Mario, Bowser, Yoshi, Link, Zelda, Samus, Donkey Kong, Isabelle. Nintendo has so many notable icons, it’s easy for some of the lesser-known characters to get lost in the shuffle! Today we’re taking a look at three Nintendo characters who deserve more of your attention.

Wario (Wario Land, WarioWare)

Greedy. Opulent. Arrogant. Wario is everything his rival Mario is not – which is exactly what makes him such an engaging anti-hero. Sometimes it’s just fun to play as the not-so-good guy and hoard a bunch of treasure! Debuting as the final boss in Super Mario Land 2, Wario took on his first lead role in Wario Land. While the series started as more of a pastiche of Super Mario, Wario Land really came into its own as a stellar puzzle-platformer with the release of Wario Land II. Wario is also the star of WarioWare, a series of bizarre minigame compilations. While the release of Wario-led titles has unfortunately slowed down in recent years, Wario still has some claim to fame: He is the best character in Mario Kart 8. It’s science!

Brittany (Pikmin)

Part of what makes the Pikmin series different from many of Nintendo’s other major series is its cast of well-rounded playable characters. Where Mario and Link are about as perfect as can be, the Pikmin crew is made up of characters who have some interesting quirks. (Heck, fans have theorized Louie may be the series’s overarching villain!) Brittany the botanist is no exception. As the first woman lead of the series, Brittany was a welcome addition when she debuted in Pikmin 3. Intelligent, insightful, and overall kind, Brittany is also portrayed as a bit gluttonous. At the end of each day, she sneakily takes more than her share of the limited food supply. But that’s what makes her so relatable – I mean, have you seen the fruit in Pikmin 3? Yum! Who could stop at just one cup of fruit juice? We hope to see more of Brittany in future installments of the series!

Pietro (Animal Crossing)

This rainbow-colored sheep is a complete clown. We mean that literally – Pietro lives out loud with his distinctive clown makeup. (Or maybe he was just born that way.) Pietro has proven to be quite the divisive character in Animal Crossing, with a dedicated fanbase. Some players have shared that while their resident jester initially creeped them out, he has now become their favorite villager, teaching them a valuable lesson. As they say, you should never judge a book by its cover. Pietro may look a little unlike the other villagers, and he may come across as a bit too self-satisfied at times, but once you get to know him you realize what a funny, dedicated friend he can be! Plus, he can cook just about anything on his cotton candy machine, from moussaka to pesto pizza, and that’s the mark of a true underrated character!

Head on over to the Olympus Northpoint blog to catch the latest on local events and more fun topics.