10 Original Characters in Licensed Fighting Games

10 Original Characters in Licensed Fighting Games

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at characters from licensed fighting games that stood out from the rest of the roster, by being completely original creations.

Aeon

“Castlevania: Judgment” (2008)

“Castlevania: Judgment” is a bit of an anomaly within the hallowed, gothic series. Not only is it a fighting game, it was exclusive to the Wii. Among the famous faces was new character Aeon, a member of a group who watches over the flow of time. Aeon is vital to the plot, as he brings together multiple heroes across the franchise’s history in order to find one worthy of stopping the Time Reaper. His purpose in the story extended to his moveset, with abilities that manipulate time and wielding a clock-themed sword. He may only be a footnote in “Castlevania’s” history, but it was interesting to see an original character serve as the crux of the narrative.

Aska

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tournament Fighters” (1993)

This licensed fighter launched on three different platforms. But only on the Super Nintendo could you play as Aska, an original character. As a female ninja warrior, she fights in the tournament not as part of some villainous plot, but to prove herself worthy of opening her own dojo. She's a fast, agile fighter whose moveset leans into acrobatic kicks and swift strikes, a playstyle that stands out from the heavier hitters. She may not get much characterization, since the game is from 1993. But her design and attacks do fit incredibly well into the TMNT world.

Reindog

“MultiVersus” (2024)

The game may have crashed and burned due to some questionable decisions from the ones in charge. But hey, “MultiVersus” still had an original character in the form of Reindog, a cute green pup with antlers. Was he anyone’s favorite choice? Probably not. But with characters spanning decades of history, from Bugs Bunny to Arya Stark to Superman, it would be hard for any original character to stand out. Still, he was a unique inclusion, and was actually well-suited as a support character in 2v2 matches. Who knows if we’ll ever see Reindog again (especially since the game was delisted and had its servers shut down). But it was still interesting to see the devs try with new lore, in a roster full of titans.

Arden Lyn

“Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi” (1997)

Most players who weren’t around to try this “Star Wars” fighting game on the OG PlayStation are probably still aware of its horrendous reputation. People didn’t like it then, and they’d probably hate it now. However, its original character, Arden Lyn, still deserves a mention. An ancient warrior, awoken after thousands of years have passed, that’s already an interesting struggle for a character to have. It also gives her an intrinsic connection to some fascinating lore in the “Star Wars” universe, reflecting a level of world-building that the game arguably didn't deserve. She would go on to be acknowledged in broader material. Maybe if she debuted in a better game, we could have seen more of her.

Luna Snow

“Marvel: Future Fight” (2015)

Created by Netmarble for the mobile game, “Marvel: Future Fight,” Luna Snow is a South Korean pop star with cryokinetic powers. Although not a traditional fighting game, more of a beat ‘em up with some RPG elements, Luna’s popularity skyrocketed after her debut, so much so that we felt we couldn’t leave her off. Marvel fully embraced her, bringing her into the mainline comics as well as other games, such as another mobile fighter, “Marvel Contest of Champions,” and the hero shooter, “Marvel Rivals.” It’s easy to see why so many have gravitated towards her. She threads the needle between pop idol and superhero, an angle that, while used in the past for other characters, hasn’t worked quite as well as it has here.

Obsidius & Krystalak

“Godzilla: Unleashed” (2007)

Another poorly received licensed fighter, “Godzilla: Unleashed” featured a ton of kaiju across the film franchise’s legacy. But it also saw the debut of two original monsters in Obsidius and Krsytalak. Where Obsidius is a lava-encrusted behemoth, looking like it crawled straight out of a volcano, Krystalak is a crystal-spined predator with a uniquely bright color scheme. Despite the game’s negative reception, both of these monsters look like they could have already appeared in one of Toho’s many movies. So, it’s not surprising that fans of the game, few though they may be, have wanted to see them return in some capacity.

Ella Mental

“Invincible VS” (2026)

The world of “Invincible” obviously has a lot of powerful characters, seemingly tailor made for a fighting game. And while “Invincible VS” went a little too heavy on the amount of Viltrumites packed in there, it did have some more varied characters, such as Ella Mental. Designed by the comic and show’s creator, Robert Kirkman, Ella is able to command the four elements, weaving them together for a variety of deadly combos. Yet, like Invincible himself, she chooses to use her incredible might to do good. Although she arrived too late to be brought into the comics, the mainline series which ended in 2018, she’s still a welcome addition to the universe.

Labrys

“Persona 4 Arena” (2012)

When fighting game darling Arc System Works teamed up with Atlus to bring “Persona 4” into the fighting game space, they had access to an entire beloved cast ready to go. Yet, much like Aeon in “Castlevania: Judgment,” the narrative hinges on an entirely new character, Labrys. A battle android with an axe the size of a small car, she can absolutely wreck opponents when in the right hands. But her arc is also the heart of the plotline, dealing with themes of identity and societal discouragement, which are already baked into “Persona’s” DNA. She’s exceptionally fun to play as on top of being a strong character in general, and is one of the reasons this fighter is so memorable.

Amingo, Ruby Heart, & SonSon

“Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes” (2000)

“Marvel vs. Capcom 2” gave players a truly massive line-up of characters to choose from, across the long legacy of both companies. But Capcom also designed a handful of new characters, which felt like they had existed for decades. While SonSon is in a bit of a grey area, being the descendant of the protagonist in the 1984 platformer of the same name, this was still her debut. The humanoid cactus, Amingo, and the sky pirate, Ruby Heart, on the other hand, are brand spanking new. But all three of them are wholly unique, extremely viable choices. It’s honestly a shame none of them made playable appearances ever again, in a future “Marvel vs. Capcom,” or otherwise.

Android 21

“Dragon Ball FighterZ” (2018)

Even in a game full of some of the most powerful characters to ever grace Anime, Android 21 is an awesome fighter. Designed by creator Akira Toriyama himself, she naturally feels right at home. She isn’t just someone created to give players something new to try; her own story, as a Bio-Android created from the cells of Majin Buu, makes her a terrifying force to face and wield. She adds a new layer to one of the franchise’s most popular storylines, feeling like she should have been there all along. And much like everyone else in the game, she controls like a dream. Fans took to her immediately, making her one of the most popular original characters in any licensed game.

Know of any other original characters in licensed fighting games? Share them with us in the comments, and we’ll see you next time!