Video games are known for a bevy of tropes and repeated design choices. One that isn't used as often as it should be is the ability to teleport. Throughout the years there have been a bit more than a handful of iconic video game characters in both indie games and AAA blockbuster titles with memorable teleportation abilities.
Used as either a mode of transportation or in an attempt to catch an enemy or opponent off-guard, teleporting is ingrained into the history of video games. Whether in multiplayer or single-player games, nothing is better than getting the best of an opponent who never sees it coming.
8 Shadow The Hedgehog (Sonic)
The internet over the last decade-plus has memed and trolled the Sonic the Hedgehog series to death. Thanks to the recent success of the live-action/CGI movies, though, there's been a resurgence of positive vibes around the blue hedgehog.
Among the cast of characters, most fans consider Shadow the Hedgehog to have the coolest design from an aesthetic standpoint. He's a black and red hedgehog, who thanks to the use of a Chaos Emerald, has the ability to teleport. Some folks might consider the speed at which Sonic moves to be perceived as teleportation, but it's his edgy doppelganger who can actually teleport, albeit with the aid of an item.
7 Ness (Earthbound)
A character most people might forget gains access to teleportation abilities happens to be a kid sporting a red cap and striped shirt. Ness from EarthBound is a teleporter in his own right as players gain this ability from a monkey of all things, located in the Dusty Dunes Desert.
This will give Ness access to one form of teleportation, with the second coming after he fights and overcomes his nightmare in Magicant. As with many aspects of EarthBound, the action of teleporting is rather comedic and played for laughs more than it is focused on being scientifically accurate or plausible.
6 Yoshimitsu (Tekken)
Tekken is considered one of the most iconic fighting game series of all time, and for good reason. It has a roster of entertaining and memorable characters who each have their own fighting style and approach to combat. Yoshimitsu is one of the more annoying people to fight in the games as he has access to a teleportation move that sees him spinning in a circle while seated.
High-level Yoshimitsu mains can aggressively tilt their opponents with the use of this teleportation move as it can be used to avoid damage or set up a window to lock in a combo attack. It can look rather silly at times, but it doesn't make the move any less effective.
5 Reaper (Overwatch)
Reaper is one of the villainous characters in the world of Overwatch, and sports arguably the edgiest design on the roster. He feels inspired by both classic Blizzard designs from series like Diablo or Warcraft, but also has a bit of Frank Castle/Punisher or Spawn thrown in as well. His teleportation ability isn't as nifty or speed-focused as fellow Overwatch alum and teleporter Tracer, but it can be equally effective.
Players select a point in which to teleport and after a brief moment of no movement, Reaper will appear at the selected spot. It's best in scenarios where the enemy team is out of position and/or a Reaper has his ultimate charged and can unleash a powerful attack in hopes of weakening or eliminating the enemy team. Timing and location are everything with Reaper and this learning curve separates good Reaper mains from dangerous ones.
4 Noctis (Final Fantasy)
Final Fantasy is a long-running series of role-playing games that features dozens of memorable characters. Noctis from Final Fantasy XV happens to be one of those cases and has a move called Warp in which he teleports toward his target.
In order for him to pull off this feat he must first throw a weapon in the direction he wishes to traverse, then once this occurs he warps to the point in space in which the weapon is residing. He isn't the only character in the game capable of doing this, but as the main character, it's hard not to put the spotlight on him as its most prominent user.
3 Mega Man
Mega Man, throughout his series, teleports into every level, in one of the more dazzling animations in the world of classic video games. He beams in like a ray of light, before fully converting into an entity of mass and weight. Fans have speculated for years about how it works, but there's never been an official explanation regarding the teleportation technology heavily featured throughout the long-running series.
One assumption is that it has to do with him being a robot and not human, therefore his molecular structure can be manipulated in a way that can be dismantled and regrouped without any biological or medical issues attached to the process.
2 Tracer (Overwatch)
Along with Reaper, there is another dazzling teleporter in the world of Overwatch that is rather iconic. Her name is Tracer and she's a British adventurer and pilot who serves as the mascot of the Overwatch series. Tracer's ability to quickly traverse maps with her dashing ability makes her tough to deal with.
Add in that she can rewind her position and fall back to a prior point of both position and health. Players who can get a grasp on when to dash and at what point a reverse in time would be most effective can turn her into one of the more difficult heroes to deal with in all of Overwatch 2. At her base, she's fun to use and can quickly dole out damage on unsuspecting enemies.
1 Abra (Pokemon)
Any kid who grew up playing the original Pokemon games understood the risk and reward that came with trying to capture a wild Abra in tall grass. Players had to have a Pokemon fast enough to hit the Abra with a status effect, or simply get lucky with a Pokeball to catch it.
Those who were unsuccessful would be treated to the Abra teleporting away and fleeing from battle. Showcasing the ownership of an Alakazam to friends wasn't just impressive because players had to trade a Kadabra for it to evolve, but getting one's hands on an Abra, outside of trade, was a test of patience most kids couldn't overcome.