Cyan, Teal, Sex Appeal

Frieda is a mysterious warrior from a secluded village who tells stories of the ancient past. (She serves as the narrator of Ys: Memories of Celceta, in fact, and the events of the game are taken from her perspective.) Even though she’s a fountain of knowledge, she doesn’t take herself too seriously. She loves to rile up her friends, and her alchemy-created fairy companion is even more mischievous. Frieda seems like she made for a life of adventure, and she has a lot to offer in battle since she’s the only one in her party who can cast magic. Fortunately, her gamut of ice spells in no way reflect her personality. Frieda has a warm disposition, and she’s surprisingly outgoing for someone who spent most of her life hiding in the forest. The girl has a great smile, and things seem more fun when she’s around.

Super Robot Wars is an ambitious crossover that features characters and mecha from several iconic anime franchises – including Gundam, Mazinger, and Getter Robo among others. The series also introduces a number of original characters that help tie the story together. Aya Kobayashi pilots a small, humanoid mecha that can combine with other mecha to form the mighty Super Robot Type-X! At 21 years of age, she’s a relatively inexperienced member of the military, but her powerful psycic abilities make her a valuable member of her team. Aya was raised since childhood to harness her powers, and her memories were even altered to heighten her emotions. Nevertheless, she’s actually a gentle soul who hates conflict. She’s a pretty girl with a kind personality, and she has access to a giant robot. What’s not to love?

Langrisser is a series of turn-based strategy games that has been around since 1987. Most of the games were never released outside of Japan, however, and the franchise still hasn’t broken out into the mainstream. It’s unfortunate, because some of the characters are really compelling. Angelina is introduced in Langrisser IV as a typical tomboy princess. Her primary role is to act as the sword that protects her older sister, but she’s given agency over her own actions. She outright refuses to follow her father’s orders if they go against her principles. It’s nice to see a princess who is defined by their resolute heart rather than their royal upbringing. Angelina technically had light green hair when she made her debut, but she’s still eligible for this countdown since the color was changed to cyan in Langrisser Mobile.

Herja was born into nobility, but a rift was formed in her family after her father passed away. The dispute forced Herja out of the aristocracy, and she survived by relying on the swordsmanship that had been taught to her as a child. Although she sometimes flounders under pressure and has trouble controlling her emotions, she has remarkable resolve for a girl her age. In fact, she became the leader of the Iron Spear mercenaries despite being a young woman in a man’s world. She longs to be with her family once again, however, so she takes the appropriate steps toward reunification. It’s easy to forget that Herja is still a teenage girl, given how complicated her life is. She has a rugged appearance and a perilous career, but she eventually gets in touch with her feminine side. The girl’s a lot more adorable than her jagged exterior suggests.

Senran Kagura is filled with boisterous characters with large personalities, but Bashō is remarkably calm in comparison. She enjoys reading poems in quiet places, and she’s so in tune with her artistic side that she uses a paintbrush as a weapon! (The paintbrush technically conceals a sword, however, so it’s not quite as tranquil as it sounds.) In any regard, any assumptions you’d make about her are likely misplaced. For instance, you’d probably be surprised to learn that she’s enrolled in an evil shinobi school, considering how carefree she is. You might also expect that she’d have all of the confidence in the world, but she’s easily embarrassed and has a tendency to stutter. Even though she becomes a shrinking violet whenever her clothes are torn, she continues to look for artistic inspiration on the battlefield.

It’s debatable whether Hatsune Miku should be considered for this list since she was created for Yamaha’s Vocaloid software rather than a video game. I decided to include her anyway since we already made an exception on our list of best gaming idols. The girl’s a merchandising juggernaut, and her impact on pop culture cannot be overstated. The virtual idol has made a huge mark on the gaming world too. Miku has her own line of rhythm games from Sega, she has had guest roles in dozens of titles, and her iconic outfit has been featured in everything from Phantasy Star to Yakuza 5. Countless companies have paid tribute to her turquoise twintails, and I can understand why her fans are so enthusiastic. Miku is passionate, charismatic, and fun. I often find myself bopping my head to the music when Miku takes the stage.

Tsubasa Oribe is an optimistic young woman who dreams of becoming a pop idol, but her life takes a sharp turn when she’s attacked by malicious beings called “mirages” that hail from another dimension. Tsubasa somehow manages to befriend the mirages, so she’s offered a spot in an idol agency that secretly researches the otherworldly beings. This arrangement gives her an opportunity to save the world and further her entertainment career at the same time! As an aspiring idol, Tsubasa is at the forefront of fashion. She has an entire wardrobe of interesting outfits, and she eventually gains the confidence to wear more risqué clothes. Some of her outfits were toned down for American audience, but that just proves she was doing something right. Tsubasa is proud of her sexy body even though she makes the censors seethe.

Tamaki is a swimsuit model, a fashion designer, and a sensational martial artist who made her debut in Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation. She’s also a blackout drunk whose understanding of consent is intermediate at best. She’s constantly groping other girls and gauging their breast sizes, although she insists that it’s just her way of playing jokes on them. (It’s just a prank!) When she’s not passing out beaches or indulging in sexual harassment, Tamaki is looked upon like an older sister. This makes sense, considering she’s one of the oldest women in the Dead or Alive series. The flirty 22-year-old still has a lot of growing up to do, however, and it seems like mischief is part of her nature. Tamaki is certainly not without her faults, but I’d actively welcome her impromptu groping sessions.

Byleth is a mercenary who starts teaching at a monastery after an unknown power awakens inside of her. She’s a difficult woman to describe since she’s basically a blank slate. She’s a silent protagonist – unlike previous Fire Emblem avatars – and she carries a look of disinterest on her face. While I always liked her shining eyes and lace leggings, it was hard to relate to someone who rarely showed emotion. I finally became a Byleth fan when her swimsuit was unveiled in Fire Emblem: Heroes. The skimpy bikini made her seem more outgoing, and it also underlined her enormous rack! Fans were apathetic when she was added to the Smash Bros. roster, but her balloon tits set social media ablaze. A famous philosopher once said, “Tits, or GTFO!” and that perfectly reflects how the Internet feels about Byleth.

Morrigan Aensland is the rightful ruler of the demon realm, but she often neglects her responsibilities to pursue a hedonistic lifestyle. Her transgressions are understandable, however, since her very survival is linked to her sex appeal. Succubi are endangered beings in the Darkstalkers universe, and it’s implied that they will die if they go a few days without fucking someone stimulation. Morrigan is more popular than the Darkstalkers franchise itself, so I doubt she’d have a problem finding someone to hook up with. Nevertheless, it’s important to contextualize her sluttiness. Her outfits are revealing and she constantly flirts with men, but I can’t blame her for trying to satisfy her hunger. I’d be happy to help her out in this regard, and I’d even be willing to overlook her bat wings.