Nintendo is known for having some of the purest, most big-hearted characters in all of gaming. They’ve set the gold standard for heroics, with protagonists willing to throw themselves into all sorts of danger to save the world or even just one innocent person.

Related

8 Nintendo Heroes Who Have Caused The Most Mayhem

These Nintendo characters are undoubtedly heroic, but their valorous actions have left plenty of destruction in their wake too.

Most of these heroes simply do the right thing simply because that’s what they do. They’re the heroes, after all. However, not all of them have to sacrifice much to fulfill that role. Only a select few Nintendo characters set aside their own needs and goals for the sake of others. True selflessness is its own kind of heroism, and it’s time to give these characters the credit they deserve.

8 Yoshi

The Mushroom Kingdom’s Most Valiant, Undervalued Steed

Nobody gives this little green dinosaur enough credit, least of all Mario. When the red-capped plumber needs some help getting through the Mushroom Kingdom to save the princess, Yoshi is always just one power-up away. Yet the only reward he gets for all his help is being dropped into a bottomless pit while Mario double-jumps to safety.

Now, most allies would quit after the first few times this happens, but Yoshi is loyal to the bitter end. He knows saving the princess and the Kingdom is the top priority, so he never fails to take one for the team.

7 Isabelle

All Work And No Play

Isabelle is one of those everyday types of heroes. She doesn’t save lives — she makes lives better through hard work. While the town mayor is off catching butterflies or selling fruit, she’s filing paperwork back at the office (i.e. actually running the town).

Related

Animal Crossing: 5 Reasons Isabelle Is The Best Mascot (& 5 Why It's Tom Nook)

Animal Crossing has plenty of great characters to meet and chat with, but who is the better mascot: Tom Nook or Isabelle?

Even when she moves on to a more cushy position on a tropical island, her workload never slows down. She’s still pulling 24/7 shifts so that everyone else can have fun in the sun. Even on holidays, she only steps outside the Resident Services building for work-related purposes.

6 Lucina

Messing With The Timeline In The Most Noble Way Possible

Time travel is always a dangerous business. One false step and the future could be drastically altered, but for Lucina, that’s exactly what she’s hoping for. In her future, her beloved father, Chrom, was betrayed and murdered by someone he trusted, and she’s looking to rewrite history.

To that end, she dons a disguise and travels back in time to meet her younger father so she can prevent his untimely demise. Her plan is incredibly risky, even threatening to undo her own existence if she succeeds, but her love for her father is strong. The world needs Chrom, perhaps even more than she does.

5 Luigi

Overcoming Fear Is What Courage Is All About

Luigi is often viewed as the scaredy-cat of the Mario Bros., but that’s ironically what makes him more of a hero. Mario is so carefree he’ll jump right into danger without a second thought. He doesn’t seem to have any fear to overcome.

Related

Waluigi Creator Reveals Evil Peach Design

The original creator behind Waluigi shows off the concept art and design for an evil version of Princess Peach that was rejected during development.

Luigi may be more reluctant to be the big hero, but he will do it eventually. Especially in Luigi’s Mansion, where he forces himself to overcome his fear of ghosts to rescue his brother and friends. He won’t just walk away, no matter how badly his knees are shaking.

4 Link

Being The Bigger Person

On the subject of courage, Link has always been the paragon of the selfless hero. He’s been reincarnated to save Hyrule so many times, and yet he still makes time to help ordinary folk with their side-quest problems. Every version of Link is kind and brave, but in terms of selflessness, Skyward Sword Link takes the cake.

In this game, Link’s quest to save Zelda leads him to form an allegiance with his long-time rival, Groose. Despite the big lunk’s shortcomings, Groose desperately wants to save Zelda too, and has the muscle to be a big help. How many heroes are willing to forgive their high school bully to serve the greater good?

3 The Great Deku Tree

The Fatherly Tree Protecting Wartime Refugees

This ancient tree guardian of Kokiri Forest has watched over the land of Hyrule for hundreds of years. He’s watched the kingdom grow and seen it crumble in war. When a dying Hylian mother asks him to care for her infant (aka Link), he doesn’t hesitate to agree.

Eventually, the Great Deku Tree realizes his own end is coming after Ganondorf puts a curse on him, but he doesn’t wallow in self-pity or even tell anyone of his condition. Instead, he dedicates his remaining time to preparing Link for his great destiny. Even in his last moments, this beloved forest spirit ensures that the world will carry on without him, and never for a moment thinks about himself.

2 TEC-XX

The True Meaning Of Love

The world’s greatest computer was originally built by Lord Grodus to aid in his world domination schemes. Thankfully, TEC-XX eventually overcame his villainous programming thanks to the kindness of his captive, Princess Peach.

TEC-XX was smitten with the princess, a feeling he spent most of the game trying to comprehend. Eventually, he betrays his creator to help her escape, even though it ends up getting him deleted as punishment. Thankfully, TEC-XX survives on a back-up drive, but his self-sacrifice deserves to be acknowledged.

1 Zelda

She Gave Everything To Save Her Kingdom

In Breath of the Wild, Princess Zelda was still struggling to master her divine power to banish evil so she could protect her kingdom. Once it was finally unlocked, she spent the next 100 years keeping the Calamity at bay. This alone was selfless enough, but in Tears of the Kingdom, she manages to outdo herself.

With the Master Sword destroyed, and Zelda transported back in time, it would seem that Link is pretty strapped for ways to defeat Ganon. Zelda knows she has the power to restore the sword’s ability to seal the darkness and return it to Link. She also knows that it’s a process she may never come back from, but this princess doesn’t hesitate. Not when it comes to saving her beloved kingdom from certain destruction.

More

6 Best Nintendo Princesses, Ranked

Nintendo has featured a lot of princesses across its sizeable library of games. These characters, however, are the best of the bunch.