48. BloodRayne

First appearance: BloodRayne (2002)

The Nazi-killing dhampir Rayne was one of the first video game characters to transcend the medium and make it into mainstream publications.

Specifically, she made it into Playboy magazine back in 2004.

It may sound silly now. But it was still a momentous occasion back in the day.

It took video games decades to be taken seriously by the public at large, and these kinds of experiments were vital in achieving gaming’s current status as a widely respected art form.

Rayne used to be a trendy cosplay character, showcasing her popularity among both male and female gamers.