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Mario, Link, Samus, and Kirby are among Nintendo’s defining heroes—but there is no official Nintendo top ten. This ranking is an editorial selection based on how clearly each character acts as a hero, how distinctive their identity is, how central they are to a Nintendo series, and how broadly they appear across Nintendo games. The order reflects those criteria, not a Nintendo endorsement or a popularity poll.
How this ranking works
Nintendo’s own character pages and game rosters establish a strong pool of candidates, but they do not settle who belongs at the top. Play Nintendo’s hero poll names eight characters readers can choose from; it does not rank them. Nintendo’s page for the original Super Smash Bros. names 12 characters in that game’s roster, which is a useful historical snapshot rather than a list of today’s full roster.
With that distinction in mind, the ranking weighs four things: a character’s role as a hero, their distinctive character identity, their importance to their series, and their reach across Nintendo games. It is a judgment call, not a score derived from poll results or sales figures.
The 10 best Nintendo heroes
10. Yoshi
Yoshi earns a place for being more than a sidekick: the character’s instantly recognizable look and helpful, playful presence make Yoshi a memorable hero in their own right. Nintendo includes Yoshi among the eight choices in its Play Nintendo hero poll and names Yoshi in the original Super Smash Bros. roster. That broad recognition supports the pick, even if Yoshi’s heroic identity is often tied to helping others.
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9. Princess Zelda
Princess Zelda belongs on a heroes list because the series’ stakes and identity are inseparable from her. Her name anchors The Legend of Zelda, and Nintendo includes her in its Play Nintendo hero poll alongside Link. The role and details of Zelda vary across games, so this ranking treats her as a recurring series figure rather than assigning one fixed biography to every incarnation.
8. Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong has the presence to carry a game and the recognition to stand alongside Nintendo’s best-known characters. Nintendo names him in both its Play Nintendo hero poll and the original Super Smash Bros. roster. His inclusion here reflects his lasting place in Nintendo’s character lineup, not an assumption that every game casts him in the same kind of heroic role.
7. Luigi
Luigi is often the more cautious half of Nintendo’s best-known sibling duo, which makes his heroic turns especially appealing. Nintendo’s Mario character page describes Mario and Luigi as brave, and Luigi appears in both the Play Nintendo hero poll and the original Super Smash Bros. roster. His identity has room for humor and nerves without making his moments of courage feel less genuine.
Rank #2
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6. Pikachu
Pikachu makes the list as one of Nintendo’s most recognizable game characters and a central face of Pokémon. Nintendo’s original Super Smash Bros. roster includes Pikachu, showing that the character was part of the game’s original cross-franchise lineup. This ranking focuses on Pikachu as a Nintendo-associated game hero, not on a claim that Nintendo’s roster page establishes a ranking or popularity measure.
5. Samus Aran
Samus stands apart from Nintendo’s more colorful fantasy heroes: a bounty hunter whose adventures define the Metroid series. Nintendo UK’s character hub points to Samus’s adventures, and Samus is one of the 12 characters named on Nintendo’s page for the original Super Smash Bros. Her strong visual identity and role as the series’ lead make her one of Nintendo’s most distinctive heroes.
4. Kirby
Kirby’s simple silhouette and unusual appetite give the character an identity that is immediately easy to remember. Nintendo calls Kirby “this little pink hero” on its official Kirby page and directs players to the Kirby game series. That description captures the appeal: a small, cheerful-looking hero whose games give the character a clear place at the center of the action.
Rank #3
- Includes 4 inch scaled Wario figure and yellow plastic coin.
- Suggested for ages 3 and up.
3. Link
Link is one of Nintendo’s clearest examples of a hero built around a journey: a familiar character who repeatedly stands at the heart of The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo’s Zelda portal describes a specific version of Link as a traveling boy who rescues Impa and then sets out to rescue Princess Zelda after she is taken by the Demon King Ganon. That account belongs to its particular game context, not every version of Link. Across the series, Link’s recognizable identity and central heroic role earn a top-three spot.
2. Mario
Mario is the most natural face of Nintendo’s heroic lineup. Nintendo’s official character page calls him “The main hero of the Mushroom Kingdom” and describes him as bright and cheerful, recognized by his red cap, blue overalls, and moustache. Those are official character details, not proof of an objective ranking—but they help explain why Mario’s identity is so enduring and why he sits near the top of this list.
1. Princess Peach
Princess Peach takes the top spot because her place in Nintendo’s hero lineup extends beyond being a familiar figure in Mario’s world. Nintendo includes her among the choices in the Play Nintendo hero poll, a poll that also names Mario, Link, Kirby, and other recognizable characters. Her continuing association with the Mushroom Kingdom makes her a fitting choice for a ranking centered on Nintendo heroes, while the number-one position remains this article’s editorial judgment rather than an official result.
Rank #4
- Includes poseable action figure, sword, shield, and sheath
- First time issued in the brand new collectible The Legend of Zelda packaging
- Sword and shield accessories
- First time issued in the brand new collectible The Legend of Zelda packaging
What Nintendo’s lists do—and don’t—tell us
Nintendo’s Play Nintendo poll names eight heroes: Mario, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, Link, Princess Zelda, Kirby, Yoshi, and Luigi. It invites readers to choose among them but does not publish a definitive ranking. Nintendo’s original Super Smash Bros. roster names 12 characters—Mario, Luigi, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox McCloud, Jigglypuff, Ness, Captain Falcon, and Pikachu. That list describes the original game, not the current roster or an official order of importance.
Character descriptions can also be specific to one game or franchise incarnation. Nintendo’s Zelda portal, for example, gives a particular context for Link’s story; it should not be treated as a single biography that applies uniformly across the series. Nintendo’s amiibo lineup includes figures for Link, Donkey Kong, and Samus, offering a collectible route for fans of those characters. Figure availability and compatibility depend on the specific product and game.
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