Masks can hide many things that the wearer might not want others to see, whether it be physical scars or their entire identity. Wearing a mask can also increase their confidence and allow them to feel more at ease when it comes to them showing their true inner self. A mask-wearer isn't always a villain either, despite what some may believe.
Sometimes a mask is just a means to feel braver or more comfortable in a particular situation. On the flip side, it could act as a magical item that grants special abilities that ordinary folks lack. In other cases, a mask can even serve as a reminder: a safe memento of someone that the wearer once loved and lost, as is the case with some of the most iconic video game masks.
6 Scorpion's Mask From Mortal Kombat
Scorpion, aka Hanzo Hasashi, is the trademark face of the uber-violent fighting game Mortal Kombat. As a resurrected ninja, Scorpion first started his journey throughout this game as a villain who wanted nothing else but to get revenge for the death of his clan and family.
However, after being brought back to life as a human again, he became one of the good guys. Scorpion wears a mask to hide his fire-engulfed human skull and to appear more human to others, even though his white eyes and demonic voice strongly suggest otherwise.
5 Shy Guy's Mask From Super Mario Bros.
Shy Guy first appeared in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic before getting transferred to Super Mario Bros 2 and is one of Mario's enemies throughout the games. Although Shy Guy wears robes of various colors, depending on the game, he usually wears the color red more often than not.
Like his name would suggest, Shy Guy wears a mask to hide his face because he is apparently very shy. However, there are many fan theories saying that his mask is actually his true face, but no one really knows for sure aside, perhaps, from the character's creators.
4 Meta Knight's Mask From Kirby's Adventure
Meta Knight's physique resembles Kirby, with its circle-shaped body and stubby arms and feet. Meta Knight is the leader of an army of the same name and is usually a boss and enemy for Kirby to battle against. However, there were some games in which Meta Knight was the playable character or even teamed up with Kirby.
Meta Knight always wears his iconic silver mask with his dark purple cape. Barely anyone has seen him without his mask, and, in the event the mask would crack during a fight, Meta Knight runs away to keep his identity a secret. There are many fan theories as to why he keeps his face hidden, but no one knows the real reason for sure.
3 Cubone's Mask From The Pokemon Franchise
Cubone got introduced to the Pokemon franchise in the first Generation. Cubone is a Ground-type who eventually evolves into Marowak at level 28. It's a lonely creature as it tends to keep to itself by avoiding social activities. In Pokemon Red & Blue, fans learned that Cubone never takes off his skull helmet/mask and that no one has ever seen its true face.
In Pokemon Yellow, there was more information on the Pokemon. Fans learned that Cubone lost its mother and wears her skull as a mask. It also cries at night or sings a sad melody when overlooking the moon since it's a reminder of what they've lost.
2 Joker's Mask From Persona 5
Ren Amaniya, aka the Joker, is the main protagonist in Persona 5. He's a tall and slim young man who wears glasses in his civilian self for the aesthetic since he doesn't need them to see. When Ren becomes the Joker, his glasses get replaced by a white mask with black eyeliner around the eyes.
He's a member of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, and, like his fellow members, his mask only appears when he enters the Metaverse, where his persona awakens. Their masks are used to hide their truths and their vulnerabilities as they face their inner demons.
1 Skull Kid's Mask From The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Skull Kid is one of the creatures under the same name who dislikes adults and can teleport. Skull Kid loves music and is known to be mischievous as he constantly plays tricks on others and causes many disturbances in his world, as seen by fans in The Legend of Zelda's Majora's Mask.
Skull Kid stole his famous mask from the Happy Mask Salesman to make him look braver, but the disguise ended up overpowering him. The mask granted Skull Kid some incredibly powerful abilities such as transfiguration, disintegration, summoning, and draining.