Skeletons in video games come in all shapes, sizes and moral alignments, but are often considered the coolest types of characters to play despite their associations with death. Creepy bones often create a menacing or ominous appearance for evil or terrifying characters such as villains. However, some skeletons are less scary and more comedic or satirical, causing some players to shake their bones with laughter instead of shivering.
Skeletons are popular characters in many video game genres where they can act as protagonists, minor characters, or simply NPCs for players to defeat. But throughout video game history, there are many unique skeletons that deserve a (bony) throne to showcase their iconic status.
8/8 Spinal – Killer Instinct
Spinal is a unique skeleton fighter from one of the most infamous fighting series, Killer Instinct. In addition to an intimidating physique and well-recognized red bandana, Spinal had a titillating, high-pitched laugh that cackled after winning. There was also a memorable voice-over shout of “Spinal!” when players selected Spinal on the character selection screen, where players could also change the color of the character’s bones.
Studio Rare also gave Spinal a comeback Sea of Thieves as a purchasable costume in the Pirate Emporium, complete with the iconic and terrifying laugh.
7/8 Dry Bones – Super Mario game
Dry Bones is the humorously named skeletal counterpart to the Koopa Troopa villains who make numerous appearances throughout Super Mario Brothers franchise and is a playable character in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Dry Bones is an instantly recognizable in-game animal skeleton from the classic, world-renowned franchise, and is often favored as a fairly fast, lightweight racer.
Like an NPC in the classic Super Mario Brothers 32D Dry Bones makes memorable, flashing, bone-crushing noises as it falls into a pile of bones upon defeat, but sometimes even resurrects itself moments later.
6/8 Manny Calavera – Grim Fandango
In the classic Grim Fandango, players become the lovable Grim Reaper protagonist Manny Calavera, who works for the Department of Death in the Land of the Dead. Players explore the game world and its puzzles through Manny’s interactions through point-and-click adventure gameplay.
Grim Fandangolater recreated in Grim Fandango: Remastered is widely acclaimed and celebrated for many reasons, including its striking art style and character designs that put a unique cartoonish spin on the skeletal types often seen in Day of the Dead festivities. Manny himself is one of the most recognizable and memorable skeletons in video games as a unique take on the traditionally feared Grim Reaper.
5/8 Captain Flameheart – Sea Of Thieves
Captain Flameheart is well known in Sea of Thieves society as the big, ranting bubble head in the sky. However, the floating skeleton head made a quick exit as part of the ongoing Captain Flameheart lore, and players saw his skeletal likeness in Adventures 8 and 9 of Sea of Thieves. While there are many memorable skeletons in the game from Skeleton Lord Graymarrow to Captain Briggsy, Flameheart’s reputation continues to grow in the game’s ongoing adventures and books that delve deeper into its lore.
IN Sea of Thieves In Season 8, players can even earn a Tempting Skeleton Curse by pledging their allegiance to Captain Flameheart in PVP on-demand ship combat.
4/8 Sir Daniel Fortesque – MediEvil Games
Sir Daniel, or Dan, is known from MediEvil video game as the fallen but resurrected skeleton knight hero. In the 2019 century MediEvil Remastered version of the original MediEvil the game hacks and slashes players around the kingdom of Gallowmere as Dan in the platform action-adventure games, battling demonic enemies in the battle against the wizard Zarok.
Despite MediEvil’s to mixed reception, Dan’s quirky appearance and comedic, endearing personality in the game The nightmare before Christmas vibes provide a memorable skeleton, including his humor in the follow-up MediEvil 2set in the 19th century. He also has some unique abilities that play on his undead status, such as pulling out his arm and using it as a weapon.
3/8 Scorpion – Mortal Kombat game
The Scorpion is one of the most recognized and iconic fighter aircraft Mortal Kombat franchise. He may not look particularly skeletal, but beneath his iconic ninja mask is a fiery skull to rival Ghost Rider who can blow hellfire over his victims, setting them on fire.
Scorpion’s iconic one-liner, “Get over here!”, is iconic in its own right, as he whips out his famous kunai spear to harpoon his opponents. As a fearsome and memorable fighter, it’s easy to see why he’s a firm fan favorite, whether he appears in human or terrifying skull form.
2/8 Sans And Papyrus – Undertale
The skeleton brothers Sans and Papyrus i Understatement are known for their epically funny personalities and are a hot and popular duo in gaming. Sans is the flashing joker who drops puns, while Papyrus is the spaghetti-catching skeleton who only wants to capture people so he can join the Royal Guard.
There are some fun puzzle scenes with the two brothers in the player choice driven 2D RPG. The unique experience of Understatement and its entertaining characters like Papyrus and Sans are part of what makes the game so beloved by many.
1/8 Greg The Grim Reaper – Conker Games
Greg the Grim Reaper is a skeleton from Conker’s Bad Fur Daywhich became a cult classic and was remade in Conker: Live and reloaded. Greg looks like a typical Grim Reaper except for the gold tooth, wearing a long black cloak over a skeletal body and carrying a scythe.
However, Greg is anything but ordinary as one of the funniest Grim Reapers in video games, with his unusually loud, squeaky voice, his way of using words, and his funny views on topics like cats. Greg is undoubtedly a unique and standout portrayal of a skeletal Grim Reaper, even pulling out a hilarious and unexpected voice-changing megaphone.
