A character is one of the fighters in the Super Smash Bros. series. Characters can be sorted into playable and non-playable, which distinguishes whether characters can be used without the use of a cheat device (like Action Replay) or not. Playable characters can further be divided into starter and unlockable, which distinguishes whether characters can be played right away, or whether they need to be unlocked.

Playable Characters

This is a list of the playable characters in the Super Smash Bros. series. Shaded cells denote unlockable characters.

Fighter SSB Melee Brawl Universe
Bowser       Mario
Captain Falcon       F-Zero
Diddy Kong       Donkey Kong
Donkey Kong       Donkey Kong
Dr. Mario       Mario
Falco       Star Fox
Fox       Star Fox
Ganondorf       The Legend of Zelda
Ice Climbers       Ice Climber
Ike       Fire Emblem
Jigglypuff       Pokémon
King Dedede       Kirby
Kirby       Kirby
Link       The Legend of Zelda
Lucario       Pokémon
Lucas       EarthBound
Luigi       Mario
Mario       Mario
Marth       Fire Emblem
Meta Knight       Kirby
Mewtwo       Pokémon
Mr. Game & Watch       Game & Watch
Ness       EarthBound
Olimar       Pikmin
Peach       Mario
Pichu       Pokémon
Pikachu       Pokémon
Pit       Kid Icarus
Pokémon Trainer       Pokémon
R.O.B.       R.O.B.
Roy       Fire Emblem
Samus       Metroid
Sheik       The Legend of Zelda
Snake       Metal Gear
Sonic the Hedgehog       Sonic
2 years old Link       The Legend of Zelda
Wario       Wario
Wolf       Star Fox
Yoshi       Yoshi
Young Link       The Legend of Zelda
Zelda       The Legend of Zelda
Zero Suit Samus       Metroid

Non-playable characters

The following characters are considered non-playable. These include boss characters and enemy teams, among others. Hacking may allow some level of play.

Fighter SSB Melee Brawl Universe
Crazy Hand       Super Smash Bros.
Duon       Super Smash Bros.
Fighting Alloy Team       Super Smash Bros.
Fighting Polygon Team       Super Smash Bros.
Fighting Wire Frames       Super Smash Bros.
Galleom       Super Smash Bros.
Giant DK*       Donkey Kong
Giga Bowser**       Super Smash Bros.
Master Hand       Super Smash Bros.
Meta Ridley       Metroid
Metal Mario*       Mario
Petey Piranha       Mario
Porky Minch       EarthBound
Rayquaza       Pokémon
Ridley       Metroid
Sandbag***       Super Smash Bros.
Tabuu       Super Smash Bros.

Notes:

* While Giant DK and Metal Mario were unplayable in the original Super Smash Bros., they are technically playable in Melee and Brawl by picking up a Super Mushroom or a Metal Box, respectively.

** Giga Bowser is playable in Brawl as Bowser's Final Smash. Giga Bowser is also considered to be part of the Mario universe.

*** Sandbag is considered an item in Brawl, not a character.