Video games are filled to the brim with iconic and lovable characters that have become massive cultural icons and have changed the lives of players who were lucky enough to meet and accompany them on their respective adventures. However, the complete opposite also happens very often: there is also a fair share of characters that have become infamous just because countless gamers despise them.
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These titles might not be perfect, but in many cases, their reputation is much worse than they truly are.
Truth be told, this can be an unfair situation because gamers tend to either overreact and/or miss vital information that leads them to overhate a character that doesn’t deserve to be hated (or, at least, not as much as they currently are). The following characters aren't exactly perfect, but they don’t completely suck either, making them perfect examples of this unfortunate phenomenon.
The Babies (Mario Series)
They Are A Tad Annoying, But Also Adorable And Charming
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island
- Released
- October 4, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EAD
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island introduced fans to an infantile version of gaming’s most iconic character called Baby Mario. This iteration instantly became unpopular because he would start crying extremely loudly the moment Yoshi took a hit from an enemy and wouldn’t stop until he was saved. He is admittedly a bit annoying in his debut game, but it’s also the one and only time where Baby Mario cried that much, and he became a cuter and more charming character after that.
Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, the Mario series slowly began introducing other baby versions of beloved characters, like Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, Baby Wario, Baby Daisy, and so on. Some fans loathe them because they feel that, whenever they appear in a spin-off (like Mario Kart or Mario Golf), they’re taking the place of other characters who deserve that spot instead. Not only is that not just not how game design works, but the babies have also rightfully earned their place in the franchise, as they brought in an unprecedented level of cuteness and childlike wonder that no other Mario character is capable of conveying.
Blue (Pokemon)
He Has Actually Grown A Lot Since His Debut
Pokemon Blue
- Released
- September 28, 1998
- ESRB
- Everyone
- Developer(s)
- Game Freak
- Genre(s)
- RPG
When it comes to Pokemon, few characters come close to Blue, the rival from the Generation One games, in terms of unpopularity among fans. From his massive ego to his immature personality, Pokemon players have had a lot of reasons to hate him since the franchise’s inception. Needless to say, he was intentionally designed to be annoying, which makes defeating him in a Pokemon battle feel especially satisfying.
Of course, most people who despise Blue are stuck solely on his original depiction from Red/Blue/Green/Yellow and have not considered his many appearances in subsequent titles. Pokemon Gold and Silver revealed that he became Viridian City’s brand-new Gym Leader and that he had grown more mature and become a much stronger trainer. On top of that, Pokemon Sun and Moon confirmed that Blue is actually on good terms with Red now, to the point that they can both join forces in the Battle Tree. Blue has changed a lot since his days as a petulant rival, and some fans who so adamantly hate him never witnessed his impressive growth.
Navi (The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time)
She Was Never Really That Irritating In The First Place
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- Released
- November 21, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
Online gaming culture has changed a lot since the mid-2000s. Back in the day, whenever people discussed the topic of annoying gaming characters, Navi from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was always brought up. She was seen as a stain on an otherwise nearly flawless masterpiece of a game.
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Yes, Link’s little fairy companion is supposed to occasionally guide the player by shouting “Hey!” Or “Listen!” In order to catch their attention, which can be a bit annoying when heard on repeat. That said, it was never that big of a deal, especially since the player eventually gets used to her antics. She's pretty easy to tune out. Aside from that, Navi is an otherwise fun character who has some solid chemistry with Link, which makes her departure at the very end of the game all the more heartbreaking.
Slippy Toad (Star Fox Series)
The Reliable Mechanic Of Star Fox Team
Star Fox
- Released
- March 22, 1993
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo, Argonaut Software
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Rail Shooter
Every member of Star Fox Team has a defined personality: Fox McCloud is the heroic main character, Falco Lombardi is the cocky rival, Peppy Hare is the wise and experienced mentor, and Slippy Toad is the young, reckless, and irritating child of the group. Because of his personality, his design, and (especially) his voice, most fans consider him to be unworthy of being part of this team of legendary space mercenaries.
Nevertheless, Slippy is definitely overhated. Not only does his personality perfectly complement his teammates’ personalities, but he’s also the team’s designated mechanic, one who has built a wide variety of gadgets, weapons, and vehicles that have been crucial during their missions. Similar to Navi, Slippy was way more unpopular over a decade ago (mainly due to his appearance in Star Fox 64), but it’s clear now that most gamers may have overreacted to him in the first place.
Tom Nook (Animal Crossing Series)
A Friendly Tanuki Who Builds Your First House For A Reasonable Price
Animal Crossing
- Released
- September 16, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Adventure, JRPG
Another Nintendo character who was undeservedly antagonized by fans throughout the decades is Tom Nook, who's arguably the most iconic and important character in the Animal Crossing franchise. Most players dislike him because he’s usually in charge of building their first house and asks them to gradually pay a mortgage in return, thus forcing them to work hard so they can pay off their debt.
This has always been an unjustified reason to hate him. Aside from wanting a loan repaid, he's a friendly character who never rushes the player, seeing as he accepts gradual payments in small doses. Animal Crossing games are cozy and slow-paced experiences, and Tom Nook’s existence is only meant to guide players, giving them an objective they can work towards. Unlike other characters (like Mr. Resetti, for example), he never does anything to complicate the player’s life.
Donald Duck (Kingdom Hearts Series)
A Powerful Wizard, An Efficient Healer, And A Great Friend
Kingdom Hearts
- Released
- September 17, 2002
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E for Everyone: Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
In the wacky crossover world of Kingdom Hearts, the main characters work together as an effective trio of fighters: Sora is the main brawler who wields the Keyblade, Goofy is the tank who protects his friends with his shield, and Donald Duck is the mage who uses his magic to cast spells and heal his friends. However, many fans can’t help but despise Donald, not only due to his iconic but annoying raspy voice and his temperamental personality, but also because his healing abilities can leave a lot to be desired.
Kingdom Hearts fans usually complain that Donald fails to heal them when absolutely necessary. Unbeknownst to most of them, there’s actually a dedicated setting in the game menus that allows them to choose how effective Donald's healing abilities are, so it’s not really his fault. On top of that, he’s a skilled wizard who deserves some respect for saving Sora and Goofy’s lives on multiple occasions, including the legendary scene in Kingdom Hearts 3 where he uses Zettaflare, one of the most destructive spells in both the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy universes.
Ashley Graham (Resident Evil 4/Resident Evil 4 Remake)
She’s Much More Than A Damsel In Distress
Resident Evil 4
- Released
- January 11, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
Resident Evil 4 is often considered one of the best video games of all time, but players tend to agree that Ashley Graham is one of its weakest aspects. Leon Kennedy is tasked with rescuing her, and once he finds her, the game basically becomes an escort mission in which the player will have to be careful that Ashley doesn’t get killed or kidnapped by the infected villagers and cult members. Not to mention that she’ll quickly begin screaming the moment an enemy approaches her.
While it’s easy to understand why some players may not enjoy Ashley’s presence, the game makes her very hard to kill and even offers options for places she can hide in, so her gameplay segments are nowhere near as frustrating as escort missions from other games from the same gaming generation. On top of that, the recent Resident Evil 4 Remake succeeded in making Ashley into a much more compelling character, giving her a deeper storyline, a much more likable personality, and a brand-new voice that sounds more natural and pleasant to the ear.
Claptrap (Borderland Series)
The Franchise’s Mascot Has A Lot Of Funny Lines
Borderlands
- Released
- October 20, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Gearbox Software
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, FPS
Borderlands is full of wacky, over-the-top characters with tons of comedic dialogue, which is almost always a positive, but some of them can admittedly overstay their welcome. The biggest culprit of this practice is definitely Claptrap, the franchise’s mascot and its biggest source of comic relief. Many fans often deem him annoying and unfunny (especially in Borderlands 3).
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Just like any other comic relief character in history, it's true that Claptrap can be irritating from time to time, but he still has a lot of hilarious lines in all of his appearances. In fact, it’s safe to say that these games wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining or as funny without him. On top of that, Claptrap is arguably Borderlands’ most recognizable character, so this franchise partially owns its success to him, and some occasional annoying moments are not enough to undermine his impact and influence.
Abby Anderson (The Last Of Us: Part 2)
A Morally Ambiguous Character From A Game That’s Full Of Them
The Last of Us Part 2
- Released
- June 19, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
- Naughty Dog
The Last of Us: Part 2 is a highly controversial game for a wide variety of reasons, with its plot being the biggest one. After all, this sequel is infamous for abruptly killing off its protagonist, Joel Miller, and his killer, Abby Anderson, replaces him as one of the main playable characters. To no one’s surprise, this was a bold but polarizing choice that turned Abby into one of gaming’s most despised characters.
Unfortunately, Abby is a victim of her circumstances. Yes, she’s a morally ambiguous person who made some terrible decisions, but so is Joel (and pretty much everyone else in the Last of Us universe). If she had been the protagonist of the first game and Joel killed her in the second one, most players would most likely hate him instead. While she’s far from perfect, Abby fits perfectly into this type of somber story, and her eventual rivalry with Ellie becomes one of the game’s most enthralling aspects.
Viola (Bayonetta 3)
She’s Worthy Of Being Bayonetta’s Successor
Bayonetta 3
- Released
- October 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Platinum Games
While Bayonetta 3 is undoubtedly a great hack-and-slash game, longtime fans of the series were highly dissatisfied with its story and writing, with Viola being one of its most controversial aspects. This young punk swordfighter is not only one of the game’s main playable characters, but she's also Bayonetta’s daughter. However, most players found her lame and annoying, a sentiment that was unfortunately increased when the post-credits scene established that she will most likely take her mother’s place in future installments.
However, Viola was never meant to be an exact replica of Bayonetta; she would have been a very boring character in that case. Her cocky and over-the-top personality is a perfect mixture of both her mother and her father, Luka Redgrave, and she can actually be quite funny at times. Furthermore, some players did not enjoy her gameplay style, which can be frustrating, but it also feels refreshing because it focuses on precise parrying and blocking to activate Witch Time, instead of mashing the dodge button. Viola is reminiscent of Nero from the Devil May Cry series, and just like him, she needs to appear in another game that will allow her to win over the fans’ hearts.
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