When Super Smash Bros. began, it was just a quirky brawler featuring Nintendo’s biggest mascots. But over the years, it evolved into the ultimate celebration of gaming itself. Every new character reveal wasn’t just an addition—it was a moment where the impossible became real. Fans screamed, cried, created memes, and even crashed websites with excitement. These are the ten most exciting character reveals in Super Smash Bros. history—the moments that made time stop and the gaming world lose its collective mind.
#10: Banjo & Kazooie – Super Smash Bros.
Ultimate For years, Banjo & Kazooie were at the top of Smash fans’ wish lists. After Microsoft acquired Rare in the early 2000s, many believed the bear and bird duo would never come home to a Nintendo platform again.
But in 2019, during a Nintendo Direct, dreams became reality. The trailer teased fans hard—with Duck Hunt Dog faking everyone out—before the real Banjo & Kazooie swooped onto the scene in classic Rareware style.
The reveal wasn’t just exciting because of the characters—it was emotional. It symbolized a reconciliation between Nintendo, Rare, and a piece of gaming nostalgia that fans had missed for decades.
Developer interviews revealed that negotiations to include Banjo & Kazooie had been quietly underway for years, with Phil Spencer of Microsoft personally supporting the move. The reveal trailer’s crowd reaction at E3 was thunderous, showing that sometimes, gaming dreams do come true.
#9: Sora – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Sora’s reveal at the end of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s DLC cycle was more than exciting—it felt surreal.
Kingdom Hearts had always been a beloved but complicated franchise when it came to rights and licensing. Many fans believed Sora’s inclusion would be impossible due to Disney’s tight control over the character.
But in October 2021, as a final “thank you” to fans, Nintendo unveiled Sora in a beautifully emotional trailer. As the flame of Smash’s logo flickered out, Mario grabbed a shining Key blade—and Sora floated into the scene, grinning.
Fans erupted. Twitter exploded. Even hardcore skeptics who had given up on Sora’s chances found themselves tearing up at the reveal. Behind the scenes, series director Masahiro Sakurai confirmed that Sora was the most-requested character in the Smash Fighter Ballot from years earlier—and the team had spent years negotiating with Disney to make it happen.
It wasn’t just a reveal. It was a full-circle moment for Smash Bros. as a celebration of gaming history and dreams realized.
#8: Solid Snake – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
When Solid Snake slithered into the roster for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the gaming world collectively gasped.
Up until then, Smash had been a strictly Nintendo affair. Snake, a gun-toting stealth operative from Konami’s Metal Gear Solid, seemed impossibly out of place—and yet somehow perfect.
The reveal trailer, with Snake listening in from a cardboard box and then dramatically leaping into the Smash arena, was the first time Smash Bros. truly shattered the idea that its roster had limits.
Hideo Kojima himself had personally requested Snake’s inclusion, and Sakurai obliged—marking a turning point in Smash history where third-party characters weren’t just welcome. They were essential.
Snake’s reveal opened the floodgates for all the crossovers that followed. Without Snake, there may have been no Sonic, Mega Man, or Cloud Strife. And for fans, watching that first crack in the Smash roster’s walls was absolutely thrilling.
#7: Sonic the Hedgehog – Super Smash Bros. Brawl
If Snake cracked open the door for third-party characters, Sonic the Hedgehog kicked it off its hinges.
Rumors had swirled for years about Sonic joining Smash, but when he actually appeared during a Brawl trailer in 2007, fans lost their minds. Watching the Smash roster mid-battle suddenly get interrupted by that unmistakable spinning blue blur was pure magic.
The trailer showed Sonic zipping across the battlefield, knocking Mario and company into the stratosphere with his signature speed. It wasn’t just a fun addition—it was symbolic. The old “Nintendo vs. Sega” rivalry of the ’90s had finally evolved into Nintendo and Sega together.
Behind the scenes, getting Sonic into Smash was a huge effort. Masahiro Sakurai said Sega was very cooperative but fitting Sonic’s high-speed style into Smash’s gameplay was an intense balancing challenge.
For fans, though, it didn’t matter. Sonic’s arrival meant that anything was possible—and it cemented Smash Bros. as not just a Nintendo all-star brawler, but a celebration of gaming icons from everywhere.
#6: Cloud Strife – Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS
When Nintendo revealed Cloud from Final Fantasy VII as a new fighter in Smash for Wii U and 3DS, it was one of the most jaw-dropping moments in Smash history.
Cloud wasn’t just a famous character. He was the face of PlayStation’s dominance during the late ’90s—a symbol of Nintendo’s greatest rival. Seeing him wielding the massive Buster Sword on a Nintendo platform felt surreal, impossible, and thrilling all at once.
The reveal trailer played it perfectly: Cloud descending into the battlefield as “Those Who Fight Further” blasted in the background, instantly giving longtime JRPG fans chills.
Adding to the excitement was the inclusion of Midgar as a new stage, complete with Summons like Ifrit and Odin affecting the battlefield—elements no one thought Nintendo would ever greenlight.
In interviews, Sakurai mentioned that Cloud’s inclusion was a dream scenario made possible through careful negotiation with Square Enix. It signaled that Smash was no longer limited by platform loyalty—only by imagination.
#5: Mega Man – Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS
When Mega Man’s reveal hit at E3 2013, it wasn’t just another roster addition. It was a full-blown moment of gaming history.
The trailer opened innocuously with new Smash gameplay footage—until suddenly, a shadow appeared on the mountainside. In a flash of blue energy, Mega Man dropped into battle, complete with his full arsenal of iconic weapons like Metal Blade, Leaf Shield, and Crash Bomber.
Fans erupted with joy. For years, Mega Man had seemed abandoned by Capcom, and his Smash reveal felt like a resurrection. The trailer lovingly recreated classic 8-bit effects and paid homage to Mega Man’s entire history.
Even more impressively, his move set wasn’t just a copy of Mario or Samus—it faithfully recreated Mega Man’s long-range, precise combat style, complete with Robot Master weapons.
Sakurai later said that Mega Man was one of the most technically difficult characters to implement because of how different his gameplay philosophy was from traditional Smash fighters. But the payoff was huge: Mega Man’s reveal reminded players that Smash wasn’t just about fighting—it was about honoring gaming’s past.
#4: Ryu – Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/3DS
When Ryu from Street Fighter was announced for Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS, it wasn’t just exciting—it felt historic.
For decades, Street Fighter had defined the traditional fighting game genre. Its addition to Smash—a series known for its chaotic platform fighting—felt like two titans finally shaking hands across history.
The reveal trailer captured the drama perfectly: Ryu steps into the Smash world with his trademark stoicism, Hadouken blazing. He brought with him a deeply faithful fighting style, complete with quarter-circle inputs, light and heavy variations, and even a Shoryuken that hit harder based on traditional input accuracy.
What made Ryu’s arrival legendary wasn’t just the surprise factor. It was how respectfully Smash Bros. incorporated his legacy. From his multiple special moves to his classic stage (Suzaku Castle) and music tracks pulled directly from Street Fighter II, every detail screamed love letter.
Behind the scenes, Sakurai revealed that balancing Ryu had been extremely complicated. They didn’t just want to “Smash-ify” him—they wanted him to feel like Ryu, even in the middle of a multi-franchise brawl.
Watching Ryu stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mario, Link, and Sonic wasn’t just exciting. It felt like a crossover event fan had dreamed about for decades finally coming true in spectacular fashion.
#3: Joker – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
When Joker from Persona 5 was revealed as the first DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, it sent literal shockwaves through the gaming world.
It wasn’t just surprising. It was impossible. Persona 5 hadn’t even been on a Nintendo platform at the time. Yet, during The Game Awards 2018, a mysterious envelope with the Smash logo interrupted the show—and Joker announced he was “stealing the show” in Smash Bros.
The reveal was pure perfection. Stylish, bold, and dripping with the swagger Persona fans loved. Joker’s move set—complete with Arsène summons, flashy gunplay, and elegant acrobatics—made him one of the coolest-looking characters in Smash history.
What made this reveal so exciting was how it expanded Smash’s scope even further. Joker wasn’t a Nintendo classic, a ’90s mascot, or even from a genre traditionally associated with Smash. He represented modern, stylish, story-driven gaming—proof that Smash Bros. was willing to embrace all eras of gaming excellence.
In post-reveal interviews, Sakurai admitted Joker’s inclusion set the tone for Ultimate’s DLC strategy: wild, boundary-breaking picks that kept fans guessing—and screaming—for every new announcement.
#2: Sephiroth – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
The reveal of Sephiroth—Cloud’s archnemesis from Final Fantasy VII—for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate was so epic it felt almost illegal.
No one saw it coming. During The Game Awards 2020, a mysterious trailer showed Galeem, the godlike villain from Smash Ultimate’s story mode, suddenly getting sliced in half. Enter Sephiroth, descending with “One-Winged Angel” blaring in the background.
Fans completely lost their minds. Sephiroth wasn’t just a cool addition—he was terrifying. The idea of one of gaming’s greatest villains joining the Smash roster elevated the game’s mythos yet again.
His gameplay revealed him to be as devastating as expected: massive sword range, counter moves, and his signature one-winged power-up phase that turned losing situations into sudden victories.
Developer commentary revealed that Sephiroth’s inclusion was part of a conscious effort to bring more villains into Smash’s legendary roster—and to give Cloud a proper in-game rival.
Watching Sephiroth stab through Smash’s universe (and nearly kill Mario in the trailer, causing an internet meltdown) remains one of the most jaw-dropping, iconic moments in Smash history.
#1: Ridley – Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
For years—years—fans begged for Ridley from Metroid to be a playable fighter. And for years, developers insisted it was impossible. “He’s too big,” they said.
But at E3 2018, Nintendo finally broke the internet.
The reveal trailer starts ominously: Samus, Mario, and Mega Man investigating a darkened space station—only to be destroyed one by one by a hulking, monstrous figure. The silhouette emerges…and it’s Ridley.
The excitement was off the charts. Ridley wasn’t just another addition. He represented fan persistence. He was a character long believed impossible to implement and seeing him fully playable—and terrifying—felt like a massive victory for the Smash community.
In gameplay, Ridley is savage, quick, and brutal, embodying everything fans wanted. His moves are feral and heavy, and his animations capture the monstrous nature that defines him in the Metroid series.
Sakurai later revealed that Ridley’s design required tons of adjustments—shrinking and modifying certain animations—just to make him balanced for competitive play. But every bit of effort paid off.
Ridley’s reveal wasn’t just exciting. It was vindication. Smash Bros. was a celebration of dreams—and in 2018, Ridley’s arrival proved no dream was too big.
Super Smash Bros. reveals are more than just announcements—they’re events. They represent passion, nostalgia, and the endless imagination of what gaming can be. Every trailer, every shock reveal, and every impossible dream realized proves why Smash Bros. isn’t just a game. It’s a living museum of gaming history, built one electrifying character reveal at a time.
