BAFTA Reveals Most Iconic Video Game Character

After an intense voting period, BAFTA has unveiled the players’ choice for the most iconic video game character of all time, and it’s probably not who you’d expect. In a fitting twist for a ballot run by the renowned British arts charity, a local star has claimed the title.

The poll, launched to mark the 20th anniversary of the BAFTA Games Awards, which will be celebrated on April 11, has crowned Lara Croft—the iconic Tomb Raider—as the top pick among players.

Lara’s legacy speaks for itself, with 12 main series and 18 spin-off games, along with three blockbuster movies. The recent 2024 remaster of the original Tomb Raider trilogy, the excitement surrounding her upcoming anime TV series, and her status as a hometown hero among U.K. voters likely contributed to her clinching the crown over other heavyweights.

Surprisingly, Mario “Super” Mario, with 11 more years and numerous games under his belt, followed Lara in second place. The bronze medal went to Agent 47 from the Hitman series, beating out other top contenders like Sonic the Hedgehog (4th), Pac-Man (6th), Link (7th), Master Chief (8th), and Pikachu (12th).

Nostalgia didn’t solely dictate the voting, as evidenced by the popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3, leading this year’s BAFTA nominations with 10 nods. Characters like Shadowheart (10th) and Astarion (17th) from the game ranked higher than Ellie from The Last of Us (19th) and Uncharted’s Nathan Drake (20th).

Notably absent from the list were characters like Donkey Kong, Half-Life’s Gordon Freeman, Doomguy, Gears of War’s Marcus Fenix, Metroid’s Samus Aran, Max Payne, PaRappa, and any character from Street Fighter or Tekken.

The BAFTA Games Awards ceremony on April 11 will feature Lara Croft in a special way, as Shelley Blond, the original voice of the heroine in the 1996 Tomb Raider game, will present an award at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London.

Blond shared her thoughts, saying, “I had no idea when voicing the original Tomb Raider game that it would become such a global phenomenon. Lara is very special to me because she means so much to gamers. I love hearing stories from people around the world who played the game and channeled Lara to escape their bullies or to feel stronger when they wanted to come out to their loved ones.”

She added, “Most beautiful of all is hearing how gamers used to play it with their parents who are no longer with us, and the sound of my voice, the music from the game, and sound effects are all wrapped up in their memories of that loved one. I’m honored to play a part in that for them. I found out well into dating my husband that he had played Tomb Raider and used to enjoy hearing Lara scream and say ‘No.’ Now, of course, he has to put up with that on a daily basis.”

In conclusion, Lara Croft’s status as an icon in the gaming world is indisputable, and her legacy continues to resonate with gamers worldwide.