Plants are pretty much everywhere in video games. There are the plants we hardly notice, the background scenery or forest of an incredible open world. Or what about plants as resources, the flowers and herbs that can be crafted into potions? You can even find plants that act as convenient hiding spots, like the seemingly endless amounts of tall grass in video games.
Sometimes, though, these plants are alive. Okay, technically all plants are alive, but we’re talking about those plants in video games that take on the form of iconic bosses, wise sages, or quirky karate masters. Here’s a look at the best, from random encounters to your garden-variety zombie killer.
11
Cagney Carnation – Cuphead
The Angriest Plant On Inkwell Isle
This angry flower can be found on the first Inkwell Isle in the tough-as-nails platformer Cuphead. Don’t be deceived by Cagney Carnation’s innocent look, because he quickly turns into a rage-filled floral nightmare. He may be one of the earliest bosses in the game, but you’ll still need to have mastered the basic mechanics to take him down.
While his first phase isn’t particularly difficult, he gets substantially harder during the second stage of the fight. His thorny roots cover the bottom of the level, forcing you to hop from platform to platform in order to avoid Cagney’s projectiles and spikes.
10
Chop Chop Master Onion – PaRappa The Rapper
Kick! Punch! It’s All In the Mind!
PaRappa the Rapper
Let’s face it, Chop Chop Master Onion is easily the best rapper who also happens to be a living plant. After all, he is a karate master with his own dojo where he teaches PaRappa the Rapper how to bust a rhyme. He’ll have you kicking, punching, and chopping in no time.
PaRapper the Rapper isn’t Master Onion’s only appearance, though, as he also appears in the highly-underrated spin-off, Um Jammer Lammy. He’s a character that many have forgotten about over the years, but maybe it’s time for Chop Chop Master Onion to make a return.
9
Pea Shooter – Plants Vs. Zombies Series
Garden Security At Its Finest
To be fair, just about anything from Plants Vs. Zombies could be on this list, as the game revolves around a whole cast of living plants, but perhaps the most iconic of these is the basic Pea Shooter. It’s an adorable little plant whose sole purpose is to spit out peas at the encroaching zombies, dealing minor damage.
In Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, they can be upgraded into a number of different forms, from a Pea Shooter that fires toxic peas to a six-shooter known as the Law Pea, complete with a cowboy hat. Who wouldn’t want one of these growing in their garden?
8
Hestu And The Koroks – The Legend Of Zelda Series
Just Don’t Accept His Gifts
The Legend of Zelda series is full of off-beat characters, and this endearing Korok is one of the most interesting to come from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Koroks are little forest spirits made of wood and greenery who are scattered throughout Hyrule, rewarding those who find them with Korok seeds.
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Hestu is a big, friendly Korok who loves to make music with his maracas, and by trading him seeds, he will increase your inventory space. There are 900 total Korok seeds to be found and you might be wondering what you get by collecting all of them. Unfortunately, all Hestu has to give is a golden poo for your troubles. Congratulations?
7
Harold – Fallout Series
Living, But Not Truly Alive
Harold’s story in the Fallout series is rather tragic. A mutant who was slowly taken over by a tree, Harold has been a part of the series since the beginning, having traveled all over the wasteland, watching the world struggle to survive. His story culminates in a brilliant quest given to you in Fallout 3, where Harold has been rooted to the ground and stuck living in one place for decades.
The thing is, he also gave life to the surrounding area, which was named Oasis by a group of followers that worship Harold. Despite this, Harold just wants to finally die, and gives you the option to help him do so. It’s one of the more memorable encounters in Fallout 3, especially if you’ve been following Harold’s story since the original game.
6
Whispy Woods – Kirby Series
An Iconic Recurring Baddie
Chances are, if you’ve played a Kirby game, you’ve gone up against Whispy Woods, the living apple tree. It often serves as the first boss you face off against, which has made it one of the most iconic bosses, not just in the Kirby series, but in video games as a whole.
Whispy Woods has appeared in literally dozens of Kirby games, and has even been featured as a stage in the Super Smash Bros. series. This apple-slinging tree has lasted through several console generations, and we’re probably going to see more of Whispy Woods when Kirby gets a new game.
5
Pikmin – Pikmin Series
Colorful, Cute, And Carefree
After crashing his ship on an unknown planet, Captain Olimar discovers the Pikmin, a race of colorful little plant creatures who follow his every command. These helpful sprouts come in a variety of different colors, each type with its own unique strengths and weaknesses. Red Pikmin are strong and good at fending off enemies, while blue Pikmin can survive in water.
With each entry in the series, the Pikmin have gotten more advanced, with brand new types of Pikmin being discovered. Since their arrival on the Gamecube in 2001, the Pikmin have grown to be some of the most loved creatures in Nintendo’s history.
4
Cactuar – Final Fantasy Series
Strike A Pose
There are many iconic monsters in the Final Fantasy series, many of them plant-based like the ever-annoying Malboro, whose Bad Breath ability is the bane of every RPG fan. Perhaps none are as recognizable as the Cactuar, however, which has become a beloved mascot for the series.
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Ever since its first appearance in Final Fantasy VI, Cactuar has gone on to become a Final Fantasy mainstay. They are so popular, that they have even crossed over into other video games, including Dragon Quest X and a few Mario sports titles.
3
Flowey – Undertale
A Fourth-Wall Breaking Villain
If you thought Cagney Carnation was an angry flower, he has nothing on Flowey, the main villain in Toby Fox’s incredible Undertale. Don’t mistake Flowey’s politeness for weakness, as he is about as evil as evil can be, driven by a kill-or-be-killed mentality.
Your interactions with Flowey throughout Undertale are some of the game’s highlights, as Flowey has a great backstory and routinely breaks the fourth wall. The final battle against the monstrous Photoshop Flowey is one of the most memorable fights in the game, and he’s since become an iconic part of what makes Undertale special.
2
Petey Piranha – Super Mario Series
The Biggest, Baddest Plant In The Mushroom Kingdom
Petey Piranha is a classic Mario boss who was first encountered in Super Mario Sunshine on the Gamecube. Since then, he’s gone on to be an antagonist in tons of different Mario games, popping up in everything from Super Smash Bros. Brawl to Mario Party.
It seems that Petey is also a bit of a sports fanatic, considering his appearances as a playable character in the Mario Tennis series, as well as in both the Mario Kart and Mario Golf series. He’s become one of the most lovable and iconic characters in the Mushroom Kingdom, and he’s likely not going away anytime soon.
1
The Great Deku Tree
The Wisest Of Them All
First seen in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, the Great Deku Tree is a massive living tree that has become an iconic figure in the series. This wise, old watcher of the woods protects those who live within its reach, most notably the Kokiri and the Koroks. It’s the Great Deku who sends Navi to find Link, kickstarting his quest to rise up against Ganon.
The Great Deku Tree has only been seen in a few Zelda titles, including The Wind Waker and the recent duology of Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most well-remembered parts of Zelda lore, and one of the most recognizable living plants in video games.
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