Let’s be real for a second. If you’ve spent more than ten minutes on TikTok, Reddit, or Discord lately, you’ve seen it. Someone is frantically scrolling through a gallery of heroes and villains, shouting "Smash!" or "Pass!" like their life depends on it. It’s the internet’s favorite low-stakes blood sport. Smash or pass video game characters has evolved from a dumb playground game into a legitimate cultural barometer for how we connect with digital art.
It's weirdly fascinating. We aren't just talking about "Who is the strongest?" anymore. Instead, the gaming community is obsessing over "Who would I actually want to grab a drink with—or more?" It’s part thirst, part character analysis, and entirely chaotic.
The Weird Psychology of Pixelated Thirst
Why do we do this? Honestly, it’s not just about being "horny on main," though that’s definitely a chunk of it. There’s some actual science—or at least some very smart-sounding psychology—behind why we get attached to these bundles of code.
According to the PeFIC model (Perceiving and Experiencing Fictional Characters), we actually process our feelings for characters on two different tracks. We can feel "involved" with them while still maintaining a distance because, well, we know they aren't real. This "aesthetic doubling" allows us to project whatever we want onto them. When you see someone say they’d "smash" Garrus Vakarian from Mass Effect, they aren't necessarily into 7-foot-tall bird-dinosaurs. They’re into the vibe. The loyalty. That buttery-smooth voice.
It’s all about the "Hear Me Out"
You've seen the memes. The ones where someone posts a picture of a literal monster or a sentient cube and says, "Hear me out." This is where the smash or pass video game characters trend gets truly unhinged.
- The Conventional Hotties: These are your Leon Kennedys, your Tifas, and your Geralts. They are designed to be attractive. Passing on them is almost a contrarian statement.
- The Eldritch Horrors: This is the "Monster F***er" side of the internet. If it has tentacles, a single glowing eye, or could probably eat you in one bite, there is a dedicated subset of the population ready to risk it all.
- The Personality Smashes: Characters like Goro Majima from Yakuza (or Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as we're seeing in 2026). Is he conventionally handsome? Maybe. Is he a chaotic madman who might stab you? Absolutely. And that’s exactly why he’s a top-tier smash for most people.
Smash or Pass Video Game Characters: The 2026 Power Rankings
The landscape of who we're thirsting over changes every time a new trailer drops. Just look at the discourse surrounding Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Before the game even launched, the community had already collectively decided that Verso (voiced by Ben Starr) was the "snack" of the year.
The Heavy Hitters
If you're making a list today, these names are popping up in every single thread:
- Atsu (Ghost of Yotei): Since the reveal, the fan art has been relentless. She’s got that "don’t touch me or I’ll kill you" energy that the internet apparently loves.
- Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil): Specifically the RE4 Remake version. He is the undisputed king of the "Smash" category. He’s got the hair, the jacket, and the constant look of a man who just wants a nap.
- Melinoë (Hades II): Following in Zagreus’s footsteps was hard, but she managed it. She’s stoic, she’s powerful, and she’s got a ghost arm. What’s not to like?
- Shadowheart (Baldur’s Gate 3): Even years later, the "I can fix her" energy remains a dominant force in the gaming zeitgeist.
It’s not just about the big AAA titles, though. You’ve got people playing smash or pass with Sherma from Hollow Knight: Silksong (yes, it finally came out, don't pinch me). It proves that character design isn't just about high-fidelity skin textures; it’s about silhouettes and "personality" that shines through even in 2D.
How Developers Are (Quietly) Leaning Into It
Do you think developers aren't aware of this? Think again. Character design has become a primary marketing tool. Look at Stellar Blade or The First Berserker: Khazan. These games aren't just selling "tight combat loops." They are selling characters that are specifically designed to be "appeal-forward."
There’s a tension here, though. In a 2024 Reddit thread on r/truegaming, players debated whether "hyper-attractiveness" ruins immersion. Some people want their characters to look like they actually live in a dirt-caked Western, with yellow teeth and scars. Others... well, others want to play as a Victorian doll with a giant sword.
Webmobril Gaming Studioz recently noted that well-designed characters don't just "look good"—they build emotional hooks that keep players coming back. If a player is "smashing" a character in their mind, they are emotionally invested. That’s a win for the marketing team.
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The "Asexual" Smash: Redefining the Game
Interestingly, not everyone plays this game for sexual reasons. On the r/asexuality subreddit, many users have talked about how they’ve reclaimed the "Smash or Pass" trend. For some, a "Smash" just means "I love this character's design" or "I would be best friends with them."
It's basically a shorthand for "I find this character compelling."
"Our friend group has straight, bi, gay and demi folk, and all of us treat the smash as platonical or just 'I like this character hella lot.'" — Reddit User
This shift is important. It shows that the trend is less about literal sex and more about character affinity. It's a way for us to categorize the overwhelming amount of media we consume. We are drowning in content; "Smash or Pass" is just a fast-acting filter for what actually sticks.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Ranking
The biggest mistake people make is thinking that "Smash or Pass" is a objective tier list. It’s not. It is the most subjective thing in the world.
While a competitive tier list for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is based on frame data and hitboxes, a smash or pass video game characters list is based on... vibes. You can't argue with someone's taste in pixels. If someone wants to smash a Goomba, that is between them and their god.
Why It Matters for Gaming Culture
This isn't just "internet noise." It’s how communities form. Debating whether Ganon is a "Smash" or a "Pass" (the answer is usually "Smash" if we're talking about Tears of the Kingdom) creates a shared language. It’s low-stakes, it’s funny, and it allows for a level of expression that "Which character is better at 60 FPS?" simply doesn't.
How to Win Your Next Discord Debate
If you're going to dive into the world of ranking characters, you need a strategy. Don't just go for the obvious choices.
- Defend your "Hear Me Outs": The more bizarre your choice, the more "expert" you look. Defending a pass on a popular character like Cloud Strife while smashing a Cactuar is a power move.
- Use the Voice Acting Card: Mentioning that Ben Starr or Maggie Robertson voiced a character instantly elevates your "Smash" from a horny whim to an appreciation of the arts.
- Respect the "Pass": Sometimes, a character is just too much. Passing on a character because they have "too much baggage" (looking at you, Joel Miller) shows you’re actually paying attention to the story.
Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you want to stay ahead of the curve in gaming culture, stop looking at stats and start looking at character silhouettes. The next big "Smash" isn't going to be the one with the most polygons; it’s going to be the one with the most distinct "energy."
Pay attention to:
- Voice Acting: It’s 50% of the attraction.
- Costume Design: A good coat (like Leon's) does more for a character's "smashability" than any facial animation.
- Relatability: The most popular characters right now are the ones who look like they need a long vacation.
To stay current, keep an eye on upcoming trailers for 2026 releases. Notice which characters the artists are spending the most time on. If a character has a lingering close-up in a trailer, the developers are basically inviting you to start the Smash or Pass debate. Go ahead and start it. Just remember: it's all just pixels, so have fun with it.
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Start by checking out the latest community-made tier lists on sites like Tiermaker. Look for the "Unconventional" categories. You might find that your taste is a lot more "Monster F***er" than you originally thought. Or, you know, you could just stick to Leon Kennedy. Nobody’s judging.