Video Game Characters We All Had a Crush On

Joanna Dark – Perfect Dark Zero

Perfect Dark Zero, a pastiche of GoldenEye 007, hasn’t really aged well, but around the time of its release, it provided many a young gamer with their first crush in the form of Joanna Dark. She’s basically James Bond for girls (and guys who game), only way less serious.

Princess Zelda – Legend of Zelda

Princess Zelda hardly shows up in the original Legend of Zelda, which makes her character all the more alluring. Once Nintendo decided to feature her across the franchise, it was game over – metaphorically speaking. Fans had no problem whatsoever identifying with Link’s love for Princess Zelda.

Leon S Kennedy – Resident Evil

Leon S Kennedy cut his teeth in Resident Evil 2 but it wasn’t until later on in the franchise that he became somewhat of a sex symbol. Within two games, he’d gone from naive cop to highly capable agent. He maintained his sense of humor and folly, though, and therefore avoided alienating audiences.

Naked Snake – Metal Gear Solid

Naked Snake is a wackjob with a hyper-masculine charm. Some may call him toxic, others downright sexy. Many Metal Gear Solid fans found themselves sympathizing with this character and the tragedies he experienced throughout the games. Are you one of those? Probably.

Chun Li – Street Fighter

Chun Li was destined to make an impression on Street Fighter players being the only woman on a male roster. Though not the first woman in gaming history, she’s certainly the first star. Her ability to take down men with her thighs put a spell on fans back in the 1990s and they’ve yet to snap out of it.

Jill Valentine – Resident Evil

Jill Valentine wasn’t too interesting in Resident Evil. By the third instalment, they’d switched her drab police outfit for a tube top and short skit and hey presto! Capcom knew what they were doing here and it paid off. Jill is now folkloric among “hot video game character circles”.

Rayne – Bloodrayne

Never heard of Bloodrayne? Don’t be too upset. This franchise never really took off like it was expected to, with the last entry being released in 2011. But at a moment in time, Rayne was one of gaming’s greatest pinups. What’s not to like about a sexy vampire who can beat people up?

Lara Croft – Tomb Raider

If you were to show Lara Croft’s original form to younger audiences today, they’d probably be baffled by the grip she has on millennials. Yet for whatever reason, we couldn’t get enough of this blocky babe. The rumour that there was a nude code within Tomb Raider did wonders for her reach – until you entered it and she exploded.

Cammy – Street Fighter

Street Fighter’s second female fighter Cammy, unlike Chun Li before her, was designed to get pulses racing. While a decent brawler in her own right, Cammy’s main appeal was the fact she has 99% of her behind on show. Gamers the world over can probably attribute her to their sexual awakenings.

Tifa Lockhart – Final Fantasy VII

Even saying the name Tifa Lockhart to certain people will bring a smile to their faces. A mixed bag of a character, Tifa managed to balance a girly personality with an extreme penchant for violence. And she didn’t use any weapons! This was the kind of woman you wanted on your side, at every possible chance.

Samus Aran – Metroid

One of the OG video game crushes, Samus Aran’s gender was kept a secret until the end of the first Metroid. She would first show her face, and then her legs, before completely undressing and showing off her bikini bod. Has this aged horribly? Yes. Did it mean the world to players back in the day? Absolutely.

Cortana – Halo

Yes, Cortana is clothed. But she doesn’t look it, which explains why she’s on this list. Fans of Halo weren’t solely enticed by Cortana but she served as a welcome addition to an already intriguing game. And how about that personality? Standing up against Master Chief? A deadly combo of brains and beauty.

Krystal the Fox – Star Fox Adventures

Star Fox Adventures is largely forgettale but the amount of closet Furries it radicalised is something to behold. Krystal the Fox is a sexy fox. That’s it. Nintendo had no idea that’s what the people wanted. They were just winging it and boy did it land with players.

Paine – Final Fantasy

Sure, Tifa Lockhart is special, and so is Lightning and Yuna, but let’s not forget Paine. With her unusual red eyes, leather pants and opera globes (and a giant sword), Paine won over thousands of fans with her sexy, punk aesthetic. She is a question mark, too. You have to discover what happened to Paine during the events of Final Fantasy X.

Alyx Vance – Half-Life 2

Alyx Vance’s charm is suburban. She isn’t some flying Goddess wielding a machete. She’s a regular, flawed woman and Half-Life fans absolutely loved that. Reassuring proof that female video game characters don’t have to be hyper-sexualised in order to make an impression on male players. That isn’t to say she hasn’t been fantasised about over the years…

Meryl Silverburgh – Metal Gear Solid

If you overcome Revolver Ocelot’s torture in Metal Gear Solid, Solid Snake rescues his sidekick Meryl Silverburgh from a certain death. If you give in to it, she meets her maker. What do you think most people did? Poor Meryl deserved better than that.

Kitana – Mortal Kombat II

Mortal Kombat II actually introduced three new female characters, but Kitana was arguably the best. A personal assassin for Shaok Kahn, this leotard-wearing bruiser took the franchise by storm in 1993 and you couldn’t even see her whole face. Just the dark, (possibly) soulful eyes…

Alastair – Dragon Age Origins

Not only do gingers have souls, but rugged good looks to boot. Dragon Age’s Alastair is one of gaming’s rare male redheads, which probably explains the fascination and adoration a lot of people had for him. Alastair is your companion throughout Origins, helping you out of any pickle. Swoon!

Ezio – Assassin’s Creed

Of course Ezio Auditore is on this list. It wouldn’t be complete without the Assassin’s Creed poster boy and bona fide hottie. As it happens, combining charm, courage and an Italian accent makes for an appealing human being. Fans just couldn’t resist Ezio from his first appearance in Assassin’s Creed 2 to his last days.

Johnny Gat – Saint’s Row

Is it possible to have a crush on a temperamental man who settles every dispute with violence while wearing square-lensed sunglasses? Yes, and Saint’s Row proved that. Second in command of the 3rd Street Saints, Johnny Gat hates you and everyone you know and that’s exactly why (some) fans loved him.

Dante – Devil May Cry

Another member of the “I don’t care about anything” crowd, Devil May Cry’s Dante served as some people’s first-ever gaming crush with his shoot-from-the-hip, unkempt style and corny one-liners. Oh, and his ludicrous Gigachad physique. He’s aged in a bit of a silver fox throughout the years but that hasn’t lost him any love.

Victor Sullivan – Uncharted

Victor Sullivan is probably the first (and last) old man you ever crushed on, and nobody can blame you. For hundreds of players, choosing between Drake and Sullivan was a no-brainer. Sullivan was smarter. He was more mature. His charisma knew no bounds. And the way he’d smoke those cigars? Forget about it.

Garrus – Mass Effect

OK, laugh all you want but some people have gone on record as saying they felt attracted to Garrus. An arrogant live-wire, he went to the end of the earth (and beyond) for his comrades. He was never selfish. He was basically everything a cat isn’t. ICYMI, Garrus has a feline-like head.

Max Payne – Max Payne

Tall, dark and, yes, handsome, Max Payne speaks to all the bad-boy lovers out there. Yet he is also conscious of his flaws and failings. And by the third instalment of the franchise, he displays not just a knack for violence but for restraint. Max Payne is a textbook example of a gentle giant… most of the time.

Gabriel Belmont – Castlevania: Lord of Darkness

One for the goths. Gabriel Belmont is a vampire hunter, armed with a whip, dark hair, and a sultry voice. Many and various are the male protagonists in Castlevania, but there’s something extra special about this hunk. In the sequels, he proved himself to be as vulnerable as courageous.

Cassie Cage – Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat offers horror and beauty in equal measure. You’ll either see someone have their spine ripped out or someone drop-dead gorgeous. Cassie Cage was a newbie to the series but fans took to her perfectly well. The daughter of Sonia Blade and Johnny Cage, Cassie is a flawless mix of both.

Kasumi – Dead or Alive

Ever since Dead or Alive’s debut in 1996, Kasumi has acted as the poster girl for the series, amassing a huge following of aroused gamers up and down the modern world. Whether or not this is linked to Kasumi wearing fewer clothes across each game is up for debate. The people love her and so do we!

Triss Merigold – The Witcher

Triss Merigold is a slippery customer. Unlike a lot of video gaming crushes, she is not instantly likeable. In fact, she’s kind of annoying and vague, and apparently driven by ulterior motives. Then we spend a bit of time with her and realise she’s a compassionate and efficient woman. Players couldn’t get enough of this femme fatale.

Miranda Lawson – Mass Effect

Players have plenty of women to try and impress throughout the Mass Effect series but barely any hold a candle to the acid-tongued Miranda Lawson. First appearing in Mass Effect 2, this steely character actually turns out to be fun. And the black and white skin-tight costume doesn’t exactly ruin the mood.

Bayonetta – Bayonetta

So few heroines have glasses and that’s why Bayonetta is so great. Well, that’s one of the reasons. She also has physical ability and charm on her side. For years, Bayonetta has piqued the interest of veteran and rookie gamers with her dazzling aesthetic and jaw-dropping powers.

Aya Brea – Parasite Eve

Parasite Eve holds a special place in people’s hearts. Aya Brea holds an incredibly special place. An NYC cop thrown into the deep end of violence and paranoia, she’s remarkably grounded. What? You don’t think composure is hot? Grow up. She is also simply hot, though. There’s no getting around that.

Bastila Shan – Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

If you’re looking for a graceful, skilled female femme fatale with a weakness for highly suggestive rhetoric, look no further than Knights of the Old Republic’s Bastila Shan. Voiced by Jennifer Hale, fans went ape for this Jedi back in the day. Sure, she’s hot, but it’s the yellow double-lightsaber we really love.

Elizabeth Comstock – BioShock Infinite

Having lived most of her life in a tower, developers of BioShock Infinite considered cutting her from the story due to difficulty in making her “work.” What a mistake that would’ve been. Elizabeth Comstock was a huge success among fans with her loving, animated eyes and positive attitude.

Morrigan Aensland – Darkstalkers

Morrigan Aensland isn’t just an OG. She’s over three hundred years old. But she looks great. This succubus became a fan favourite the second she first appeared in Darkstalkers, for obvious physical reasons. The fact she had it in her to lay waste to anyone who stood in her way was the cherry on the cake.

Princess Peach – Super Mario Bros

We’re not gonna call Princess Peach sexy. This gaming crush was purely wholesome. Among all the hijinks and chaos of the Super Mario Bros world, Princess Peach is a welcome tonic, sprinkling kindness and good vibes wherever she goes. She’s also proved capable of looking after herself throughout the years.

Sylvia Christel – No More Heroes

Sylvia Christel, an agent of the United Assassins Association, is pure fantasy. It’s hard to take someone with such short skirts too seriously gameplay-wise, not that anyone is complaining. In fact, players were probably happy to be disarmed by ol’ Sylv if it meant standing a chance with her.

Chloe Frazer – Uncharted

Chloe Frazer isn’t tied up in some castle, warbling and crying, waiting for a big strong man to come and rescue her. She’s tough as nails and isn’t afraid to let you know it. She’s also smoking hot. Chloe has her dalliances in the past but none of that is gonna pin her down or be sued against her and that’s why she’s such a great character.

Angel – King of Fighters

King of Fighters isn’t too great, but it has some decent characters. Angel is one of the cybernetically modified humans created by the secret syndicate known as NESTS. Mainly, though, she’s just hot. The developer apparently modelled her on “personal preferences”, which by the looks of it are “scantily clad with a gravity-defying chest”.

Blood Elves – World of Warcraft

Society has come on leaps and bounds since the 90s but there are still some titles that can cause sniggers among jocky circles. Well, next time anyone tries to make fun of you for playing WoW, invite them over and introduce them to the blood elves. Let’s see who the jock is then, yeah!

Kaileena – Prince of Persia

Female NPCs have a tendency to be damsels in distress and little else, but no Prince of Persia’s Kaileena. Oh no, this antagonist-turned-protagonist sidekick has a mind of her own, especially in The Two Thrones. Liberally dressed, with long, dark locks, she was voiced by Monica Bellucci in the first game. And that helps a lot.

Sophitia – Soul Edge

Soul Edge isn’t just some catwalk for letchy gamers. It’s famous for its incredible gameplay and unlockable characters. Still, Sophitia is a smokeshow and there’s no denying it. This Greek gladiator knows how to hand out a beating as well as she knows how to set pulses racing.

Anna Williams – Tekken

The younger sister of Nina, with whom she shares a violent rivalry half of the time, Anna Williams is one of Tekken’s greatest gifts and hottest characters. Skilled in Aikido, Hapkido and Koppojutsu, she ain’t the kind of gal you ever want to cross in a dark alley.

Mileena – Mortal Kombat II

If Kitana is going to make a list about video game crushes, it makes sense to include her twin sister Mileena. Mileena shares identical clothing with her sister, only hers comes in a deep purple, and she is armed with two sai. Is she afraid to use them? No, sir. No, she is not.

Sheva Alomar – Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5 was criticised for failing to live up to the scare-factor of the previous instalments. What it wasn’t criticized for is the presence of one Sheva Alomar. If you have a fear or weakness for agents of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance who also shoot arrows, stay far away from this game and woman.

Alicia – Bullet Witch

In Bullet Witch, witch-herself Alicia Claus spends her days hunting down demons. Why people were attracted to this proportionally perfect, Jennifer Connolly lookalike with a knack for slaying enemies like she was late for a meeting with real ones, we shall never know.

The DOA Girls – Dead or Alive

We’re gonna catch a lot of birds with one stone here and just announce the entire DOA female roster as one of video gaming’s biggest crushes. Players were treated in DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball when character rivalries were placed aside and everyone was put into a skimpy bikini.

Tala – Darkwatch

Can you guess what it was about Tala that hooked fans back in the 2000s based on this picture alone? We’re struggling. The eyes? Her nose? The pose itself? Whatever it is, it got this Darkwatch femme fatale into Playboy’s Women of Video Games issue in 2006. Strange!

Rachel – Ninja Gaiden

Ninja Gaiden concerns the adventures of Ryu and Rachel, a fiend hunter carrying a blood curse that can turn humans into fiends. More crucially, she was designed by an incredibly aroused developer. Blonde hair and green eyes? We’re listening. Scant clothing? OK. An inferno hammer? Sold.

Christie Monteiro – Tekken 4

Sure, Christie Monteiro is saucy, but she also looks like someone who’d be down to chill. A good-humoured all-rounder, who never seeks confrontation but can solve it. After you play as the Brazilian in Tekken 4, all of this is gloriously confirmed.

Trish – Devil May Cry

Who came first: Trish in Devil May Cry, or Christina Aguilera in the music video for her song “Dirty”? Trish, actually. This devil-hunter made her debut in 2001 and has captivated gaming audiences ever since. Her most recent appearance was in the 2019 online card game, TEPPEN.

Juliet Starling – Lollipop Chainsaw

Usually, our childhood video game crushes were on those we were either playing as, or rooted for. In the case of Lollipop Chainsaw, we were down hard for its main protagonist. Juliet Starling, a chainsaw-wielding cheerleader and lollipop fan, made us question good versus evil and right versus wrong.

Mai Shiranui – Fatal Fury 2

There’s a lot of pressure on Mai in Fatal Fury 2. The Granddaughter of ninjutsu master Hanzo Shiranui, she has to hold her own in a tough climate. And for the most part, she can, and while looking typically OTT in the looks department. This remains a cosplay favourite.

Yuna – Final Fantasy X

Yuna was much more of a wholesome crush in that she didn’t have parody boobs and a need to talk to men in a throaty, suggestive manner. Players fell hard for Yuna for how she was rather than how she looked (still pretty hot all the same). Final Fantasy wouldn’t be the same without her.

Aeris Gainsborough – Final Fantasy VII

One of the last surviving Cetra on the planet, Aeris Gainsborough is linked with the eco-terrorist outfit AVALANCHE in Final Fantasy VII. She’s also no longer with us (RIP). But what an impression she had on us back in the 1990s. She may well be one of the only video game crushes players shed a tear over.

Ada Wong – Resident Evil 2

In Resident Evil 2, Ada Wong is a secret agent, though you wouldn’t think it judging by her sultry red dress and choker. Originally destined to be a researcher named Linda, Wong was quickly turned into the villain who tries to infiltrate Umbrella Corporation only to be caught up in a zombie outbreak in Raccoon City.

Felicia – Darkstalkers

Bye, Felicia? More like Hi, Felicia! Fans of Darkstalkers were not put off by the fact she was half-human and half-cat. If anything, that added to the weird attraction they had for Felicia. Are these the only claws in gaming we’ve ever wanted to be scratched by? 100%

Trip – Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

Trip isn’t some damsel in distress we want to save to ignite a romance. We have to save her, for starters. If we don’t, Monkey (you the player) dies. She also isn’t a damsel in distress but an extremely handy and attractive AI companion who makes this game a lot less underwhelming.

I-no – Guilty Gear XX

Men never feared women with electric guitars as much as they did when they came across I-no in Guilty Gear XX. She seriously is one of the more difficult boss battles in this Japanese fighter, what with her flying abilities and everything. Don’t let her hit you, unless that’s what you’re into.

Zoe Castillo – Dreamfall

A strong independent woman, Zoe Castillo spends the majority of Dreamfall looking for and attempting to save investigative journalist and close friend Reza Temiz. If all hell breaks loose, Castillo is willing to lay waste to some opps. Generally speaking, though, she just wants peace. We just want her hand in marriage.

Sarah Morrison – Tabula Rasa

Sarah Morrison is a classic case of a runaway teen who has to learn how to defend themselves. The only difference is that the Texan is never stuck in her adolescence. She blossoms into a drop-dead femme fatale with a very particular set of skills.

Hana and Rain – Fear Effect

As one of video gaming’s first-ever bisexual couples, Hana and Rain are LGBT icons. Hana is a French-Chinese freelancer for the Traid. Rain is a hacker who has no memory of her past. Together, they are the crushes of many a young player back in the day.

Nova Terra – StarCraft

As a ghost agent for the Terran Dominion, Nova Terra is not to be messed with. She isn’t to be leered over either. Why? Because she can read your mind. That’s right. All those thoughts you had about her way back when in the privacy of your bedroom? She heard it all, stud.

Shiki – Samurai Shodown

We feel for Shiki. A servant of Yuga from the moment she was born, he engraved a snake tattoo down her back in order to control her. Then he made her find a man to become the Dark Lord’s resurrection. As players, this struck a chord – on top of her parody chest.

Nariko – Heavenly Sword

Nariko is as loyal and protective as they come, especially when it comes to her clan and family. She proves herself time and time again that she isn’t just a pretty face, or a flawless body, or hyper-sexual, though those things are probably why so many gamers took to her.

Fran – Final Fantasy XII

Okay, those are some serious ears. They’re not a cute Playboy bunny accessory. This may bend some out of shape. Ask certain Final Fantasy XII players their thoughts on Fran though and they’ll get hot under the collar. For a chick who looks like a rabbit.

Litchi-Faye Ling – Blazblue

Litchi is one of the original twelve playable characters in the Blazblue series, first appearing in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. She also hosts the Teach Me, Miss Litchi! miniseries in the main games. This is one doctor that would put you at ease within seconds.

Goddess Etain – Shaiya

We’re kind of cheating here. Etain is actually two goddesses; a light and a dark one. Does anybody have a favourite? Probably not. Why complain about an abundance of video game crushes like this? Shaiya is worth playing, by the way. Criminally overlooked if anything.

Princess Daphne – Dragon’s Lair

Remember playing Dragon’s Lair? Neither do we. This was a pretty shocking game that left zero impression on those unfortunate enough to play it. What they do remember is Princess Daphne, one of gaming’s most slept-on babes. Not like that. You animals.

Leah – Diablo III

One of the main NPCs in Diablo III, Leah is the niece of Deckard Cain and daughter of Adria. She has the power to destroy everything around her. Do we need to expand on that? Not if you’ve ever played Diablo III, we don’t. Leah looks out for you whatever the case and we’re here for that.

Amber and Crystal Bailey – Dead Rising 2

You’ll have found twin sisters Amber and Crystal as the acid-tongued co-hostesses of the in-game pay-per-view game show Terror is Reality. They are little more than something for players to ogle over. And ogle they did, hopefully in a curious, innocent, non-pervy way!