The Tekken series is notable and praised for depicting its characters with visual flare and style. Players can choose from a diverse cast that hails from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and fighting styles. Many characters have a supernatural origin, such as Devil, Ogre/True Ogre, and Devil Jin, while others like Roger Jr., and Kuma provide comic relief.
In the story mode of the game, each character generally has their own personal reasons for entering the tournament and competing for the prize. When a player selects a character, completion of the game would assume that particular character won the tournament and their ending is shown, hence there are multiple endings depending on which character is chosen by the player. The plot of subsequent games in the series, however, assumes only one of the endings to be correct, but sometimes other endings are also made canon if winning the tournament itself is not of great importance to the events in the ending.
The overarching plot of the series revolves around the Mishima family, who together are the only characters to host and win the tournaments canonically in the series so far.
Paul Phoenix, Nina Williams and King (as either King I or King II) are the only characters to have been playable in every major Tekken game so far.
Comparison Table
Character | TK | TK2 | TK3 | TCC | TTT | TK4 | TK5 | TK6 | TTT2 | TKR | TK7 | TM | TK8 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akuma | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 2 |
Alex | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | 4 |
Alisa Bosconovitch | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 5 |
Ancient Ogre | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 4 |
Angel | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 3 |
Angel Jin | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 1 |
Anna Williams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | 10 |
Armor King I/II | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 8 |
Asuka Kazama | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
Azazel | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | 2 |
Azucena Milagros Ortiz Castillo | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 1 |
Baek Doo San | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | 5 |
Bob Richards | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 5 |
Bruce Irvin | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | 6 |
Bryan Fury | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
Christie Monteiro | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 6 |
Claudio Serafino | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 2 |
Combot | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 2 |
Craig Marduk | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | 6 |
Crow | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 3 |
Devil Jin | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 6 |
Devil Kazumi | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Devil Kazuya | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7 |
Doctor Bosconovitch | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 3 |
Eddy Gordo | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | 9 |
Eliza | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 3 |
Fahkumram | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Feng Wei | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
Forest Law | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 4 |
Ganryu | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | 7 |
Geese Howard | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Gigas | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Gon | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | 1 |
Gun Jack | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | 4 |
Halloween Dragunov | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Heihachi Mishima | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 11 |
Hwoarang | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 10 |
Isaak | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Jack (1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8) | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 9 |
Jaycee | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 2 |
Jin Kazama | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
Jinpachi Mishima | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 3 |
Josie Rizal | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Julia Chang | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | 7 |
Jun Kazama | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | 5 |
Katarina Alves | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | 2 |
Kazumi Mishima | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Kazuya Mishima | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
King I/II | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
Kinjin | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | 1 |
Kuma I/II | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 12 |
Kunimitsu I/II | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | 6 |
Lars Alexandersson | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 5 |
Lee Chaolan | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
Lei Wulong | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | 9 |
Leo Kliesen | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6 |
Leroy Smith | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | 2 |
Lidia Sobieska | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Lili De Rochefort | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
Ling Xiaoyu | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 11 |
Lucky Chloe | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Marshall Law | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
Master Raven | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Michelle Chang | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 4 |
Miguel Caballero Rojo | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | 5 |
Miharu Hirano | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 2 |
Mokujin | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | 8 |
NANCY-MI847J | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | 1 |
Negan Smith | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Nina Williams | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
Noctis Lucis Caelum | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Panda | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 10 |
Paul Phoenix | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 13 |
Prototype Jack | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 4 |
Raven | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | 4 |
Reina | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 1 |
Revenant | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Rodeo | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Roger | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | 2 |
Roger Jr. | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | 3 |
Ruby | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Sebastian | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 1 |
Sergei Dragunov | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 |
Shaheen | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 |
Slim Bob | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 1 |
Steve Fox | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 |
Summer Asuka | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Summer Bob | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Summer Lili | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Summer Nina | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Super Combot DX | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 1 |
Tetsujin | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | 3 |
Tiger Jackson | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 3 |
Tiger Miyagi | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
True Ogre | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | 5 |
Unknown | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | 2 |
Victor Chevalier | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | 1 |
Violet | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | 3 |
Wang Jinrei | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | 6 |
Yoshimitsu | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | 11 |
Young Kazuya | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
Yue | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | 1 |
Zafina | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | 4 |
Total | 18 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 39 | 23 | 37 | 43 | 62 | 36 | 56 | 40 | 40 (37 confirmed) |
Characters' appearances in other series
- Alisa - Project X Zone, Full Bokko Heroes X, The King of Fighters: All Star
- Ancient Ogre - Namco X Capcom
- Anna - Death by Degrees
- Armor King - Namco X Capcom
- Armor King II - The King of Fighters: All Star
- Asuka Kazama - Full Bokko Heroes X
- Bryan Fury - Full Bokko Heroes X
- Claudio Serafino - Full Bokko Heroes X
- Devil - Namco X Capcom, Project X Zone, The King of Fighters: All Star, Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVE
- Devil Jin - Namco X Capcom, Soulcalibur V (fighting style), Project X Zone 2, The King of Fighters: All Star
- Eddy - Smash Court Tennis
- Heihachi - Death by Degrees, Smash Court Tennis, Soulcalibur II, Pac-Man Fever, Namco X Capcom, Tales of the Abyss, Ridge Racer 6, Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2, Pro Baseball Famista 2011, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Project X Zone, Full Bokko Heroes X, Project X Zone 2, The King of Fighters: All Star, Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVE
- Hwoarang - The King of Fighters: All Star
- Jin - Namco X Capcom, Project X Zone, Project X Zone 2, The King of Fighters: All Star
- Katarina Alves - Full Bokko Heroes X
- Kazuya - Full Bokko Heroes X, Project X Zone 2, The King of Fighters: All Star, Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVE
- King II - Namco X Capcom, Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVE
- Kuma II - PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
- Law - Urban Reign
- Leo Kliesen - Full Bokko Heroes X
- Lili - Queen's Gate, Queen's Gate Spiral Chaos, Digimon World Re: Digitize, Full Bokko Heroes X
- Lucky Chloe - Full Bokko Heroes X
- Mokujin - Point Blank 3, Namco X Capcom, Cross Edge, Project X Zone 2
- Panda - Pro Baseball Famista 2011
- Paul - Urban Reign, The King of Fighters: All Star
- P. Jack - Namco X Capcom
- Lars - Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Full Bokko Heroes X, The King of Fighters: All Star
- Nina - Death by Degrees, Pro Baseball Famista 2011, The King of Fighters: All Star
- Tiger - Pac-Man Fever
- Unknown - Project X Zone 2
- Xiaoyu - Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2, Project X Zone, Full Bokko Heroes X, Project X Zone, The King of Fighters: All Star, Fist of the North Star LEGENDS ReVIVE
- Yoshimitsu - Smash Court Tennis, Soulcalibur (I, II, III, IV, V, VI)
Non-playable characters
Major
Enemies
- Azazel
- Crow (outside of Tekken Card Challenge)
- Eagle
- J Robots
- Kinjin
- Monstrous Ogre
- NANCY-MI847J (outside of Scenario Campaign)
- Tekken Force
Minor
- Anna's Fiancé
- Billy
- Bet-rto
- Feng's Master
- Jeff Slater
- Lee's Secretary
- Legendary Capoeira Master
- Miguel's Sister
- Mr. Baek
- Mr. Chang
- Mr. De Rochefort
- Mr. Kazama
- Mr. Kliesen
- Mrs. Chang
- Mrs. Law
- Mrs. Williams
- Professor T
- Richard Williams
- Roger's Wife (technically the player controls her and not her son)
- Roperto
- Sugar
- Super Combot DX (apart from in Fight Lab)
- Thug
- Zafina's Guru
Death by Degrees
Others
Characters' appearance in other Tekken games
- Alisa - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Anna - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Armor King II - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Asuka - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Baek - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Bob - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Bruce - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Bryan - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken
- Christie - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken
- Claudio - Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Devil Jin - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Eddy - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Feng - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Forest Law - Tekken Advance
- Ganryu - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Gun Jack - Tekken Advance
- Heihachi - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Hwoarang - Tekken Advance, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament
- Jack (series) - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Jaycee - Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Jin - Tekken Advance, Tekken Resolute, Tekken Bowl, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Arena
- Julia - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken
- Kazuya - Tekken Resolute, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- King II - Tekken Advance, Tekken Resolute, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Kuma II - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Lars - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken
- Lee - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Lei - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken
- Leo - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Lili - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Lucky Chloe - Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Marduk - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Marshall Law - Tekken Resolute, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Miguel - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Mokujin - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Nina - Tekken Advance, Tekken Resolute, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Ogre - Street Fighter X Tekken
- Panda - Tekken Bowl, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Tekken Card Tournament, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Paul - Tekken Advance, Tekken Resolute, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Raven - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Roger - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Steve - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Arena
- Wang - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
- Xiaoyu - Tekken Advance, Tekken Resolute, Tekken Bowl, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Arena, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Yoshimitsu - Tekken Advance, Tekken 3D: Prime Edition, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken Card Tournament, Tekken Resolute, Galaga: TEKKEN Edition
- Zafina - Tekken 3D: Prime Edition
Trivia
- Gon, Akuma, Geese, Noctis and Negan are licensed characters from different franchises who appeared as guests in Tekken games. Gon was in Tekken 3, while the latter appeared in Tekken 7. Akuma, from the Street Fighter franchise, can be found in game advertisements.
- Many of the characters from Tekken Tag Tournament are also mentioned in the files of Tekken 4. Only 22 were chosen. However, Miharu wasn't from Tekken Tag Tournament. Among these, there are name call-out for characters from the previous games that were not in Tekken 4, specifically Anna Williams, Jun Kazama, Forest Law, Ganryu, Gun Jack, Armor King, Michelle Chang, Baek Doo San, Jack-2, Bruce Irvin, Kunimitsu, Tetsujin, Mokujin, Kinjin, Enjin, Wang Jinrei, Prototype Jack, Devil, Angel, Ogre, True Ogre, Roger, Alex, Tiger, Doctor Bosconovitch and Unknown. Jinpachi was also heard prior to Tekken 5.