The 20 Best "Tekken" Video Game Characters of All Time

Image via Complex Original

Debut Game: Tekken 4
Birthplace: Australia
Current Age: 29
Fighting Style: Vale Tudo

Christ, he's huge. At 8 feet tall, with a chest like a beer keg, Marduk is a man's man – a hairy, barroom brawler. The angry Aussie killed the first Armor King, and although he's recently made peace with King II, it's difficult to see how that can last. Marduk is graceless, plodding, and brutal – he's pure fun to play. He may not have the quickness or evasiveness of his fellow competitors, but if he manages to catch his opponent, it's over. His trademark tackle to the ground, followed by strikes and headbutts, can turn the momentum of any match.

Debut Game: Tekken 4
Birthplace: England
Current Age: 22
Fighting Style: Boxing

Slick, English resolve – Steve Fox is grace under pressure. Just look at that half-cocked smirk, the swag in those stances– assassins have been trying to murder him for three games now, but Steve keeps a stiff upper lip. Despite being a boxer, Steve is more complex than just mashing the punch buttons. A top Steve player knows how to bob, weave, and combo his way to the top.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: USA
Current Age: 21
Fighting Style: Kung Fu & Lucha Libre

Oh my. Spirits, give me strength. Julia is the thinking man's video game crush – an intellectual with a naughty librarian look. Like her mother before her, Julia is that crunchy hippie girl on campus – you'd go to a protest rally just to get her number. Julia is the classic 'pitbull' character, who overwhelms her opponent with relentless punches and elbows. Armed with one of the most punishing command throws on the roster, she'll be breaking nerds' hearts for years to come.

Debut Game: Tekken 4
Birthplace: Brazil
Current Age: 20
Fighting Style: Capoeira

If Julia is understated hotness, then Christie is the opposite – a brash tease with the luscious curves to back it up. With big eyes and an even bigger... um... smile, Christie has our immediate attention. Christie allows any person of any age to play Tekken – just rock the joystick and mash the kick buttons, and she's bound to do something cool. Christie Monteiro – making scrubs happy, one undeserved win at a time.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: Aztec Empire
Current Age: Unknown
Fighting Style: Unknown

Heihachi + Ogre = Holy shit. When we first saw this beast in Tekken 3, we were intimidated, and that was before he started breathing fire. Mountains of quarters were wasted on conquering this behemoth. In the first Tekken Tag Tournament, True Ogre was the ultimate, broken partner, forming the backbone of nearly every team in every competition. True Ogre is back for more in Tekken Tag 2, and he was a reliable, constant pick at this year's EVO tournament.

Debut Game: Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection
Birthplace: Monaco
Current Age: 17
Fighting Style: Street Fighting (Gymnastics/Dancing)

Repping for the 1%, Lili is privilege personified – a gothic lolita with a Daddy complex and her own butler. Her fighting style, a mixture of elite gymnastics and balletic dance, screams 'private lessons' at every turn. She's a graceful fighter, with the speed and juggles to humiliate her opponent. If a player wants to kick ass and look impeccable doing it, Lili is the girl for the job.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: USA
Current Age: 32
Fighting Style: Kickboxing

It starts with the laugh – that insane, cackling laugh that he belts out at the beginning of his matches. For a zombie, Bryan sure is lively, not to mention crazy. Choosing Bryan is not for the faint of heart – he works best on the offensive, and his command list is enough to scare off most casual players. For the brave soul with the patience to learn, however, the rewards are sky high.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: South Korea
Current Age: 22
Fighting Style: Taekwondo

There are tons of terrible fan fictions featuring this guy, and it's not hard to see why. Hwoarang is the pretty boy of the Tekken universe – an arrogant bad boy with androgynous hair and a penchant for motorcycles. Kick, kick, and kick – it's a strategy that sounds a lot simpler than it actually is. Hwoarang is easy to learn but difficult to master, and a player must utilize the right stance at the right time to emerge victorious.

Debut Game: Tekken 2
Birthplace: Japan
Current Age: 22 (Possibly Dead)
Fighting Style: Kazama Karate

Even though she hasn't been playable in the main series since Tekken 2, Jun's influence continues to affect the other characters. She's the moral center of the franchise, and her son, Jin, is haunted by visions of her in his lowest moments. Jun made a non-canon appearance in Tekken Tag 2, and her simple, yet effective fighting style also made its welcome return. Time will tell whether she returns to the canon series – no one stays dead in video games, after all.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: China
Current Age: 19
Fighting Style: Baguazhang

Ling Xiaoyu is what happens when you put an 8-year-old girl's mind into a 19-year-old girl's body. With her plaid-skirted school uniform, barely legal hairstyle, and butt slapping shenanigans, Ling is somehow both kawaii and creepy. She's a master at evasiveness – a Ling player must play a glorified game of tag and capitalize upon an opponent's mistakes with well-placed pokes.

Debut Game: Tekken 6
Birthplace: USA
Current Age: 27
Fighting Style: Free Style Karate

Every fighting game needs a token fat guy, and Tekken is no exception. Bob isn't just a little fluffy though – he's morbidly obese. The Japanese developers were likely doubled over in laughter, creating the most 'ugly American' possible. And yet, Bob is somehow quicker than fighters half his size, whirling and spinning with ease. He's quickly become a new favorite in the Tekken community, with a huge offensive game (pun intended) and few weaknesses to speak of.

Debut Game: Tekken 1
Birthplace: Unknown
Current Age: Unknown
Fighting Style: Manji Ninjitsu

What a cheater. Yoshimitsu's the only fighter who gets to use a sword, and an unblockable sword at that. Armed to the teeth with helicopter moves, spinning moves, poison breath, healing powers, and a teleport to boot, Yoshimitsu may not fit in with the other fighters. With those kinds of moves, however, he's easy to love.

Debut Game: Tekken 2
Birthplace: Hong Kong
Current Age: 48
Fighting Style: Five Forms Kung Fu, Drunken Boxing

Inspired by Jackie Chan, Lei Wulong is strictly for Tekken experts. He has seven stances to master – Snake, Dragon, Tiger, Panther, Crane, Phoenix and Drunken – and a command list that is best described as overwhelming. Each new Tekken game adds subtle complexities, making Lei's learning curve incredibly steep. In terms of psychological intimidation, however, Lei is tops. When fighting him, it's nearly impossible to predict what's coming next, and an opponent must react with his gut to stand a chance.

Debut Game: Tekken 1
Birthplace: Japan
Current Age: 76
Fighting Style: Mishima Karate

The old man who's responsible for everybody's misery, Heihachi just won't be killed. It's not like people haven't tried – half the competitors are out for his blood, and his own son set a bomb off next to his head. Somehow, however, Heihachi persists, and his spin kicks, electric punches, and heavy ground game are stronger than ever. It wouldn't be a King of the Iron Fist Tournament without him.

Debut Game: Tekken 1
Birthplace: USA
Current Age: 49
Fighting Style: Jeet Kune Do

Let's just call him Bruce Lee from now on. Law has every single one of Bruce's iconic moves – his flip kick, his one-inch punch, and his flying kick, not to mention his costumes from Enter the Dragon and Game of Death. Unlike the other competitors, who are out for revenge, or world domination, or glory, Law just wants to pay his bills – he's completely broke at the beginning of every tournament. Law adds some much needed levity to the proceedings, and he never crosses the line which separates Bruce Lee homage from Bruce Lee rip-off.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: Japan
Current Age: 22
Fighting Style: Traditional Karate

A mama's boy with an axe to grind, Jin has slowly transformed from hero to anti-hero over the years. He's brooding, distant, and angsty – fighting a losing war against the Devil Gene will do that to a guy. A popular character (with the largest female fanbase), Jin was broken in Tekken 4 – a single Laser Scraper juggle could take half an opponent's energy, and most Tekken tournaments ended with a Jin vs. Jin matchup. Since then, he's been nerfed considerably, but he remains a challenging foe.

Debut Game: Tekken 3
Birthplace: Mexico
Current Age: 31
Fighting Style: Professional Wrestling

It's a masked muscle man with a jaguar head – what more is there to say? King II even growls like a jaguar, which somehow increases the thrill that one gets from snapping an opponent's bones. A fierce competitor with flashy moves, King II is famous for his massive chain throws, which drain an opponent's entire life bar. The Rolling Death Cradle is hilarious to watch, but painful to be on the receiving end of. Professional wrestling may be fake, but King II never got the memo.

Debut Game: Tekken 1
Birthplace: USA
Current Age: 49
Fighting Style: Judo

With a crack of the knuckles and a crack of the neck, Paul Phoenix warms up for battle. He's got a small command list with basic attacks, but the spiky haired American doesn't need that much to win. Paul's greatest strength is... well, his strength. With the Rage meter activated, Paul's Phoenix Smasher can drain half of an opponent's life bar. Sure, there's a good chance of a counterattack, but a true Paul player needs a high risk / high reward attitude to emerge victorious.

Debut Game: Tekken 1
Birthplace: Ireland
Current Age: 25 (Cryogenically 44)
Fighting Style: Aikido

Nina Williams is the ultimate ice queen. Whether she's crotch kicking male fighters, bitch slapping them, or grinding her heel in their faces, Nina fights to emasculate and degrade. Affixed with a permanent scowl, she's been a top tier character since the beginning. She's got a huge arsenal of pokes at her disposal, not to mention chain throws and combo launchers – this blonde bombshell is dangerous at any distance.

Debut Game: Tekken 1
Birthplace: Japan
Current Age: 50
Fighting Style: Mishima Karate

With his glowing red eye, pact with the Devil, and Electric Wind God Fist, Kazuya is a full-on badass. Kazuya has every powerful tool at his disposal – the best launcher in the game, punishing air combos, great okizeme, solid defense, and the ability to apply ungodly pressure for the entire match. The guy survived a freaking volcano – what possible chance does anyone else have? For his charismatic, anti-hero persona, his varied gameplay, and his difficult-to-master, yet effective command list, Kazuya Mishima is the greatest Tekken character of all time. Now, if he could just win the next Tournament...