8) Princess Peach
First Appearance: Super Mario Bros., (NES, 1985)
Princess Peach, who first came to fans under the moniker Princess Toadstool, wasn’t always as interesting as she is now. Nothing more than a hostage in her first few appearances, as the years have gone by, Peach has become more than just the damsel in distress. Whether partaking in every sport under the sun, or taking on powerful enemies in games like Super Mario RPG, Peach continues to grow and become more independent. Super Mario 3D World was perhaps her biggest turn yet, keeping pace with Mario in every way, shape, and form. A classic part of gaming history who keeps getting better.