Top Idle Animations in Video Games, Ranked

Summary

Earthworm Jim‘s idle animations add character with quirky and entertaining movements.
Halo: Combat Evolved uses weapon inspections to enhance characterization from a first-person perspective.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time revolutionizes Link’s character with immersive idle animations.

Video game worlds span a vast array of styles, from meticulously hand-drawn movements in 2D games to immersive 3D first-person animations. This diversity means that each game is unique and distinct from its peers. Even if a player were to pause their control over the characters, they’d discover that these characters can still move and interact within the game environment without relying on the player’s input.

From the playful, 90s-inspired antics of Sonic the Hedgehog to the intricate manipulation of buttons and levers in a first-person shooter, these idle animations serve as delightful Easter egg surprises for observant players while simultaneously adding depth to character development.

8. Earthworm Jim

The Cult-Classic 16-Bit Run & Gun Platformer With A Satiric Protagonist

In a gaming world teeming with mascot platform characters, the action-packed, run-and-gun escapades of Earthwarm Jim are a distinctive relic from the fourth generation of consoles. Shiny Entertainment’s 1994 game, Earthworm Jim, humorously skewers the golden age of side-scrolling platformers by having its titular character rescue Princess Who’s-Her-Name.

Despite the mix of unusual level designs and boss fights humorously named after bathroom items, if a player were to step away from their Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis console for a while, Jim would amuse himself in various ways. From swinging his stretchy head like a skipping rope and accidentally blowing up his gun in his face, to accidentally exposing his underwear, the character of Earthworm Jim showcased a unique charm and personality that few other characters from that era could match.

7. Halo: Combat Evolved

The Original Halo Installment Bolsters Characterization In A First-Person Perspective

In the game “Halo: Combat Evolved”, fans had to wait a full 11 years to catch a glimpse of Master Chief’s face. Most of his character is depicted through dialogue and idle animations within the game. Characters like Captain Keyes and Cortana have their moments in the spotlight thanks to emotionally charged dialogues and animations, but as the player controls John-117 from a first-person perspective, the restriction lies in the limited exposure of Master Chief’s personality.

Players can delve deeper into the 2001 game “Halo: Combat Evolved” by adjusting settings and examining the layout of its UNSC and Covenant weaponry. The unusual weapons, like the Needler from the aliens, are scrutinized, while the human’s heavy-duty guns, such as the Rocket Launcher, spin their barrels, offering a richer understanding of the FPS gameplay unfolding on screen.

6. The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time

A Revolutionary 3D Title That Consistently Adds Details Throughout Link’s Adventure

In terms of its undeniably unshakable status as one of the greatest video games ever made, “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time” significantly reshaped the gaming world while keeping Nintendo on a path it’s remained loyal to throughout the 21st century. Establishing itself as an undeniable masterpiece, the 1998 release of “Ocarina of Time” cleverly utilized the emerging 3D capabilities of the Nintendo 64 to depict Link and Hyrule in a manner that was previously unparalleled.

Transitioning to 3D not only gave Link a polygonal figure, but it also enabled Nintendo EAD to incorporate idle animations for both Link’s child and adult forms. This includes adjusting his belt, shaking off mud from his shoes, shivering in the cold, and wiping sweat from his brow during hot weather.

5. Conker’s Bad Fur Day

Rare’s Toilet Humor-Filled N64 Platformer Provides Personality To Its Protagonist

As a gamer, I can’t help but admire how a studio like Rare, known for their family-friendly games on fifth-gen consoles, managed to create such an iconic figure as Conker – a red squirrel with a taste for booze and a mouth that could make a sailor blush. The game, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, became my go-to N64 title due to Conker’s captivating charm. It eventually earned the status of a cult classic.

This charm is maintained through Conker’s idle animations that appear when players keep him standing still for a while. These range from pretending to read a magazine with pun-filled titles suitable for adults, to playing a Game Boy that produces sounds reminiscent of Killer Instinct. These metanarrative movements of Conker are yet another way that the game, Conker’s Bad Fur Day, showcases its humorous style.

4. Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

A Quake-Inspired Adaptation Of Games Workshop’s Grimdark Franchise

For almost four decades, the appeal of Games Workshop’s Warhammer: Age of Sigmar and Warhammer: 40,000 franchises has remained strong. Over this period, they have generated an extensive collection of video games that seems almost endless. These games encompass various genres such as third-person action RPGs, strategic 4X games, and even classic first-person shooter titles like the 2023 release, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun.

In the harsh, dark universe of Warhammer 40,000, players step into the role of a Space Marine named Malum Caedo, fighting against Chaos factions. Although Auroch Digital’s game Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun has a rugged appearance, its visuals are reminiscent of DOOM, enhanced by sophisticated enemy AI and modern features like a user-friendly interface and idle animations. One of the standout animations is the Space Marine’s Codex Astartes, which he reads silently, even turning the pages realistically.

3. The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Revolutionary Open-World Title That Injects Hyrule With Personality

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the 2017 release of the Nintendo Switch, which saw this century-old Japanese giant introduce their iconic The Legend of Zelda series to not just their eighth-generation console that didn’t quite take off, but also their innovative hybrid system. With a limited number of games at launch, Breath of the Wild stood out, offering an immersive exploration experience that beautifully showcased both the franchise and the open-world genre.

Among numerous exceptional launch games across the years, “Breath of the Wild” may not have many counterparts as acclaimed as it is. With a meticulous approach to detail and an innovative take on a minimalist version of Hyrule, “Breath of the Wild” expanded upon the series’ tradition of a mute protagonist, Link, while infusing his actions with unprecedented personality and allure. This character is evident in Link’s engaging interactions with his surroundings, which are further enlivened by his responsive idle animations that reflect the climate’s temperature or even showcase Link’s self-centered stretching exercises.

2. Donkey Kong Country Returns & Tropical Freeze

A Cross-Platform Series Of DK Titles That Show Off Nintendo’s Handheld Hardware

In a span of 14 years, from the last release of Rare’s “Donkey Kong Country” series and its revival with “Donkey Kong Country Returns” in 2010, the video game industry saw advancements across multiple generations of Nintendo home consoles. This evolution allowed for elements initially introduced to the “Donkey Kong” series on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to be expanded upon as Nintendo developed games during the 21st century.

The changes can be observed by examining the various ways the characters in the Donkey Kong team interact idly, such as scratching their heads or flipping their hats on the SNES console. In recent times, these animations have even broken the fourth wall. Over the series of updated and remade Donkey Kong games, these characters have been depicted playing various Nintendo games across a range of devices, starting with the DS and 3DS, all the way up to the Nintendo Switch.

1. Sonic CD

A Fourth-Wall Breaking Animation From Sonic On 1991’s SEGA CD System

For over three decades, Sonic the Hedgehog franchise, serving as the mascot for a pioneering video game publisher like SEGA, has led the way in both hardware and software innovation since its debut. From classic 16-bit platform gaming and early 3D technology, SEGA appears to have employed Sonic’s high-speed platforming journeys to shape the direction of the medium itself.

The unique idle animations found in Sonic CD from 1993 deviate from the usual character of SEGA’s humorous Sonic series and their technological advancements. Unlike battling Metal Sonic or saving Amy Rose, players can simply abandon Sonic, causing him to wait for about three minutes before exclaiming “I’m outta here!” and jumping into action, resulting in a game over screen.

2025-01-28 19:38