They're not kings yet, but they're getting there, and with a little help from the players, all they need is a little bit of time and luck to claim their thrones. Video game princes are often some of the most ideal protagonists in the history of video games. They still have some of that royal privilege but with fewer responsibilities than a king, which is arguably the perfect lifestyle for adventures.
Sure enough, the usual shenanigans of a video game prince involve faraway places, maidens, and running away from impending responsibilities whether intended or inadvertently. At least, that's the case for the most iconic princes in gaming, and these ones perfectly encapsulate what it means to be a prince in video games.
7 The Prince (Katamari Damacy)
A nameless prince, The Prince from the fun and ever-wacky Katamari Damacy games is also a harbinger of chaos. His main goal was to collect specimens and samples of distant stars and planets to correct his father's errors. Because his father, the King of All Cosmos, got drunk once and destroyed all other celestial bodies save for Earth.
So, being the great king he is, he tasks his five-centimeter-tall son, The Prince to roll up all buildings, people, animals, and other objects into a sticky ball called a "katamari" so that dad could rebuild the universe. It's a Japanese video game; it's best not to question the logic and simply enjoy the upbeat J-Pop while condensing the poor inhabitants of Earth into a messy amalgam of their civilization.
6 Ganon (The Legend of Zelda)
Here's an evil prince for a change. Ganon from The Legend of Zelda games has been a recurring villain ever since his first appearance back in the late eighties. He's had a makeover many times over several different generations of video games, yet he still remains the Prince of Darkness dating back to his first appearance.
Ganon is more iconic as a villain than as a prince, but the fact that he keeps trying to take Zelda and her kingdom reinforces his hopeless status as a junior monarch. Like most princes who are not really qualified to succeed in a throne or kingdom, Ganon is a bonafide usurper of the throne, and a massive schemer at the same time.
5 Noctis (Final Fantasy 15)
Noctis and his entourage in Final Fantasy 15 look less like royalty and more like a boy band, but the game says he's a prince and the other guys are his royal guard, so that's that. Given the events that transpired in his father's kingdom though, one can forgive Noctis for looking less regal.
His kingdom was invaded by the empire of Niflheim and his goal in the game is to reclaim what was his and save his empire from its invaders. Hence, Noctis was a prince in exile, and in a rather difficult spot since his claim to the throne was getting weaker by the minute. To further complicate his quest, he also has to fight some darkness with powers exclusive only to his bloodline, that's a lot of pressure for a teenage prince.
4 Goro (Mortal Kombat)
Looking at Goro, anyone who thought he had no business being a part of royalty could be forgiven. The Mortal Kombat character is more beast than man with his four arms and fangs, but it's true; Goro is a prince. He's the Prince of the Shokan: a mighty race of human-dragon hybrids. They also exist in Outworld, hence their bizarre physique.
Goro was also, at one point, a Champion of the Mortal Kombat Tournament. Among all the Mortal Kombat characters, Goro stands out as one of the most memorable along with poster boys like Scorpion and Johnny Cage. It's mostly due to his villainous role that Goro became so iconic though. He's more famous for ripping off his enemies' arms than following his princely conduct.
3 Alistair (Dragon Age Origins)
Alistair in Dragon Age: Origins was the last hope of the Ferelden lineage since the legitimate prince, Cailan, was killed in battle. The problem was, Alistair didn't even know he was a prince. He's the bastard son of the original king and he only found out when he's currently a carefree, playful, and awkward adult whom no one would even elect as a ruler.
He's one of the most prominent companions in Dragon Age: Origins due to his lighthearted personality. He has his own charm, however. Alistair is genuinely kind and optimistic, often joking in the direst of situations. He's one of those characters who could kill demons to save his friends but would never hurt a fly if it bothered him. Arguably, this makes him a cut above the other princes.
2 Bowser Jr. (Super Mario)
The prince of Koopas and Bowser's son himself, Bowser Jr. definitely has some big shoes to fill. Just as soon as he sheds his first baby teeth, then maybe he can start kidnapping some Italian plumber's girlfriend and making life hell for people with mushroom heads.
Of course, he'd be iconic here. His father was iconic and he's the spitting image of a dragon-turtle hybrid king. By default, he inherits his father's iconic qualities without having to prove himself first, which is royal privilege in a nutshell. Sure enough, Bowser Jr. wanted nothing more than to make his father proud, so he started young with his evil prince tendencies.
1 The Prince (Prince of Persia)
As far as firebrand and troublemaker princes go, the nameless "Prince" from the Prince of Persia games likely takes the cake or, in this case, the basbousa. Throughout the Prince of Persia video games, his adventures have wreaked havoc on the timeline with his penchant to mess with the Sands of Time in order to either save himself or gain an advantage against enemies.
It's not entirely his fault, of course— the players are also major contributors to this vandalism of fate. It even got to the point where he was being chased by an interplanar being who acts as a Guardian of Time due to his actions. At one point, the Prince also messed up his own kingdom thanks to his adventures.