10 Weirdest Characters in Fighting Games

While the first characters I played in fighting games were well-balanced, predictable normies like Ryu and Guile, eventually, I learned something about myself. Namely, I prefer playing as the underdogs, those wonderfully weird characters who confound my opponents with their unusual moves.

Because while it can be fun and satisfying trading hadokens and Sonic Booms in combat, it's a lot more satisfying to hurl sausages, or bash my opponents with a shopping cart. The added bonus is that many of these unpredictable fighters usually benefit from button mashing, meaning they're easier to play as until I've mastered them.

There is a great and quirky list of fighters on this list, all from a wide range of fighting games. For simplicity's sake, they're listed according to my preferences, with me trying to focus on the truly unusual characters. So get ready to go wild with this list of weird fighting game characters!

Reporting from the Zombie Apocalypse

One of my all-time favorite fighting games is Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars. Both because it's an exclusive for the Wii console, and also because it's such an eclectic mix of fighters, from both Capcom and Tatsunoko, which is a very unusual combination. As a result, there is an embarrassment of riches in picking the unusual fighters, but I think the best and weirdest is Frank West.

The freelance photojournalist from Dead Rising brings a lot of insanity to bear in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars. Not only can he use a ton of random weapons like baseball bats and shopping carts, but he can even summon zombies to battle for him. And when he's used as an Assist, he'll pop out and stun foes with his trusty camera.

Not only can Frank play keep-away, but he also excels at punishing aerial attacks. Mix that with strong juggle attacks and some unique Hyper Combos, and he's one post-apocalyptic brawler you'll want reporting for you.

9 B.B. Hood / Darkstalkers

What Big Guns She Has

In a series full of monsters like Darkstalkers, it stands to reason that the weirdest character is the girl dressed up like Little Red Riding Hood. She might seem out of place initially, at least until she whips an Uzi out of her picnic basket.

That's not all this "little girl lost" has on her. Baby Bonnie Hood also demolishes foes with daggers, Babuskha bombs, and a Molotov Cocktail or two. She might look honest and demure initially, but B.B. Hood is actually a thrill-seeking, monster-hunting wild woman.

Sure, she's a bit twisted, but that only makes B.B. Hood that much more fascinating, and a perfect fighter to grace this list.

8 Sylvie Paula Paula / The King of Fighters XIV

Quite Shocking

Much like B.B. Hood, at first, Sylvie Paula Paula's looks are very deceiving. Until she starts talking with the voices in her head, at least. In fairness, though, that's a side effect of what NESTS did to her in experimentation. Lucky for Sylvie, she also got some crazy electrical powers in the process.

She shows up in The King of Fighters XIV, and over the course of the series, grows in confidence and weirdness. Which is probably for the best, since she wasn't a fan favorite when she arrived, but has become more accepted since.

In combat, Sylvie Paula Paula is dangerous, able to mix together improvised martial arts with sneaky use of electrical powers. Keep that in mind if her clownish behavior lulls you into a false sense of security.

7 Blanka / Street Fighter

A Shocking Take on Tarzan

I didn't think much of Blanka when I first encountered the Brazilian wild man. And then he grabbed and electrocuted me. I quickly learned that although he's unconventional, that in no way makes Blanka less of a threat. He's been a great fighter from the original Street Fighter all the way to more modern entries like Street Fighter 6.

Blanka was left for dead early on, but was embraced by the jungle and the animals in it, sort of like a modern Tarzan. Unlike Tarzan, he's shockingly green, with a mane of wild orange hair. If that wasn't unusual enough, later on, he adopts a sort of split personality called Blanka-chan, which caters to his squishy and cute side.

In combat, Blanka relies on many charged attacks, which take some getting used to. But once mastered, Blanka is a literal force of nature, flinging himself bodily at foes and surprising foes with his ferocity.

6 Voldo / Soulcalibur 6

Twist and Shout!

I wasn't the best at the Soulcalibur games. But once I discovered Voldo in Soulcalibur II, I felt at home. Not because anything is comforting about the twisting, dancing fighter, but because he was so unpredictable that I was able to keep my opponents guessing.

Voldo must have done something right, because he's still playable in the recent entry, Soulcalibur 6. And no matter how he might have changed over the years, Voldo always fights like a tornado. Flipping around, contorting in painful ways, and slashing foes unexpectedly.

If his fighting style wasn't enough to cement his place on his list, Voldo's unusual sense of style would do it. He dresses like some sort of sadomasochist, or perhaps something you'd find in Hellraiser. Either way, Voldo is one amazing combatant.

5 Mokap / Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

Balls of Fury

There have been a lot of weird fighters in Mortal Kombat, ranging from Noob Saibot to Meat. But one of the absolute strangest has to be Mokap, which is short for motion capture. It's a character transported from the real world into the deadly tournament against his wishes. But that doesn't mean that the good Charles Golden can't hold his own.

Mokap is actually able to manipulate white energy and convert it into projectiles and telekinesis, which is as neat as it is absurd. He first showed up in Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, and somehow has persisted through more recent entries like Mortal Kombat 11.

In battle, Mokap has a unique set of attacks, ranging from charge punches to a backflip/swan kick combo. Perhaps the most iconic is "Lights, Camera, Action," which results in him shooting a white fireball at foes. If nothing else, he's unlike any other fighter I've played.

No Objections Here!

I'm not sure who I need to explain this to, but here goes — Phoenix Wright is a lawyer, not a fighter. Which is why it's so bizarre he got a starring role in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. But as a fan of the absurd, I'm here for it, and he was surprisingly fun to play.

In combat, Phoenix relies on three different stances to provide a variety of unpredictable moves. He'll do things like sneeze, reach down to search for clues, and even look at papers. None of which sounds like an actual attack, but that's how they work in Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

He's a very defensive fighter who can deal surprisingly robust damage with his combos. He's even able to launch projectiles and play keep away like a champ. Don't count this lawyer out when the stakes are high.

3 Mokujin / Tekken 3

Nobody's Dummy

The Tekken series alternates between edgy, dramatic fighters and total weirdos. I was debating on which one to include on this list; there are so many. Ultimately, I decided that the sentient wooden training dummy from Tekken 3, Mokujin, had to be featured. Because not only is the premise absurd, but Mokujin is a surprisingly strong fighter.

Mokujin was crafted from a white oak 2,000 years ago, and when the God of Fighting awoke, so did he. Not only does Mokujin battle, but it has a mind and personality all of its own. As for how Mokujin fights, that's where things get interesting.

Perhaps as a result of being used to train so many different fighters, Mokujin doesn't have a set style. Instead, he will adopt the moves of one of the other Tekken fighters at the start of each round. Which means your opponent won't know what to expect until wooden fists and feet are flying.

2 Hornet / Fighters Megamix

Pedal to the Metal

Much like Phoenix Wright isn't usually a fighter, neither is Hornet. See, usually Hornet is a Daytona car. But in Fighters Megamix, it somehow gains sentience and fights like a human. Heck, it even stands upright and uses its wheels like fists.

Once you get past the absurdity of it all, Hornet is a pretty competent fighter. It even grows faster once it's taken damage and sheds its paneling, though that also means it will be significantly weaker as a trade-off.

In combat, how does a car fight? Surprisingly effectively. Besides bodily falling on foes, it can race around and even purposefully shed paneling with Super Ignition to gain access to a bunch of new attacks. Fight hard or get run over!

1 Mr. Game & Watch / Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Yokoi's Revenge

One of the fighting games I played the most was Smash Bros., most notably Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. And while that game has an overwhelming roster of playable fighters, I wanted to focus on the main roster for this list. And in that context, Mr. Game & Watch is easily the weirdest character.

Based around the series of Game & Watch handhelds designed by Gunpei Yokoi, Mr. Game & Watch has a moveset totally comprised of actions from those games. That includes flipping sausages, catching oil, and holding up that darn sign to OTK me unexpectedly.

In a list of weird characters, Mr. Game & Watch easily takes the cake. Not only does he have a diverse moveset, but he can also transform into an octopus to harass foes. He might not seem that strong at first glance, but in the hands of a master, he's an undeniably powerful fighter.