has become a core part of the Mario world while also developing a series of games of its own. After debuting in Super Mario World on SNES, Yoshi would go on to star in the game’s sequel, Super Mario World 2: Yoshi’s Island, where he must aid Baby Mario in finding his brother, Baby Luigi. The Yoshi series is still going strong today, with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book set to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 later this May. Although Yoshis come in a variety of different colors, green is Yoshi’s original color and the one most closely associated with the dinosaur.
Yoshi will debut on the big screen for the first time in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie, and will be voiced by Donald Glover.
