
Sunglasses are one of the most practical yet fashionable accessories and cater to people from all walks of life. However, sunglasses can also be used as a key character choice in fictional forms of media. In video games, for example, protagonists wear sunglasses to either look cool or symbolize their guarded personality, while villains don sinister shades to characterize their hidden intentions and make them stand out against the environment. In this article, we’ll visit some video game characters known for wearing their respective styles and designs of sunglasses.
Albert Wesker from Resident Evil

In the world of Resident Evil, most of the environment is darkly lit and gloomy. However, this doesn’t stop recurring villain Albert Wesker from donning his signature dark sunglasses. His eyewear bears a high resemblance to the lifestyle brand Police’s choice of sunglasses, which are popular among racing sports teams like Formula 1’s Mercedes-AMG Petronas. When he does remove his sunglasses, it reveals his mutated eyes that glow after he was injected with the prototype virus. However, even before this need, Wesker seldom takes off his pair.
Cassie Cage from Mortal Kombat
There’s no denying that Cassie Cage, one of the four main protagonists of Mortal Kombat X, is the daughter of the video game franchise’s legend Johnny Cage. Much like her father, Cassie’s known for her razor-sharp wit, close combat moves, and signature sunglasses. What sets them apart, however, is that whereas John wears 90s-inspired thick-rimmed shades, Cassie’s pair of women’s sunglasses are reminiscent of the Aviator, one of the timeless and classic designs of the longstanding eyewear brand Ray-Ban. The metal frames’ sleek aesthetic helps balance out her otherwise quirky and jokey personality.
Kazuhira Miller from Metal Gear Solid
Also known as Master Miller, this complex character of the hit stealth video game Metal Gear Solid is characterized not only by his multiple allegiances but also by his frequent donning of sunglasses. Miller’s favorite men’s sunglasses brand is Ray-Ban and their classic Aviator style. These glasses are designed to block glare, enhance visual clarity, and protect from bright sunlight. Aviators can come in polarized lenses as well, helping the character deal with his photosensitivity. Given his condition, it’s no wonder that he still wears sunglasses in low-light environments, be it indoors or during thunderstorms.
Eggman from Sonic the Hedgehog

There’s no video game villain with sunglasses as iconic as Doctor Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik, the main antagonist of the Sonic the Hedgehog series. Eggman has undergone several appearance changes but has mostly maintained his signature goggles and sunglasses. In most appearances today, he wears blue pince-nez sunglasses, a style of glasses that is supported without earpieces and instead pinches the bridge of the nose. Although he doesn’t use his goggles often, they are the perfect size to slide over his face without removing his glasses.
Roy Koopa from Super Mario
While not as renowned as other characters on this list, Roy Koopa stands out on his own as the only Koopaling — previously considered Bowser’s offspring in older games — wearing sunglasses. He is considered the rowdiest of his siblings and fights Mario with Bullet Bill cannon, with his character suiting his hot pink shades. While there is no specific real-life counterpart, those interested can replicate this look using vintage magenta cat-eye sunglasses. Roy Koopa is also only one of the few named characters that regularly donned shades in the Mario games, aside from Funky Kong.
Sunglasses are timeless accessories, both in real life and in video games. Without their signature sunglasses, some of these villains wouldn’t be as iconic as they are today. For more video game features, feel free to explore the Gaming Ideology website.