Since the first-everSuper Smash Bros.released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64, generations of video game fans have been introduced to icons of video game history in the all-star brawler. The series has included characters from throughoutNintendo’s well-known franchise roster, includingSuper Mario Bros.,The Legend of Zelda,Pokemon, andMetroid.
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However, the series has also included characters from lesser-known series, that since their re-introduction asSuper Smash Bros.fighters, have seen increased popularity over the years. These eight franchises that Nintendo owns might’ve vanished into obscurity if it wasn’t for their characters' inclusion inSmash, turning some of them into gaming icons themselves.
8Kirby
Nowadays, the pink puffball known as Kirby isone of the most popular charactersin Nintendo’s long list of active franchises. However, by the release of the firstSuper Smash Bros.in 1999, Kirby wasn’t one of the company’s staples, despite good sales for games likeKirby’s Dream LandorKirby Super Star.
Additionally, Kirby’s 3D debut inSuper Smash Bros.became a defining moment for the character, as it was the first time Kirby’s voice appeared. The character’s appearances in the fighting game franchise would define its later video game appearances, including the Nintendo 3DS spin-off titleKirby Fighters Deluxeinspired by the platform fighter.
7Star Fox
Star Foxwas an incredibly influential title on the SNES, as one of the first games to introduce 3D polygonal graphics. However, Fox McCloud’s appearance as a playable character inSuper Smash Bros.for N64 also came shortly after the franchise’s most popular entry to date,Star Fox 64, which initially fleshed out the core Star Fox fighter pilot team.
In subsequentSuper Smash Bros.titles, characters like Falco Lombardi and Wolf O’Donnell were also added as playable fighters. These characters' individual popularities translated to theStar Foxseries,especially titles likeStar Fox Assaultfor the GameCubewhich allowed players to control multiple different characters of the Star Fox crew.
6F-Zero
Before the very-firstSuper Smash Bros.,F-Zerowas Nintendo’s premiere racing game franchise, debuting on the SNES in 1990. However, little was known about its principal characters until Captain Falcon appeared as an unlockable character in the fighting game. Since then, Captain Falcon has become one of Nintendo’s most iconic characters.
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Although Nintendo has lacked support for theF-Zerofranchise in favor ofMario Kartas their signature racing series,Captain Falcon remains a popular figurein video game history. Furthermore, his most iconic moves, like the devastating Falcon Punch, all originate inSuper Smash Bros., since the character rarely is ever outside his vehicle inF-Zerogames.
5Mother
Ness’s inclusion in the firstSuper Smash Bros.was quite an odd choice for some, considering the character had only appeared in the obscure SNES titleEarthbound. However, in the years to come, the SNES game, as well as other entries in theMotherseries, would become incredibly influential in the JRPG genre.
Furthermore, the appearance of Ness also eventually led to the inclusion of Lucas, the protagonist of the Japan-only GameBoy Advance titleMother 3. That game has since become somewhat legendary amongst Nintendo fans for its lack of westernization even now, but hopefully somedaythe franchise’s popularity amongst hardcore gamers will pay off.
4Fire Emblem
Marth and Roy were originally added as playable characters inSuper Smash Bros. Meleeto represent theFire Emblemseries, which debuted on the NES in 1990 but relished in obscurity. However, by the timeFire Emblemcharacters became a mainstay in titles likeSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate, the series went from nearly cancelled to blockbuster.
The success ofFire Emblemtoday is widely attributed tothe popularity of the 3DS titleFire Emblem Awakening, which has a total of three individual characters made playable inSmash. Even the franchise’s most recent entry,Fire Emblem Engage, makes the most of its history of characters by featuring heroes of its past, including its variousSmashfighters.
3Kid Icarus
Pit made a triumphant return to Nintendo game inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, but before then he was the simple protagonist of the incredibly difficult NES title. However, it wasSuper Smash Bros.director Masahiro Sakurai who really heralded the second coming ofKid Icarusby producing a reboot of the franchise for Nintendo 3DS:Kid Icarus Uprising.
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Since the release ofUprising, theSuper Smash Bros.series has received a total of two additionalKid Icarusrepresentatives: the goddess Palutena, and Pit’s evil clone Dark Pit. Hopefully, there’s a bright future forKid Icarusfans, but none of it would’ve been possible without Sakurai including the character in the 2007 Nintendo Wii fighting game.
2Pikmin
Pikminwas the brainchild ofMariocreator Shigeru Miyamoto, debuting on GameCube in 2001 with a follow-up on the same console in 2004. It wasn’t until 2013, six years after protagonist Captain Olimar was included inSuper Smash Bros. Brawl, that the franchise received an additional entry on the Wii U withPikmin 3.
Nowadays,Pikminis one of Nintendo’s most popular ongoing series, withPikmin 4being the latest entry. Although Olimar has taken a backseat to newer characters, he still remains the franchise’s representative inSuper Smash Bros., aside from Alph fromPikmin 3as a costume variant sinceSuper Smash Bros for Wii U & 3DS.
1Xenoblade
Xenoblade Chroniclesreleased on Nintendo Wii in 2010, but spent many years without any new games. That is, until its protagonist Shulk first appeared as a playable fighter inSuper Smash Bros for Wii U & 3DS, prompting increased popularity for the original game, which was laterported to Nintendo 3DS and the Switchover the next few years.
Xenobladehas now seen many sequels and spin-offs since Shulk was included inSuper Smash Bros., from the Wii U’sXenoblade Chronicles X, to two sequels on the Switch in 2017 and 2022. The DLC forSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateeven included the dual-threat of Pyra/Mythra as the second playable fighter for the RPG franchise.
