This week on The Ringer, we’re hosting the Best Video Game Character Bracket—an expansive competition between the greatest heroes, sidekicks, and villains of the gaming world. And along with delving into some of those iconic figures, we’ll also explore and celebrate the gaming industry as a whole. Welcome to Video Game Week.
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February 27, 2021
The Best Video Game Character Bracket: And the Winner Is...
Not even Link could slow down Mario
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February 26, 2021
The Best Video Game Character Bracket Final: Mario vs. Link
Through the entire tournament, two icons have stood above the rest. Now they face each other.
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February 26, 2021
Albert Wesker and Revolver Ocelot, Gloriously Senseless Antagonists Without a Cause
Just as comically bad movies can bring delight, there’s an odd charm in characters who exist merely to be as ridiculous as possible
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February 26, 2021
The Rise of the Video Game Graphics Guru
Games look better than ever, which makes assessing the visual differences between generations and consoles more difficult than ever. That’s where YouTube breakdowns by Digital Foundry, NX Gamer, and other experts come in.
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February 26, 2021
Our Favorite Video Game Characters Who Didn’t Make the Bracket
In a field of 64, sadly the likes of Revolver Ocelot and Pablo Sanchez were left on the bubble. To make amends for these snubs, we honor them here.
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February 25, 2021
Character Study: Chun-Li, Strongest Woman in the World and True Hero of the Best Fighting Game Ever
Yet somehow, y’all let her lose to Donkey Kong
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February 25, 2021
The Best Video Game Character Bracket: The Elite Eight
After a Sweet 16 full of blowouts, this much is clear: The remaining characters are the best ones in video game history
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February 25, 2021
Character Study: The Oxen, the High-Maintenance Travel Companions From ‘Oregon Trail’
From wandering off to getting stolen by thieves in the night to drowning in a river, these swole beasts are simply a reminder of the tolls of adulthood
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February 24, 2021
Waluigi Is Nintendo’s Cult Hero. Will He Ever Be Something More?
The tall, purple-clad Luigi foil has been a part of the Mushroom Kingdom for two decades, yet he’s never been more than a sideshow. Just don’t tell that to his legions of fans.
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February 24, 2021
Choose Your Fighter
Justin Charity and Micah Peters break down The Ringer’s Best Video Game Character Bracket
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February 24, 2021
The Best Video Game Character Bracket: The Sweet 16
After two rounds, the tournament has turned into a battle of the classics. Now things are really gonna heat up.
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February 24, 2021
Why Tails Became the Ultimate Sidekick—and Star of Some of the Strangest Fanfic Around
The orange (or is it brown?) fox was created to play Luigi to Sonic the Hedgehog’s Mario. But as his run through our bracket has shown, he’s got a strong identity of his own, even if Sega doesn’t understand that.
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February 24, 2021
Character Study: Luigi, the Other Mario Brother
For years, the twin in green was defined by the ways he was different from his more famous brother. It’s time we appreciate him for what he truly is.
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February 23, 2021
The Origins of ‘Backyard Baseball.’ Plus: Best Shape of His Life SZN Is Here.
Also, the Baseball BBQ boys do a speed round of all the news coming out of spring training: Mariners CEO Kevin Mather’s resignation, Céspedes speculation, Albert Pujols’s potential final season, and more
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February 23, 2021
The Best Video Game Character Bracket: Round 2
Pikachu and Kirby are headed toward the most adorable matchup of all time, while Master Chief reloads and Fox McCloud looks to slay another beast
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February 23, 2021
How Hollywood Is Beating Its Final Boss: Video Game Adaptations
With ‘Mortal Kombat,’ ‘Uncharted,’ ‘Halo,’ and ‘The Last of Us’ leading an adaptation deluge, video game IP has finally leveled up
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February 23, 2021
Which ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ Character Has the Best Fatality? A Group Session.
The debate may never be resolved—even if you got all of the Kombatants into the same room to hash it out
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February 22, 2021
Character Study: Agent 47, the Dignified Death Machine at the Center of ‘Hitman’
Why it’s all too enjoyable to play as the series’ antihero, who is part perfectionist and part sadist
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February 22, 2021
Video Games Used to Copy Movies. Now They’re Influencing Modern Action.
There’s always been a two-way street of influence between the film and video game industry. Action sequences from movies like ‘Edge of Tomorrow,’ ‘John Wick,’ and especially ‘Hardcore Henry’ make that connection obvious.
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February 22, 2021
The Best Video Game Character Bracket
It’s time to celebrate the best heroes, sidekicks, and villains of the gaming world, across systems, genres, and eras
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February 22, 2021
Character Study: Link, the Quiet Hero of ‘The Legend of Zelda’
Link is an all-time video game character for his quiet courage, and his devotion to a greater cause