Mobile Legends is among the games that feature Filipinos such as Lapu-Lapu and Manny Pacquiao as in-game characters. Are you curious about other video games where Filipinos appeared? Below is the list of Filipino characters found in video games. Though not all of them are classified as Filipinos due to storyline portrayals, they were still Filipinos based on Philippine aspects.
1. Mobile Legends' Lapu-Lapu
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang's hero Lapu-Lapu is based on the real-life Philippine hero of the same name. The popular mobile MOBA game added Lapu-Lapu on its hero lineup in May 2017. He is a fighter hero who has two instances and can swap between two weapons. When it comes to team fights, he is a burst damager.
2. Mobile Legends' Paquito
Paquito is a fighter hero playable in the famous online game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The character is a tribute to Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao, who also serves as the game's ambassador. In April 2021, Mobile Legends collaborated with the boxing legend to release the Manny Pacquiao skin.
3. Manny Pacquiao on mobile boxing games
Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao appears on several mobile boxing games such as Real Boxing and Fighting Pride.
4. Valorant's Neon
Neon is a Duelist agent hailing from Manila, Philippines. She is equipped with an electric ability kit, allowing her to move fast around the map and stun opponents. Neon debuted as the 19th agent of Valorant in Episode 4 Act 1 update (Patch 4.0) on January 12, 2022. Filipina voice actress Vanille Velasquez is the voice behind the Valorant character.
5. Apex Legends' Conduit
Conduit is a Support Legend, hailing from the Philippines. She was inspired by the Monarch Titan that saved her life and her sister's dedication to taking care of the family. She makes the ultimate sacrifice by utilizing the irradiated remains of the Monarch's battery. In exchange for providing for her family and rising to her legend, she trades her future health.
6. Call of Duty Vanguard and Warzone's Isabella Reyes
Isabella Reyes is an Operator of the Task Force 006 Trident faction featured in Call of Duty: Vanguard and Call of Duty: Warzone. She was added to CoD Vanguard and Warzone in January 2022. Isabella Rosario Dulnuan Reyes was born in 1923 in the Commonwealth of the Philippines. As a little girl, her father trained her in martial arts, notably Arnis. Following her father's demise, she refined her skills against those who attempted to recruit her into local resistance or the Hukbalahap. Isabella joined Trident alongside Francis and Lewis immediately following the conflict to help solve Caldera's mysteries, working as the close-quarters combat (CQB) specialist with extraordinary proficiency with a new weapon for the Vanguard arsenal.
7. Tekken 7's Josie Rizal
Josie Rizal created a stir online when she made her debut as a Tekken 7 fighter in 2015. Unlike most characters in Tekken 7 that speak in their native language, Josie speaks English with a local accent rather than Filipino. Moreover, Josie Rizal's name, features, and color scheme all point to her being Filipina.
8. Soul Calibur's Talim
Talim, the kindhearted tonfa-wielding priestess, is widely regarded as Soul Calibur's first Filipina character. She made her debut in the fighting game genre in 2002. Talim's lightning-fast fighting style and endearing demeanor won over fans of the fighting game franchise.
9. Medal of Honor's Jose Rizal
After completing the World War 2-themed shooter game "Medal of Honor (1999)", players can unlock Filipino hero Jose Rizal among several secret characters. What's odd here is that Jose Rizal didn't fight with guns in real life. Instead, he fought for reforms through his writings.
10. Front Mission 3's Jose Astrada and Pham Luis
Jose Astrada (sounds like Estrada, a typical Filipino surname) is a playable character in Front Mission 3, a 1999 mecha tactical role-playing game. He is a Filipino soldier who defected from the military following the death of his wife during one of their missions, which resulted in his imprisonment. He can be an ally or an adversary depending on the player's in-game choices.
Meanwhile, Pham Luis is a 17-year old girl who is a member of the Luis family, the wealthiest family in the Philippines. She went on to join the anti-government guerilla forces to liberate the country from its rulers.
Both Jose and Pham can be recruited while your team is in the Philippines attempting to retrieve the Taal base's equivalent of a nuclear bomb.
11. Def Jam: Fight for NY's Santos
Santos is a character who debuted in the 2004 hip-hop-inspired three-dimensional fighting game Def Jam: Fight for New York. Santos wears his Pinoy pride proudly in the 'Def Jam' game universe, as evidenced by the Filipino flag emblazoned on his attire.
12. Sampaguita's Maria, Randy, and Boy
Maria Santos is the protagonist of 'Sampaguita,' the third installment of the Japanese interactive visual novel series 'Yarudora,' which translates as "A drama you do." In 'Sampaguita,' the player encounters an amnesiac Maria one night in Tokyo, launching the couple on a quest to reclaim Maria's memories while evading the Japanese mafia and police. Two additional Filipinos are introduced throughout the story, namely Boy and Randy Santiago.
13. Dead or Alive 4's SPARTAN-458, a.k.a. Nicole
SPARTAN-458 (a.k.a. Nicole) was created to incorporate a Halo universe character into the fighting series Dead or Alive. She was released in Dead or Alive 4 in 2005. Despite resembling Halo's iconic Master Chief, Petty Officer Second Class Nicole-458 was revealed to be a Spartan stranded in the Dead or Alive 4 universe due to a cosmic anomaly. While it is unknown whether she possesses any Filipino features beneath her Mjolnir IV armor, her in-game profile indicates she is of Filipino ancestry. Nicole's profile also indicates that she was born in New Legaspi, a region of Mars known as "Katagalugan." Additionally, she enjoys the Filipino dessert halo-halo.
14. Hatoful Boyfriend's Anghel Higure
Hatoful Boyfriend is a Japanese otome-based series in which the protagonist's alleged love interests are pigeons and other bird species. Additionally, there is an option in-game that changes the portraits of these birds to their human counterparts. The Luzon Bleeding-Heart Dove Anghel Higure is one of the heroine's feathered suitors. The word "Anghel" directly translates as "angel" in Filipino.
15. Anito's Maya and Agila
Maya and Aguila are the playable protagonists of the 2003 role-playing game Anito: Defend a Land Enraged, developed in the Philippines. Set in the sixteenth century on the Asian island of Maroka, Agila and Maya are tasked with locating their father, Datu Maktan (the Mangatiwala tribe leader), in order to restore peace to the island. Additionally, you're tasked with repelling armored invaders.
16. Nightfall's Ara
Nightfall: Escape is a first-person survival horror PC game developed and published by Filipino indie game company Zeenoh. It follows Ara, a journalist investigating a haunted mansion, who appears to be trapped inside and seeking a way out. Players must unravel the tragic incident's mystery by exploring the maze-like mansion while facing monsters from Philippine folklore.
17. PBA Philippine Slam featuring PBA Players
Mobile game PBA Philippine Slam features teams from the Philippine Basketball Association or the PBA. It got different game modes like 2v2 and three-point shootout (offline/online mode). What makes the game interesting is it highlights funny Taglish game commentators.
18. Coco Martin on mobile games
Philippine celebrity Coco Martin appears on several mobile games like Ang Panday and FPJ's Ang Probinsyano.
19. Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza on AlDub-based mobile games
Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza's popular tandem called AlDub has paved the way for creating some mobile games based on it, including AlDub Game Kalye Crush and AlDub Game Ang Pagtakas, among others.
20. Darna, Captain Barbell, and Lastikman on mobile games
Famous Mars Ravelo's comic characters Darna, Captain Barbell, and Lastikman appear on Ravelo Komiks Universe Battle mobile game. During a limited-time event on Rules of Survival, they are available as free superhero skins.
21. Itanong Mo Kay Cong featuring Cong TV
Popular YouTuber Cong TV appears in the mobile game Itanong Mo Kay Cong. It features Cong Mini-Games, Payaman Mall (dress and other stuff), and Ask-and-Shake mode.
22. Philippine TV series-based mobile games
Several Philippine celebrities are playable characters in their TV series-based mobile games like La Luna Sangre, Bagani Tribal Match, and Encantadia Blast, among others.
23. Duterte Fighting Crime featuring President Duterte
Duterte Fighting Crime is an offline action mobile game featuring the 16th President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, fighting against the zombies.
24. Wil To Play's Willie Revillame
The casual online mobile game features TV host Willie Revillame. It has several mini-games in-app such as Wow Girl, Tumbang Premyo, Bawal Tumawid, Pares-Pares, Cook Slash, and Camcording Kamatis. Playing mini-games will earn you a raffle ticket, wherein you can have a chance to win prizes like smartphones and tablets.
You might also like:
SINAG Fighting Game: Philippine mythology-inspired fighting game
Until Then: narrative adventure indie game set in a fictional version of the Philippines
Do you know other Filipinos that appeared in video games (mobile, PC, and consoles)? You can include them in the list by leaving a comment below.
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