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The BAFTA recently hosted a poll asking netizens to vote for the most iconic video game character of all time. Believe it or not, the results will shock you to the core. Making headlines with the surprising yet interesting list of characters, the outlet officially crowned Lara Croft of Tomb Raider as the most iconic video game character, according to over 4,000 players.
As Lara Croft topped the list of 20 most iconic video game characters, Mario surprisingly got pushed down to second place. Even the protagonist of theGod of Warseries – Kratos made a shocking appearance in 9th position. But while these particular polls stunned fans, Pikachu’s appearance in 12th position simply baffled netizens.
BAFTA’s Poll for the Most Iconic Video Game Character of All Time
Although video gaming has long been a mainstream hobby, it surprisingly reached its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic. And ever since then, the video game industries have started witnessing steady growth in their business with more than $150B in annual revenues, as perStatista. Therefore, following this particular craze for video gaming,BAFTArecently hosted a poll to find out which is the most iconic video game character of all time.
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In celebration of the 20th BAFTA Games Awards, the academy asked over 4000 players to offer their insight and vote to determine the most iconic video game character of all time. Considering the popularity of Pikachu, Mario, and even Pac-Man, people might believe that either of these few characters will top the list of the 20 most iconic characters of all time. But you will be stunned to know that Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft dominated the competition.
Snatching the number one spot, Lara Croft got crowned as the most iconic video game character of all time. Surpassing the likes of Mario, Kratos, and even Pikachu, the Tomb Raider character became the star of the poll. Pushing Sonic to 4th position and Pac-Man to 6th, the list shoved fan-favoritevideo games and anime character Pikachuto 12th position.
Fans are Baffled by How Neither Pikachu Nor Mario Could Top the List
Now, we’re not gonna wage a war or anything becauseLara Croftis indeed iconic. Debuting back in 1996, as perNintendo Life, the character quickly became recognizable and even got hailed as one of themost badass game characters. She later made her way into movies, comics, and even novels, so we would say that Lara Croft surely deserved the top shelf.
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But at the same time, what has us questioning is the other entries on the list. Considering the popularity of Pikachu, we surely don’t think the character belongs in the 12th position. Well, not just us, even netizens appear baffled by the votes. Taking to X afterDiscussingFilmshared BAFTA’s list online, fans went straight to the comment section to throw punches at the anonymous voting.
No way Pikachu isn’t top 5, top grossing franchise of all time
— Bino (@AnimeGuru100)June 27, 2025
Invalidated. Lara Croft is not more iconic than Mariopic.twitter.com/bSS9yLriDB
— Hector Navarro (@imhectornavarro)July 20, 2025
Lara Croft beating out Mario? No way lol.
— Matt (@GamemasterYado)June 09, 2025
Pikachu in 12 ?Yeah this is irrelevant.
— Aquario💧 (@GreninjaGoat)June 17, 2025
Lara Croft!?!? Number one l? Pikachu at 12?! Agent 47 over sonic?! This whole list is blasphemy
— Animerican (@Animerican69)July 15, 2025
Mario not being first lets me know this poll was rigged 🤦🏾♂️
— Uncle Demi (@UncleDemi)June 07, 2025
Nah Mario is more iconic, I think even my grandparents know who Mario and princess peach are :p
— GreenPig 👾 (@Greenpig117)June 28, 2025
Addressing how Pikachu has been one of the top-grossing franchises of all time, fans claimed that the character in no way could have been pushed down to 12th position. Further, addressing how Lara Croft toppled Mario, netizens began expressing their disappointment over the poll. Quick to slam the list as irrelevant, people appear deeply unsatisfied with the poll.
Krittika Mukherjee
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3219
Krittika Mukherjee is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on films, TV shows, and celebrity news with over 3,000 articles published. With an educational background in Journalism, and a keen interest in filmmaking, Krittika blends factual precision with creative flair, when crafting her editorials, or dissecting fan theories.Her coverage often includes news and analyses of critically acclaimed films, celebrity news, and franchises like the Wizarding World, LOTR, DC, and MCU—particularly Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Superheroes, and fan theories. As a Wizarding World aficionado, Krittika has spent countless hours exploring hidden backstories, unadapted book moments, spells, and trivias surrounding J.K. Rowling’s lore.An imaginative writer with a way with words, Krittika has worked as an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a web content writer for a year. She brought her experience and expertise to FandomWire to pursue her desire for sipping coffee while dissecting films and tracking celebrity drama.
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