The world of fantasy has been a setting in video games since the days of Atari. It’s one of the most popular video game genres, encompassing some of the industry’s most popular franchises:World of Warcraft,The Legend of Zelda, andFinal Fantasy, to name just a few. In franchises like these, there are often creatures from all across the fantasy canon.
A common creature in these games are fairies, as commonly found in European folklore and Romantic art. Fairies have come in many shapes and sizes, but the term most often describes small, winged, humanoid beings. They’re also very common in the world of video games, especially when it comes to these iconic fairies throughout gaming history.
10Eos & Selene — Final Fantasy 14
Fairies are quite common in theFinal Fantasyseries, though they primarily appear in smaller roles. In theFinal Fantasy Legendseries, fairies are enemies; meanwhile, inFinal Fantasy 11, fairies are creatures capable of being summoned by players for healing or defensive support.
InFF14, theFinal FantasyMMO,Eos and Selene are support fairies that are summoned by players of the Scholar job. Their abilities are quite similar, including healing capabilities as well as increasing magic potency among all party members. While these are certainly useful allies to anyFinal Fantasyplayers, the series could definitely use a more prominent Fairy character.
9Sprixies — Super Mario 3D World
Often in theMariofranchise, the titular plumber’s goal is to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser. However, the Wii U titledSuper Mario 3D Worldfeatures a different selection of damsels-in-distress with the Sprixie Princesses. These fairies are featured prominently in the story, which finds Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Toad teaming up to rescue them.
There are seven Sprixie Princesses that Mario and his friends save at the end of every world. Additionally,several Sprixies appear in levels throughout the gameto aid Mario; for example, the Binocular Sprixie, who lets players see the level ahead of them. The green-colored Sprixie Princess was even added as a playable character in the Wii U’sMario Tennis: Ultra Smash.
8Brentilda — Banjo-Kazooie
TheBanjo-Kazooiegames, though few and far between, feature some pretty memorable characters. One of the most memorable is the game’s villain, the evil witch Gruntilda, who resembles the Wicked Witch of the West fromThe Wizard of Oz. Similar to that source material, Gruntilda has a benevolent sister, the fairy princess Brentilda.
RELATED:Banjo-Kazooie: Pro Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Switch Playthrough
In the originalBanjo-Kazooiefor Nintendo 64, Brentilda appears throughout Gruntilda’s Lair to assist the bear and bird on a quest to defeat her sister. Her only advice is seemingly-random facts about Gruntilda, such as the name of her band and her favorite drink. However, these answers come up later during a game show section, forcing players to actually listen to Brentilda.
7Ori — Ori and the Blind Forest
Ori and the Blind Forestis a Metroidvania gamereleased in 2015 that was praised by the gaming community for its gameplay and design. Players control the titular Ori, a spirit who sets off to save their Forest from a mysterious curse known as Decay. The game was successful enough to spawn a sequel,Ori and the Will of the Wisps, which came out in 2020.
Though Ori is not an ordinary fairy, the character definitely encompasses some aspects of fairies as they appeared in some traditional folktales. Specifically, certain Irish or German mythologies classify fairies as spirits of either the dead or nature. Ori’s gender and personality are up to interpretation of the player, and the game is very emotionally powerful.
6Stella — Dragon Quest 9
Dragon Quest IXwas released exclusively for Nintendo DS in 2009,with releases outside Japan coming a full year later. The game features Stella, a brash and arrogant fairy, as one of its most prominent main characters. Stella serves as a companion to the playable Hero inDragon Quest IX, often interacting with players via menus and dialogue.
She also plays a big role in the game’s story, first encountering the Hero on her quest to find a Celestrian who can pilot the Starflight Express. Stella comes across the Hero, a Celestrian, and accompanies them on their quests throughout the game. While she’s a bit combative with the player early on, she eventually warms up to them and becomes a valuable ally.
5Ribbon — Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
The belovedKirbyfranchise often finds the titular pink puffball adventuring through side-scrolling worlds, copying the abilities of enemies. However,Kirby 64: The Crystal Shardstakes advantage of 3D space, merging Kirby’s linear movement with new perspectives. Along the way, Kirby is joined by Ribbon, a fairy who helps Kirby locate the Crystal Shards.
RELATED:Kirby 64: The Best Power Combos, Ranked
InKirby 64, players get to control Ribbon during Kirby’s fight against Zero Two, the game’s final boss. After Kirby and Ribbon defeat the creator of Dark Matter, Ribbon even gives Kirby a kiss on the cheek, causing the iconic Nintendo character to blush.
4Airy — Bravely Default
This RPG was released in 2012 for the 3DS,attracting players with its rich story. Part of that story involves Airy, an NPC who acts as the companion and guide for Agnès Oblige, the game’s protagonist. Together, Airy assists Agnès on a quest to awaken four elemental crystals, only to (spoiler alert!) betray her in the game’s climactic moments.
It is revealed that Airy’s true allegiance was towards Ouroboros, the god of destruction andBravely Default’s main antagonist. Airy even assumes her true form as a monstrous caterpillar, changing into a butterfly for her final battle with Agnès and the party. However, if the party is strong enough, they defeat Airy and move on to fight Ouroboros.
3Tippi — Paper Mario
ThePaper Marioseries is unique in its depiction of Mario’s allies and enemies. These games are often deeper and more emotionally complex than the more straightforward, kid-friendly platformers.Super Paper Mariois no different; this Nintendo Wii title finds Mario teleporting to another dimension to prevent the evil Count Bleck from destroying all realities.
Mario is assisted by creatures known as Pixls. The central Pixl to the game’s story is Tippi, who supports Mario by finding secret doors and revealing info about various enemies. However, her true identity is Lady Timpani,who fell in love with Count Bleck when he was Blumiere, but her father’s objection to the marriage caused Count Bleck to decide to enact his evil plan.
2Navi — The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
Video game fans who have played this iconicLegend of Zeldainstallment have Navi’s voice burned into their brains. This fairy is Link’s companion throughout the game, accompanying him on his quest to stop Ganondorf from taking over the land of Hyrule. Along the way, she often badgers Link with tips, exclaiming her iconic lines: “Hey! Look! Listen!”
RELATED:What Happened To The Fairy Ocarina? And Other Questions Ocarina Of Time Never Answered
Additionally, Navi helps Link focus on targets using the Z-Lock ability. She also helps Link communicate with several characters, such as Saria. At the end ofOcarina of Time, Navi sadly leaves Link after the two return to the past after defeating Ganon and rescuing Zelda. Link then sets off on a journey to find Navi, which leads the Hylian hero to the events ofMajora’s Mask.
1Jigglypuff — Pokemon Franchise
Pokemon X & Ywere huge for thePokemonfranchise, as they introduced a new type for the first time in 13 years. The Fairy-type was added to both balance the overpowered Dragon-type and add some variety to old and new Pokemon. As a result,many significant Pokemon got changed to Fairy-type, including Gardevoir, Togepi, and Mr. Mime.
However, the most iconic Pokemon to adopt the Fairy-type was Jigglypuff, who became Normal/Fairy-type. Jigglypuff is most recognizable for its role in thePokemonanime, showing up at random to put all characters in a scene to sleep — a common power for fairies in folklore. It’s possible that Jigglypuff is not only one of the most popular Pokemon, but one of the most popular fairies in video game history.
MORE:Pokemon Legends: Arceus - The Best Fairy-Type Pokemon (& Where To Find Them)
