Guest Characters - ANOTHER FIGHT IS COMING YOUR WAY!

TRUE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TRIVIA - I thought I could get away with not having captions on this page. A Twitter follower spotted their absence right away. LOOKS LIKE I'M RESIGNED TO MY DESTINY (jus' kiddin', we've put these here just for you lovely readers <3)

Gaming Things We Think Are Cool!! - Games that have 'special appearances' from other game characters.

That's what this page is about.

Rules for inclusion on this page:
#1 - Only cases where the guest character is either a playable character, or an enemy, boss or interactable opponent, count. No straight-up cameos, such as background appearances, costumes, as shopkeepers, quest-givers, etc..
#2 - They must be from separate series- Ryo Sakazaki in Fatal Fury Special counts, for instance, but Hibachi in DoDonPachi Resurrection doesn't.
However, it's OK if they're in the same story continuity but originate from different series (like Street Fighter and Final Fight).
#3 - Games that are crossover games to begin with (Fighters Megamix, Super Smash Bros, etc.) don't count, unless the crossover game is between one particular company or series and other companies / series are represented, such as guests in Smash Bros., Cole in Street Fighter x Tekken, and so on.
#4 - NO MOBILE GAMES. No exceptions.
#5 - Ultimately... I make the final say on whether it ends up on this page or not. Please understand.

Rules for page presentation::
#1 - English titles first, Japanese titles second.
#2 - Presented in chronological order, except when dealing with a series (i.e. Oneechabara / Aero Fighters)
We'll run through all remaining titles in that series, then go back to year order.
#3 - We'll only be listing initial / relevant release platforms and years, for space concerns.
#4 - We've divided things into 1980-1994, 1995-1996, 1997-1999, 2000-2009 and 2010-Present (this page).
Click the links to skip around!

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Windows / iOS, 2010, Crystal Dynamics)

Kain & Raziel and Kane & Lynch
from Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain (Kain) - Playstation / Windows, 1996, Silicon Knights
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver (Raziel) - Playstation / Dreamcast / Windows, 1999, Eidos Interactive
& Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Kane & Lynch) - (Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Windows, 2007, Io Interactive

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in December 2010, that act as replacements for Lara (Raziel and Kane) and Totec (Kain and Lynch) in-game.
Both pairs have completely new storylines taking place after the events of the main game.

Lost Planet 2
(Windows / Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2010, Capcom)

Albert Wesker & Frank West
from Resident Evil / Bio Hazard - Playstation, 1996, Capcom
& Dead Rising - Xbox 360, 2005, Capcom

How to Unlock / Notes:
For Albert Wesker, in the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 versions, either have a save file from Resident Evil 5 on your system's hard-drive, access the password entry screen from the Character Edit menu (found on the same screen as the LP2 Slot Machine Roulette) and enter 72962792, or beat the campaign mode.
For Frank West, in the Playstation 3 or Xbox 360 version, either have a save file from Dead Rising (Xbox 360 only) or the original Lost Planet (Playstation 3 only) on your system's hard-drive, access the password entry screen from the Character Edit menu (found on the same screen as the LP2 Slot Machine Roulette) and enter 83561942, or beat the campaign mode.
For the Windows version, the passwords no longer work, so your only option is to beat the campaign mode. [Source]
Wesker is based on his appearance in Resident Evil 5.
(Screenshots provided by @Kimimi- thanks!)

Marcus Fenix & Dom Santiago
from Gears of War - Xbox 360, 2006, Epic Game Studios

How to Unlock / Notes:
Xbox 360 version only!
Beat the campaign mode. [Source]

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Storm 2
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / Steam, 2010 / 2016 / 2018, CyberConnect 2)

Lars Alexandersson
from Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion - Arcade / Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Playstation Portable, 2008 / 2009, Namco

How to Unlock / Notes:
Earn 600,000 Storm Points. [Source]
His outfit is based on his alternate outfit from Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion designed by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto. [Source]

SKATE 3
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2010, EA / EA Black Box)

Isaac Clarke
from Dead Space - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Windows, 2008, EA / Visceral Games

How to Unlock / Notes:
Enter the code "deadspacetoo" on the Enter Cheat Code menu on Options and Extras.

Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing featuring Banjo-Kazooie
(Xbox 360, 2010, Sega / Sumo Digital)

Banjo & Kazooie
from Banjo-Kazooie - Nintendo 64, 1998, Rare

How to Unlock / Notes:
Xbox 360 version only!
Banjo & Kazooie, as a pair sharing a car, are available from the start.
They are based on their Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts appearances.

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
(Windows, 2013, Sega / Sumo Digital)

Pyro, Spy and Heavy
from Team Fortress 2 - Windows / Xbox 360 / Playstation 3, 2007 / 2008, Valve Software

How to Unlock / Notes:
Windows version only!
Team Fortress- which has Pyro driving in car form, Spy driving in plane form, and Heavy driving in boat form- is available from the start.

Super Meat Boy
(Various, 2010, Team Meat)

YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE SOMEONE ELSE GOT THIS FUCKIN' SCREENSHOT BECAUSE 100 BANDAGES IS NOT SOMETHING GAMING HELL CAN FUCKIN' DO

That's why we're so grateful to Kroogah who got these shots for us! Thank you!

YOU'D BETTER BELIEVE SOMEONE ELSE GOT THIS FUCKIN' SCREENSHOT BECAUSE 100 BANDAGES IS NOT SOMETHING GAMING HELL CAN FUCKIN' DO

That's why we're so grateful to Kroogah who got these shots for us! Thank you!

Much like The King of Fighters, we've had to change things up for Super Meat Boy, what we'd call an exceptional case. A game with a lot of guest characters wouldn't normally be a big issue- look at Saturn Bomberman- but Super Meat Boy has several different guest types- those that appear in the home console, PC and Steam versions, some exclusive to the home console version, and some exclusive to PC and Steam. Originally we were just going to leave Super Meat Boy off this page entirely, but fortunately reader Kroogah very helpfully provided us with all the screenshots and data we required to make this segment possible. Thank you very much, Kroogah! So, here's the chart with screens provided by Kroogah upon clicking (where applicable- the console-only characters aren't pictured just yet).

Character	Origin Game	Console	PC / Steam	Method #1	Method #2
Commander Video	Bit.Trip Beat	yy	yy	Clear the Warp Zone found in level 1-12.	N/A
Jill	Mighty Jill Off	yy	yy	Clear the Warp Zone found in level 2-8.	N/A
Ogmo	Jumper	yy	yy	Clear the Warp Zone found in level 3-16.	N/A
Flywrench	Flywrench	yy	yy	Clear the Warp Zone found in level 4-18.	N/A
The Kid	I Wanna Be The Guy: The Movie: The Game	yy	yy	Clear the Warp Zone found in level 5-7.	N/A
Gish	Gish	yy	nn	Collect 10 Bandages	N/A
Alien Hominid	Alien Hominid	yy	yy	Collect 30 Bandages	Buy the Ultra Edition for PC
Tim	Braid	yy	yy	Collect 50 Bandages (Console)	'outtatime' on character select (PC)
Spelunky	Spelunky	yy	nn	Collect 70 Bandages	N/A
Pink Knight	Castle Crashers	yy	nn	Collect 90 Bandages	N/A
The Ninja	N+	yy	nn	Collect 100 Bandages	N/A
Headcrab	Half-Life	nn	yy	Collect 10 Bandages	N/A
Josef	Machinarium	nn	yy	Collect 30 Bandages	N/A
Naija	Aquaria	nn	yy	Collect 50 Bandages	N/A
Runman	Runman: Race Around the World	nn	yy	Collect 70 Bandages	N/A
Captain Viridian	VVVVVV	nn	yy	Collect 90 Bandages	N/A
Steve	Minecraft	nn	yy	Collect 100 Bandages	N/A
Goo Ball	World of Goo	nn	yy	'ballgoo' on character select.	N/A

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair
(Xbox 360 / Playstation 3, 2010 / 2011, Konami)

Getsu Fuma
from Getsu Fuma Den - NES, 1987, Konami

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable.
He also has a stage based on his original game, sold separately.

Mortal Kombat
(Xbox 360 / Playstation 3 / PS Vita / Windows, 2011, NetherRealm Studios)

Kratos
from God of War - Playstation 2, 2005, SCE Santa Monica Studio

How to Unlock / Notes:
Playstation 3 / PS Vita versions only!
Kratos is available from the start.
His home stage is Chamber of the Flame.

Elevator Action Deluxe
(Playstation 3, 2011, Taito / Square-Enix)

Time Gal again? Sure, why not.

KEEP GOING ON, 'TIME GAL', FOR ANOTHER COMBAT

We must thank HokutoNoShock for going the extra mile and providing a screenshot of Vaus in disguise. Just look at it.

'I was doing the whole video game shrine maiden thing BEFORE it was cool!'

Reika Kirishima, Vaus & Sayo
from Time Gal - Arcade, 1985, Taito
Arkanoid - Arcade, 1986, Taito
& Kiki Kaikai - Arcade, 1986, Taito

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, all available for free.
Playing as Vaus removes all music and replaces sound effects with some from Arkanoid.
Playing as Sayo replaces the music and sound effects with some from Kiki Kaikai.
(In-game creenshots provided by HokutoNoShock- thanks!)

Phantom Breaker
(Xbox 360, 2011, Delta Factory / 5pb.)

I love the poses here. Rimi's all like 'OK, I'M GONNA FIGHT YOU!' and Kurisu's all 'pfft, whatev, don't care'. Kurisu's got the right attitude.

I love the poses here. Rimi's all like 'OK, I'M GONNA FIGHT YOU!' and Kurisu's all 'pfft, whatev, don't care'. Kurisu's got the right attitude.

Also, feel free to make your own 'PHANTOM BREAKER'S US RELEASE LOL' joke. I'd make one, but I've done it far, far, FAR too many times already.

Rimi Sakihata & Kurisu Makise
from ChäoS;HEAd (Rimi) - Windows, 2008, nitro+/5pb.
& Steins;Gate (Kurisu) - Xbox 360, 2009, nitro+/5pb.

How to Unlock / Notes:
To unlock Rimi, either complete Story Mode with Fin (unlocked by completing Story Mode with every normal character), then beat Arcade Mode without continuing to fight her, or win 200 matches in any mode.
To unlock Kurisu, either beat Arcade Mode with every normal character then beat Arcade Mode again with 100 counters and at least one Deadly Attack every match, or win 250 matches in any mode.
The Akihabara stage uses a remix of GATE OF STEINER from Steins;Gate. [Source] [Screen 1 Source] [Screen 2 Source]

Both characters also appear in future updates to this game- Extra and Omnia.

Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds
(Xbox 360, 2013, Division2 / 5pb.)

It's Kurisu again but, like, smaller.

Kurisu Makise
from Steins;Gate - Xbox 360, 2009, nitro+ / 5pb.
How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in March 2013.
Playing Stage 0 with Kurisu plays a remix of GATE OF STEINER from Steins;Gate as the background music, and other characters from her source game appear in her moves and victory pose.

I actually have all three of the Science Adventure games ready to play.

I actually have all three of the Science Adventure games ready to play.

Just, you know, time is my enemy and all that.

Frau Koujiro
from Robotics;Notes - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2012, nitro+ / 5pb.

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in March 2017 (!).
Playing Stage 0 with Frau plays I'm Frau! as the background music, and other characters from her source game appear in her moves and victory pose. And yes, she really was added to the Xbox 360 release four years after it came out.

Both characters are available as standard in the Switch version of Phantom Breaker: Battle Grounds Overdrive.

Renegade Ops
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Steam, 2011, Sega / Avalanche Studios)

Gordon Freeman
from Half-Life - Windows, 1998, Valve Sofrware

How to Unlock / Notes:
Windows version only!
Gordon is available from the start.
His vehicle is the muscle car from Half-Life 2: Episode 2, and his ability utilises Antlion enemies from Half-Life 2.
(Screenshots and information provided by LanceBoyle94- thanks!)

Spelunky
(Various, 2012, Mossmouth)

Meat Boy
from Super Meat Boy - Various, 2010, Team Meat

How to Unlock / Notes:
Find Meat Boy inside a pod in the hidden Worms stage, and you will unlock him fron then onwards.
(Screenshots and information provided by Kroogah- thanks!)

Street Fighter X Tekken
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / PS Vita / Windows, 2012, Dimps / Capcom / Namco)

Cole MacGrath, Mega Man, Pac-Man, Toro & Kuro
from inFamous (Cole) - Playstation 3, 2009, Sucker Punch
Pac-Man (Pac-Man) - Arcade, 1980, Namco
the US box art of Mega Man (Mega Man) - NES, 1987, Capcom
Doko Demo Issho (Toro) - Playstation, 1980, SCEI
& Doko Demo Issho: Toro to Ippai (Kuro) - Playstation 2, 2004, SCEI

How to Unlock / Notes:
Playstation 3 / PS Vita versions only!
All of these characters are available from the start.
Cole is based on his appearance in inFamous 2.
Pac-Man pilots a robot based on Mokujin from the Tekken series.
Mega Man (usually informally called Bad Box Art Mega Man) and Pac-Man can be used in Arcade Mode, but Cole, Toro and Kuro cannot.
Data for Mega Man and Pac-Man are on the disc of the 360 version but were never made available to players on that system. [Source]

Warriors Orochi 3
Musou Orochi 2
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2012, Omega Force / Koei Tecmo Games)

Oh boy, here we go.

Ryu Hayabusa
from Ninja Gaiden - Arcade, 1988, Tecmo

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Anegawa in Chapter 2 one of the first stages as you make your way through the chapter. [Source] [Screens Source]

IT'S CAPTION GAUNTLET TIME

... Well, I suppose this page has been wall-to-wall captions, really.

Ayane
from Dead or Alive (PS1) - Playstation, 1998, Team NINJA / Tecmo

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Hasedo in Chapter 2, found in the first set of stages as you make your way through the chapter. [Source] [Screens Source]

The difference here is I've never played any of the Dynasty Warriors games.

The difference here is I've never played any of the Dynasty Warriors games.

I know. It's shocking. I'm a brawler fan, surely I should be neck-deep in Dynasty Warriors games?

Joan of Arc
from Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2007, Omega Force / Koei

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Mt. Dingjun in Chapter 2, found in the second set of stages as you make your way through the chapter. [Source] [Screens Source]

Herein lies the problem, though- I never got in at the start.

Herein lies the problem, though- I never got in at the start.

And, well, there's a lot of these games. And I don't know where to begin.

Nemea
from TRINITY: Souls of Zill O'll / TRINITY: Zill O'll Zero - Playstation 3, 2010 / 2011, Omega Force / Koei

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Kyushu in Chapter 2, found in the first set of stages as you make your way through the chapter. [Source] [Screens Source]

Especially considering there's usually two or three versions of each game. I think.

Especially considering there's usually two or three versions of each game. I think.

Also I hear they have levelling and grinding. That's not good in a brawler.

Achilles
from Warriors: Legends of Troy / Troy Musou - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2011 / 2012, Tecmo Koei Canada

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Sekigahara in Chapter 2, found in the fourth set of stages as you make your way through the chapter. [Source] [Screens Source]

(All these characters also appeared in subsequent versions of Warriors Orochi 3 / Musou Orochi 2, which we'll continue with.)

Musou Orochi 2 Special
(PSP, 2012, Omega Force / Koei Tecmo Games)

What's worse, I don't know who half these characters are!

Especially the ones from the newer Ninja Gaiden games. All I know is Ryu fighting birds on the NES.

Rachel
from Ninja Gaiden - Xbox, 2004, Team NINJA / Tecmo

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Jiangdong in Chapter 2, a stage unlocked by clearing Battle of Anegawa and speaking with Ding Feng (unlocked through normal Chapter 1 progression) and Lianshi (unlocked by clearing Battle of Nagashino-Redux in Chapter 1) at Camp. [Source] [Screens Source]

(In-game shot taken from Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper / Musou Orochi 2 Hyper for the Wii U)
(Rachel also appeared in subsequent versions of Warriors Orochi 3 / Musou Orochi 2, which we'll continue with.)

Warriors Orochi 3 Hyper
Musou Orochi 2 Hyper
(Wii U, 2012, Omega Force / Koei Tecmo Games)

I suppose this makes me a terrible video games player.

But surely you knew this already, didn't you~?

Momiji
from Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword - Nintendo DS, 2008, Team NINJA / Tecmo

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Wan Castle in Chapter 2, a stage unlocked by speaking with Jia Xu (unlocked through normal Chapter 1 progression) and Ryu Hayabusa at Camp. [Source] [Screens Source]

(Momiji also appeared in subsequent versions of Warriors Orochi 3 / Musou Orochi 2, which we'll continue with.)

Warriors Orochi 3 Ultimate
Musou Orochi 2 Ultimate
(Playstation 3 / PS Vita / PlayStation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / Steam, 2013 / 2014 / 2017 / 2022, Omega Force / Koei Tecmo Games)

You can't play every game, y'know?

There's no shame in picking the ones you want to prioritize an' that.

Kasumi
from Dead or Alive - Arcade, 1996, Team NINJA / Tecmo

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Yan Province / Yanzhou in Chapter 2, a stage unlocked by speaking with Nemea, Diaochan (unlocked by clearing Battle of Tong Gate-Redux in Chapter 3) and Ayane at Camp. [Source] [Screens Source]

Phew, nearly at the end now.

Hopefully the other guest characters are more interesting!

Sterkenburg Cranach
from Atelier Rorona: The Alchemist of Arland - Playstation 3, 2009 / 2010, Gust

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Xu Province / Xushou in Chapter 2, a stage unlocked by speaking with Sun Shangxiang (unlocked through normal Chapter 1 progression), Yoshimoto Imagawa (unlocked by clearing Battle of Liang Province in Chapter 2) and Motochika Chōsokabe (also unlocked by clearing Battle of Liang Province in Chapter 2) at Camp. [Source] [Screens Source]
He is based on his appearance in Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland.

... Oh, wait, I know this one.

Sophitia Alexandria
from Soul Edge - Arcade, 1995 / 1996, Namco

How to Unlock / Notes:
Clear Battle of Liaodong in Chapter 2, a stage unlocked by speaking with Sun Jian (unlocked by clearing Battle of Honnōji in Chapter 3), Nene (unlocked by clearing Battle of Xuchang in Chapter 2) and Masanori Fukushima (unlocked through normal Chapter 1 progression) at Camp. [Source] [Screens Source]
She is based on her appearance in SoulCalibur IV.

Bear in mind, sometimes the characters you need to talk to in order to unlock stages won't appear at Camp right away.
However, it is impossible to 'miss' unlocking stages, and continued play will eventually unlock the right stages.

Magical Drop V
(Windows, 2012, Golgoth Studio)

Bruce, McCoy & Mushman
from Data East's Ghostlop - Neo Geo, 1996, Data East - Unreleased

How to Unlock / Notes:
Bruce is available from the start (and he's the only one we've got playable shots of, because we're bad at this).
To unlock McCoy, play through Story Mode as Bruce, clear the game without using a continue, and defeat Empress in less than 40 seconds. McCoy will challenge you in Stage 9 EX. Defeat him! [Source]
To unlock Mushman, play through Story Mode as Bruce or McCoy on Hard. [Source]
These three characters play by Ghostlop rules rather than Magical Drop rules! However, they can't be used in online matches.
Also, Mushman is supposed to be a heavily-redesigned version of the Great King of Terror from Ghostlop.

Under Night In-Birth
(Arcade, 2012, French Bread)

Sion Eltnam Atlasia
from Melty Blood - Windows, 2002, French Bread / TYPE-MOON

How to Unlock / Notes:
Sion Eltnam Atlasia (appearing in this game under the shortened name Eltnam) is available from the start.
She was included as French Bread were working on a possible Melty Blood HD, but couldn't continue the game's story as the writer, Nasu, was busy working on Witch on the Holy Night. However, TYPE-MOON gave French Bread permission to use Eltnam in Under Night In-Birth anyway, modified from the test character from said planned Melty Blood HD. [Source] [Screens Source]

Akatsuki
from Akatsuki Shisei Ichigou - Windows, 2004, SUBTLE STYLE

How to Unlock / Notes:
Akatsuki is only in the 2013 upgrade, Under Night In-Birth: Exe Late.
At first, he was just a computer-controlled opponent, but later became a playable character. [Source] [Screens Source]
Although he first appeared in Akatsuki Shisei Ichigou, he's probably better known for the game's 2007 sequel, Akatsuki Blitzkampf.

Both characters also appear in Under Night In-Birth II: Sys:Celes.

Retro City Rampage
(Various, 2012, Vblank Entertainment)

Unlocking this was absolutely not worth it, the minigame you have to play to do it is complete trial-and-error horseshit

Unlocking this was absolutely not worth it, the minigame you have to play to do it is complete trial-and-error horseshit

DON'T THINK BUSKING WILL GET YOU OUT OF THIS, COMMANDER VIDEO

Commander Video
from Bit.Trip Beat - Wii, 2009, Gaijin Games

How to Unlock / Notes:
Complete the Bit.Trip Retro City arcade game in Nolan's Arcade, collecting every single piece of gold. [Source]
Commander Video can only be used in Free Roam Mode.

The minigame for this one was a bit less aggravating, still not worth it.

The minigame for this one was a bit less aggravating, still not worth it.

SEE THERE'S A THING FROM AN OLD VIDEO GAME! LAUGH!!

Meat Boy
from Super Meat Boy - Various, 2010, Team Meat

How to Unlock / Notes:
Complete the Virtual Meat Boy arcade game in Nolan's Arcade, collecting every single bandage. [Source]
Meat Boy can only be used in Free Roam Mode, and playing as him replaces the overworld music with the Super Meat Boy theme.

I'll be nice and keep my opinion on this game mostly up for the reader to decide.

I'll be nice and keep my opinion on this game mostly up for the reader to decide.

All I'll say is please, we must draw a line in the sand regarding the Dam stage in NES Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

We get it.

Don't reference it again.

Steve
from Minecraft - PC and every console since basically, 2011, Mojang

Enter the green pipe hiding in the Gated Community Zone. After teleporting to Mojang Land, complete the area. [Source]
Steve can only be used in Free Roam Mode, and unlocking him will also unlock Big Head Mode, giving pedestrians a blocky-headed appearance similar to Minecraft characters.

Anarchy Reigns
Max Anarchy
(Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2012 / 2013, Platinum Games)

Jack Cayman, Blacker Baron, Mathilda, Rin Rin & Big Bull
from MadWorld - Wii, 2009 / 2010, Platinum Games.

How to Unlock / Notes:
Jack Cayman is available from the start for the Campaign Mode.
Blacker Baron (originally Black Baron in MadWorld), Mathilda, Rin Rin and Big Bull are unlocked for multiplayer mode as you go through the Campaign Mode.

Bayonetta
from Bayonetta - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360, 2009 / 2010, Platinum Games.

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, pre-order incentive but also made available to purchase by all players, playable only in online multiplayer.

Injustice: Gods Among Us
(Wndows / Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / PS Vita / Xbox 360 / Wii U, 2013, Netherrealm Studios)

Scorpion
from Mortal Kombat - Arcade, 1992, Midway

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in June 2013 and included as standard in the Ultimate Edition.
His costume for this game was designed by Jim Lee and is also unlockable in Mortal Kombat X.

Injustice 2
(Wndows / Playstation 4 / Xbox One, 2015, Netherrealm Studios)

Sub-Zero & Raiden
from Mortal Kombat - Arcade, 1992, Midway

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in July 2017 (Sub-Zero) / October 2017 (Raiden) and included as standard in the Legendary Edition.
Their costumes for this game were designed by Jim Lee.

Resident Evil 6
(Windows, 2013, Capcom)

the only version of left 4 dead i'm even remotely interested in is the taito-produced arcade version.

if this page does nothing else, it cements that i have fucking atrocious taste in video games.

the only version of left 4 dead i'm even remotely interested in is the taito-produced arcade version.

if this page does nothing else, it cements that i have fucking atrocious taste in video games.

Coach, Rochelle, Ellis & Nick
from Left 4 Dead 2 - Windows/Xbox 360, 2009, Valve Software

How to Unlock / Notes:
Windows version only!
DLC characters, free, included in a special mode, The Mercenaries No Mercy.
The Witch and Mini Tank enemies from Left 4 Dead also appear.
This was part of a collaboration between Capcom and Valve that also saw Resident Evil 6 enemies appearing in Left 4 Dead 2.
This trailer shows off both the playable and fightable L4D2 characters. [Screen Source]

Demon Gaze
Demon Gaze: Global Edition
(Playstation Vita, 2013 / 2014, Experience, Inc / Kadokawa Games)

NUMBERS NUMBERS NUMBERS NUMBERS

Prinny, Flonne, Flonne, Etna, Asagi & Sicily
from Disgaea: Hour of Darkness / Makai Senki Disgaia (Prinny, Flonne & Etna) - Playstation 2, 2003, Nippon Ichi Software.
Makai Wars (Cancelled) + Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days / Makai Senki Disgaia 2 Portable (Asagi) - Playstation Portable, 2009, Nippon Ichi Software
& Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness (Sicily) - Playstation 3, 2013, Nippon Ichi Software

How to Unlock / Notes:
Only available in the Western versions and the 'international' rerelease in Japan, Demon Gaze: Global Edition, not the original Japanese Demon Gaze!
DLC characters, available free for the first month. [Source + Screens Source]

Killer Instinct
(Xbox One / Windows 10 / Steam, 2013 / 2016 / 2017, Double Helix Games / Iron Galaxy Studios)

Rash
from Battletoads - NES, 1991 / 1993, Rareware

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, as part of Season 3, released in March 2016.
He has no home stage but his theme, Enter the Battletoad (a new composition that combines elements of the Battletoads theme, the theme from Surf City and the Killer Instinct theme) can be used on any stage.

Arbiter
from Halo 2 - Xbox, 2004, Bungie

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, as part of Season 3, released in March 2016.
His default costume is based on Thel'Vadam's appearance in Halo 5: Guardians, while his retro costume is based on his appearance in Halo 2: Anniversary. [Source]
His home stage is Arena of Judgment based on the planet Sanghelios, home of the Sanghelli race which Arbiter is a part of. His theme, The Champion of Sanghelios, will eventually change to a remix of Impend from Halo 2 if players wait around long enough. [Source]
The Arbiter is not the same Arbiter playable in Halo 2, Thel'Vadam, but an amalgam of various Arbiters from the series [Source]

General RAAM
from Gears of War - Xbox 360, 2006, Epic Game Studios

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, as part of Season 3, released in June 2016.
His default costume is based on his appearance in Gears of War 4's multiplayer mode, while his retro costume is based on his appearance in the first Gears of War.
He has no home stage but his theme, For the Horde! (a remix of the Gears of War theme) can be used on any stage. [Source]

Divekick: Addition Edition +
(Windows / Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / PS Vita / Xbox One, 2014, One True Game Studio / Iron Galaxy Studios)

Johnny Gat
from Saints Row - Xbox 360, 2006, Volition Inc.

How to Unlock / Notes:
Johnny Gat is available from the start.
He is based on his appearance from Saints Row IV.

The Fencer
from Nidhogg - PC / OS X / Playstation 4 / Playstation Vita, 2014, Messhof

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in November 2015.

Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax
(Arcade / Playstation 3 / PS Vita, 2014 / 2015, Ecole / French Bread / Sega)

Akira Yuki
from Virtua Fighter - Arcade, 1993, Sega AM2

How to Unlock / Notes:
In the arcade version until Version 1.2, Akira was the final boss of the game. After Version 1.2, he became a normal playable character. [Source]
In the home versions, beat Story Mode with any character on any difficulty using any number of continues. [Source]
Unlocking him also allows you to use Pai Chan as a support character, also from Virtua Fighter.
He is based on his appearance in Virtua Fighter 5.

Selvaria Bles
from Valkyria Chronicles / Senjou no Valkyria - Playstation 3, 2008, Sega

How to Unlock / Notes:
In the arcade version, Selvaria was added in Version 1.3, after the release of the console version. [Source]
In the home versions, beat Story Mode with any character without using a continue and ending each match with a Climax Art.[Source]
Unlocking her also allows you to use Alicia Melchiott as a support character, also from Valkyria Chronicles.

Both characters also appeared in the later update, Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Ignition, unlocked from the start.

Nitroplus Blasterz: Heroines Infinite Duel
(Arcade / Playstation 3 / Playstation 4, 2015 / 2016, Examu / Marvellous)

Aino Heart & Homura
from Arcana Heart (Aino Heart)) - Arcade / Playstation 2, 2006 / 2007 / 2008, Yuki Enterprise
& Senran Kagura: Shoujotachi no Shinei (Homura) - Nintendo 3DS, 2011, Tamsoft

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, debuted in the home console versions on the day of release.
They were later added to the arcade version in an update.
(Yuki Enterprise and Examu are the same company, for the record).

Senran Kagura: Estival Versus
(Playstation 4 / PS Vita, 2015, Tamsoft / Marvellous)

Ayane
from Dead or Alive (PS1) - Playstation, 1998, Team NINJA

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in April 2016.
When playing as her, the stage intro text is replaced with GET READY FIGHT and the stage clear text is replaced with K.O.
Her Level 1 Secret Ninja Art has her drop a car on the opponent, similar to a special attack in the Tokyo stage of Dead or Alive 5.

Senran Kagura: Peach Beach Splash
(Playstation 4, 2017, Honey Parade Games / Tamsoft / Marvellous)

Ayane, Marie Rose & Honoka
from Dead or Alive (PS1) (Ayane) - Playstation, 1998, Team NINJA
Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate (Marie Rose) - Playstation 3 / Xbox 360 / Arcade, 2013, Team NINJA
& Dead or Alive 5 Last Round (Honoka) - Windows / Playstation 3 / Playstation 4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox One, 2015, Team NINJA

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in October 2017.
Costume DLC based on their Dead or Alive 5 appearances (as well as Ayane's traditional butterfly dress and Kasumi's dress) are also available, either separately or as part of a pack with all the Dead or Alive content such as fans, banners, etc..
Even in English regions, this is listed as a collaboration with Dead or Alive Xtreme 3 specifically.

Super Sonico
Nitroplus's mascot, first used for a Nitroplus-sponsored music even in 2006

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in November 2017.
She comes with a new Aquarius costume made for the game (apparently? Can someone check this? Please~?) and her guitar necklace, as well as fans, banners, etc..
Her reason for attending the in-game tournament is that she's here by mistake, as she thought it was a gravure photoshoot.

Rinka Kagurazaka & Ranka Kagurazaka
from Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkhuni- - PS Vita, 2015, Meteorise

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in December 2017.
Costume DLC based on the Lorelei and Otohime costumes from the Paradise Swimsuit Set 2 DLC for Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkhun- are also available, either separately or as part of a pack with all the Valkyrie Drive -Bhikkuni- content such as fans, banners, etc.

Neptune
From Hyperdimension Neptunia / Choujigen Game Neptune - Playstation 3, 2010 / 2011, Compile Heart / Idea Factory

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in March 2018.
She comes with her D-Pad hair clips, choker and N necklace.
Costume DLC based on her Parka Dress costume from the original Hyperdimension Neptunia game is also available, either separately or as part of a pack with all the Neptunia content such as fans, banners, etc..
She's referred to as Goddess of Planeptune on the Shinobi Select screen and Neptune everywhere else.

All of these DLC characters can also be used in the game's store as the shopkeeper, or as the system voice for menus.

Trouble Witches Origin - Episode1 Daughters of Amalgam -
(Windows, 2016, Studio SiestA)

Cotton & Silk
from Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams - Arcade, 1992, Success / Sega

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in August 2017.
Silk accompanies Cotton as a helper option, like the original game.
Cotton & Silk are playable in every mode, come with their own fully-voiced Story Mode, have a Tea Time bonus segment from Cotton added to the end of stages, and selecting them replaces all the music with tracks from the original Cotton.

Crush Crush
(Steam / Browser / iOS, 2016, Sad Panda Studios)

Ayano Aishi / Yandere-chan
from Yandere Simulator - Windows, Some Time After the Heat Death of the Universe, YandereDev

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, added in October 2016.

Uppers
(Playstation Vita, 2016, Bullets / Tamsoft)

Daidoji
from Senran Kagura: Shoujotachi no Shinei - Nintendo 3DS, 2011, Tamsoft / Marvellous

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable.

Million Arthur: Arcana Blood
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Steam, 2017 / 2018 / 2019, Team Arcana / Examu)

Riesz
from Trials of Mana / Seiken Densetsu 3 - SNES, 1995, SquareSoft

How to Unlock / Notes:
Riesz is playable from the start in the arcade, Playstation 4 and Steam versions.

Koume Saiyama
from Lord of Vermillion IV - Arcade, 2017, Square-Enix

How to Unlock / Notes:
Koume is playable from the start in the Playstation 4 and Steam versions.
However, she cannot be used in Story Mode.
She was later added to the arcade version as part of an update.

Iori Yagami
from The King of Fighters '95 - Neo Geo, 1995, SNK

How to Unlock / Notes:
Iori is playable from the start in the Playstation 4 and Steam versions.
However, he cannot be used in Story Mode.
He was later added to the arcade version as part of an update.

Tekken 7
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Steam, 2015 / 2016 2017, Bandai Namco)

Akuma / Gouki
from Super Street Fighter II Turbo / Super Street Fighter II X - Grand Master Challenge - Arcade, 1994, Capcom

How to Unlock / Notes:
Akuma was added in Tekken 7: Fated Retribution, an update to the original 2015 arcade version of Tekken 7.
In the console versions, Akuma is available from the start.
He has a unique super bar mechanic, lifted from Street Fighter IV.

Geese Howard
from Fatal Fury: King of Fighters / Garou Densetsu: Shukumei no Tatakai - Neo Geo, 1991, SNK

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable as part of the Season 1 series of updates released in November 2017, with his own stage included.
His home stage is Howard Estate, based on a recurring stage from Fatal Fury which has both the original version of Soy Sauce for Geese from Fatal Fury Special and a remix for Round 2 as music.
Geese was later added to Tekken 7: Fated Retribution in arcades as part of the Round 2 update.
He has a unique super bar mechanic, lifted from The King of Fighters XIV.

Noctis Lucis Caelum
from Final Fantasy XV - Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Windows, 2016, Square-Enix

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable as part of the Season 1 series of updates released in March 2018, with his own stage included.
His home stage is Hammerhead, based on Final Fantasy XV, which has both the original version of Stand Your Ground from Final Fantasy XV as well as a remix of Apocalypsis Noctis for Round 2 as music.
Noctis was later added to Tekken 7: Fated Retribution in arcades as part of the Round 2 update.

Senko no Ronde 2
Senko no Ronde 2: Reassembly from "DUO"
(Playstation 4 / Steam, 2017, G.rev)

Valken
from Cybernator / Assault Suits Valken - SNES, 1992 / 1993, NCS Corp

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in November 2017.
The pilot is Jake and the support member is Crea also from Assault Suits Valken.

Temjin
from Virtual On: Cyber Troopers - Arcade, 1996, Sega AM3

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in November 2017.
The support member is Fei-Yen also from Virtual On: Cyber Troopers.

SNK Heroines: Tag Team Frenzy
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Switch / Steam, 2018, SNK)

Thief Arthur
from Kai-ri-sei Million Arthur - iOS / Android / Playstation 4 / Playstation Vita, 2015 / 2016, Square Enix

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in September 2018.

Skullomania
gender-swapped character from Street Fighter EX - Arcade, 1996, Arika

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in October 2018.

Game Tengoku: CruisinMix Special
(Playstation 4 / Switch / Steam, 2018 / 2019, City Connection)

Super Fighter
from Truxton / Tatsujin - Arcade, 1988, Toaplan

How to Unlock / Notes:
Special Version Only!
DLC character, purchasable, released in February 2019 and included as standard in limited physical editions.
The Super Fighter is piloted by Yuki, the game centre attendant from Game Tengoku rather than the original pilot, named Tom in the Mega Drive port's manual. [Ship Name Source]

Samurai Shodown
(Arcade / Playstation 4 / Switch / Xbox One / Windows / Stadia, 2019, SNK)

Warden
from For Honor - Playstation 4 / Playstation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series / Windows, 2017, Ubisoft Montreal

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in June 2020.

Gongsun Li
from Honor of Kings - iOS / Android, 2015, TMI / Tencent

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in August 2020.

Hibiki Takane
from The Last Blade 2 / Bakumatsu Rouman Dai Ni Maku: Gekka no Kenshi - Neo Geo, 1999, SNK

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in April 2021.
When she is in play, the intro and outro round narration will change to be more like The Last Blade games.
Holding down Square (PS4) / X (Xbox) / Y (Switch) while selecting Hibiki will completely change her personality through her win quotes and mannerisms similar to how her personality will change depending on player actions in The Last Blade 2. [Source]

Baiken
from Guilty Gear - Playstation, 1998, Arc System Works

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, purchasable, released in August 2021.

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
(Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / Steam, 2019, nWay)

Ryu & Chun-Li
from Street Fighter (Ryu) - Arcade, 1987, Capcom
& Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (Chun-Li) - Arcade, 1991, Capcom

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC characters, purchasable, released in May 2021 and included as standard in the Super Edition.
Both characters wear Power Rangers costumes as standard- Ryu as the Crimson Hawk Ranger and Chun-Li as the Blue Phoenix Ranger- and both have a casual 'Angel Grove Class of '93' costume, while Ryu alone has a helemetless variant of his standard costume.
These characters are actually based on the versions of themselves that appeared in a Power Rangers / Street Fighter crossover event for the mobile game Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, also by nWay. [Source]

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
(Playstation 4 / Xbox One / Switch / Steam / Stadia / Android / iOS, 2019, ArtPlay)

Aurora
from Child of Light - Multi-Platform. 2014 / 2018 / 2021, Ubisoft Montreal

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free and playable from any new save file, released in March 2022.

Puyo Puyo Tetris 2
(Playstation 4 / Playstation 5 / Xbox One / Switch / Steam, 2020, Sonic Team)

Sonic the Hedgehog
from Sonic the Hedgehog - Mega Drive, 1991, Sonic Team

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in January 2021
The game also includes Sonic skins for both Tetriminos and Puyos.

Shady Lewd Kart
(Steam, 2020, Shady Corner Games)

Wild Woody
from Wild Woody - Mega-CD, 1995, Sega Multimedia Studio

How to Unlock / Notes:
DLC character, free, released in April 2024
He has a unique Story Cup intro and outro and unlockable art and panties.
Woody is voiced by his original voice actor, Joseph Kerska, and appears in the game with the disclaimer, "We are in no way associated with SEGA. The IP of Wild Woody has been given permission from the original creators of the Wild Woody series."

Return to the start!

Obviously, we can't take credit for spotting all these. So credits for powerful readers go here!

Itallics means they gave us info, Bold means they gave a screenshot, Both means they gave both.

davZZGndm: Rondo of Swords / Rondo of Deception
HokutoNoShock: Puzzle Bobble 3, Elevator Action Deluxe
inobscurity: Windy x Windam, Gunbird 2
Motherplayer: Boombots
Scrollboss: Ultra Street Fighter IV
Kimimi: Lost Planet 2
Liam Ashcroft: Virtua Striker 2003, Sonic Riders, Le Mans 24
Kroogah: Super Meat Boy, Spelunky
Jake: Fighter Maker, Monster Maulers, Battle Garegga, Giant Gram: All Japan Pro Wrestling 2, Super Fire Pro Wrestling X Premium, Last Legion UX, Xevious 3D/G+, Fever S.O.S.
Ragey: Battle Tryst
LanceBoyle94: Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing, SKATE 3, Fight Night Round 2, International Track & Field 2000, Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2, MotoGP, MotoGP 3, Urban Reign, Evolution Skateboarding, MLB Slugfest 20-04, NBA Street V3, SSX On Tour, Arkanoid DS, Renegade Ops
Matt: Motor Mayhem, Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy, Unreal Championship 2: The Liandri Conflict, Mario Kart 8, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, Crush Crush
mi-com: Last Legion UX
A. Calder: Kirby's Dream Land, Alleyway, Sonic 3D Blast, GORF, Bubble Bobble, Nemesis, Nemesis II, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda
GoldS: Plump Pop, Extermination
Steven W. Hunt: NFL Blitz
Flapjack Rabbit: Nano Breaker

Know any we've missed? Got screenshots for some we're missing 'em for?
Fire up your email account, type in themetalslug at gmail dot com and shout words at me to get it right!

Sigh.