Womanizers and flirts are common character archetypes used throughout fiction, including video games. These characters frequently make passes at every woman they see—or at the very least ogle them. While these are far from admirable qualities, some of these womanizers still manage to be presented as likable characters.
The best characters have flaws, and frequent flirting is a big but not-insurmountable one. Whether it's because of their usefulness in gameplay or the fact that they treat the target of their flirting with respect, some womanizers beat the odds and earn their share of fans. In particular, a handful of these likable womanizers stand out as beloved characters despite their flaws.
10 Adventure Sphere (Portal 2)
Introducing himself as "Rick," the Adventure Sphere appears during the final boss fight of Portal 2. Even though he only interacts with a single human in the form of Chell, he flirts with her from the moment he lays his single eye on her. While some of these comments can come across as a little creepy, his humorous lines have been embedded in fans' heads for years.
Of course, the second thing the Adventure Sphere does is assess the situation, recognize the danger, and immediately offer to help. While all of his suggestions are hilariously unhelpful, he does end up being essential to saving the day. The fact that he actually has situational awareness unlike the other two spheres hilariously makes him one of Chell's most useful allies.
9 Johnny Cage (Mortal Kombat)
One of Mortal Kombat's most iconic characters, Johnny Cage is known for being a shameless flirt. However, one of his worst moments comes in the ninth game, where he and Sonya Blade fight because he won't stop hitting on her. This is an awful look for Johnny, but he does seem to back off afterward.
Johnny also goes on to help Sonya against her enemies and is instrumental in saving the world. He and Sonya also seem to have put things behind them as the two go on to have a child together. While his behavior can be troubling, Johnny Cage is still one of Earthrealm's most reliable defenders.
8 Jimmy Hopkins (Bully)
The protagonist of Rockstar's beloved Bully game, Jimmy Hopkins is not strictly a bully like the title suggests. However, he is rude, a delinquent, and a bit of a player. Throughout the game, Jimmy is capable of having relationships with multiple characters, most of whom are female.
That being said, Jimmy still respects women a surprising amount. One of the many things that can set him off on a violent rampage is the mistreatment of women. It's also important to note that exclusivity isn't really a thing in Bully, as many of Jimmy's partners will date other people even if he doesn't.
7 Panther Caroso (Star Fox)
Though he's a member of the villainous Star Wolf team in Star Fox, Panther Caroso is arguably the least evil. While Krystal is the only female character the audience sees him interact with, he flirts with her incessantly. While this is not great behavior on the surface, he does seem to genuinely care about her.
This results in Panther being helpful to the Star Fox team even before the two teams officially join forces. Aside from this, his skills as a pilot are very impressive, and he has plenty of fans for being the most level-headed member of Star Wolf. He's often cited by fans as being the best part of Star Fox: Assault.
6 Luis Serra Navarro (Resident Evil 4)
Debuting in the legendary Resident Evil 4, Luis Serra Navarro styles himself a ladies' man. Despite this, he's beloved by fans for being genuinely helpful and is one of the nicest Resident Evil characters. It's revealed he was a scientist who worked on the Las Plagas parasite and is now working to atone for that.
Luis' hidden depths coupled with his fun personality make him an incredibly popular character. Even his attempts at flirting come across as funny for how unsuccessful they are, though they're thankfully made significantly less creepy in the remake.
5 Zelos Wilder (Tales Of Symphonia)
As the Chosen of his world, Tales Of Symphonia's Zelos Wilder enjoys a significant amount of celebrity. He takes advantage of this celebrity by surrounding himself with an entourage of ladies and flirting with every female he sees. Though this is beneficial for the party, as the women Zelos flirts with reward him with useful items.
Zelos may be selfish and a womanizer, but he's still a valuable party member. His constantly smiling face also hides a shockingly tragic backstory in a game full of them. Though no matter how carefree he acts, he will always do the right thing when the chips are down.
4 Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy IX)
Final Fantasy IX is a beloved entry in the venerable franchise, and protagonist Zidane Tribal is a big reason why. After a string of serious, moody protagonists, Zidane's friendly, carefree attitude was a welcome breath of fresh air. Even his flirty behavior was seen as a refreshing change in pace by Final Fantasy fans.
His impressive combat ability aside, Zidane is beloved for being kind and noble despite being a thief. He even dials back on his flirting once he realizes he has genuine romantic feelings for someone. Even as a womanizer, Zidane has earned his place as a favorite Final Fantasy protagonist.
3 Ezio Auditore (Assassin's Creed II)
Ezio Auditore is the much beloved leading man of three popular Assassin's Creed games, starting with Assassin's Creed II. That game introduces him as a ladies' man who regularly sleeps around. Though later games revised this to make him appear more monogamous, he was an extremely beloved character even before this.
It helped that Ezio was a likable character with a compelling arc, but he was also surprisingly respectful with his womanizing. Though he often flirted with his female associates, he was never seen doing so unless his advances were welcomed. He also knows to separate business from pleasure and treats his female allies with the respect they deserve.
2 Joker (Persona 5)
Though every protagonist from Persona 3 onwards is capable of being a womanizer through player action, Joker from Persona 5 is especially notable. He can start multiple relationships with women in the game, including one of his teachers. However, players can't forget that his story begins with him trying to protect a woman from being assaulted.
Joker's skill, style, and heroic nature make him a lovable character despite his potential for womanizing. The fact that the decision is ultimately up to the player makes it an easier pill to swallow—as does the fact that Joker can face painful consequences for treating women like objects.
1 Sylvain Jose Gautier (Fire Emblem: Three Houses)
Sylvain Jose Gautier from Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a ladies' man with a reputation for leaving a string of broken hearts behind him in the Officer's Academy. Despite this, he is considered one of the best units in the game and is frequently recruited by players. In addition to his usefulness, Sylvain is genuinely a nice character.
Sylvain is kind, sensitive to his friend’s problems, and a lot smarter than he lets on. Even when he flirts with girls, he's still respectful of their feelings. He never flirts with anyone if he believes they won't appreciate it, and he backs off whenever he realizes he's making someone uncomfortable.