7) Midna
First Appearance: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (GameCube/Wii, 2006)
Midna is a lot more tragic than her feisty demeanor lets on. Mutated and banished by the usurper Zant, Midna was the princess of her people the Twili before being stripped of her position. Link, who is imprisoned early in his quest, is rescued by Midna after she realizes his potential to help save her people and realm. The true “Twilight Princess” of the game, Midna shows incredible strength and cunning throughout the adventure, developing a powerful bond with Link as a result. Her sacrifice to save Zelda remains one of the more powerful moments in the history of the series, a moment of pure selflessness. When she disappears into the Mirror of Twilight at the end of the game, there’s a strong sense of loss at what could have been, but the moment is yet another example of how Midna is a true leader who will do whatever it takes to protect her realm.