Some of the most iconic faces come from video games, such as Pikachu from Pokémonand Master Chief from Halo. As time goes on, these legendary video game characters shine on a larger screen, whether on TV or in movies. Most live-action video game adaptations have flopped, but a few have succeeded, including The Last of Us and Sonic the Hedgehog, proving that this medium has potential.
However, not every video game character is suitable for live-action, which is why this list highlights ten who would absolutely not work in live-action. These ten characters may be too animated, expressive, goofy, oddly shaped, or ingrained in animation for live-action, and they would not work under any circumstances. Video games have evolved, but these characters are products of their medium and should therefore stay on their consoles, safe from live-action adaptations.
Arthur Morgan
Right off the bat, this may seem like a horrible entry, as Arthur Morgan from Red Dead Redemption 2 would be a perfect match in live-action, as there isn’t much difference from the game. Many fans consider Red Dead Redemption 2 a Game of the Year snub, and it’s hard to argue, considering the narrative was phenomenal, with Arthur Morgan as the cold, brooding protagonist whom fans play as.
Arthur Morgan is probably one of the few video game characters who could work in live-action. However, he makes this list because there is no live-action performance that can top him in the video game. Arthur Morgan and his voice actor, Roger Clark, are simply flawless, delivering a standout performance in Red Dead Redemption 2 that no adaptation can match. A good number of actors could try their luck, but a live-action Morgan will never work as well as the video game.
The Doki Doki Literature Club
This is another out-there entry on this list, considering it is multiple characters instead of one. Doki Doki Literature Club is a notorious game that many initially thought was a harmless romantic simulator, but it ultimately revealed itself to be a psychological horror that explores mental illness in each of the love interests.
A live-action adaptation could dramatize and make their personalities more suited for movies or TV, but as they are now, each character would be too much for live-action. They are all very anime-inspired, meaningmany of their mannerisms would be over-the-top and cringeworthy in real life. Sayori, Natsuki, Yuri, and Monika all have distinct anime personalities that wouldn’t work in live-action, as they are too overbearing and awkward.
Birdo
Nintendo is known for its creative games and bizarre characters, meaning fans can expect many from this company on the list, with the first being Birdo. First appearing as a boss character in Super Mario Bros. 2, Birdo has made many future appearances as a side or playable character in other spin-off franchises. Many fans also consider Birdo the first transgender video game character.
Basically, any Marioside character can fit with this list, but Birdo and Yoshi are two of the goofiest, withthe former earning the spot because of their weird snout mouth. Any actor, costume, or animatronic would never work for obvious reasons, as Birdo has too unique a design. While they could make it work as a CGI creature, it wouldn’t fit well in a realistic world, making it better if this character stays in animated form.
Duke Nukem
There are many forgettable video game movie adaptations, and one of the next ones will be the live-action Duke Nukem movie. This historic franchise was once one of the biggest shooter video game series, and although it is out of style, its legacy can still be felt. The titular American badass fights his way through the military, aliens, and anything that gets in his way.
Duke Nukem was never a character; instead, he was a personification of clichéd American patriotism that fans would play as. Not only would he not work since he lacks real characterization, but he is also a symbol of a controversial subject now. It may have been cool then, but he now symbolizes a fading image that hasn’t aged well, meaning a faithful live-action version would likely fail miserably.
Lady Dimistrescu
Most of the characters on this list have been the protagonists or playable characters, but villains can be just as difficult, if not more challenging to adapt than the heroes. Lady Dimitrescu is one of the main villains in Resident Evil Village, serving as one of the four leaders, governing over her part of the town until Ethan Winters killed her.
Lady Dimitrescu became a sensation overnight for her design, personality, and presence in the story. Despite looking like a normal human, adapting a seven-foot female vampire in live-action is more difficult than one would imagine. While everyone would love to see her in a new horror Resident Evil movie, Lady Dimitrescu fits the video game world better because depicting her in live-action would be needlessly challenging and probably ultimately futile.
Pac-Man
Everyone has a favorite arcade game, but nothing compared to Pac-Man back in the day, which became one of the most successful and recognizable franchises in the world. Originally, Pac-Man wasn’t really a character, more of a tool for the player to play the game. Over time, he has evolved, receiving a personality and starring in animated TV series, while his original form has cameos in Secret Level and a significant appearance in the critically bashed Pixels.
While Pixels is technically a live-action movie, Pac-Man was animated, and either way, the film was a disaster, proving Pac-Man can’t work in live-action. This character’s most well-known iteration is an image without a real personality, and while they could give it one, it takes the charm out of this ever-hungry, yellow-eating machine. Even if studios try to reinvent Pac-Man, it will never work in live-action.
Kirby
Nintendo is back again with another iconic character, the adorable pink blob that no one can come to hate: Kirby. Like Pac-Man, Kirby is an insatiable orb-like creature that players control, usually swallowing enemies to make its way through a level and defeat some threat to the world, such as King Dedede or Meta Knight.
Kirby is an obvious choice for this list, as a moving pink sphere would not be easy to bring to life in live-action. Kirby might not be too expressive, but it is energetic, and while a puppet or animatronic can be cute, it lacks the energy and cuteness that this character possesses. Kirby’s titles are undoubtedly fun games with unique sci-fi elements and a heavy dose of fantasy, but it and its franchise are too much for live-action to handle.
Dante
After over five years of waiting, Devil May Cry fans finally got some new content. Still, instead of a game, it was an animated series that reinvigorated interest in the series. While this might spark hope of a new game, many diehard fans didn’t enjoy how it strayed from the source material. Each game follows Dante and his battle against demons and their invasions of Earth.
Dante may be a human character, and thus reasonably easy to replicate on screen, but his personality doesn’t much live up to the norms of live-action. He is too over-the-top, meaning any live-action dialog would most likely come across as cringeworthy, awkward, and weird. Dante is a fun character in the game, but his arrogance, dramatic acting, and personality should never see the light of day in live-action.
Donkey Kong
The Nintendo Switch 2 was released to overwhelming success, but while Mario Kart World was the launch title, the must-play game on the console is Donkey Kong Bananza, a 2025 Game of the Year contender. Donkey Kong has been a household name for ages, being a main character in his games, a villain or side character in Mario games, and a major character in The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
While there are rumors that Donkey Kong will get an animated spin-off, that is animation, not live-action, and therefore could work with the character. Donkey Kong is an animated, expressive, goofy, and uniquely designed video game character, all aspects that never translate well into live-action, not even with the advancements in CGI. His facial expressions, reactions, movements, and everything else about him are ingrained in silly video game logic and norms, meaning live-action would ruin everything about him.
Mario
The Super Mario Bros. Movie was an overwhelming success, creating a dazzling animated film that is set to receive a sequel in 2026. While Mario works perfectly in animation, he isn’t suited for live-action, and the 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie is a clear indicator. Mario needs no introduction; he is one of the most iconic video game characters and stars in some of the most critically acclaimed video games of all time.
While the live-action Mario movie can be entertaining, it doesn’t accurately represent the character, suggesting that Mario may not be suitable for live-action adaptation. He is too expressive, upbeat, and animated to properly work in a real movie or TV show, meaning his actions, movements, and expressions won’t translate well. His shape is also human but unnatural, being too short and with no clear sign of how old he is; is he a twenty-something or a forty-something? He can be both. Mario may be successful in an animated film, but that is as far as the character should go.
