Some of the most iconic video game protagonists ever have come from Nintendo franchises. Whether it's everyone's favorite plucky plumber, or the tunic wearing-hero who always manages to save the princess at the end of his journey, Nintendo certainly have what it takes to make an intriguing and memorable protagonist who can stand the test of time. However, not all of their leading characters have received the same amount of love as the likes of Mario and Link, which has led to them being considered "underrated" by many people.

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Most of the time, this happens to be the case because the game that the protagonist was featured in ended up going under the radar, but it can also be due to other characters stealing the spotlight instead. Either way, there have been numerous Nintendo protagonists over the years who haven't received the credit they deserve, with these individuals listed below being by far the biggest examples of this.

6 Mr. Game & Watch

Game & Watch Deserves More Credit For His Quirky Appearance And Characteristics

• First Appearance: Ball
• Release Date: April 1980
• Genre: Minigame

Just as his name implies, Mr. Game & Watch served as a mascot for Nintendo's early 1980s consoles of the same name. His charming stick-figure design and shaded silhouette color palette made him instantly recognizable, but Game & Watch was also capable of transforming into entirely different designs whenever he desired. This made him an incredibly quirky character who served as the perfect protagonist for the mini-game based titles that dropped for the Game & Watch systems, but he's also made appearances in the Super Smash Bros games too.

Despite this though, Game & Watch's age inevitably means he's barely ever mentioned among fans. Considering that Game & Watch was introduced to the world only a year before Mario's debut in Donkey Kong, it makes sense why he never got his chance to shine, though he really does deserve a lot more appreciation, even just for his unique design alone.

5 Alear

Alear's Design May Not Be To Everyone's Tastes, But They Still Show A Lot Of Heroism During Engage's Story

• First Appearance: Fire Emblem Engage
• Release Date: January 2023
• Genre: Tactical RPG

It's fair to say, fans of the Fire Emblem series weren't exactly thrilled at the reveal of Alear being the protagonist of Fire Emblem Engage. The character's exaggerated appearance was a far cry from the gritty and militaristic designs of old, and to many people, the character signified a shift in the series' tone which was getting away from what made the classics so special. After the game finally released, a lot of people started to warm up to Alear, but some were still put off by their vibrant design and passive nature within the story.

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Despite this though, Alear goes through quite an emotional rollercoaster throughout Engage's story, but they still manage to lead their forces into victory against Sombron, despite all the setbacks they experience. Even during the middle of the game where the party gets almost all of their Emblem Rings stolen, Alear is able to help their allies see the light and pushes them on to keep going, which certainly wouldn't be easy to do given the circumstances.

4 Captain Falcon

The Endlessly Charismatic Captain Falcon Has Been Forgotten About Due To The Lack Of F-Zero Games

• First Appearance: F-Zero
• Release Date: August 1991
• Genre: Racing

The F-Zero series hasn't seen a new mainline installment for the last 2 decades, and it sadly gives the impression that Nintendo don't have any immediate plans to revive this classic high-speed racing simulator. This has also meant that the series' endlessly charismatic protagonist, Captain Falcon, hasn't been able to introduce himself to those who weren't aware of the F-Zero series back in its heyday, other than his small appearances in the Super Smash Bros series.

This is a real shame since Falcon is a fascinating protagonist who is a lot more complex than he initially seems. Though he started out as a bounty hunter, Falcon gradually becomes more of a heroic figure as the games go on, and he's always looking for his next challenge. Despite being incredibly confident in his own racing abilities, Falcon never lets his ego get the better of him, and has been shown to be a guy who loves helping others in need, and is more than capable of holding his own thanks to his devastating Falcon Punch.

3 Little Mac

Little Mac's Personal Journey To Be The Best Is An Inspiring Tale That Everyone Should Know About

• First Appearance: Punch-Out!!
• Release Date: August 1990
• Genre: Fighting

While Little Mac might initially seem like little more than a silent protagonist whose purpose is to be the fill-in or the player, there's actually a lot more to his character. From a young age, Mac had big dreams about one day participating in the World Video Boxing Association, and thanks to a few years of training with his new coach Doc Louis, he was able to make his dream a reality, but his journey going forward was far from easy.

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In the NES version of Punch Out!!, Mac can always be seen complaining between matches, hinting at a lack of self-confidence, but this changes by the time he reappears in the next game. For Punch Out!! on the Wii, Little Mac is shown to be much more assured of himself and his abilities, possessing an underdog mentality when going into every fight, relying on his speed to outmaneuver his much larger opponents. He might not have the most striking design or personality, but it's still hard not to love a protagonist who's come such a long way in their personal journey to become the best.

2 Andy

Andy's Charming And Courageous Personality Make Him So Much Fun To Be Around

• First Appearance: Advanced Wars
• Release Date: September 2001
• Genre: Turn-Based Strategy

The first two Advanced Wars games allow players to control multiple characters, but Andy is widely considered by fans to be the series' protagonist, and although he may still be young, he makes quite an impression when players first meet him. As a commanding officer of the Orange Star army, Andy is always trying to prove himself worthy of his position, though his ambition can also sometimes get him into trouble.

His friendly personality has allowed him to forge more than a few close bonds throughout the game, but he's also spawned a pretty intense rivalry with Eagle, a commander of the Green Earth army. The Advanced Wars games are already packed full of memorable characters who all come with their own distinct gimmicks and characteristics, but Andy is still an incredibly fun protagonist to be around who's just as lovable as his peers.

1 Olimar

It's Easy To Write Off Olimar, But There's A Lot More To This Little Guy Than Meets The Eye

• First Appearance: Pikmin
• Release Date: December 2001
• Genre: Real-Time Startegy, Puzzle

Olimar is another one of those characters who, on the surface, can seem a little uninspired or even boring, but if players take the time to dig around in the Pikmin games, they'll find there's much more to this little guy than meets the eye. Olimar's personal writings suggest that he's obsessed with science, though he does also tend to believe his own incorrect assumptions rather than following the facts.

He may be capable of remaining calm and composed during stressful situations, but Olimar also possesses a small level of patience which can cause him to lash out at those who waste his time, as was the case with Louie. Despite this, though, he does still care for those around him and has a heart of gold It's hard to deny that he has a very unique appearance which only adds to his charm.

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