Just Keep Swimming

James Pond is an intelligent, mutated mudskipper who works with an organization called F.I.5.H. to protect the seas. Designated secret agent Double Bubble 7, Pond has a license to grill and is tasked with infiltrating the underwater lair of the nefarious Doctor Maybe. (His entire existence is an apparent reference to James Bond, but it could be just a coincidence.) In any regard, James Pond battles all sorts of aquatic enemies during his assignments. When he’s not trapping his enemies in bubbles, he’s likely trying his luck with the ladies. Against all odds, he’s suave enough to seduce mermaids! The James Pond games weren’t especially good and they feel like relics from the past in some regards, but the series managed to spawn four mainline games and a spinoff. I guess mermaids weren’t the only ones that found James Pond irresistible.

Bob the Killer Goldfish is Earthworm Jim’s most unassuming rival. Like many goldfish, Bob spends his time in a small glass bowl. He has no way to attack or defend himself, so he mostly relies on a mindless feline bodyguard named Number Four to do the heavy lifting for him. Jim’s confrontations with Bob tend to be extremely one-sided and are played for laughs. In their first battle, Jim simply knocks Bob’s bowl off the table and leaves him to flop around. In Earthworm Jim 2, Jim plucks Bob from his bowl and swallows him whole! Bob is basically helpless without his imposing minions to protect him, so it’s not entirely clear how he earned the reputation of a killer in the first place. Nevertheless, Bob the Killer Goldfish is one of Jim’s most persistent rivals and the only antagonist to appear in every game in the series.

Clanker is a large cyborg shark… at least I think he is. He has gills like a shark and a vertical tail fin like a shark, but he also has a blowhole and is referred to as a whale on more than one occasion. Arguments over his anatomy are moot (given his mechanical makeup) so I’m going to make an executive decision and call him a shark for the purpose of this list. Clanker is a majestic creature who belongs in the open ocean, but Grunty the Witch keeps him chained up in a dingy cavern and uses him as a garbage disposal unit. Surrounded by filth and covered in lacerations, Clanker’s situation is dire indeed. His lot in life doesn’t improve any as the series progresses. In Nuts & Bolts, his body is separated into multiple sections and he’s used as an attraction in Banjoland. Poor Clanker just can’t seem to catch a break.

Rikuo is a merman inspired by the titular monster from the 1954 film, Creature from the Black Lagoon. He is one of the only survivors of a once-peaceful kingdom that was destroyed by seismic activity caused by a powerful alien being named Pyron. After Pyron was defeated, Rikuo decided to settle down and start a family with another survivor that he had encountered. With three sons and 12 more eggs waiting to hatch, Rikuo is determined to protect his family and rebuild his kingdom. Known as the “Hero of the Sea” and the “Aquatic Daredevil,” Rikuo can transform his body to mimic other sea life. His hands can change into crab claws or octopus tentacles, his feet can turn into seashells, and his torso can become a giant clam that shoots pearls. He can also summon waves to crash down on his opponents or trap his enemies in bubbles.

Enguarde the Swordfish is one of the only animal buddies to appear in all three of the SNES Donkey Kong Country games. The trilogy is fondly remembered for its underwater sections, and Enguarde is especially significant since he’s the only means of attacking underwater enemies. (In the absence of Enguarde, the Kong’s are completely defenseless while under water.) His pointed bill allows him to take a stab at dangerous marine life or locate secret areas, and his powerful thrusts are a force to be reckoned with. He’s useless on land and can’t even jump out of the water, but his swimming abilities are second to none. Swimming around with gorillas and monkeys on your back can’t be easy, but Enguarde is completely unfazed by his passengers. No matter how dangerous things get, he never loses his goofy smile.

Cheep Cheeps made their first appearance in Super Mario Bros. and have arguably been the most recognizable fish in all of gaming ever since. Although they are usually found in water, they have uncanny jumping abilities and can become airborne threats as well. Cheep Cheeps could be likened to flying fish, and their powerful fins could almost double as wings. They’re relatively easy to defeat, but they travel in numbers and are surprisingly resilient creatures. Certain varieties of Cheep Cheeps reside in sewers and some can even survive in rivers of lava! Cheep Cheeps are more one dimensional than the other fish on this list (outside of the Paper Mario series at least) but they are worthy of their spot for how iconic they are. Outside of the Mario franchise, Cheep Cheeps have made appearances in several Zelda games.

Fizz is a member of an ancient race of water-dwelling creatures who found safety in an impenetrable fortress under the sea. Unsatisfied with his sheltered life, Fizz developed a habit of sneaking out in search of danger. While he was away on one of his adventures, his city was abandoned without warning. After salvaging an enchanted trident from the ruins, Fizz set out alone in search of his people. The skills he learned during his adventures helped him survive, but his penchant for mischief angered the people he encountered during his journey. It was only after he defeated a massive dragon-shark that Fizz earned the respect of the humans. From that point on, the “Tidal Trickster” decided to serve his new home in any way he could. Fizz is one of the most whimsical champions in League of Legends.

Gill Grunt grew up in a city at the bottom of the ocean, but dreamed of a world of adventure above the sea. (His story is all-too-familiar of merfolk.) After joining the Gillman army, Gill’s dream became a reality when he was deployed to a floating city in the clouds. While on tour, Gill became smitten with a mermaid that he met near a misty lagoon. When his mermaid muse was kidnapped by pirates, Gill realized that he needed to do more to protect his friends. The ordeal inspired him to become a Skylander and he worked diligently to protect the skies from the forces of evil. Armed with a harpoon gun and equipped with a water jetpack, Gill keeps an ever-watchful eye for his beautiful mermaid and the pirates who took her. Gill Grunt has been a part of Skylanders from the very beginning and is one of Spyro the Dragon’s closest friends.

Magikarp’s position on this list might be surprising considering they’re among the most underpowered Pokémon in the entire series. They can be found swimming in seas, lakes, rivers, and shallow puddles, but all they do is splash around. Weak, pathetic, and virtually useless, it’s unclear how they even manage to survive. What makes Magikarp compelling is their ability to evolve into massive serpentine dragons known as Gyarados. This evolution seems illogical at first, but it’s based on a Chinese legend about carp transforming into dragons after swimming up waterfalls. While Magikarp is famous for being unreliable in battle, Gyarados has a vicious temperament and will damage anything in its wake. If nothing else, Magikarp’s hapless nature and surprising evolution path makes him one of the most memorable Pokémon there is.

The aquatic Zora have been a part of the Zelda series since the very beginning, and Princess Ruto is undoubtedly the most prominent Zora in the series. The rebellious daughter of King Zora XVI and the heir to the Zora throne, Ruto met Link when they were both still children. After being rescued from the belly of a whale, Ruto proposed marriage and Link unwittingly accepted without understanding what he agreed to. When Link became the Hero of Time and jumped seven years into the future, Ruto scolded him for making her wait for so long. Fortunately for Link, Ruto ultimately chose to postpone their engagement in order to carry out her duties as the Water Sage. Ruto takes on a more active role in Hyrule Warriors where she wipes out legions of enemies with her water-based attacks and literally swims through the air!