It’s no secret that at Smitizen, we adore masks. Whether they be on the furry side with our Monster Masks. Or something a bit more human with our Male Masks. We know just how important a good mask can be to add an extra layer of sexiness to a man.
If it’s to complete a full-body illusion, or simply an accessory to add to a look. Masks provide a near-infinite level of versatility. It’s no wonder, then, that we felt the need to look into the top 10 masked men In video games!
There were so many great examples it was nigh impossible to pick just 10! (Reaper, Ghost, Psycho Mantis, to name a few!). We looked into multiple categories for our list. Hotness, impact on gaming, and general popularity are the main factors. With that, let’s take a look at our picks!
Number 10: Shy Guy (Super Mario Bros.)
Starting off our list is an iconic mask-wearing fellow. While he may not have the most interesting overall design, we still feel he is worthy of a spot. His mask is simple yet striking. His red robes, belt and blue shoes combination allows for an easy cosplay.
However, he isn’t on this list for his actual appearance. It’s because he is a recurring Mario character and one of the most iconic masked characters in gaming. His design has remained almost consistent since 1988 (36 years as of 2024!).
He’s done it all, whether it’s being an enemy to jump on, playing tennis, go-karting, golfing, or just being a party goer… Safe to say, he’s versatile.
We’ve got to give credit where credit is due. This list would feel incomplete if one of the oldest masked men in gaming wasn’t given his spotlight. Why not make a Shy Guy thirst trap in his honor? It’s probably what he would have wanted.
Number 9: Pyro (Team Fortress 2)
Another man clad in red (or blue sometimes!). Pyro is one of the playable classes in Team Fortress 2. He is notable in the sense that he has a keen taste for leather, as seen in his design. Something that we all have a shared interest in, I’m sure.
His gloves, boots, and bodysuit all have a sexy sheen to them. To many, that alone already drives their imaginations about kinky, squeaky scenarios wild. But we haven’t even begun to talk about his mask yet!
Pyro has never been seen without his mask. Nor heard speaking any actual words. The design of his mask alone isn’t anything too impressive, apart from just how tightly it fits him. But in combination with the rest of his appearance? Dang, he’s hot. (Get it?).
His actual appearance beneath his mask and clothing remains unknown to this day. Appealing to that “mysterious masked man” fantasy. You can project whoever you want behind that mask of his. A Human? Animal? Alien? Anything that suits your desires!
There’s also appeal from the transformation perspective side of things. He only speaks with muffled noises. Who’s to say that he isn’t the suit and mask itself? Perhaps he’s always been the suit. Perhaps he’s an unlucky victim stuck inside? His design really makes your imagination run wild!
If you’re lucky enough to come across a good Pyro cosplay, why not RP a scenario where he forces you into a dog petsuit, leaving you stuck in a sentient suit? Squeaking the night away as he gets you used to your new body~.
Number 8: Skull Kid (Legend Of Zelda)
Another character who originates from an iconic series. However, this version of Skull Kid is specifically the one from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. After all, the name of the mask he dons is in the title. That’s definitely top 10 worthy!
Skull Kid is also an interesting example; he’s one of the few characters in video game media who wears a sentient mask. Majora’s Mask is actually puppeteering Skull Kid in its bid to destroy Termina. Majora’s Mask housing the entity named… You guessed it, Majora.
The concept of a possessive mask is already a cool one, of course. But the design of Majora’s Mask is so creative and striking that it absolutely deserves a highlight. These piercing yellow, orange, and green eyes shall haunt our dreams for years to come.
Skull Kid also has an interesting design, but he’s unfortunately overshadowed by his mask. Therefore, he loses some points for that. The masked men themselves need to be just as iconic as their masks!
Majora’s Mask definitely leans heavily into corruption kinks. That can definitely spice up mask play. Why not take inspiration from Skull Kid and put on a corrupted tiger mask to embrace your villainous tiger self?
Number 7: Reptile (Mortal Kombat)
At number 7 is another old school video game icon, Reptile. We will mostly be focusing on his most recent appearance in Mortal Kombat 1. (Not the original game from the 90s, we know, this naming convention sucks).
He has had multiple redesigns over the years. Starting off as a simple palette swap before becoming more of his own character. His design has ranged from mostly human looking ninjas to mostly lizard-looking ninjas. Whatever flavor of ninja floats your boat.
Therefore, his appearance in Mortal Kombat 1 is a good middle ground. He appears human at first glance, but he has the capability to transform himself into a crocodile/lizard monster.
His human design is where his mask features. His mask is plain and simple yet effective, sporting a green shade to match his sash. Covering the lower half of his face but still showcasing his eyes.
He manages to pay homage to his ninja origins in the older games while coming across as something more unique. Which definitely makes him stand out from the other masked men of Mortal Kombat.
This clever design choice allows for him to be expressive with his eyes alone. It allows for that sense of mystery over his identity. All while being able to be flirtatious and assert dominance with his eyes. The hood, gloves, tattoos, and muscular arms he sports are just a bonus.
Who knows, one minute, he might be lying on top of you, giving you bedroom eyes. The next, he’s pinning you down beneath his huge reptilian body, licking your face with that thick tongue of his. Maybe he might turn you into a lizard, too, if you’re lucky~.
Number 6: Meta Knight (Kirby)
It’s apparent that we’re either huge Nintendo fans, or Nintendo just knows how to make good masked men. Either way, you can’t look at Meta Knight and not have the word “cool” come to mind.
Despite being mostly spherical, Meta Knight manages to come across as intimidating. This is especially impressive in a series where you play as a pink blob who does a dance whenever he beats a stage.
His mask is arguably simplistic, but it has several factors going for it that put it above Shy Guy’s mask. The sleek ridges. The shiny, metallic texture. The way the mask frames Meta Knight’s glowing, yellow eyes in a permanent frown? Perfection.
Meta Knight can also be seen as Kirby’s first recurring rival (Apart from Dedede). He did what Shadow The Hedgehog would do for Sonic years later. A cooler looking character with eerie similarities to the protagonist. Meta Knight is definitely one of the best early examples of this trope.
He wouldn’t have “Knight” in his name if he didn’t wield a cool sword, too. Its yellow, jagged design immediately draws attention to it. Anyone who’s played Super Smash Bros. is probably all too familiar with it. Never before has an orb been so awesome!
But all that coolness is probably ruined by his voice, right? Wrong! His voice appearances often have him with a deep, manly voice. His voice lines wouldn’t sound out of place coming from the mouth of a grizzled mercenary.
His cool design is also, thankfully, relatively simple to replicate. If you’re hooked on that voice of his, there are countless humanized portrayals of him in both cosplay and artwork. You’ll easily be able to find a version of Meta Knight that makes your heart flutter.
Besides, we mentioned how he was Kirby’s rival and his spherical appearance. On rare occasions, Meta Knight has been seen in the game without his mask. As expected, he cannot escape his true cutesy interior. Often blushing in embarrassment before teleporting away via his cape.
If you have a thing for guys who act tough but are total softies deep down, Meta Knight definitely has that side to him too. Just don’t tell him we said that.
Number 5: Sweet Tooth/Needles Kane (Twisted Metal)
Halfway through our list is Sweet Tooth, also more commonly known as Needles Kane. Sweet Tooth is actually the name of his truck, but the two have become synonymous with each other at this point.
Sweet Tooth is another character from an edgy franchise originating in the 90s that has seen numerous redesigns. However, we are focusing specifically on his flaming headed, harness wearing, muscle gut appearance in his 2012 design.
This design was even used in the Twisted Metal TV show. Samoa Joe’s sweaty body proved to be a surprisingly accurate translation of Sweet Tooth’s design in real life. Never before have polka-dot trousers looked so appealing!
As for his mask? Definitely emphasizes how much of a mad clown Sweet Tooth is. Managing to hit that sweet spot of creepy, yet awesome. All without digging too much into uncanny territory. Though if you’re into your clowns, he’s still got a giant red nose for you to honk.
His mask barely shows off any of his actual features, save for one red eye surrounded by darkness. His mask’s teeth are huge and of course, he wouldn’t be a clown if his mask wasn’t permanently smiling.
Though, there’s no surprise that his main appeal comes from that thick body of his. The harness screams “kinky top,” even if that probably wasn’t the intended choice behind his design!
As a result, he is another masked character that is easy to cosplay due to his simple yet sexy design. His body type also means it’s a perfect cosplay choice for plus sized men. Something that the world really needs more of!
Why not make an early start on that cosplay and check out some of our own harnesses? Sadly we don’t offer any clown masks. Not yet, anyway.
Number 4: Golbez (Final Fantasy)
Yes, we know. It’s a helmet, not a mask. But if Golbez’s helmet was made of leather, that would then count as a mask, right? Regardless of the logistics, he’s at our number 4 spot whether you like it or not.
Golbez is one of the early iconic examples of a great Final Fantasy villain. He set the bar for future, well-written villains in the franchise. His presence was always just as intimidating for the player as it was for the cast of Final Fantasy IV.
Golbez is in a full set of ornate, dark purple, and gold armor with a matching cape. He’s ridiculously tall and has a deep, gravelly voice in the PSP Dissidia games. This alone was enough to cause shivers in most submissive gay men with a thing for bad boys.
He was designed by the infinitely creative Yoshitaka Amano, who has designed the logo for every single Final Fantasy game. Golbez’s design illuminates this creativity by adding extra flair to his armor. For example, his jagged, asymmetrical shoulder spikes make him stand out from your typical evil fantasy knights.
As for his helmet, that asymmetry appears yet again with two wing-like spikes protruding out the sides. A short spike is present atop the helmet, but the main draw to Golbez’s design comes from the awesome visor he sports.
He’s another character on this list whose face isn’t visible in his most popular appearances. His face is hidden behind the slitted visor. Only an ominous darkness with a faint light in the middle is visible. Further adding to his already intimidating design.
You can instantly tell something is up with Golbez from these details alone. But, being the kink-minded folk that we are, it only makes it harder not to find Golbez attractive. We haven’t even mentioned that his gloves have claws!
Golbez isn’t just strong physically, however. He is also very adept with various forms of magic and corruption. If you’ve played Final Fantasy IV, you are probably already well aware of his tendencies to brainwash people.
Safe to say he’s definitely a character with lots of kinky RP potential. Unlike Skull Kid, you get a hot, tall man in armor to go along with the corruption magic. Before you know it, he might be turning your feet into some nice, squeaky behemoth paws. Though, you’ve always been a loyal monster for Golbez, haven’t you?~
Number 3: Master Chief
Yet another helmet wearer at number 3. Master Chief is to Microsoft what Mario is to Nintendo. He was, and in some ways, still is, Xbox’s mascot. He’s also really hot. So that helps.
Master Chief’s overall design is definitely on the simpler side in comparison to some of the earlier entries on this list, but sometimes less is more. After all, a lot of kink play involves using your imagination.
Drones come to mind when looking at the primarily green color scheme of his suit. His helmet has a visor but no indication of the person inside. It also helps that he barely speaks in the earlier entries of the franchise. That and the groin-plate.
We’re already thinking of scenarios where you are handed an identical helmet by the Master Chief. When you put it on, you become a loyal, obedient soldier for him to command. Clad in your own armor and with your own serial number plastered on your new body~
Though, there’s more to Master Chief than being good drone bait. He’s a military man, after all! As a result, he knows how to take control of a situation. He’s stern, to the point, stoic. All great aspects for a masculine, dominant top.
On the softer side of things, his status as a heroic character would mean he’d do anything in his power to keep you safe. I’m sure we’ve all dreamt about having a strong man swoop in and sort out all our problems before.
If you’re a fan of sweat, all that physical activity beneath that bulky armor would absolutely work up a musky stench. Now, imagine Master Chief coming home after a long mission, drenched in sweat, as he removes his steamy helmet. We won’t blame you if you’re caught sniffing his boots…
Number 2: Ghost (Call Of Duty)
If you asked most people 5 years ago to name a single Call of Duty character, I doubt many would be able to give you an answer. In 2024? That is very much a different story, thanks to characters like Ghost.
Call Of Duty is by no means a franchise that people are unaware of. But, it’s popularity was definitely at its peak during the late 2000s/early 2010s. It was a franchise that was starting to grow stale as gaming tastes changed in recent years.
However, when the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II reboot launched in 2022, there was far more of an emphasis on the characters and plot. Something that people latched onto far more than older entries in the franchise.
Ghost is one of these examples; he was present in the original Modern Warfare II. His popularity exploded with his redesign. Thanks to his deep voice, British accent, and snarky comments. His cool design also makes him stand out more than your typical COD character.
His mask features a skull design, with black face paint around his eyes to complete his undead façade. His gloves even have bones drawn onto their design. Understandably, this gives him an intimidating appearance, fitting of a skilled spec ops sniper.
He’s yet another character who isn’t typically seen without his mask. Given he’s trained specifically to stay out of public view, he really leans hard into the dark and mysterious stranger appeal that most fan favourite masked men have. It’s no surprise he’s often sneaking up on people’s self inserts in fanfics.
If you’re into face painting and marking as a fetish, Ghost’s mask gives off a certain hand-crafted feel. We could easily see him excitedly getting you to join his squad. Announcing you as his personal sub by assigning you your own soldier-sona, complete with homemade mask.
You could argue he’s a less interesting pick than some of the other entries. But the fact that he’s managed to make us vaguely care about Call Of Duty in some capacity needs to be appreciated. That and he’s arguably the most popular masked man in gaming right now.
Number 1: Roadhog (Overwatch)
Finally, our number one pick for masked men in video games is a character most of us are likely to be familiar with. Roadhog!
This huge, handsome hog of a man is from Overwatch. He’s managed to embody all of the criteria we were looking for in this list, along with some extra kink appeal to boot. Just looking at him sends our imaginations wild.
His design is incredibly creative. For starters, he’s one of only two plus size men on this list. Meaning he’s already grabbing our attention from his size alone. He’s the ideal body shape for most aspiring gainers, with a massive, round gut on constant display above a broken belt.
Roadhog’s huge belly button is incorporated as part of his belly tattoo. Said tattoo is that of a pig riding a motorcycle. It’s clear he’s fat, and he’s proud of it! Something that is still sadly lacking in video game characters.
His overall aesthetic evokes a post apocalyptic, Mad Max vibe. Fitting to his name, he’s got tires, license plates, and metal as parts of his clothing. The badges on his harness and his black, painted nails also give off punk rock tones. He’s been through some tough times and thrived.
As for his mask? A modified gas mask that has been stitched to look like a pig’s snout. In theory, that sounds horrifying, but the way it’s been designed manages to showcase this concept in the coolest way possible.
Not only that, but his gas mask is actually functional in multiple ways. In the game, Roadhog has the ability to huff a substance called “Hogdrogen” to restore health. How does he do this? Attaching the container to one of the filters of his mask and inhaling!
It’s no surprise; then, that Roadhog has frequently been head-canoned as a stoic gay, gainer bear with a habit for… Certain substances can’t be mentioned, but you have likely come across in a gay bar.
Roadhog’s mask also means his breathing and speech sound slightly muffled. Thus making his already deep and sexy voice sound even deeper. We all wish we could hear him talk dirty to us, taking deep, heavy breaths between each sentence…
Back to our criteria. Roadhog sports an interesting and sexy character design, as we’ve mentioned. Though he is also notable as one of very few plus size characters within the first person shooter (FPS) genre. His reveal was definitely part of the reason for Overwatch’s initial success on release.
We’re sure many of you hadn’t even considered trying an FPS until you saw Roadhog. Safe to say, it was definitely worth it for his fun gameplay style and those jiggling belly physics!
Roadhog also comes across as a character who would be incredibly kinky. Sweat? Musk? Slob stuff? Transformation? Face sitting? You name it, he’s likely down for it. He’d absolutely be the sort of guy to force you to wear a fat suit that transforms you into a clone of him.
The ambiguous nature of what Hogdrogen actually is also helps these scenarios heavily. Who knows what effect it’ll have on you if you take a few whiffs? Before you know it, you’re Roadhog’s pet pig~
Did we mention he often gets in-game fanservice from the Overwatch devs? It’s as if they know just how sexy this masked hog of a man really is. The only downside is that he isn’t real!
Conclusion
So that concludes our list of the top 10 masked men in video games. Did your favourite masked man appear on this list? Disagree with some of our placements? Or would you just like to suggest other ideas for more Smitizen flavoured top 10s? Leave a comment!
We hope that our list also inspired you to try out mask play yourself! Why not follow Roadhog’s example with a silicone boar mask? Or maybe you prefer something more metallic, like a protogen mask? We’ve got plenty of options for you to try!
Who knows? If you wear it enough, it might be part of your look permanently~
