What Popular Video Game Characters Would Look Like IRL, According to AI

Sure, Angelina Jolie played her in the film version, and then Alicia Vikander...but did any of them really look like Lara Croft. Not really. Lara Croft has remained one of the most iconic video game characters of the past 30 years thanks to the best-selling video game franchise Tomb Raider.

On top of that, the character appeared in multiple spin-offs, and reappeared again in 2013 when the Tomb Raider series was rebooted. An Indiana Jones for gamers, Lara Croft has left behind a huge legacy since her inception and while it feels like we know her well enough by now, we can't help but wonder what she would look like in real life, and thanks to AI, we don't have to.

This AI image really captures the look of the new Lara Croft as she appears in the Tomb Raider reboot series. As you can see here, she was designed with more conventionally attractive and feminine features in mind this time around and with that said, she'd certainly look gorgeous in real life. 

The Tomb Raider franchise was rebooted in 2013 with the game simply titled Tomb Raider. The sequels would be called  Rise of the Tomb Raider and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. The team behind the games sought to establish new origins for the character and tell her story in a more realistic way.

Easily one of the most likable video game characters of all time, Geralt of Rivia is a tough and smart monster hunter with a heart of gold. While making some gold is always his game, he never lets that get in the way of doing the right thing - but he's certainly no pushover either. 

Geralt appeared in a trilogy of video games developed by CD Projekt Red, which included The Witcher, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, but before that was a book character as part of a book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. While Henry Cavill does an amazing job portraying the character in the Netflix series, he still doesn't quite capture the look of the character like the AI does.

If you've ever played the Halo series, you are well aware of Cortana, one of the most essential characters in the game, a holographic AI that guides you through the game as Master Chief. The AI construct is partnered with Master Chief throughout the Halo series, and her voice is so recognizable it's hard to imagine playing as Master Chief without hearing it.

While the look of Cortana has changed throughout the years, in recent years, the look has been pretty consistent. That being said, the AI did a good job capturing Cortana, regardless. Provided AI holograms existed in our time, we imagine this is pretty much what she would look like in our world.

Yes-a, its-a him, Mario! It's everyone's favorite Italian plumber turned hero. Certainly one of the most iconic video game characters ever created, he's become a mascot for the Nintendo company since his inception. He's been around so long that most people have forgotten that he actually first appeared in Donkey Kong. Since then,  appeared in over 200 video games, and his look has never changed. 

The short, pudgy guy with the mustache is always instantly recognizable. While Mario has been recreated by numerous cosplayers and people for Halloween, along with the film version of the character, here, AI takes a shot at bringing him to life, and the results are pretty interesting. He certainly looks Italian enough. 

Whenever you have Mario, you have to have Luigi. You can't have one without the other! Luigi naturally looks a lot younger than his older brother, but that doesn't mean he can't pop Koopas like the red guy. It feels a little weird seeing how serious he looks in this image. 

He certainly looks grizzled like Mario did, but time wasn't as abusive as his older brother. Some say that Luigi always tries to find the easy way out, but hasn't anyone else heard the phrase "work smarter, not harder?" Apparently not Mario. Sucks to suck, my guy. 

What would a Super Mario Bros. game be without Princess Peach. Most of Mario's adventures have centered around him rescuing Princess Peach from the dreaded Bowser, so how could we ask the AI to recreate Mario and not recreate his entire reason for being? The AI did a pretty good job if you ask us.

With a look just as iconic as Mario, Princess Peach is also just as recognizable here. As the Princess Regnant of the Mushroom Kingdom for so many years at this point, you have to wonder why she hasn't yet been promoted to queen. No matter,  however, as she's never needed a title to show who's boss.

Often confused as being Zelda to those who are not familiar with the Zelda series, Link is the main protagonist of the video game franchise. Originating back in 1986, in the game The Legend of Zelda, Link has appeared in 19 entries in addition to the many spin-offs he has appeared in. 

The brave and skilled warrior has been depicted in various forms over the years, oftentimes, varying ages, but the gist look of his look has been pretty consistent. Link basically looks like a human but with elven features like pointed ears and a pointed hat. Here the AI brings the character to life like never before.

And of course, there could never be a Legend of Zelda game without the titular character of Zelda - Princess Zelda that is. A central character of the series, Princess Zelda of Hyrule is an associate of Link who both serves to help him and also acts as a damsel in distress.

Zelda is widely recognized by gamers and cosplayers, but her look has certainly changed over the years, which might make it difficult, for those not familiar with the series, to recognize her. That being said, the AI has mashed up some of her looks over the years to bring her to life and the results are pretty stunning.

Jill Valentine was one of two playable characters introduced in the original Resident Evil game. Since the character was conceived, she has appeared in various forms outside of the video game franchise itself. She was the main protagonist in the film series based on the games and she also appeared in novelizations.

While there have been numerous other protagonists in the Resident Evil series, few of them have been as beloved nor as recognized as Jill Valentine. Competent and strong, the character has proven herself as one of the greatest in video game history and she is certainly lovely, too, as you can see in this AI image.

Another skilled warrior we had to include was Bayonetta. Introduced in 2009, the Bayonetta game franchise centers around its titular character, a witch found at the bottom of a lake, suffering from a serious case of amnesia. The character uses firearms and various magical attacks to dispatch enemies. She can also shapeshift on a whim.

This, of course, is her normal form, which is deadly on its own as she can literally kill you with her hair. Bayonetta hasn't yet been brought to life in the movies, but this AI gives us a pretty good idea of what she might look like. it's really too bad she isn't real...

The fighting game Street Fighter from Capcom has earned billions of dollars in revenue over the years.  Chun-Li is recognized by fans of Street Fighter as the series's main female protagonist. An expert martial artist seeking revenge for the death of her father, she stops at nothing to ensure her father's killer is brought to justice.

While her character was brought to life in a film version of Street Fighter back in the '90s, that version didn't quite cut it. This AI version certainly looks a lot better. Beautiful and totally deadly, we certainly wish we could have had a Chun-Li that looked this good in real life.

We were a little surprised with this result because the AI decided not to go with the mutant route. It is apparently what Lady Dimitrescu looked like when she actually lived in the 1950s. She was awfully pretty before the mutation got to her. Don't get the story twisted though. 

She's still very much a lord, and she still looks like she would mess you up. The only difference is she'd probably do it in a manipulative way instead of downright beating her victims up. Basically, it just goes to show that you shouldn't mess with Lady Dimitrescu even if she is human. 

Ivy Valentine never looked so good. If she was all mysterious like this in the game, people might pick her more often. Actually,  let's be honest with ourselves — she's picked a lot because the game makes her...weapons look good. That's what everyone's looking at, right? That cool sword? 

We love this interpretation. She's a lot more feminine in this version, but we don't think anyone would complain about that. That sadistic grin sends shivers down the spine. It makes you scared...among other feelings...

Juliet Sterling is the perfect, perky little cheerleader. Not only can she cheer you to victory, but she can also get to victory herself by chainsawing her way through zombies. Hoards and hoards of zombies. Basically, don't get on her bad side or she'll get cha!

The funniest part is that she's thrown into a world like that when she's innocent and obsessed with lollipops. Maybe things are as simple as Juilet thinks they are. One thing is for sure: she's certainly the knight San Romero needed in its hour of darkness. 

I really hope she'll be watching over me and keep me healed up. No wonder Genji is constantly saying he needs healing. He needs a girl like this in his pocket 24/7. Mercy is often depicted as perky and happy, but she can't be like that all the time, can she? 

We feel like this rendition shows Mercy when she was younger — just starting out in the Overwatch program. How did those pouty lips not get Soldier 76 fawning all over her? Our only complaint is that the AI didn't give her massive angelic wings as she deserves (or put her in that witch costume). 

She doesn't even feel the cold. This Widowmaker is stunning and encapsulates everything about our beautiful French sniper. She definitely looks like someone you shouldn't mess with because she'll off you at a moment's notice. Okay, maybe that's not who she was, but that's who she is now.

Widowmaker is the perfect example of what happens when you cross a serene beauty with a remorseless killing machine. She's elegant, she's dangerous, and it's clear that looks can be deceiving. But in this case, we think that's exactly what makes her so dangerous... and so awesome.

We all know that one girl who seems to have it all: the brains, the beauty, and the connections. Miranda Lawson is that girl, and she just so happens to be a potential love interest for Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect series. However, there's more to Miranda than meets the eye. 

Yes, she's beautiful, and yes, she's smart. But she's also loyal, determined, and always puts her team first. All of these qualities come together to make Miranda an unforgettable character. Everything says that she's a "potential" romantic interest for Commander Shepard, but she's the only love interest you need in your life.

How many of you thought that Samus Aran was a girl? Yeah, it's pretty shocking for anyone that's new to the series, but when she takes off that helmet — wow! Basically, Samus was the original Master Chief before he was even created.

Even better, she doesn't need a Cortana to direct her around alien ships. She just goes it alone and kicks butt while doing so. Because of this, Samus as always been an iconic figure in gaming. And for good reason — she's strong, independent, and totally baddie. 

Sephiroth is the epitome of cool. His long silver hair, mysterious demeanor, and general badassery make it easy to see why this iconic villain has been burned into our collective memory since his introduction in FF7. Intimidating and powerful, Sephiroth reigns supreme as a gaming icon.

The AI did a great job making him look as powerful as he actually is - almost too good. We can't love him too much, though, because we all immediately feel heartbroken when he kills our beloved Aerith. On the bright side, at least we get to see one of our favorite villains in action...

Let's get real, we've all thought it at one point or another - Tifa Lockheart is hot. From the moment we first saw her in Final Fantasy VII, her slightly tomboyish style blended with sleek curves, steely determination, and bravery won all of our hearts. Her rapport with Cloud made us root for their off-screen romance between missions.

We can hope, right?  Emblematic of a modern woman, powerful and unbothered by nay-sayers in pursuit of her goals, Tifa takes the crown for one of the most "crushworthy" video game characters...and no one can argue about it! We love that the AI did her justice and made her look just as hot and powerful as she truly is. 

Triss Merigold is a game character that is likely to get hearts racing, but it’s her brains – not her beauty – that give her true power. As one of the most talented 'witches' of Novigrad, Triss has tackled all sorts of wickedness with intelligence and grace. It's easy to see why fans like her. 

She's equally handy with the sword as she is with potions, making her a lethal force on the battlefield and off. Triss may be easy on the eyes, but she's even easier on the heart. Plus, nothing beats seeing a powerful woman take charge - even if she does it in only a skirt!