But first, some rules. First, I will only count characters that made their debut in a video game as a video game character (so no, Goku from Dragon Ball Z is not on this list), because that's actually the rule the creator of Smash Bros, Masahiro Sakurai, uses when he works on the Smash Bros games. I will also only include video game characters that have appeared on a Nintendo owned system (Switch, 3DS, Wii U, Gamecube, etc) as I feel that having SOMETHING to do with Nintendo improves these guys/gals' chances of making it in the future. Second, I will only include characters with workable moveset potential. What I mean is, I won't pick characters that have no unique abilities or characteristics, like an NPC or something. And last but not least, this list is my opinion and not a fact. As such, I don't expect ANY of these characters, except one, to appear at all in a future Smash Bros game. My choices are pretty out there and probably won't happen, but this isn't "Top 10 Most Likely characters to be in a future Smash Bros game". It's a list of characters I personally want in Smash Bros. Without further adieu, let's start the list.
No. 10!
Spyro the Dragon (Spyro franchise, Skylanders franchise). Spyro holds a special place in my heart. When I was growing up, there were two kinds of kids. Kids who love Spyro and kids who love Crash Bandicoot. It's easy to guess which group I belonged to. In addition to being my one of my childhood heroes (the others being Optimus Prime and Spider-Man), Spyro is a purple dragon, which is inherently cool. Anyway, I would love to see this guy in Smash Bros, but coming up with a moveset is somewhat difficult, depending on which incarnation of Spyro they decide to use. If they use the Skylanders incarnation, and I PRAY they don't, Spyro only has three abilities to make a moveset out of, his trademark Flame-Breath, his ram attack, and the power of flight. But if they go with The Legend of Spyro incarnation, Spyro already has a full moveset right there. You see, in The Legend of Spyro trilogy, Spyro has access to all three of his Skylanders counterpart's powers, in addition to being able to use Thunder Magic, Ice Magic, and Earth Magic, and on top of all this, Spyro is incredibly strong at close range thanks to being able to pull of what can best be described as the dragon version of kung fu, and if they go with THIS incarnation, Spyro would be quite the powerhouse, and I can see two possibilities for his Final Smash (that is, a super strong finisher, for those of you who never played Smash Bros). The first possibility, they have him team up with Hunter and Cinder (two fan favorite friends of Spyro's) to lay the smackdown on his foes similar to Robin's Final Smash, or, if they really want to embrace The Legend of Spyro trilogy's lore, they can have him transform into Dark Spyro and gain a massive power boost. Or they can base him off his 90's incarnation to cash in on the nostalgia, but I personally think the best incarnation would be the Legend of Spyro incarnation because quite frankly, the developers and programmers would probably have an easier time with that incarnation (plus I personally loved the trilogy as a whole, so I may or may not be biased). And while a quick trip to the 90's reveals that Spyro was originally a Sony exclusive character, that changed later on when Insomniac Games (who work for Sony) sold the rights to Spyro to another company who we don't care about and Spyro has since appeared on almost every video game system imaginable.
No. 9!
Wonder-Red (The Wonderful 101). The Wonderful 101 is a game with a sad story behind it. It was a great, fun, and innovative game that has one of the most imaginative game mechanics (draw shapes on the Wii U gamepad to create weapons to fight with!) while also serving as an affectionate parody of the entire superhero genre, most notably Power Rangers. But something heartbreaking happened. This game was a commercial flop that slowly fell into obscurity, despite garnering an implausibly large fanbase. But the thing is, Wonderful 101 is a Nintendo exclusive property, and thus Wonder-Red (the main hero of Wonderful 101) is a valid candidate for Smash Bros. As for his moveset, I can see Wonder-Red using miniature versions of the Unite Morphs from his home game (Unite Fist, Unite Sword, Unite Gun, etc). Because if they use full-size Unite Morphs, would cover 2/3 of the screen. They could probably make it so Wonder-Red's Unite Morphs only last for a short while or are taken away when he takes damage, forcing him to rely on good ol' fisticuffs. As for his Final Smash, they could have him go into Unlimited Form and spam Unite Morphs with reckless abandon. Or even bring in the other Wonderful Ones to lend a hand. And, if Wonder-Red did get in, that would chalk up the number of PlatinumGames characters who are in Smash Bros to two.
No. 8!
Shovel Knight (Shovel Knight). Shovel Knight is perhaps the king of indie games, being an iconic video game character and his home game has been released on the Wii U, the 3DS, and the Nintendo Switch, and is the first indie character to receive an Amiibo figurine in his likeness. If they wanted to represent the indie genre, Shovel Knight might just be the best choice. But anyway, Shovel Knight is one character that almost everyone agrees would be perfect for Smash Bros, and as for a potential moveset, it's kind of obvious how he would fight. He would use his trademark shovel to knock foes back and possibly bury them under mounds of dirt. But Shovel Knight is not a one trick pony! He also has access to a variety of "Relics", powerful artifacts he finds during his main adventure that gives him additional abilities, like throwing giant anchors, dashing through the skies, and even becoming temporarily intangible. Of course, they would have to balance out the more overpowered Relics like the "become intangible for a short time" Relic, but it's doable.
No. 7!
But if Shovel Knight is the king of indie games, then Shantae (Shantae franchise) is the queen. First debuting on the Nintendo Game Boy Color in the video game of the same name, Shantae went off to star in three sequels, all of which were released on Nintendo's systems. Also, depending on who you ask, people will think that Shantae is either adorable or attractive. Even though she's from a kids' game? Anyway, Shantae has the most moveset potential out of every character on this list simply because of her insanely large arsenal. She has magic spells, she can shapeshift into almost any animal imaginable, she can use the Pirate gadgets she had to use when she lost her powers at the beginning of the third Shantae game, she can even use her pony-tail as a makeshift whip! And on top of all of this, Shantae is basically an anime version of a Disney Princess, which by itself is reason enough to put her in a fighting game. And before the thought leaves my mind, do any of you realize how amazing it would be if the next Disney Princess was from an anime?
No. 6!
Alright, so I am well aware of the fact that there are six characters from Fire Emblem in Smash Bros already, and Fire Emblem Fates is a very controversial trilogy of 3DS games, but I really do want Takumi (Fire Emblem Fates) in. Takumi is one of the main heroes of Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright (the first part of the trilogy telling the tale from the perspective of the Hoshido family), and can best be described as an overly competitive samurai archer. Takumi would be rather unique among the other six Fire Emblem characters, due to the fact that his weapon of choice is an enchanted bow that shoots beams of magical energy instead of arrows (compared to everyone else's swords). But before anyone says "But Spencer! Pit from Kid Icarus also has a energy-beam shooting bow, so Takumi would be a shameless carbon copy!". Not necessarily. You see, Pit's thing is that his bow is actually a pair of scimitars (swords with blades that curve upwards) that can detach and let's Pit engage in close quarters combat. Also, Pit only has one attack in his entire moveset where he uses his bow in it's bow form. The way I'm imagining Takumi would work is that almost all of his moves would involve launching projectiles to keep his foes at a distance only to get annihilated if you get past the projectiles and into melee range. Oh, and before you ask why I want Takumi in, it's because he's my favorite Fire Emblem character thanks to Fire Emblem Heroes. And let's face it, Fire Emblem is steadily becoming one of Nintendo's biggest franchises and they want to make money, and Takumi has a decently sized fanbase supporting him. Although, if they have a new Fire Emblem character in Smash Bros, it's probably going to be whoever is the main hero of the currently untitled Fire Emblem Switch game coming out next year to help promote it. But hey! Even if Takumi never makes it in Smash Bros, at least they confirmed that he's playable in Fire Emblem Warriors which basically makes that game an instant must-have for me.
No. 5!
The Inklings (Splatoon franchise). Splatoon is Nintendo's second newest IP and has been picking up steam since the first game and now the Inklings are the most frequently requested character for Smash Bros in history. Anyway, the Inklings are kids. Who are also squids. And their entire arsenal consist of paintball guns, giant paintbrushes, literal buckets filled with brightly colored ink, and bubble blowers. I'm pretty sure Nintendo can cook up a decent moveset with all these. Also I just now realized that there are lot of projectile-based fighters on this list. But my point still stands! There is literally nothing stopping Nintendo from including them.
No. 4!
Elma (Xenoblade Chronicles X). The main heroine of the Wii U exclusive sci-fi space-adventure where we're STUCK ON A WHOLE DIFFERENT PLANET!!! *ahem* Elma would be awesome to see in Smash Bros. Why? She. Can. Duel. Wield. Pistols. And. Katanas. 'Nuff said! Anyway, the fact she can use both guns and swords makes her really unique among all the humanoid weapon users. Sure, Solid Snake and Bayonetta have their guns. The Fire Emblem gang, plus Shulk, Link, and Pit have their swords. But Elma can use both at the same time! And her Final Smash could be her whipping out a Skell (Skells are 20-ft tall robots armed to the teeth with the latest in military weaponry) and laying waste to her foes.
No. 3!
Incineroar (Pokemon Sun & Moon). Unpopular opinion time! I like Incineroar more than Decidueye. Anyway, Incineroar would be both really funny and really awesome at the same time. The funny factor comes from the fact that Incineroar is a giant, fiery tiger that happens to be a pro wrestler. The awesome factor comes from the fact that Incineroar is a giant fiery tiger that happens to be a pro wrestler. And out of the three Starters for Pokemon Sun & Moon, Incineroar would be the very best (like no one ever was) to see in Smash Bros. I mean, Decidueye is a Green Arrowl, but I like Takumi more than Decidueye, and Primarina is out of the question because he/she/it/they are a sea lion and would look really awkward fighting on dry land. Incineroar would probably a grappler, grabbing his opponents and throwing them around, while mixing in strong, but slow punches so that his moveset isn't JUST grabbing/throwing moves. As for a Final Smash, I can see Incineroar having a cinematic Final Smash similar to Captain Falcon's where he grabs the opponent and then body slams them against a wrestling ring. Did I mention that Incineroar is a giant fiery pro wrestler tiger?
No. 2!
What is with me and putting several indie characters on this list? In my defense, indie games are often my favorite kind of game. Anyway, Quote (Cave Story) is a robot that looks like Ash Ketchum and he has a ton of guns to fight with. Quote, like Takumi and the Inklings, would be a projectile-based fighter due the fact that all of Quote's weapons, aside from the King's Blade, are different kind of guns. He can also fly with the Booster V0.8/V2.0, so he would probably have a heavier focus on being airborne than other Projectile fighters like Samus or Robin. As for a potential Final Smash? Whipping out some of the more overpowered guns like the Spur or the Nemesis would be cool, or bringing in his female counterpart, Curly Brace, to do a tag-team style finisher. But if they don't do the latter, they could have Curly Brace as an alternate costume.
Number One!!!
Rayman (Rayman franchise). Out of all the characters on this list, Rayman is the one who DESERVES to be in Smash Bros more than anyone else. Why? He's a third party, multi-platform character, meaning Nintendo don't own the rights to him at all. But Ubisoft, the company that does own the rights to Rayman, was kind enough to let Nintendo make Rayman cameo in Smash Bros 4 as a collectible trophy. I have a feeling that Rayman will be the next Pit and/or Little Mac, both of whom cameo'd in earlier Smash Bros games as collectible trophies, and became playable one game later. As for a moveset, Rayman's hands and feet are disconnected from his main body, and I can see him pull off some far reaching punches and kicks. He can also use his helicopter hair to glide, and for his Final Smash? I honestly have no idea. Although seeing Rayman summon an army of Raving Rabbids to flood the stage would be kind of funny.
This list was surprisingly tough to make, and I did consider quite a few other candidates, and I would like to give some honorable mentions that would be cool to see but I didn't put them on the list either because they would be redundant among other choices or because I couldn't think up a way for that character to work.
Rex (Xenoblade Chronicles 2). He looks like a Kingdom Hearts character and he can turn his friends into living weapons. Excluded because his game isn't coming out until the end of the year, and if felt awkward talking about a character before their own game is available.
Decidueye (Pokemon Sun & Moon). As previously stated, I like Takumi more and there can only be one archer. But he's literally Green Arrow in Pokemon Form which is instant cool points from me. In all fairness, Decidueye's overwhelming popularity and the fact that it's already in a fighting game bolster it's chances of making it in. Perhaps more so than the rest of my list.
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I thought about putting Chase McCain (LEGO City: Undercover) on the list as a joke but decided I would instead leave him as an honorable mention. There is literally no way Chase is ever making it in, sadly. Unless Mr. Sakurai does what he did with Cloud Strife and Solid Snake (neither of whom appeared on a Nintendo system until AFTER they were included in Smash Bros). His Disguises could play into an unpredictable "jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none" playstyle befitting a joke character, but he's still a joke character.
Dixie Kong (Donkey Kong Country franchise). The Donkey Kong series is woefully underrepresented considering how important it was to Nintendo's climb to success as the largest and most influential gaming company in history, and Dixie Kong would be an excellent addition, unlike a certain crocodile king who has yet to resurface after disappearing mysteriously for over two decades. Why did she not make the list? Simple! Whatever Dixie Kong can do, Shantae could do it better. Heck, one of the many animals Shantae can transform into is a monkey.
And last but not least we have Agumon (Digimon franchise). I want him in Smash Bros for the sake of poetic justice (there are a ton of Pokemon in Smash Bros and Super Smash Bros 4 was developed by Bandai Namco, the current owners of the Digimon franchise, and it would be quite grand to see a Digimon beat up a Pokemon), but then I realized that technically speaking, Agumon isn't really a video game character. One could make the argument that the slightly obscure Tamagotchi Virtual Pets toy from the 70's, which would later be renamed Digimon, was a really primitive video game, but it was advertised as a toy and to this day most people identify it as a toy. Agumon has appeared in video games but since his first appearance as a Digimon character (rather than a Tamagotchi character) was in the anime series from 1997, I think we can rule out Agumon because of Mr. Sakurai's "Only characters who first appeared in a video game allowed" rule.
And that's who I personally want in a future Smash Bros game! Because let's face it. There is no way Nintendo is NOT making a new Smash Bros game. It's their most successful franchise, a love letter to Nintendo's history as a gaming company, let's folks determine a definitive answer for all their "who would win in a fight?" fantasies, and it makes Nintendo lots and lots of money. But anyway, who would YOU, the reader of this post, put in Smash Bros if you were given such a heavy responsibility? Let me know in a comment or something. Or not. You can keep your opinion to yourself. It's a free Internet after all.
