A list of all Smash Ultimate fighters by their debut. This lists the character's first appearance and the date they were revealed. Characters are separated if they had different debuts. Also included are alternate costumes that are different characters. I'm assuming that the Smash character is a representation of all versions of the characters (so the debut of Link and Donkey Kong is the first time an incarnation of those characters appeared).
Characters
# | Character | Debut[1] | Smash reveal |
---|---|---|---|
01 | Mario |
1981.07.09 Donkey Kong |
1999 |
02 | Donkey Kong |
1981.07.09 Donkey Kong |
1999 |
03 | Link |
1986.02.21 The Legend of Zelda |
1999 |
04 | Samus |
1986.08.06 Metroid |
1999 |
04ε | Dark Samus |
2002.11.18 Metroid Prime |
2018 |
05 | Yoshi |
1990.11.21 Super Mario World |
1999 |
06 | Kirby |
1992.04.27 Kirby's Dream Land |
1999 |
07 | Fox |
1993.02.21[2] Star Fox |
1999 |
08 | Pikachu |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
1999 |
09 | Luigi |
1983.03.14 Mario Bros. (technical debut)[3] 1983.04.04 Mario Bros. |
1999 |
10 | Ness |
1994.08.27 EarthBound |
1999 |
11 | Captain Falcon |
1990.11.21 F-Zero |
1999 |
12 | Jigglypuff |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
1999 |
13 | Peach |
1985.09.14 Super Mario Bros. |
2001 |
13ε | Daisy |
1989.04.21 Super Mario Land |
2018 |
14 | Bowser |
1985.09.14 Super Mario Bros. |
2001 |
15 | Ice Climbers |
1985.01.30[4] Ice Climber |
2001 |
16 | Sheik |
1998.11.21 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |
2001 |
17 | Zelda |
1986.02.21 The Legend of Zelda |
2001 |
18 | Dr. Mario |
1990.07.27[5] Dr. Mario |
2001 |
19 | Pichu |
1999.11.02 Pokémon Gold Version |
2001 |
20 | Falco |
1993.02.21[2] Star Fox |
2001 |
21 | Marth |
1990.04.20[6] Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light |
2001 |
21ε | Lucina |
2012.04.19 Fire Emblem Awakening |
2014 |
22 | Young Link[7] |
1998.11.21 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |
2001 |
23 | Ganondorf[8] |
1998.11.21 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time |
2001 |
24 | Mewtwo |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
2001 |
25 | Roy |
2001.11.21[9] Super Smash Bros. Melee (technical debut)[3] 2002.03.29[6] Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade |
2001 |
25ε | Chrom |
2012.04.19 Fire Emblem Awakening |
2018 |
26 | Mr. Game & Watch |
1980.04.28[10] Ball 2001.11.21[9] Super Smash Bros. Melee (as Mr. Game & Watch) |
2001 |
27 | Meta Knight |
1993.03.03 Kirby's Adventure |
2008 |
28 | Pit |
1986.12.19 Kid Icarus |
2008 |
28ε | Dark Pit |
2012.03.22 Kid Icarus: Uprising |
2014 |
29 | Zero Suit Samus[11] |
2004.02.09[12] Metroid: Zero Mission |
2008 |
30 | Wario |
1992.10.21[13] Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins |
2008 |
31 | Snake |
1987.07.13[14] Metal Gear |
2008 |
32 | Ike |
2005.04.20 Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance |
2008 |
33 - 35 | Pokémon Trainer (Male) |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
2008 |
33 - 35 | Pokémon Trainer (Female)[15] |
2004.01.29 Pokémon FireRed Version |
2008 |
33 | Squirtle |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
2008 |
34 | Ivysaur |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
2008 |
35 | Charizard |
1996.02.27 Pokémon Red Version |
2008 |
36 | Diddy Kong |
1994.10.25 Donkey Kong Country |
2008 |
37 | Lucas |
2006.04.20 Mother 3 |
2008 |
38 | Sonic |
1990.10.03 Rad Mobile (cameo) 1991.04.28 Sonic the Hedgehog |
2008 |
39 | King Dedede |
1992.04.27 Kirby's Dream Land |
2008 |
40 | Olimar |
2001.10.26 Pikmin |
2008 |
40 | Alph |
2013.07.13 Pikmin 3 |
2014 |
41 | Lucario |
2005.07.16[10] Pokémon: Lucario and the Mystery of Mew (technical debut)[3] 2006.09.28 Pokémon Diamond Version |
2008 |
42 | R.O.B.[16] |
1985.07.15 Family Computer Robot (as Robot) 1985.10.18[17] Nintendo Entertainment System[18] (as R.O.B.) |
2008 |
43 | Toon Link[7] |
2002.12.02 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past[19] (technical debut)[3] 2002.12.13 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker |
2008 |
44 | Wolf |
1997.04.27 Star Fox 64 |
2008 |
45 | Villager |
2001 | 2014 |
46 | Mega Man |
1987 | 2014 |
47 | Wii Fit Trainer |
2007 | 2014 |
48 | Rosalina & Luma |
2007 | 2014 |
49 | Little Mac |
1984 | 2014 |
50 | Greninja |
2013 | 2014 |
51 | Mii Brawler |
2006 | 2014 |
52 | Mii Swordfighter |
2006 | 2014 |
53 | Mii Gunner |
2006 | 2014 |
54 | Palutena |
1986 | 2014 |
55 | Pac-Man |
1980 | 2014 |
56 | Robin |
2012 | 2014 |
57 | Shulk |
2010 | 2014 |
58 | Bowser Jr. |
2002 | 2014 |
58 | Koopalings |
1988 | 2014 |
59 | Duck Hunt |
1984 | 2014 |
60 | Ryu |
1987 | 2015 |
60ε | Ken |
1987 | 2018 |
61 | Cloud |
1997 | 2015 |
62 | Corrin |
2015 | 2016 |
63 | Bayonetta |
2009 | 2016 |
64 | Inkling |
2015 | 2018 |
65 | Ridley |
1986 | 2018 |
66 | Simon |
1986 | 2018 |
66ε | Richter |
1993 | 2018 |
67 | King K. Rool |
1994 | 2018 |
68 | Isabelle |
2012 | 2018 |
69 | Incineroar |
2016 | 2018 |
70 | Piranha Plant |
1985 | 2019 |
71 | Joker |
2016 | 2019 |
72 | Luminary |
2017 | 2019 |
72 | Erdrick |
1988 | 2019 |
72 | Solo |
1990 | 2019 |
72 | Eight |
2004 | 2019 |
73 | Banjo |
1997 | 2019 |
73 | Kazooie |
1998 | 2019 |
74 | Terry |
1991 | 2019 |
75 | Byleth |
2019 | 2020 |
76 | Min Min |
2017 | 2020 |
77 | Steve |
2011 [20] | 2020 |
77 | Alex |
2014 | 2020 |
77 | Zombie |
2011 [21] | 2020 |
77 | Enderman |
2011 [22] | 2020 |
78 | Sephiroth |
2017 | 2021 |
79 | Pyra |
2017 | 2021 |
80 | Mythra |
2017 | 2021 |
81 | Kazuya |
2017 | 2021 |
82 | Sora |
2017 | 2021 |
- ^ The date of publication listed on the U.S. Copyright Records is used here, anything else will be clarified separately.
- ^ a b Release date according to Star Fox's Super Famicom Nintendo Switch Online listing
- ^ a b c d This character was developed for a certain game. However, a tie-in/promotional game or movie was developed alongside that game and happened to come out first. The game the character was designed for is being counted as the true debut of the character.
- ^ Release date according to Ice Climber's Nintendo Classic Mini: Family Computer listing.
- ^ Release date according to Dr. Mario's Family Computer Nintendo Switch Online listing.
- ^ a b Release date according to Fire Emblem World's History page.
- ^ a b Young Link and Toon Link are meant to represent specific incarnations of Link. So the debut of "Young Link" is the debut of the young Link from OoT, not the debut of a young Link, same goes for Toon Link.
- ^ Ganondorf, meaning the humanoid version. The original Ganon debuted in 1986.02.21 with The Legend of Zelda
- ^ a b Release date according to Melee's Japanese website.
- ^ a b Release date according to Wikipedia.
- ^ As in Samus with her Zero Suit, not just a suitless Samus.
- ^ Release date according to IGN.
- ^ Release date according to Super Mario Land 2's Japanese website.
- ^ Release date according to Metal Gear's page on the Truth behind Metal Gear website.
- ^ Both Pokémon Trainers are meant to be representations of a Pokémon trainer, not a specific one. However, the design for the female trainer is specifically based on Leaf. This wasn't an issue for the male trainer as he is based on Red, the first Pokémon trainer. This means the first appearance of a Pokémon trainer, and the specific one the male Pokémon Trainer is based on, are the same game. For the purposes of this list, I am counting the Pokémon Trainers as the characters they are very clearly supposed to be, and as Leaf makes her first appearance in a later game, that game will be counted as the female Pokémon Trainer's first appearance.
- ^ Known as just Robot in Japan, to better match the Japanese name Family Computer Robot. The icon here is also the icon for the Famicom colors, which is the default in Japan.
- ^ Release date according to WIRED. The release date is listed as October 1st in the Copyright Offices Public Catalogue, this usually means that it was released in October, but when it was filed, they put the 1st just to be safe. The release date for the NES is generally contested anyways.
- ^ He was released in the Nintendo Entertainment System: Deluxe Set outside the initial October 1985 Test Market run, but during that initial run, the packaging just said "Entertainment System" with a large Nintendo logo further away (Proof).
- ^ I'm choosing to be obtuse here. The game's title in English is just The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the Four Swords part is not in the title. It is in the Japanese release, but that came later.
- ^ Official release. Minecraft had a public alpha in 2009, two years before the game's official release.
- ^ Official release. Introduced in the 0.24_SURVIVAL_TEST build of Minecraft in 2009.
- ^ Introduced in the pre-release 1.8 beta build of Minecraft.