Yugi Mutou

Yugi Muto, known as Yugi Mutou in the manga, is the main character and protagonist of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series, along with the spirit of Yami Yugi. Yugi is kind-hearted, caring, selfless, understanding, considerate, and child-like. He is good at games, riddles, and puzzles, especially Duel Monsters.

Together with the spirit of Pharaoh Atem, he holds the title "King of Games" (King of Duelists in Japanese version), by winning the Duelist Kingdom, Battle City, Grand Championship and Battle City V2 (in Yu-Gi-Oh! GX).

Yugi possesses the three thousand-year-old (five thousand in the English dub) mystical Millennium Puzzle, which allows his body to bear host to the spirit/soul of the Puzzle, Yami Yugi. Yugi was initially unaware of his existence and control of Yugi's body, and partial or complete control of his mind, would involuntarily shift to Yami when Yugi himself or his best friends are in danger, or when Yugi is under emotional stress or mad.

He lives with his paternal grandfather, Solomon Muto, and his mother. In the manga, Yugi's father (Solomon's son) is living away from his family on business.

Yugi is part of a close-knit group of best friends: Joey Wheeler, Tristan Taylor, and Téa Gardner as well as Ryo Bakura. Miho Nosaka is also one of Yugi's friends in the first series anime. Yugi's friends often cheer him on from the sidelines, and Joey has dueled at his side. Yugi has been friends with Téa since childhood and has a romantic crush on her. Téa has been shown to have romantic feelings for both Yugi and Yami Yugi.

In Japanese, the first characters of "Yūgi" and "Jōnouchi" combine to form "Yūjō" (友情), which means "friendship". The "Yu-Jo Friendship" card is named after the word and the fellowship between the characters.