How Many Characters Are Available in Smash?
The Super Smash Bros. series is known for its vast array of playable characters, with each installment introducing new faces to the fray. From Nintendo’s iconic franchises to third-party guest stars, the roster of Smash has grown exponentially over the years. In this article, we’ll delve into the number of characters available in Smash, exploring the breakdown by game and franchise.
The Original 12
The first Super Smash Bros. game, released in 1999, introduced 12 playable characters. These original 12 included:
• Mario
• Donkey Kong
• Link
• Samus
• Yoshi
• Kirby
• Fox
• Pikachu
• Luigi
• Ness
• Captain Falcon
• Jigglypuff
Smash 64 and Melee
The next two games in the series, Super Smash Bros. 64 (1999) and Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001), added more characters to the roster. Super Smash Bros. 64 introduced:
• Yoshi’s Island’s Birdo
• Pikmin’s Captain Olimar
Super Smash Bros. Melee added:
• The Legend of Zelda’s Young Link
• Pokémon’s Mewtwo
• F-Zero’s Ganondorf
Brawl and Wii U
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008) and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) brought in new characters from various Nintendo franchises. Brawl introduced:
• The Legend of Zelda’s Toon Link
• Pokémon’s Lucario
• Metroid’s Zero Suit Samus
Wii U added:
• Super Mario Bros.’ Villager
• Super Smash Bros.’ Sonic the Hedgehog (guest star)
• Pikmin’s Wii Fit Trainer
Smash Ultimate
The latest installment, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), boasts the largest roster in the series, featuring 74 playable characters in the base game. Bold highlights notable characters, including:
• Nintendo’s iconic Mario, Link, Samus, and Yoshi
• Third-party guest stars, including Sonic the Hedgehog, Bayonetta, and King K. Rool
The game also includes 13 Echo Fighters, which are alternate versions of existing characters with slightly altered movesets. Dark Samus, Ken, and Riivolution are a few examples.
Total Character Count
In total, there are 89 playable characters across the entire Super Smash Bros. series. This number includes both base game characters and downloadable content (DLC).
Character Breakdown
Here’s a breakdown of the number of characters per franchise:
| Franchise | Number of Characters |
|---|---|
| Nintendo | 51 |
| Pokémon | 11 |
| The Legend of Zelda | 6 |
| Super Mario Bros. | 5 |
| Metroid | 3 |
| F-Zero | 2 |
| Pikmin | 2 |
| Sonic the Hedgehog | 1 |
| Bayonetta | 1 |
| Third-party | 6 |
Conclusion
The Super Smash Bros. series is renowned for its diverse roster of playable characters, with a total of 89 characters across the entire franchise. From Nintendo’s iconic franchises to third-party guest stars, the series offers something for every fan of fighting games and Nintendo entertainment. Whether you’re a newcomer or a seasoned pro, there’s a character for everyone in Smash.