The 25 Most Stylish Video Game Characters

The worlds of fashion and video games were never meant to collide. There exists a deep, wide valley full of Mountain Dew cans and Doritos that will always separate the two.

As video games have become more mainstream, we’ve started to see trendy gamer shirts creep out from the DeviantArt forums and into Urban Outfitters, but let’s face it – those just fall into the hipster/retro category more so than the gamer one. Cute girls will wear Pac-Man shirts, but you won’t see them rocking a XXL-size Assassin’s Creed T-shirt from E3.

With that context in mind, we’ve compiled what we believe to be the most well-dressed game characters ever to suit up. Granted, we’re looking at this from a gamer’s perspective. But as far as gaming goes, this is the best that we’ve got, so let’s revel in this small chunk of relatively appealing pixilated fashion.

Look, he already gets 10 points just for being clearly identifiable as a male (a rarity nowadays in FF land). The bandana, the cut off duster, the boots: they all combined to create the most fashionable freedom fighting ensemble we’ve ever seen in a game.

…And then %$%#$ Yuj sauntered onscreen, instantly (but oh so gently) blowing away any last bit of masculinity that Snow had cultivated in the game.

We’re going with the Daniel Craig version here. Nothing against Pierce, but his style is a little too 90’s. And not in the same way as the resurging NWA look.

If Craig’s jacket and watch aren’t classic enough, his “Wank off - I’m British and you’re not” stare adds to the whole outfit.

A well-tailored suit never goes out of fashion. While we would have liked to see Thom Browne put some work into modernizing the cut, we’re not complaining.

Unfortunately, assassinating people in a suit doesn’t seem very practical. Hollywood loves romanticizing the thrill of the kill by putting its assassins in suits, but we’d rather snuff a life while wearing a latex gimp outfit.

Because it doesn’t absorb blood, silly.

Born from the nether regions of Tokyo’s Shibuya district, Neku’s ensemble best reflects the modern Japanese fashion aesthetic. Meaning, you’ll never see anyone here wearing that outfit.

The characters in TWEWY are actually dressed in “normal” street clothes; from what we’ve seen when visiting Shibuya, the art direction is on point.

Balthier should have been the main character in FFXII. He’s got a beautiful, thong-wearing Furry Viera by his side. He’s got the cavalier attitude. And he’s clearly got the most style out of the entire crew.

This one walks the line between outstanding character design and runway fashion. Note to Bjork: if you’re going to go for the swan look, this is the way to do it. Self-aware irony notwithstanding, your fashion statement ultimately fell flat.

The simple, clean, navy suit always works. It’s no wonder that Phoenix always had Mia, Maya, and Emma scrambling for his affections, despite the fact the he should have left the top button, well, unbuttoned.

One should note that one of the sisters was dead, but she kept pursuing (and helping) Phoenix via spirit channeling.

And you could ALWAYS tell when the sisterly possession was taking place due to the physical…changes that occurred every time. We would have shelled out $1000 for a pay per view broadcast of the OJ trial if Phoenix and Mia/Maya had been handling the defense for that case.

Ignoring the fact that Faith’s facial features look a little Bai-Ling-ish, the designers had enough sense to give her a practical, no frills, clean outfit. Less is more - and not in a scantily-clad way.

We just did a side by side image comparison, and Faith DOES look a little Bai Ling. This is what happens when “western” artists try to put the exotic (hah) Lucy Liu in cargo pants. But we’ve been down this path before, haven’t we?

When you’re co-running an organization called Militaires Sans Frontières, you’d better dress the part. Such dapper, European nomenclature necessitates the sort of fabulousness that only a yellow silk ascot can provide. Forget bringing together your troops – bringing together your outfit is priority un.

Realistically, Cody’s outfit makes sense. If you’re going to go pound some late 80’s/early 90’s punks into the ground, you’d do it while wearing your old crappy clothes from The Gap. There’s just no way you’d put on your best Hypercolor t-shirt and Bugle Boy denim and walk into a brawl.

Of all the SC females, Hilde is the only one who arrived to the party with the appropriate attire. All of the other SC ladies are dressed like nymphomaniacal goth clowns from Eastern Europe.

Not only is Hilde rocking sensible armor, but she obviously had it expertly tailored by a small Italian man. Her fit and finish reek of perfection, and the detailed pops of red are just. So. Great.

Speaking of goth, Lulu’s impeccably composed Suicide Girls motif has just enough sexiness to offset the Bauhaus overtones. Her ensemble intentionally clashes with her annoyingly kawaii Moogle doll, lest you forget that her outfit was designed by Tetsuya Nomura.

Also, there is cleavage.

Ah, the old hoodie/coat combo: forever the modern staple for East Coast blue collar heroes (even though Alan’s from Washington).

Alan is our modern everyman, searching for his identity underneath the crushing weight of Writer’s Block. If you’re not going through some sort of crisis in your life, then you’re probably not trying hard enough.

Aya’s old, familiar threads are still the best. She looks great dressed down in the classic T-shirt and jeans. And she’ll still snap necks in her high-slit (yet classy) black widow dress.

Perfectly distressed denim. A well fitted Henley. Leather bracelet and a belt to match.

If that sounded like an outfit and fashion spread in a 2005 issue of GQ, then it should come as no surprise that we’re describing Nathan Drake’s outfit. Even his haircut is so perfectly Affleck-ian. It’s as if the character designers at Naughty Dog were trying to “out-America” George Washington, Camaros, apple pie, American Eagle, and Abercrombie. And they succeeded.

If only real otaku could dress themselves as such. Perhaps this is how they see themselves, even if the reality is much different (and smellier). Still, it’s nice to be represented by a Fight Club-era Brad Pitt type, an ambassador whose job is to glaze over the true origins of the weeaboo land he represents, where moe pillows, pastiness, and Pocky rule with a feckless fist.

Of course, Travis’s inclusion on this list segues perfectly into another Otaku – specifically a trembling, confused, brilliant, loyal Otaku. Otacon (aka Hal Emmerich) was many things. Unexpectedly, he was also a man of distinct taste when it came to clothing. In MGS4 he evolved into his final, most fashionable form, layering a fitted trench coat over a Steve Jobs-ian turtleneck, simple straight-fitting slacks, and clean oxfords.

During the late 1700’s, boxing was seen as a gentleman’s sport. There were no entourages, no hypemen. There was only honest blood, sweat, tears, and ale. Perhaps there was a fair wench for whose hand you were fighting. And there were men like Dudley.

Sporting perfectly pressed trousers and a keen bowtie, Dudley would systematically pummel your face, and then head home and make whoopee with Jane Austen.

Just because he’s not runway material in THIS day and age doesn’t mean that he wasn’t a sexy bastard back around the Third Crusade (we shan’t be doing spoilers right now).

He does look sharp, but how does he keep his whites so bright? Back then you couldn’t even wake up before having camel deposits within two feet of your vicinity. Or so we hear. No one can refute our ignorant, stereotyping remark except Jesus, and he’s not saying anything so we’re assuming we’re correct.

Let’s hear it for the real girls:

The girls without the ridiculous halter tops who march into battle.

The girls without the daisy dukes who wield ninja swords.

The girls without the “armor” that only protects their nipples.

Alyx Vance, we salute you for not dressing like a fem-douche.

Ignoring the fact that he stole Alyx’s jacket, Leon is the best dressed…well, person in the RE series. Clean cut and practical, we could actually envision a real agent dressed like this. Because on the other hand, Jill just looks goofy in comparison.

If there was over an original smooth criminal, it would be John. The hoss was an outlaw by blood, and he sure wasn’t no frumpy cowboy. No matter the situation – turning down a woman’s affections, shooting a bear in the anus, or skinning a Jackalope, John always looked sharp. Oh and can we say that we just totally <3 his cut-off denim vest?

And once again, the simple suit reigns supreme. Individually the Turks might not be able to surpass Agent 47, but with their powers combined they’re a J-POP ZZ Top.

This was before Nomura went into his belt and buckle phase….which is only slightly worse than Mariah going into Glitter phase.

OK, so he’s not always the most consistent. His top to bottom red leather ensemble is a rather anime-ish. He was wearing some weird bra strap thing in DMC3. And his meth head look in the prequel is rather….methy. But he’s at the top of the list because he simply doesn’t give a rat’s ass. He dons the trench coat and pants like a rock star, and he can pull it off simply because he’s Dante. From the unlockable Diesel outfits to the white hair, there are certain folks who can wear things that no one else could get away with, simply by virtue of the way they carry themselves.