Shining Armor Optional

Meta Knight is one of the most mysterious knights on this list. He made his first appearance in Kirby’s Adventure in 1993 but wasn’t even given a name until Kirby’s Avalanche was released two years later. There is much debate about Meta Knight’s nature and allegiances, but he is clearly governed by a sense of honor. This is seen when he gives Kirby a sword before they fight. Meta Knight is basically a colorful sphere with a pair of adorable batwings, but his enduring face mask and lavish capes accentuate his enigmatic personality. Meta Knight is the perfect rival for Kirby and earned himself an even brighter spotlight with his appearances in the Super Smash Bros. series. His role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl was controversial and he was considered overpowered. It’s not his fault that other Nintendo characters can’t keep up.

Animal mascots were all the rage in the mid ’90s, but Sparkster was one of the few that didn’t come across as an obnoxious, second-rate Sonic the Hedgehog. He’s an adorable opossum with amusing expressions and a surprisingly dark backstory. After his parents were murdered in a war, Sparkster was sent to an orphanage before being adopted by a man who had the foresight to raise him to be the knight we all know and love. Like most knights, Sparkster is armed with a sword and decked out in a suit of armor. Since he’s a rocket knight, Sparkster is also equipped with a cool rocket pack that allows him to fly. Sparkster might look harmless, but holding a sword and flying towards your enemies at breakneck speeds is bound to cause some damage. Sparkster has saved his kingdom numerous times from armies of robots and pigs.

There are many legendary video game knights that didn’t make it onto this list, so it might seem a little strange for a goofy character like Steiner to make the cut. After all, he’s clumsy, dimwitted, and the target of numerous jokes. His bulky suit of armor looks more silly than menacing, and the clanking noises that accompany his footsteps border on the ridiculous. If that wasn’t bad enough, his first name is Adelbert. Despite his faults, Steiner is a skilled swordsman who displays incredible bravery. He is assigned to protect the royal family of Alexandria and places the safety of Princess Garnet above all else. He’s narrow-minded and quick to judge, but he’s also loyal to a fault and completely selfless. Even though he’s portrayed as a comic relief character in Final Fantasy IX, Steiner takes his position very seriously.

After impressing the nobles with embellished tales of slain dragons, Daniel Fortesque was made a knight and appointed head of the Royal Battalion. The Kingdom of Gallowmere hadn’t seen battle in many centuries, but the king loved Dan’s story and gave him the honorary post. When an evil sorcerer named Zarok threatened the kingdom, an unprepared Dan was pulled from bed and placed on the battlefield. Within seconds, he was struck in the eye by an arrow and fatally wounded. Zarok returned from exile 100 years later and cast a spell to resurrect his undead army, but the skeletal corpse of Dan was revived as well. He was missing his jaw and only had one eye, but the once-cowardly knight seized the opportunity to defeat Zarok, save the kingdom, and earn his place as a true hero of Gallowmere.

As the deputy commander of a mercenary force, Titania is level-headed and takes a no-nonsense approach to battle. She’s very useful in combat and can effortlessly cut down her opposition. Despite her efficiency in battle, she also has a nurturing side and takes on a maternal role for the younger mercenaries. Kind, compassionate, and idealistic, Titania is always willing to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves. Titania’s appearance is the perfect reflection of her personality. Her large axe and gold armor are eye-catching, but they also make practical sense. Likewise, her flowing red hair manages to look majestic and restrained at the same time. This list could have easily been comprised entirely of Fire Emblem characters, but Titania is the most likable and sympathetic knight in the series.

While seeking vengeance for his father’s death, Siegfried was seduced by the power of the Soul Edge. This cursed sword tempted Siegfried with the promise of resurrecting his father in exchange for gathering souls for its consumption. Siegfried agreed to wield the sword, but it consumed him completely and eventually transformed him into the being known as Nightmare. Siegfried wanted nothing more than to destroy the cursed sword, but Nightmare had an insatiable thirst for its power. The warring personalities of Siegfried and Nightmare was central to the plot of the first two SoulCalibur games. Siegfried was eventually able to free himself from the curse, but spent the duration of the series seeking atonement for the atrocities he committed as Nightmare. Siegfried is easily the most iconic and fascinating knight in the franchise.

Frog used to be a regular human named Glenn who served his kingdom as a squire. During a battle with a dark mage, Glenn witnessed the death of his best friend, Cyrus. Glenn was also cursed with his familiar frog form during this encounter. Stricken by grief, Frog dedicated his life to protecting his Queen and vowed to avenge his friend. He became an elite swordsman and mastered water-based magic spells, but Frog blamed himself for Cyrus’ death and mired in regret over the past. He was eventually able to clear his conscious and put the ghost of his friend to rest. Despite his freakish appearance and troubled past, Frog carries himself with dignity and class. In the original English translation of Chrono Trigger, Frog speaks in a pseudo-Shakespearean manner even though nobody else from his timeline does.

Cecil was raised by the king for the specific purpose of becoming a Dark Knight. After he is tricked into bombing an innocent village, Cecil openly rebels against the king and forms an alliance of warriors. As the events of Final Fantasy IV unfold, Cecil abandons his dark ways and becomes a virtuous Paladin. This helps him understand that brute strength alone isn’t power, and that his most difficult battles are emotional ones. Nearly everyone who he brings into his rebellion is presumed dead at some point during his adventure. He’s also involved in a love triangle with his childhood sweetheart and his best friend. Worse yet, he discovers that the powerful sorcerer responsible for the kingdom’s corruption is actually his long-lost brother. Cecil pushes forward regardless of what life throws at him and eventually becomes the new king.

Shovel Knight and his beloved Shield Knight were once inseparable. After a cursed amulet turned Shield Knight into an evil enchantress, a grieving Shovel Knight set out on a quest to free her from the evil spirits. Shovel Knight should be commended for not giving up on his partner, but the main reason why he is rated so highly on this list is due to how unconventional he is. In sharp contrast to everyone else on this list, Shovel Knight’s weapon of choice is a shovel! (I guess his name kind of gives that away.) This shovel can be used to attack enemies directly and it can also be used to dig up treasure. The shovel is even used as a makeshift pogo stick – similar to how Scrooge McDuck uses his cane in Capcom’s Duck Tales games. To put it simply: Killing bad guys with swords isn’t nearly is cool as bouncing on their heads with a shovel.

When Princess Prin Prin is kidnapped, the brave knight Arthur immediately sets out to rescue his fair maiden. Despite his courage, Arthur is completely outmatched. He uses various weapons and can even double jump in the air, but any enemy he comes across will either shatter his suit of armor or kill him out right. The fact that the princess wasn’t killed during her kidnapping suggests that she’s actually stronger than her knight in shining armor. Arthur can’t be touched without dying, but Prin Prin was carried across the countryside and into the underworld without being harmed. It’s Arthur’s determination that secures him the top spot on this list. If necessary, he will carry on fighting while wearing nothing but his boxer shorts! After finally rescuing his girl, Arthur has no qualms in starting the adventure over again to find a bracelet that she lost.