You remember that feeling back in 1999? Turning on the N64, seeing those 12 blocky fighters, and thinking it was the biggest thing ever. Honestly, it was. But looking at the smash bros character list today in 2026, it's hard not to feel a bit of vertigo. We went from a dozen Nintendo mascots to a roster of 89 fighters that basically functions as a museum for gaming history.
It’s massive. Overwhelming, actually. If you’re trying to keep track of everyone from the original 8 to the final DLC addition, you’ve probably realized that Nintendo’s "Everyone is Here" slogan wasn't just marketing fluff. It was a promise that turned the game into a chaotic, beautiful mess of balance patches and frame-data arguments.
The Evolution of the Smash Bros Character List
The journey from a small-scale brawler to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is kinda wild. In the beginning, you just had the "Original 8" starters: Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, Samus, Yoshi, Kirby, Fox, and Pikachu. Then came the four unlockables (Luigi, Ness, Captain Falcon, and Jigglypuff). That was it. Simple times.
Fast forward to the GameCube era with Melee, and the list jumped to 26. This is where the competitive scene really found its soul, even if the "clones" like Dr. Mario or Pichu felt a bit like padding at the time. By the time Brawl hit the Wii, we saw the first third-party intruders—Snake and Sonic. That changed everything. Suddenly, the smash bros character list wasn't just a Nintendo club. It was a VIP lounge for the entire industry.
Breaking Down the Ultimate Roster
In the current meta of 2026, the roster for Ultimate stands at a staggering 89 playable fighters if you count every individual slot. Some people argue the "real" number is 82 or 86 depending on how you group the Mii Fighters or the Pokémon Trainer’s trio, but let’s stick to the official count.
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The roster is basically split into three buckets:
The Base Game Veterans
These are the characters that returned from previous titles. We’re talking about the staples like Bowser, Zelda, and Marth, but also the ones we thought were gone for good. Seeing the Ice Climbers and Wolf return after being cut in the Wii U/3DS era was a huge moment for long-time fans.
The Newcomers
Ultimate added some heavy hitters right out of the gate. Ridley—who everyone said was "too big" for years—finally made it. We got the Inklings from Splatoon, Simon Belmont from Castlevania, and King K. Rool. These weren't just random additions; they were the most-requested characters from years of fan voting.
The Echo Fighters
This was a smart move by Masahiro Sakurai and his team at Sora Ltd. Instead of pretending every character is unique, they officially branded "Echoes." These are fighters like Daisy (Peach), Dark Samus (Samus), and Richter (Simon) who share almost identical movesets but have different animations or subtle stat tweaks. It allowed the smash bros character list to grow without requiring the dev time of a brand-new fighter.
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The DLC Legacy: Fighter Pass 1 and 2
You can’t talk about the roster without talking about the DLC era. This is where the game went from a "Nintendo celebration" to "the most ambitious crossover in history."
The first Fighter Pass gave us:
- Joker (Persona 5)
- Hero (Dragon Quest)
- Banjo & Kazooie (The dream come true)
- Terry Bogard (Fatal Fury)
- Byleth (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
Then, Fighter Pass 2 happened. This was the era of the "unthinkable" picks. Steve from Minecraft? That broke the internet. Sephiroth? The trailer alone is still legendary. Kazuya brought Tekken’s complex inputs into a platform fighter. And of course, Sora from Kingdom Hearts ended it all as the final, most-requested fighter in the history of the series.
Honestly, the DLC characters are often the ones people complain about most in the competitive scene. Steve’s block-building and Kazuya’s "Electric Wind God Fist" combos changed the meta in ways nobody saw coming. Even now, years after the final patch, players are still finding new tech for these guys.
Who Should You Actually Play?
With 89 options, picking a main is a nightmare. But if you're looking at the smash bros character list and wondering who's actually good in the 2026 meta, it really depends on your goal.
If you want to win tournaments, Steve and Pyra/Mythra are still dominating most top-tier brackets. They just have tools that other characters can't keep up with. However, if you're just playing with friends on the couch, the "Low Tier" heroes like King Dedede or Little Mac are arguably more fun.
There's a specific joy in landing a Warlock Punch with Ganondorf that you just don't get with a high-tier combo.
Why the List Won't Grow (For a While)
People keep asking for a "Fighter Pass 3," but let’s be real—it’s not happening. Sakurai has been pretty clear about Ultimate being the peak. The logistics of re-licensing all these third-party characters for a future game is a legal nightmare. It's likely that whenever the next Smash game arrives, the smash bros character list will actually shrink.
We’ve reached "Peak Smash."
Making Sense of the Chaos
If you're jumping back into the game, don't try to learn everyone at once. Start with the "Original 8." They’re designed to teach you the fundamentals. Mario is the all-rounder, Kirby helps you learn recovery, and Samus teaches you how to zone.
Once you get the hang of it, branch out into the weird stuff. Try Min Min’s long-range arms or Steve’s crafting table. The beauty of this massive roster is that there is literally a character for every personality.
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To get the most out of the current game, focus on unlocking everyone first. You can do this through Classic Mode or by just playing matches. Once your smash bros character list is full, spend an hour in Training Mode with characters you usually ignore. You might find that a character you hated fighting against—like Ness or Zelda—is actually the one that clicks with your playstyle.
Grab a controller, head into the Vault to check out the Spirits, and start grinding out those unlocks if you haven't yet. The roster is a mountain, but the view from the top is worth it.
Next Steps for Players:
- Unlock the Roster: Complete "World of Light" or run through Classic Mode with each of the starting characters to quickly fill out your selection screen.
- Check the Meta: Look up the latest UltRank standings to see which characters are currently performing best in the competitive scene.
- Lab Your Mains: Spend 15 minutes in Training Mode practicing "short hop" aerials and recovery angles for your top three favorite fighters.