The 10 GREATEST Capcom Characters

Morrigan Aensland “Darkstalkers” Series (1994-2013)

It may have been a long time since her own series got a release. But “Darkstalkers” is still an awesome fighting franchise. And Morrigan is, without a doubt, the most popular and well-known character from its roster for good reason. Her obvious, sensual design aside, which has driven the imaginations of many gamers wild, she’s also just really damn cool. She’s succubus royalty that comes from an alternate, demonic dimension. And she has a wicked moveset befitting of her status, like the ability to summon a swarm of bats to fight alongside her or steal energy from an opponent with a kiss. It’s no wonder that she’s become a famous mainstay in other fighters, like the “Marvel vs. Capcom” series.

Viewtiful Joe “Viewtiful Joe” Series (2003-05)

When Joe’s girlfriend is kidnapped into the world of a movie, he jumps in after her and takes on the superheroic alter ego, Viewtiful Joe. Imbued with cinematic powers that allow him to enter slow-mo, speed up the action, and zoom in for stronger attacks, Joe goes on an insane adventure that lets him show off his unique flair. Although his series was short-lived with only a handful of follow-ups, Viewtiful Joe remains a wonderfully weird character of the mid-2000s. His distinct design and abilities are matched by his over-the-top charisma. And his willingness to throw himself into any dangerous situation made him an entertaining hero to embody. We’re still holding out hope for a future revival.

Frank West “Dead Rising” Series (2006-16)

There were many fans who were displeased with his characterization in “Dead Rising 4,” justifiably so. But that doesn’t change the fact that, overall, Frank West is a lovable, if not flawed, protagonist. In the first game, he digs for his next big scoop as a photojournalist. Stumbling upon a zombie outbreak, he uses whatever weapons he can build out of objects around the shopping mall he’s trapped in. What makes him so endearing is that he’s an everyman, not some larger-than-life type of hero. He’s determined to uncover the truth while helping other survivors. And despite the situations he’s thrust into, he greets it all with a lighthearted disposition. He’s definitely not the most professional or delicate journalist around, but that clearly ends up working in his favor.

Chun-Li “Street Fighter” Series (1987-)

Debuting in 1991’s “Street Fighter II: The World Warrior,” Chun-Li quickly became one of gaming’s leading ladies. As an expert in several types of Chinese martial arts, she has a strong sense of justice born from the murder of her father and her desire to protect innocents. Her impressively powerful legs have lent themselves to awesome, iconic attacks like her Spinning Bird Kick, and her Lightning Kicks, which we have all undoubtedly spammed at one time or another. More importantly, her iconicism at such a developmental time in gaming has inspired numerous other character designs across various releases. She’s not just a skilled fighter among many. She’s an influential creation for both the fighting game genre, and for female players.

Phoenix Wright “Ace Attorney” Series (2001-)

Being a series of visual novels, the “Ace Attorney” series lies outside Capcom’s normal action-centric focus. However, it has retained a loyal fanbase over the years for several reasons. One of them is its strong-willed protagonist, Phoenix Wright. Debuting in 2001, Wright became popular for his unwavering hunt for the truth at whatever cost. And the franchise’s following grew due to his ability to detect lies in those he questioned and tendency to win cases that were, on the surface, lost causes. This has made him not only a fascinating protagonist to watch, but to play as. While the series has branched out to focus on different attorneys in several games, it is always at its best when Phoenix Wright is at the forefront.

Ryu “Street Fighter” Series (1987-)

There are few characters in Capcom’s history that are as visually recognizable as the mascot for “Street Fighter,” Ryu. He’s been there since the beginning, debuting in the original game that acted as a stepping stone towards the golden age of arcade fighters. As the franchise has continued to evolve, fan love for him has only grown. Admiration also comes from him being one of the most pure-good characters on the roster. Playing as him offers three of the most iconic attacks in video games: the fireball Hadouken, the powerful uppercut Shoryuken, and the hurricane kick, the Tatsumaki. Sure, other fighters practice those moves, too. But none of them match Ryu’s status as an emblem of both the genre and the franchise.

Jill Valentine “Resident Evil” Series (1996-)

The “Resident Evil” series has seen a lot of strong characters. But one we must absolutely shine a light on is Jill Valentine. Debuting in the 1996 original as one of two playable protagonists, Jill instantly became beloved. It wasn’t just because we traveled with her through a horrifying scenario filled with nightmare creatures. Her ability to remain calm in such a predicament, no doubt stemming from her training with STARS, was nothing short of admirable. She continued to earn our respect in “Resident Evil 3,” which raised the stakes stacked against her. Although she hasn’t been seen in a mainline game for a while, and her appearance as a puppet to Wesker in “RE 5” was a shame, she’s still a vital Horror character.

Dante “Devil May Cry” Series (2001-)

When it comes to being cool, there are few, if any, Capcom characters that can reach the same heights as Dante from “Devil May Cry.” Half-demon, half-human, he spends his life hunting demonic forces and supernatural creatures. And it’s a good thing he’s so talented at his job, because he doesn’t tend to take it seriously. Rather, he treats every encounter, large or small, with the utmost disrespect. He lobs insults and sarcastic quips at every creature who crosses his path, before quickly slicing them to pieces or blasting them apart with his custom, dual pistols, Ebony and Ivory. His persona is endlessly enjoyable. So too is his unmatched style as he effortlessly pulls off excellent executions.

Mega Man “Mega Man” Series (1987-2018)

In his 1987, self-titled debut, Mega Man became a star for his simple but pleasing design, and his ability to gain awesome power-ups from the evil robots he defeated. And since it was such a hit, the Blue Bomber returned for numerous sequels where his abilities were expanded on. While every mainline game in the series more or less follows this same formula, Capcom has managed to keep it and its hero from getting stale. It doesn’t hurt that, because Mega Man grew so popular, he received numerous spin-off franchises over the years that focused on different, alternate forms with their own gameplay mechanics, stories, and goals. We’ve called a lot of these characters icons. And Mega Man likely personifies that word the most.

Leon Kennedy “Resident Evil” Series (1996-)

It helps that Leon has starred in some of the most popular entries in the “Resident Evil” series, from both a game design perspective and in ability to deliver scares. But there’s also no denying how engaging a protagonist he is. He debuted in the second game, alongside dual protagonist Claire Redfield, as a rookie cop immediately placed into an unwinnable situation, which made him easy to root for. In “Resident Evil 4,” he was given the task of rescuing the President’s daughter from a vicious cult, and did so with unwavering bravery and just enough cheesy lines to make him feel more defined. It has been a joy to rediscover Leon through remakes of “RE 2” and “RE 4,” and he remains one of the strongest characters in the series. Of course, with a company that’s been around as long as Capcom, we had to leave a ton of characters off of our list.

 If there are any characters you think deserve praise, share them with us in the comments, and be sure to let us know who your favorites are.