When video game designers want to give characters a striking look, they can opt for many things: scars,an eyepatch, wacky clothing… the list goes on. But instead of adding accessories, some go for an intrinsic part of the design — the character’s hair. And red is a great colour to add some sparkle.
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Just like in real life, characters with red hair are somewhat rare to come by, so when you see a redhead, they often stand out from the rest of the cast. Whether they’re sporting a natural ginger or a bright red, these characters have taken the crowns as iconic redheads in video games.
10Triss Merigold (The Witcher Series)
Ever since she first appeared inThe Witchergame series, Triss Merigold has had fiery orange hair, and though her clothing choices in the latter entries are a stark difference from her first design, she maintains this recognisable trait.
As a sorceress, she specialises in healing and is rarely found without the potions she needs, despite being allergic to them herself. She cares deeply for both Geralt and Ciri, and looked after Ciri when she was in need, showing that healing is just part of her nature.
9Knuckles (Sonic The Hedgehog)
Knuckles may be less of a redhead and more of a… red-entire-body, but regardless, his red design, completing the primary colour trifecta withSonicand Tails, is nothing short of iconic. As he’s based on an echidna, the long red hair falling from his head resembles the echidna’s quills, though it looks much less sharp.
Knuckles’ shoes are also red, along with some yellow and green accents, making his all-red look complete. Red must be his favourite colour, it seems. Good for Knuckles.
8Axel (Kingdom Hearts)
A former member of Organization XIII, Axel’s stark red hair is the perfect match for both his snarky personality and the weapon he uses: flaming chakrams. Every inch of his hair is sharply spiked, and the colour instantly pops out against the long black coat he wears as part of the Organization’s uniform.
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In both the sprite work of the original Chain of Memories and the 3D model for theKingdom Heartsremasters, Axel’s red hair is the stand-out part of his design and immediately draws your attention.
7Reyn (Xenoblade Chronicles)
Shulk’s childhood best friendand a party member in the firstXenoblade Chroniclesgame, Reyn has reddish auburn hair that nicely complements the orange accents of his default outfit. Though perhaps not as fiery as other redheads, his red hair is all natural, giving him that humble boy-next-door look.
Personality-wise, Reyn’s compassion for his friends is just as big as the brawn he brings to the group. He’ll always try to cheer you up if you’re feeling down, or if you just need a pick-me-up.
6Sumire Yoshizawa (Persona 5)
Much of Sumire Yoshizawa’s design is themed around the colour red: other than her hair, she has red eyes and a red hair ribbon, and when she’s in her school uniform, red accents in her skirt and red loafer shoes too. However, as you learn throughout the game, this appearance doesn’t reflect who she truly is.
Sumire keeps her red hair, but instead of keeping it tied in a ribbon, she wears her long hair down, and finishes her look with a pair of sleek black glasses. Whichever style she’s in, though, the red hair is the star of the show.
5Red XIII (Final Fantasy 7)
Also known as Nanaki, Red XIII certainly lives up to his name. His lion-like body is covered in red fur, and the tip of his tail is even alight with a flame. That’s burning red on a whole other level.
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You first meet Red XIII inFinal Fantasy 7when he’s being held captive by Professor Hojo and forced to undergo his unsavoury experiments. Luckily, Cloud and the party rescues him, and this red-headed lion joins you for the rest of the journey.
4Ganondorf (The Legend Of Zelda)
The flagship villain ofThe Legend of Zeldaseries,Ganondorf is the Gerudo form of Ganon, possessing red-orange hair and a beard of the same colour inOcarina of Time,Twilight Princessand the Wind Waker. His beast form often has red hair, too.
Ganondorf’s red hair is certainly eye-catching and adds to his intimidating presence — this is one redhead you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of. It’s also a signature part of the Gerudo look, harkening back to his links to the people.
3Crono (Chrono Trigger)
The protagonist of the highly regarded JRPGChrono Trigger, Crono has spiked red hair, pushed back with a white headband. His hair looks great in both the game’s sprite work and the official artwork by Akira Toriyama ofDragon Ball ZandDragon Questfame, and is perfect for this time-travelling hero.
Though Crono is a silent protagonist, he has a strong presence and is the glue keeping the rest of the party together. It couldn’t beChronoTrigger without Crono, after all.
2Misty (Pokemon)
While she’s far more well-known for her character in thePokemonanime series, Misty also stars in games set in the Kanto region asthe Gym Leader of Cerulean City. Her orange hair is tied up in the iconic side ponytail in Red and Blue and their remakes, while she lets it down in Gold and Silver and their remakes.
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Whichever hairstyle she’s sporting, you can instantly recognise the fiery hair of the tomboyish mermaid. The bright colour matches her outgoing personality and lets you know that, when you battle her, she won’t be going down without a fight.
1Neku Sakuraba (The World Ends With You)
The protagonist ofThe World Ends With You, anda returning character in the sequel, NEO, Neku Sakuraba has brightly coloured orange hair that greatly contrasts his otherwise purple, white, and black colour scheme. Sitting under his iconic headphones, his hair is the first thing your eyes are drawn to when you see his character design.
As a character, Neku begins as standoffish and rude, and prefers to stick to himself rather than interact with others. Slowly, he learns to open up and realises that there’s value to be found in the people and world around him.
