Almost all video games are about fighting in some way or the other. In the 80s, there were characters like Mario fighting against an army of cute 2d characters like Koopas. Later, in the 90s, there were protagonists like Dr. Gordon Freeman crushing demons and aliens under their feet. However, there have always been a few characters who’ve loved to fight more than most other video game heroes.
These raging protagonists include Doom Slayer from the epic first-person shooter game Doom, The Dark Knight from the Batman Arkham series, and the friendly neighborhood superhero from Marvel's Spider-Man. Let’s dive deep into a few more game characters who love tearing things apart.
10 Duke Nukem
The Duke Nukem franchise started way back in 1991 when the first game of the same name came out on MS-DOS. At the time, it was a two-dimensional action platformer and was essentially just the bare bones of what the series would become in the next few years. The series kicked off when the third main game dropped on various platforms.
In Duke Nukem 3D, players first saw the iconic character Duke Nukem in all his glory. He was just as powerful as Doom Slayer, yet far more quirky, with memorable catchphrases.
9 War (Darksiders)
War first featured in the original Darksiders game in 2010. This THQ classic is a hack-and-slash title that takes inspiration from biblical mythology, but changes parts of it to make it more fun. The game series features stories from the perspective of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. These characters include Death, Pestilence (Strife), Famine (Fury), and War.
As the name suggests, War's character Darksiders is “The Conqueror,” and he absolutely loves to crush his enemies into a pile of dust. War is the youngest of the four horsemen and is the biggest fighter of them all. Of course, Death, Fury, and Strife aren’t far behind when it comes to killing foes.
8 Gene (God Hand)
God Hand is a PlayStation 2 classic that came out in 2006 and got quite popular among the gaming community of the time. This Capcom hidden gem is an action beat 'em up video game with a dramatic storyline and gameplay full of fun fighting moves. Players interact with many unique characters in this game, but none is as good as the protagonist.
Gene is the main hero of God Hand, who possesses the legendary power in his right hand and aims to stop the return of ancient evil Angra. He is an incredible fighter who can pull off all kinds of moves from kung fu, karate, taekwondo, drunken boxing, capoeira martial arts, wrestling, and more.
7 Zagreus (Hades
Zagreus is the main protagonist of Hades, a roguelike action role-playing title that came out in 2020. The indie title is the latest main game from the popular developer team at Supergiant Games, who also made titles such as Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. Hades takes place in the Underworld of classical Greek mythology, where the main hero wants to escape to meet his mother in the mortal land.
Zagreus is most known for being the prince of the Underworld and the son of Hades. He possesses relentless rage and abilities, as well as his father's fighting spirit.
6 Issac (The Binding Of Isaac)
The Binding of Isaac stunned everyone when it came out in 2011, and became one of the most interesting indie titles of the year. It featured an interesting gameplay loop with a mix of action-adventure and roguelike elements. Additionally, it offered tons of enemies, bosses, simplistic visuals, fun combat, and hours of entertainment.
The Binding of Isaac features multiple characters, but the main character, Isaac, truly shines. The little guy wants nothing but to escape the hell he is in, and doesn’t care about killing everything in his path.
5 Raiden (Metal Gear Franchise)
Raiden made his debut in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty as the shocking main protagonist of the game. However, things changed over the years as he went from being a stealth espionage guy to a walking killing machine. During Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, players first saw the man with his incredible new look and lightning-speed action.
However, in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Raiden turned into his most iconic self and bested every boss and enemy in the game. Players are still craving to play another game as this character.
4 Bayonetta
Bayonetta, also known as Cereza, is the main hero of the popular hack-and-slash game series Bayonetta. The Umbra Witch is famous for her iconic design, unique outfit, stunning looks, and pure badass nature. However, the most iconic part about Cereza is her fighting abilities and moves that have kept players hooked to the games for hours.
Bayonetta is also recognized for her exaggerated features and racy appeal, but players mostly adore her for her never give up attitude. The Bayonetta games are among the best fighting games ever, and its main protagonist is one of the best fighters.
3 Dante (Devil May Cry)
The Devil May Cry series has seen its ups and downs, but its main character has always stayed just as powerful as ever. Dante appeared in 2001 as the first game's protagonist and since became the epitome of one of the best fighting heroes ever. He is ruthless and aggressive, but also calm and level-headed. It’s a weird combination, but it works in his case.
Dante is actually the son of the demon-lord Sparda, and possesses the same abilities as his dad. He is skilled at everything, whether hand-to-hand combat, sword action, shooting, or kickboxing.
2 Kratos (God of War)
Almost everyone knows Kratos, as he’s the iconic hero of the critically acclaimed hack-and-slash series God of War. The Ghost of Sparta first appeared in 2005 and quickly became one of the most renowned game protagonists. Earlier in his journey, he battled Greek gods and ripped them apart, limb to limb. Unable to fulfill his revenge, he tried to kill himself but somehow lived.
In the new God of War era, Kratos returned as a calmer version of himself and battled the Norse gods. However, he didn’t let his rage or fighting spirit change.
1 Asura (Asura's Wrath)
Asura's Wrath is a 2012 beat ‘em up game that quickly faded into obscurity due to its late release on PS3 and Xbox consoles, with no future upgrades for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It’s a Capcom title that mixes elements from Hindu and Buddhist mythologies to make a truly breathtaking visual spectacle. Moreover, it utilizes various gameplay mechanics, including interactive drama, third-person action, and rail shooter.
Asura's Wrath features Asura as the main protagonist, who’s one of the strongest game heroes ever. He’s relentless like Goku, badass like Dante, and unkillable like Kratos. Oh, and he loves to fight.