In order to make a video game character stand out from the rest, they have to have something unique about their physical appearance. If it's not the weapon, it's usually the eyes, the costume, or in some odd cases, the hairstyle. With that said, the last one is probably a desperate effort to separate the protagonists from the NPCs (shonen anime style) but if it works, they'll go on to become iconic.
Some video game hairstyles are so peculiar or outlandish, that they immediately become associated with the characters. Throughout the years, these bold and brave characters have made many hairstylists and barbers either challenged or happy since their hairstyles can be difficult to cosplay or imitate. Nothing beats the original, after all, and when it comes to individuality, these iconic hairstyles wave proudly like a flag.
8 Geralt's "Split-end Samurai" (The Witcher 3)
Before The Witcher 3 Geralt of Rivia look like an Elric of Melniboné at home (according to "mom"). Thankfully, the third game drew inspiration somewhere else for his hairstyle and Geralt looks more like a weathered ronin more than anything else, except in the medieval dark fantasy medium.
That samurai man-bun coupled with the beard definitely doesn't mean Geralt is out spending his hard-earned witchering money on matcha latte with camel milk. His battle-worn face and sharp features justify the ronin bun well and are a lovely departure from his initial derivative look. If players don't want it, they can simply change it to make Geralt look fresher.
7 Bayonetta's "Wicked Weaves" (Bayonetta)
With hair as complex as her proportions, Bayonetta is a challenge for anyone looking to imitate her appearance. Because it turns out, her hair is a lot longer than what's implied (at least in the first game). As an Umbral Witch, she can manipulate, shape, and weaponize her hair at will.
As it happens, those long locks can also double as her actual attire. So Bayonetta's merely covering the majority of her body with her magical hair. So when it comes to hair malleability or versatility, she likely wins here as she can assume any different hairstyle whenever she wants. Think of it like Green Lantern's energy except it's a hairy, violent mess; not unlike hair on Monday mornings.
6 Lara Croft's "Brunette Braid" (Tomb Raider)
Lara Croft's hairdo is thankfully more doable compared to Bayonetta's tangled mess. With that said, Lara's pigtails aren't exactly simple and require some dedicated growth (unless wigs come into play). This was Lara Croft's classic hairstyle before the reboots changed it to a basic ponytail (likely to showcase a new graphics technology).
Even so, the pigtails remain Lara's most popular hairdo since not only are they more practical when raiding tombs and disturbing humid tropical locales, but also give off a stronger and more experienced appearance. The look was then popularized even more with Angelina Jolie perfectly recreating Lara in the first Tomb Raider film.
5 Sonic's "Quirky Quills" (Sonic)
Technically, it's not hair (at the least the long parts aren't) but there's no doubting those blue spikes. They can only belong to the one and only anthropomorphic hedgehog with a permanent sugar rush, Sonic. Funny thing is, hedgehogs do have that same hairstyle orientation (or quill style) since it's an evolutionary trait that allows them to ward off predators.
As for that fast past, whoever thought of that probably just inhaled something pleasant to come up with it. In any case, Sonic's hairstyle is one of his most defining features apart from the blue fur. Sure enough, it's hard to recreate even in a high-budget film, but it all worked out thanks to fan feedback.
4 Leon Kennedy's "Backstreet's Back" (Resident Evil)
Most of the men in Resident Evil games are grungy, dirty, or too primal; then there's Leon Kennedy straight out of the 1990s looking like Nick Carter. To be fair, his appearance just balances it out as the women in Resident Evil games all look like runway models who stumbled into a zombie apocalypse. Leon Carter is throwing the male population in Resident Evil a bone.
There's also a good explanation for Leon looking out of place as he's supposed to be a rookie in Resident Evil 2. He did keep the hairstyle in the succeeding games even as he outgrew the rookie stereotype because he probably spent too much on his barber already, trying to maintain the slick bounciness of those bangs.
3 Kratos' "Spartan Skinhead" (God of War)
Who needs hair when everyone you hold dear is gone? Might as well lose the concern for appearance. That or Kratos probably just spiked his testosterone too much that all the hair migrated to his chin and jaw. After all, warriors don't need wavy locks, enemies can easily tug on those and there goes defense.
But in all seriousness, Kratos' hairstyle (or lack thereof) is a reflection of his psyche and emotions during his stint as the Ghost of Sparta in his own games. He's the world's angriest Greek and nothing represents rage and hatred better than a misguided skinhead. He did ease a bit in God of War 2018 but scars of his past remained, and thus, also his hairdo.
2 Sephiroth's "Calamity Coiffure" (Final Fantasy 7)
On the other end of the hatred spectrum is another beautiful problem character, Sephiroth. He has more than a head full of hair— he has enough hair to make wigs for everyone in Midgar. But being a villain, he keeps it to himself. Also, the tonnage of shampoo, conditioner, and haircare chemicals needed to maintain that kind of consistency is enough to pollute the planet for several generations.
Jokes aside, that does sound like something Sephiroth would do since he wants to become a god and control the planet. But first, he has to unleash a calamity so that it's easier to achieve his goal. How his hair canonically factors into this is irrelevant. It's only like that because his mother is a literal walking calamity who has the same hairdo.
1 Guile's "Mushroom Mane" (Street Fighter)
Most characters in fighting games have ridiculous hairstyles (because it's easy to run out of character design ideas there). But the one who takes the cake is Guile from Street Fighter. He's an American commando who represents what the Japanese think American commandos look like, exaggerated crew cut and all.
To date, Guile's flat-top crew cut which is more akin to a nuclear explosion is the most recognizable hairstyle out of all fighting game characters. It's most likely tougher to maintain than it looks as Guile will probably have to do some headstands for hours in order to set the shape of his hair. In hindsight, that could also count as a workout. That explains the boulder shoulders.