10 Most Popular Street Fighter Characters

First Appearance: Street Fighter II: The World Warrior

A US Air Force Major, Guile has been a mainstay in the franchise since he first appeared in the Street Fighter II series. Everything about the character is iconic, from his gameplay, to his appearance, to his music. He was also Street Fighter’s first pure charge character, which has since become a popular gameplay style seen throughout the fighting game genre.

While originally serving under Charlie Nash, he grows a pure hatred for M. Bison when Nash is seemingly killed by Shadaloo. Guile enters the second World Championship Tournament with the goal to kill Bison as revenge. Ultimately, in his original Street Fighter II ending, he stops short of this goal when his wife, Julia, and daughter, Amy, intervene.

Guile has long been a popular character in the Street Fighter series. His unique attacks, the ‘Sonic Boom’ and the ‘Flash Kick’ are iconic in their own right. Guile’s theme became an internet sensation in the late 2000s due to the fact that the song allegedly “goes with everything”. This song caused Guile to reach a wider audience beyond the fans of the original arcade Street Fighter titles.

Guile has always been a formidable presence in the competitive scene, especially during his debut in 1991’s Street Fighter II: The World Warrior, where he is generally regarded to be the strongest character. This continued presence has led Guile to be a fan favourite among Street Fighter players.