Tekken is a popular video game franchise in which players compete in martial arts tournaments. The series is well-known for its fast pace and exciting gameplay, making it popular among fighting game fans.
It was first released in 1994 but has grown into one of the most successful fighting games around, thanks to its unique style and diverse roster of characters.
While there are plenty of characters from Tekken that have found success as playable fighters—and even some who didn’t make it into the final cut—this list focuses on all the Tekken video game characters throughout the series’ long history that have appeared at least once within a Tekken title.
Kazuya Mishima
Kazuya Mishima is the main character of the Tekken series. He was born in the first tournament and grew up under the care of his father, Heihachi Mishima.
Kazuya’s mother died during childbirth, but he inherited her fighting spirit, which eventually led to him becoming a skilled fighter himself.
At first glance, Kazuya appears to be very similar to his father—he has jet-black hair and dark eyes with a permanent scowl on his face. However, there are some critical differences between them.
While they share an affinity for martial arts and strength (Kazuya is even stronger than Heihachi), Kazuya also has something else that sets him apart: compassion.
While this quality was not developed until later in life when he learned about Jin Kazama (his half-brother), it does make him stand out from other Tekken video game characters who might have been portrayed as ruthless killers or cold-hearted warriors without any sense of morality or empathy whatsoever.
Jin Kazama
Jin Kazama is the main character of the Tekken series, and he is also the son of Kazuya Mishima and Jun Kazama. Jin first appeared in Tekken 3, searching for his mother, who disappeared when he was just a child.
In Tekken 5, he defeated Devil Jin, his father’s Devil Gene created. Later on, in Tekken 6, Jin learns that his father kidnapped his mother and tried to become the demon himself.
However, Jin managed to get rid of him before this happened by defeating him with Devil Jin’s help (this is why they share their movesets).
At the end of Tekken 6’s story mode, when all other Tekken video game characters are being killed off one by one after defeating Azazel for trying to take over Earthland into the hell dimension again (like how he did it before during ancient times), only Heihachi remains alive because nobody knows how old this guy is!
Heihachi Mishima
Heihachi Mishima is one of the most iconic Tekken video game characters in the Tekken series. The original boss character and the main antagonist of Tekken 3, Heihachi, is known for his penchant for throwing people off cliffs and crushing their skulls with his fists.
Heihachi was once a celebrated martial artist until he arranged marriage to Kazumi Mishima, who later gave birth to Kazuya and Jin Kazama.
After his wife committed suicide when she saw what her husband had become, Heihachi became obsessed with winning the King of Iron Fist Tournament (KIF) so that he could take control of all other corporations on earth under his company’s banner: The Mishima Zaibatsu.
In most games’ storylines, Heihachi dies before he can achieve this goal—but in some cases (like Tekken 7), he lives long enough to take over as CEO after retiring from competition entirely.
Yoshimitsu
Yoshimitsu is a master of kenjutsu, ninjutsu and the ancient art of ninjutsu. He is also known for his sword skills, which are so great that he can easily cut through steel.
Yoshimitsu wears a suit of armor that protects him from most attacks and has earned him the nickname “the Black Death” because he spreads death wherever he goes.
The only thing about Yoshimitsu’s past that we know for sure is that he was once a member of the Manji clan. Still, after becoming disillusioned with their cause (and their leader Kazuya Mishima).
Yoshimitsu left to become an independent assassin-for-hire. His skill set makes him deadly in battle, making him one of the legendary Tekken video game characters in the series.
Paul Phoenix
Paul Phoenix is a martial artist from the United States who travels the world searching for martial arts tournaments. Paul is known for his powerful kicks and signature move, the Power Wave.
He’s also a fan favorite in the Tekken series, so much so that he’s been featured as an unlockable character in every Tekken game except for one (Tekken 2).
This ravenous wolf has always been known to be down and dirty when it comes to fighting – so let’s take a look at some of this fighter’s most memorable moments:
Anna Williams
Anna Williams is one of the outstanding female Tekken video game characters from the Tekken series of fighting games. She made her debut in Tekken 2 and has appeared in every mainstream installment except Tekken Tag Tournament.
Anna is also one of the few characters to appear on more than one title screen, along with Heihachi Mishima, Jin Kazama, Kazuya Mishima, and Nina Williams.
Anna is introduced as the sister of Nina Williams, who was raised by their mother Jun since birth. She later becomes a world-class professional assassin after killing her brother-in-law Lee Chaolan for betraying her sister’s trust (although it was later revealed that he saved her life).
Her style incorporates elements from Western boxing and Capoeira; this makes her very versatile in battle while also making her appear very feminine. She is an extremely skilled fighter, easily defeating men twice her size without even breaking a sweat!
Ling Xiaoyu
Ling Xiaoyu is a Chinese character who first appeared in Tekken 3. She’s a student at Mishima Polytechnic School and has a pet panda named Baby.
Xiaoyu has a crush on Jin Kazama, but she also has a rivalry with Anna Williams. She fights using nunchaku and her grandfather’s Qi Jiguo scrolls (scrolls containing ancient martial arts techniques).
Nina Williams
Nina Williams is a character in the Tekken series of fighting games developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment.
She was introduced in Tekken 3 and has appeared in every subsequent installment to date, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, making her debut as one of the playable Tekken video game characters on March 20th, 2019.
Nina’s moveset involves delivering fast kicks and punches with her right hand while holding a knife with her left hand.
Her primary fighting style is Capoeira (a Brazilian martial art), but she also utilizes Muay Thai kickboxing when using low attacks or grappling maneuvers such as throws.
Bryan Fury
Bryan Fury is a character from the Tekken video game series. He first appeared in Tekken, released by Namco in 1994. Bryan Fury is a member of the Tekken Force and serves as its leader.
In Tekken 6 and onwards, Bryan has become an anti-hero protagonist with his story mode following his adventures after being discharged from the military for questioning their ideals and methods (which includes cloning).
Christie Monteiro
Christie Monteiro is a Brazilian capoeira fighter who deeply connects to music. Capoeira is a martial art that combines dance and music into one form of expression.
It originated in Brazil centuries ago as enslaved people used it in self-defense against their captors. In Tekken 7, Christie uses her skills to help others and bring justice to the world.
King II
King II is the younger brother of King I, who was one of the main Tekken video game characters in Tekken 7. King II is a clone of his brother with a similar fighting style and moveset. However, he’s also more aggressive and assertive than his counterpart.
He makes use of multiple quick attacks that hit like a truck. He has one of the best parries in the game (in comparison to other characters)
Lei Wulong
Lei Wulong, a police officer from Hong Kong and the son of a powerful politician, is one of the most popular Tekken video game characters and fighting game characters among Chinese players.
He’s a good friend of Marshall Law and an expert in Bajiquan (a Chinese martial art). The two are often combat partners.
In Tekken 7, Lei Wulong is still serving as an Interpol agent but has joined G Corporation as one of its leaders to fight against Kazuya Mishima.
As he travels around the world with his fellow officers, he encounters several strong enemies—but none more challenging than Jin Kazama himself!
Hwoarang
Hwoarang is a Korean Taekwondo practitioner and a former student of Baek Doo San. He is currently a member of the Tekken Force, though he has been known to branch out on his own for personal reasons. Hwoarang is a friend of Jin Kazama, an orphan the Jin family adopted.
Hwoarang’s signature fighting style involves performing acrobatics and flipping kicks when attacking his opponents; he 7s one of the famous Tekken video game characters.
Kuma II
Kuma II is a boss character in the Tekken series and is also playable in some iterations of the game. Kuma II is a bear who has appeared as both a boss character and playable character throughout various installments of Tekken.
He first appeared in Tekken 2 as one of many sub-bosses that could be fought in arcade mode. He returned for Tekken Tag Tournament 2, where he played a larger role in story mode than before, serving as Lars Alexandersson’s mentor during his initial training days.
In addition to these appearances, Kuma also appears prominently on an unlockable T-shirt available for purchase at the beginning of each new game within the series (except for Tekken 7).
Asuka Kazama
One of the most esteemed Tekken video game characters, Asuka Kazama is the daughter of Kazuya Mishima and Jun Kazama. Her grandfather is Jinpachi Mishima, a former leader of the G Corporation who Heihachi defeated in a fight to determine who would lead the company.
Asuka is also a Mishima Karate practitioner and leads her ninja force known as the Mai Zaibatsu, which serves as an antagonist faction in Tekken 5.
Bottom Line
This is a list of all Tekken series characters, from the first game until Tekken 7. We hope you enjoyed reading it and maybe even learned something new about some of Tekken video game characters.
