Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the biggest upcoming game for Nintendo Switch owners. Nintendo devoted almost the entirety of its E3 2018 press conference to the fighting crossover and the game’s big reveal. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will include every playable Smash character who's ever been in the series. Ultimate is aiming to live up to its name by trying to be the definitive Smash Bros. experience and almost function as a museum for the franchise.

There will be new content and characters added to the game but there not too many we're warned, given how much will be there at launch. Instead, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is all bringing the extensive past of the series to the present and charging players a subscription fee to play online with the Switch.

Related: Microsoft & Nintendo Emphasize Minecraft Cross-Play Together

So, we’ve decided to count down every character that will be in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (all 60+ of them), detailing their first game appearance, their first appearance in the Smash Bros. series and a little bit of their history. Each character is ordered with their official number and designation from Nintendo and Super Smash Bros. which denotes when and/or how they joined the franchise.

Here is Every Character That Will Appear in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate...

Mario

First Ever Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Mario is Nintendo number one mascot so naturally he’s officially listed as the first character to ever join Smash. It would easy for Smash creator Masahiro Sakurai and crew to phone it in with Mario. However, the Italian plumber is one of the most well rounded and agile fighters in the Smash series. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will tweak Mario slightly giving him Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey and a quicker Final Smash.

Donkey Kong

Donkey Kong making a fist in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

First Ever Appearance: Donkey Kong (1981)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Donkey Kong hasn’t always been at the top of Nintendo’s radar. However, he is officially the second fighter to join Smash Bros. This is probably because Donkey Kong made his debut alongside Mario in his self-titled arcade game. For Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Donkey hasn’t been changed too much, except for his Final Smash. It’s now just a flurry of punches with, sadly, no bongos in sight.

First Ever Appearance: Legend of Zelda (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

It’s through the first shadowy look at Link in the reveal trailer for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that fans got a hint that the game would be an all-new experience, not just a port of the Wii U. This is because Nintendo is still riding the wave of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by giving Link his Champion’s Tunic as his default look. For traditional fans, Link’s green duds are still in the game, but the Breath of the Wild look is front and center. Breath of the Wild also informs Link's Final Smash where the hero uses a bow not the Master Sword and his finishing move.

Samus

First Ever Appearance: Metroid (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Nintendo’s first heroine is finally starting to make a comeback. A Nintendo 3DS game was recently released that was a remake of Metroid 2. Metroid Prime 4 is coming to the Nintendo Switch and Samus is one of the premiere character of  Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Ultimate is making very few noticeable changes to Samus, even her Final Smash is largely the same, but it’s hard to improve on bounty hunter perfection.

Yoshi

First Ever Appearance: Super Mario World (1990)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

The perpetually put-upon dinosaur of the Mushroom Kingdom, Yoshi, is of course back for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. As he has from the series' very beginning, Yoshi is ready to make Mario pay for all those times he dropped at the bottom of a bottomless pit in Super Mario World. Besides giving Yoshi a new coat of paint and making him more expressive than ever before, not much has changed about the dino’s fighting style for Ultimate. Although Yoshi’s Final Smash has yet to be revealed.

Kirby

Kirby about to Hammer Flip a fool in Super Smash Bros Ultimate.

First Ever Appearance: Kirby’s Dream Land (1992)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

If Super Smash Bros. was made by anyone but Masahiro Sakurai, Kirby probably won’t have as big a place in the roster as he does. However, Sakurai created Kirbywhich means Nintendo’s pink blob has been integral to the series. Ultimate isn’t revamping Kirby much. However, with more fighters than ever before there will be more variety to Kirby than ever before. Kirby’s signature ability to swallow and copy every enemy just became much more expansive given Ultimate’s huge roster.

Fox

Fox-McCloud-in-Super-Smash-Bros-Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Star Fox (1993)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Fox McCloud has fallen from a grace a bit in Nintendo’s franchise machine. Fox hasn’t gotten much in the way of console game releases and his last, Star Fox Zero, was a huge disappointment. However, Fox has always been a staple of the Super Smash Bros. series and is especially popular in competitive play. As such Ultimate isn’t breaking the wheel for Fox but they are doing away with his former and incredibly long Final Smash, replacing it with a quick fly-by in his famous Arwing ship.

Pikachu

First Ever Appearance:  Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Much like the character itself, Pikachu in Smash has always been a little divisive. This is down to Pikachu’s move where he summons thunder from the sky being one of the most irritating (easy to perform) moves in the game. In Ultimate, the thunder move isn’t going away but an effort has been made to make Pikachu even faster than before. In addition, for the first time ever, a female Pikachu will be added (as alll female Pikachus have a heart shaped tail). Pikachu Libre from Pokken Tournament is even an alternate costume.

Luigi

First Ever Appearance: Mario Bros. (1983)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Mario’s little (taller) brother has been with Super Smash Bros. since the start but, naturally, Luigi began the series in Mario’s shadow. Luigi was one of the four unlockable characters in the first Super Smash Bros. but his moves were almost identical to Mario’s own. However, just like his appearances in the Mario series, Luigi has slowly given his own moves and personality that separate himself from his brother. In Ultimate Luigi plays and is animated in a much goofier fashion than Mario.

Ness

First Ever Appearance: Earthbound (1994)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Ness is proof that Super Smash Bros. started as Japan only game. For many people Ness is only known for his appearance in the Super Smash Bros. series as few Western gamers are aware (or have played) his original game, SNES RPG Earthbound. Despite his obscure nature, Ness has been with Smash since the start, even though he’s only used by the most serious of players. Ultimate is doing little to revamp Ness. He’ll be same pudgy magic kid he’s always been in the series.

Captain Falcon

First Ever Appearance: F-Zero (1990)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Captain Falcon isn’t as obscure to Western audiences as Ness. However, Smash has kept Falcon relevant for far longer than he would be otherwise given his original series F-Zero. Smash Bros. is also responsible for the look, feel and movement of Falcon. The original Smash was the first time that the character had to be fully animated or move at all outside his racing vehicle. Ultimate is keeping all the old elements of Captain Falcon, along with a yet to be revealed new Final Smash.

Jigglypuff

Jigglypuff in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. (1999)

Of all the first-generation Pokémon, besides Pikachu, that Super Smash Bros. could’ve included they chose Jigglypuff. The reason why is rather obvious, from a programming perspective, as Jigglypuff moves (and looks) very similar to Kirby. Still Jigglypuff has always been one of the more underwhelming fighters. Even since Jigglypuff’s first appearance been given its own moves, separate from Kirby, it's not much to make it too exciting. Ultimate isn’t changing Jigglypuff up much but hopefully the pocket monster will be more durable than it has been in previous entries.

Princess Peach

Princess Peach in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Peach is considered the first official addition to the Smash roster in the series’ second entry, Super Smash Bros. Melee. This is rather fitting though as Peach often goes hand-in-hand with Mario. While Peach is forever getting kidnapped in the main Mario series, in Smash she packs a considerable punch. Peach uses “weapons” such as tennis rackets, golf clubs and even her own subjects, the Toads, to take out her enemies. Ultimate’s way of changing Peach is giving her an all-new Final Smash and her first ever clone character…

Princess Daisy

Princess Daisy doing the Peach Bomber in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Super Mario Land (1989)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)

Daisy is a brand-new addition to the Smash cast. However, she’s listed early in the game’s official breakdown because she’s an “Echo” of Peach. Echoes are a new branding for Ultimate but not a new concept. Daisy being an Echo means she's a clone of Princess Peach. Daisy has her own personality and look but she plays identical to Peach. The concept of two fighters playing the same but looking different has existed since the very start of Smash Bros. with Mario and Luigi.

Bowser

Bowser roaring and looking menacing

First Ever Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (1985)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Mario doesn’t just invite Bowser to his parties or to play tennis. Since Melee, Bowser has been apart of the knockdown brawl out of Nintendo characters that is Smash. He is the first character who is receiving a somewhat significant change for Ultimate. Bowser is being revamped to move faster and his Final Smash has been changed from the usual Giga Bowser. Bowser will still expand in size for his Final Smash but he’ll look more like he does in the regular Mario games and he’ll only have one punch to knock the other fighters off the screen.

Ice Climbers

First Ever Appearance: Ice Climber (1985)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

The Ice Climbers, Popo and Nana, are making their return to Smash after being forced to sit out of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. The Ice Climbers were meant to be included in that game but the hardware for the 3DS couldn’t support two fighters taking up the same spot so Nana and Popo were scrapped. Ultimate will have the Ice Climbers; old moves including a new Final Smash which makes a giant glacier pop up from the bottom of the screen.

Sheik

Sheik in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate will continue the predence set by the previous Smash entry when it comes to Sheik. Princess Zelda’s alter (supposedly male) ego is being treated as her own separate character. Zelda can no longer transform into Sheik and vice versa. This is the big and only real significant change to Zelda. However cosmetically Sheik will wear the Sheikah outfit that appears in Breath of the Wild, not a recreation of her Ocarina of Time outfit.

Princess Zelda

First Ever Appearance: Legend of Zelda (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Sheik’s visual transformation is very minor compared to what Ultimate is doing to Princess Zelda. Though the conventional wisdom would be for Zelda to look as she does in Breath of the Wild, Smash isn’t following that path. Because Breath of the Wild Zelda is more of a “researcher,” Smash is recreating Zelda’s look from A Link Between Worlds. A look that is very similar to Zelda’s SNES appearance. Zelda’s Final Smash is also changed giving her access to the Triforce of Wisdom and not her (much less iconic) bow.

 Dr. Mario

First Ever Appearance: Dr. Mario (1990)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Since Echoes are a recognized, and even embraced part, of Super Smash Bros. canon it might seem odd that Dr. Mario isn’t an Echo of Mario. While Dr. Mario has always played very closely to Mario and he’ll continue to do so in Ultimate, he’s technically not a clone. Dr. Mario has his one move that is separate from Mario. While Mario can do a move called a Tornado, the same input for Dr. Mario can sends his opponents in random directions whilst sending Dr. Mario upwards. It's a lame change but a change nonetheless.

Pichu

Pichu scared in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Pokémon Gold/Silver (1990)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Every fighter ever being involved in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate means that even the ones everyone wishes they could forget are involved. This includes Pichu. The one thing that can be said in Pichu’s defense is that Smash’s version is faithful to the original game. Pichu is the smaller, younger and weaker Pikachu. Yet that makes Pich a rather useless Smash fighter as some of Pichu’s moves end up doing damage to itself. However, this adorable monster is still involved, for fan service, if nothing else.

Falco

First Ever Appearance: Star Fox (1993)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

From Super Smash Bros. Melee onwards, an effort has been made to add at least one more character from the series of the original 12 fighters. (Except Captain Falcon, he’s always been the sole representative of his series.) For Star Fox, Smash went the obvious route and included Fox’s brash and sarcastic comrade Falco Lombardi. Falco originally joined the series as a Fox clone but by his second appearance he was given his own moves that separated him, ever so slightly, from Fox.

Marth

First Ever Appearance Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light (1990)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

The Super Smash Bros. series has been criticized for including too many characters from the Fire Emblem. In a way that critique is very fair. A huge chunk of the Smash roster is Fire Emblem (especially in Ultimate). Marth’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Melee is where the Fire Emblem love started. For Western audience’s Marth being added to Smash was very strange as no Fire Emblem game had ever been released outside of Japan when Melee debuted. Since then Fire Emblem has reached a wider audience. This is now reflected in Ultimate as Marth’s voice acting can now be switched between Japanese and English.

Lucina

First Ever Appearance Fire Emblem Awakening (2012)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Lucina was a fan favorite character from Fire Emblem Awakening but a bit of a letdown in her Smash debut. Though Super Smash Bros. wasn’t obvious about it, it was clear that Lucina was just a Marth clone in her first ever Smash game. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate though, the game is being very clear about Lucina’s clone status and she’s being designated as an Echo of Marth.

First Ever Appearance: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Before Super Smash Bros. Ultimate made it clear that their goal was to include every Smash character ever, the inclusion of Young Link was one of the more confusing announcements. Young Link was seemingly replaced by Toon Link in Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Evidently though Young Link will be a separate fighter from Toon Link and (regular) Link has he hasn’t been given Echo status. How exactly Young Link is different though hasn’t been confirmed.

Ganondorf

Ganondorf during a battle in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

The most famous iteration of Legend of Zelda’s Big Bad is back and a bit revamped in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Long time fans will probably be delighted to learn that Ganondorf is finally being separated from Captain Falcon. In Melee, Ganondorf was complete clone of Falcon. Subsequent entries lessened the similarities but Ultimate will completely sever them. Ultimate’s Ganondorf will mostly play like a heavy and stronger Captain Falcon but he’ll also have his Ocarina of Time sword for some unique moves.

Mewtwo

First Ever Appearance: Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Mewtwo was one of the unlockable character of Super Smash Bros. Melee and because the game was released before the internet was really a thing, one of the hardest characters to obtain. The lengthy process to unlock Mewtwo promoted the Pokémon to a more special status than it probably deserved as a fighter. Yet Mewtwo still has a special place in many gamers’ hearts and there was outrage when it was left out of Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Mewtwo became the first DLC character for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS but it’ll be included from the start (albeit still be unlockable) in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Roy

First Ever Appearance: Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade (2002)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Unlike some of the other Fire Emblem characters in Smash who have received Western recognition, Roy is pretty much solely known for being the red-headed guy in Smash. Roy’s Fire Emblem game, The Binding Blade, was only ever released in Japan and it came out AFTER the release of Melee. This made the unlockable character a bit of a commercial for the GBA game. Roy did sit out Brawl but returned in the Wii U and 3DS game as DLC.

Mr. Game & Watch

First Ever Appearance: Ball (1980)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Mr. Game & Watch is a huge part of Nintendo history but he was a random addition for many in Melee. Mr. Game & Watch predates Mario, Donkey Kong or any other Nintendo character. He was apart of Nintendo’s first foray into video games with the handheld Game & Watch series. Ultimate will keep all of Mr. Game & Watch’s very strange moves but also try to make him appear much more like his original handheld appearances.

Meta Knight

First Ever Appearance: Kirby’s Adventure (1993)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

The first official addition to the Smash Roster in Brawl isn’t a Mario character. Instead Brawl made up for the lack of Kirby characters in Melee by adding Kirby villain Meta Knight and making him one of the most powerfully broken characters in the game. After Brawl Meta Knight was nerfed significantly making him much more balanced. Ultimate will likely be see a refinement of those changes.

Pit

Pit attacks in Super Smash Bros.

First Ever Appearance: Kid Icarus (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Pit isn’t an original creation of Sakurai but he’s very close. This is because for Brawl Sakurai had to design Pit’s move and look from the ground up. Before Brawl Pit’s one and only game appearance was in 8-bit form during the NES’ Kid Icarus. Smash gave Pit some a bit of revival leading to a 3DS game. But, for the moment, he’s mostly known as a Smash Bros. character.

Dark Pit

First Ever Appearance: Kid Icarus: Uprising (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2008)

There’s very little to say about Dark Pit because his name explains everything about him. Dark Pit is one the lamest Smash clones ever as the only thing that separates him from Pit is his coloring. Ae might as well just be an alternate costume. At least Ultimate will call Dark Pit an Echo and be upfront about him just being Pit but darker.

Zero Suit Samus

First Ever Appearance: Metroid: Zero Mission (2004)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Just like Zelda and Sheik, Zero Suit Samus was added to Brawl as a secondary form for Samus. Zero Suit Samus appeared after Samus used her Final Smash. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS split Zero Suit Samus and Samus into two different characters which makes far more sense as the two play completely differently. Ultimate will continue giving Zero Suit her own identity including a brand new Final Smash.

Wario

First Ever Appearance:  Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins (1992)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Waluigi has been left out of Smash (again) but his brother, cousin or  whatever Wario will continue his streak of appearing in Smash Bros. The gaseous “evil twin” of Mario debuted in Brawl and he’s been stinking up the Smash series ever since. There doesn’t seem to be many new changes to Wario in Ultimate he’s still using his same fart-based attacks. With so many characters getting new Final Smashes in Ultimate, Wario's can be expected to be particularly nasty.

Snake

First Ever Appearance:  Metal Gear (1987)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Brawl was the first Smash game where Nintendo started to add third party characters that had appeared on Nintendo consoles. No one better represented that new era than Metal Gear’s Snake who was the first big surprise characters of Brawl. Snake was removed from the game in the Wii U/3DS version and his return is one of the big highlights of Ultimate. Snake was so missed that it doesn’t seem like Ultimate is changing his character much at all, even his new Final Smash is very similar to his original one.

Ike

Ike using his Great Aether in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance:  Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Ike was the first Fire Emblem characters that was introduced to Western audiences in a Fire Emblem game. Ike first made his appearance in the Gamecube game Path of Radiance and then returned for its sequel on the Wii on Radiant Dawn. Both of which were the first Fire Emblem games to release on a console in North America. Though Ike has been involved with Smash since Brawl, he’ll be receiving a bit of a throwback look for Ultimate. Ike is younger in Ultimate, resembling his appearance from Path of Radiance, not Radiant Dawn.

Pokémon Trainer

First Ever Appearance: Pokémon Red/Blue (1996)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

These fighter(s) are a bit of return and reversal for the Smash Bros. series. Pokémon Trainer joined the series in Brawl with three different Pokémon (all various evolutions of the first three starters). However, the Trainer was removed in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS and replaced with just Charizard. Now Charizard is back and a part of a squad again. Ultimate is adding a slight cosmetic twist though by allowing players to either play as female or male Pokémon trainer, must like the proper Pokémon series.

Diddy Kong

First Ever Appearance: Donkey Kong Country (1994)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Donkey Kong’s nephew and the only Nintendo character who wears the company's logo as a part of their outfit, Diddy Kong, is returning for Ultimate. Diddy Kong’s inclusion in the series is a no-brainer, especially as the character’s build in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS vaulted him to the top of competitive play. It’s unlikely Ultimate will change Diddy much besides giving him a new Final Smash, as his two previous versions have been varying degrees of awful.

Lucas

Lucas using a move in Super Smash Bros.

First Ever Appearance: Mother 3 (2006)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Lucas is another Smash character who will many will (understandably) swear is a clone. Lucas does share a lot of similarities with Ness, including a Final Smash that will continue into Ultimate. However, Lucas does a couple moves that are unique from Ness, justifying why he’s not an Echo in Ultimate. Lucas is also surprisingly popular character, despite being introduced in a Japan only game. Lucas was released as one of the bits of DLC for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS.

Sonic the Hedgehog

First Ever Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Snake appearing in Smash Bros. was a surprise. However,  Sonic joining the battle in Brawl was a jaw dropper, especially considering how contentious Nintendo and Sonic’s parent company Sega when Sonic has first created. Sonic was designed to be a Mario killer. He nearly ended up being one too. However In Brawl, Sonic was far from a Mario killerbeing hard to control and very floaty. Luckily in the next Smash game Sonic was vastly improved and hopefully, for hedgehog fans, he’ll be even more refined in Ultimate.

King Dedede

King Dedede waving and smiling in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Kirby’s Dream Land (1992)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

King Dedede might not look it as he’s doofy and plump penguin. However he is can be consider the main antagonist as the Kirby franchise. Any Smash fan will know though that Dedede is more than looks. He’s very powerful for such a rotund and downright cuddly character. Ultimate isn’t changing Dedede much of all, he’s still bashing his hammer (or his body) at his opponents at full force.

Captain Olimar

Captain Olimar in Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Pikmin (2001)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

It’s unclear when Nintendo will put out another Pikmin game but the franchise’s first hero, Olimar, is in Ultimate with all his Pikmin. The Pikmin will see be Olimar's main attacks as he can throw them at opponents to damage them. Interesting though Olimar will be two characters in one. An alternate costume for Olimar allows him to appear as Alph, one of the heroes from Pikmin 3. However, Alph isn’t an Echo but merely another appearance for Olimar.

Lucario

Lucario-in-Super-Smash-Bros-Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Pokémon Diamond/Pearl (2006)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Lucario isn’t one of the highest-ranking Pokémon. However, since its introduction in Diamond and Pearl, Lucario has become of the series most famous Fighting type Pokémon. This along with its adorable dog-like appearance made it a natural new Pokémon addition for Brawl. Lucario has an occupied a safe spot in Smash ever since Brawl being a balanced mix of very fast and powerful.

R.O.B.

It's R.O.B. as seen in SSBU

First Ever Appearance: Nintendo Entertainment System (1985)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

R.O.B. shouldn’t exist, as a Smash fighter or at all. R.O.B. was created as a special controller for Nintendo Entertainment System to sell more consoles. The NES sold like hot cakes, but R.O.B. wasn’t nearly as successful (most because the games he worked with were terrible). However, R.O.B. has been given second life as Nintendo icon. R.O.B. became a playable character first in Mario Kart and then in Smash Bros. Brawl. This is impressive as R.O.B. has never appeared in a game of his own.

First Ever Appearance: Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

As mentioned before, Toon Link has been viewed as the Super Smash Bros. Brawl replacement for Melee’s Young Link. Toon Link takes his appearance for the somewhat controversial Gamecube game Wind Waker and plays almost identically to Young Link or at least he did before Ultimate. The difference between Young Link and Toon Link is one of the small mysteries of Ultimate. However, the changes will probably be minimal.

Wolf

First Ever Appearance: Star Fox 64 (1997)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008)

Wolf, the archnemesis of Fox, has been a cult favorite of the Smash community since his introduction. This due mostly to the fact that Wolf plays similarly to Fox, although he is a lot stronger and little bit slower than Fox. For Ultimate though it appears that Wolf won’t be such a Fox clone having more of his own moves and style. Where Fox punches and kicks, Wolf will more slash, rushing in and out for big damage.

Villager

First Ever Appearance: Animal Crossing (2001)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

The Animal Crossing Villager was the first officiall addition to the cast for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS. They fittingly set the tone for the game. Although Villager might not look innocent (or creepy disturbing depending on your perspective, he or she is one of the more unique fighters in the franchise. Villager doesn’t have many direct attacks and uses more tools in their arsenal to attack or defend themselves, but its wide-eyed stare shouldn't be ignored.

Mega Man

First Ever Appearance: Mega Man (1987)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

With Super Smash Bros. For Wii U and 3DS video game publisher and developer Capcom followed suit from Konami and SEGA. Capcom allowed their characters to appear in Smash and their first addition was Mega Man who became one of the headlining characters of the fighting game. Ultimate isn’t much of anything to Mega Man, except for two new characters, Proto Man and Bass, who will appear in Mega Man’s Final Smash screen.

Wii Fit Trainer

First Ever Appearance:  Wii Fit (2007)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Wii Fit Trainer is a lot like R.O.B. in that their character that makes very little sense for inclusion in Smash. However, they're still involved. Wii Fit is a relic of Nintendo’s past that they likely will never return to it. Yet the game’s “main character” the trainer is memorialized forever in Smash. Wii Fit Trainer’s fighting moves consist of yoga poses and training moves. Ultimate is doing little to Wii Fit Trainer besides working more on their faces so like a little less like a melted potato.

Rosalina & Luma

First Ever Appearance:  Super Mario Galaxy (2007)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Rosalina breaks tradition from most Mario princesses. Rosalina doesn’t spend most of her mainline Mario games getting kidnapped in them. In Super Smash Bros. Rosalina proves while she hasn’t been kidnapped by being one of the more special and strong fighters in the game. Rosalina doesn’t have many attacks of her own. Instead Rosalina sends her Luma out to do much of the damage. Luma can even be damaged and knocked off screen, separately from Rosalina. It's not the most brave way to fight but it is smart.

Little Mac

First Ever Appearance:  Punchout!! (1984)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Little Mac is one of Nintendo’s oldest characters, but it took all the way until Smash for Wii U and 3DS for him to make the fighting series, even though his whole gimmick is fighting. The boxer is dealt with in an interesting way because he’s a very low to the ground character. Little Mac has some of the strongest punches in the game but that’s balanced out by him having almost no verticality. At least that was the case in his original game. Ultimate might change things but giving Little Mac more ability to jump could turn him into a very broken character.

Greninja

First Ever Appearance:  Pokémon X and Y (2013)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Smash usually waits a little bit after a Pokémon’s first appearance to include them in Smash. It makes sense as there are so many monsters and so few achieve real mainstream popularity. Yet, for whatever reason Smash wasted little time in bringing one of Pokémon X and Y’s starters, Greninja into the series. Less than a year after Greninja was introduced,it was announced in Smash. Admittedly though as a ninja-esque Pokémon the frog-like creature is perfect character for Smash being able to hop, slash and dive all about the various stages.

Mii Fighters

First Ever Appearance:  Wii Sports (2006)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Miis are slowly being phased out of Nintendo. The avatars that began with the Nintendo Wii have started to disappear and are entirely absent from Nintendo Switch. However, for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Mii Fighters will return. Mii Fighters still come in three basic varieties (Fighter, Gunner and Swordfighter). Each has customizable moves, but each style plays similarly to other more “official” characters. The only limit on their appearance is player's imagination (and the Mii creation tools).

Palutena

First Ever Appearance:  Kid Icarus (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Palutena didn’t make the cut for Super Smash Bros. Brawl. However, the addition of Pit to Brawl allowed for a new Kid Icarus game, Uprising, where Palutena’s look was given its own facelift from the NES era. The new Palutena carried over to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS where she was made to be much of a ranged and flighty character (not too dissimilar to Pit). Ultimate’s changes to Palutena appear to be minimal but she’s never been among the top tier characters for Smash players.

Pac-Man

Pac-Man winking at the camera in SMBU.

First Ever Appearance:  Pac-Man (1980)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS was the first time that Nintendo worked with Bandai Namco for the Smash series. As such one of Namco’s best-known characters, Pac-Man was allowed to make an appearance as a fighter. It might seem like a lot of Pac-Man’s moves were made up for Smash but that’s not the case. Smash’s Pac-Man is based heavily on the little known sequel to Pac-Man, Pac-Man 2: The New Adventures In Ultimate though, Pac-Man will be a bit more traditional with his Final Smash seeing him transform into his famous 2D appearance.

Robin

First Ever Appearance: Fire Emblem Awakening (2012)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Robin made their Smash debut alongside Lucina. However, unlike Lucina Robin isn’t a clone of another character. Robin is the default name of the player character of Fire Emblem Awakening and the Smash version tries to represent that with some level of player choice. Robin can be male or female and has ranged magic and up-close melee attacks. In Ultimate a bar will be added to Robin’s cbaracter display that shows how much charge their weapons have, in a nod to the main Fire Emblem games.

Shulk

First Ever Appearance: Xenoblade Chronicles (2010)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Nintendo is trying to make Xenoblade into this next big JRPG craze, but they haven’t really managed it yet. Part of the attempt to make Xenoblade more popular was to add the franchise’s first hero, Shulk, to Smash. Although Shulk may look like another sword-wielding JRPG boy there are some unique elements to Shulk. In Ultimate in particular, Smash is doubling down, on Shulk’s ability to allow his sword to have different effects. All of these can be switched on and off with just the press of a button.

Bowser Jr.

Bowser Jr. in Super Smash Bros.

First Ever Appearance: Super Mario Sunshine (2002)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Bowser Jr. being in Smash Bros. is a bit of misnomer. The offspring of Bowser is in the game but he’s just one part of a much larger mini-roster. Ultimate is keeping the mechanic set up by the previous Smash game by having Bowser Jr. share his spot with all the other Koopa Kids. Bowser Jr. is the main character but alternate costumes allow the player to transform Bowser Jr. to all the minibosses that exist in Super Mario World who used to be known as Bowser’s other children.  Bowser Jr. is one character for the “price” of eight.

Duck Hunt

Duck hunt In Super Smash Bros Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Duck Hunt (1984)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

The dog that appears in NES' Duck Hunt and laughs at the player when they miss a shot has been one of gaming’s longest literal pet peeves. Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS added the dog has a playable character and revealed that he doesn’t even have a name. He is one of the most bizarre additions to the fighting series because he plays unlike anything else. Duck Hunt refers to both the dog and the duck as both are controllable by the player and work in tandem. Duck Hunt is strange but thankfully he’s meant to be a bit of an oddball inclusion.

Ryu

Ryu In Smash Ultimate

First Ever Appearance: Street Fighter (1984)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Mega Man was the first character Capcom added to Smash but not the last. Street Fighter’s Ryu was added to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS as DLC and he worked far better than would seem possible. Although Smash plays very differently from Street Fighter, there was still an effort to play Ryu control as he would in Street Fighter. The input for Ryu’s most famous moves are the same in Smash and Street Fighter. In Ultimate plans are to go even farther to make Ryu in Smash an even more accurate Street Fighter experience in appearance and control.

Cloud

First Ever Appearance: Final Fantasy VII (1997)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

The hero that, for whatever reason, has become synonymous with Final Fantasy was added to Smash as DLC and it was a huge shocker. Mostly because Cloud’s debut game has never been released on a Nintendo console. In fact, the only time Cloud has appeared on a Nintendo console was in Fantasy Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts spin-off games. Yet Cloud is in Smash and there’s an effort to make him play as he does in Final Fantasy VII. In Ultimate Cloud’s limit break meter is displayed the entire time and can grow to unleash devastating attacks.

Corrin

First Ever Appearance: Fire Emblem Fates (2015)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Corrin, following in the tradition of Roy, was announced as DLC for Smash Bros. before their game was properly out. Corrin, in set up, is like Robin in that Corrin is the default name of another Fire Emblem player character and they can be either male or female. However, Corrin plays nothing like Robin because Corrin, unlike, Robin can transform into a dragon. This results in a lot of weird and wonderful moves that Ultimate is carrying over.

Bayonetta

First Ever Appearance: Bayonetta (2009)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS (2014)

Bayonetta doesn’t seem like a Nintendo franchise but evidently that’s the case now. Bayonetta isn’t just apart of Smash. Bayonetta 2 and the upcoming Bayonetta 3 are exclusive games to Nintendo platforms. A witch whose outfit is made entirely of hair stands side-by-side with Mario. Bayonetta was the last DLC fighter added to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS  before coming to Ultimate. She, was, sadly a little bit broken but very fun to play. No one cared too much about Bayonetta though as the Wii U was on its last legs. Hopefully for Ultimate Bayonetta will play a lot more fairly than before.

Inkling

First Ever Appearance: Splatoon (2015)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)

The Inklings were the first ever new characters revealed for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Yet it wasn’t until E3 2018 that more information was unveiled about how they will play. Like in their main game Splatoon, Inklings (which can be male or female) will have a supply of ink. This ink replenishes over time, but it can run out. Spraying ink on other players will slow them down and hurt them. Meanwhile moving through ink allows the Inlikings to go much faster.

Ridley

First Ever Appearance: Metroid (1986)

First Smash Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018)

Ridley has been a long-requested addition to Smash being that he;s one of the main villains of the Metroid series. Yet the constant explanation for Ridley’s absence was that he was too large for Smash. Ridley was added to Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS but only as an interactive element of a stage. In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Ridley will finally be playable character, although he is shrunk in size to be more manageable. While Ridley's not as huge as he is normally, he’s still a very large and heavy hitting character. Ridley controls a lot like Bowser with slow, deliberate hits but, unlike Bowser, Ridley can use his wings to take to the air. Ridley is a threat from almost anywhere.