Highlights

• Video game dialogue can have a lasting impact, with certain quotes becoming timeless and memorable.
• Some of the most famous lines in gaming history come from games like The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim, Grand Theft Auto 5, and The Last of Us.
• Catchphrases like "It's a Me, Mario!" and "Get Over Here" have become iconic and are immediately recognizable to gamers.

Throughout history, there has been a litany of video games that will never be forgotten. A lot of the time, they're memorable because of their stellar gameplay. Occasionally, though, it's their writing and dialogue that live long in the memory. While you probably don't remember entire scripts, certain quotes become timeless. Sometimes they are relatable and wise, while in other instances, the words are a bit humorous.

There are so many classic lines to choose from, but some are more famous than others. Players who have been obsessed with video games from the beginning of time understand the profound impact some quotes have had on their lives.

Updated January 26, 2024 By Ben Jessey: Some quotes from video games stick in people's memories forever. In this list, we wanted to shine a light on them, so we included the most famous ones. In this update, we've added a few more to the collection.

The only requirement for a quote to make the list is that it's well-known. So, it doesn't matter how impactful or humourous the line is.

39 "What Are Ya Buying?" - The Merchant (Resident Evil 4)

The Merchant is one of the more mysterious and unusual characters in Resident Evil 4. His role in the game is to act as a shop. You can buy items from him or sell them. When you're looking to buy, he often utters the words, "What are ya buying."

This seems normal enough when it's written down. Yet, The Merchant says it so regularly and has such a distinctive voice that it's hard not to get it stuck in your mind as you play. Therefore, it has become a well-known phrase.

38 "Hadouken!" - Ryu (Street Fighter Series)

Street Fighter isn't the most talkative series. So, there aren't a bunch of lines from the games that stand out. One that does, though, is "Hadouken!" This is the line Ryu shouts when performing his energy blast attack.

Since it's his signature move and he's the face of the series, it's a famous bit of dialogue. It helps that the delivery of the line is always a bit over the top, which makes it even more memorable.

37 "I’m Commander Shepard, And This Is My Favorite Store On The Citadel!" - Commander Shepard (Mass Effect 2)

In Mass Effect 2, you can get discounts at various places on the Citadel by recording a message for them. In the said message, you say that the particular store you're at is your favorite.

However, you can record the same message for several stores, and every time you enter them, it will play. As this gets you a discount, most players record a message for each shop. So, throughout the game, you may hear it a lot. This is why it's so famous.

36 "Ah S**t, Here We Go Again" - CJ (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas)

One of the most iconic memes to spawn from the gaming industry is "Ah s**t, here we go again." It's the line CJ says in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas right before you're first given control of the character.

The quote became fairly famous because of the game itself since a lot of people have played San Andreas, and it's one of the first lines you hear when starting a new playthrough. Yet, it really became well-known once the meme got popular.

35 "Wake The F**k Up, Samurai! We Have A City To Burn" - Johnny Silverhand (Cyberpunk 2077)

Interestingly, the most famous quote from Cyberpunk 2077 isn't actually uttered in the game. Instead, it's said in one of the early trailers. It's, of course, the line where Johnny Silverhand tells you to wake up and calls you a samurai in the process.

The reason for its fame is because while saying the words, Johnny takes off his glasses, revealing that he has the face of Keanu Reeves. The reveal that the popular actor would be a part of the title increased the hype around it significantly.

34 "Hey, You, You're Finally Awake." - Ralof (The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim)

Since its launch in 2011, Skyrim has been released on virtually every major console. Therefore, a lot of people have played the game. Yet, the adventure is so long that not everybody reaches the end.

However, they all witness the beginning, which is a lengthy carriage ride where a man named Ralof talks to you. His first words are an acknowledgment of you waking up. The sequence is so well-known that the first line has become famous.

33 "You Forget A Thousand Things Every Day, Pal. Make Sure This Is One Of 'Em." - Michael (Grand Theft Auto 5)

Ironically, one of the most famous and memorable quotes in Grand Theft Auto 5 is the one where Michael asks somebody to forget something. It's easily remembered because it's his signature line that he tells people who witness his crimes.

The line is also important to the overall GTA 5 story, as once Trevor hears it on the news, he realizes his old criminal buddy is actually alive. This moment puts the game's whole main plotline in motion.

32 "Nanomachines, Son." - Senator Armstrong (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance)

Many fans felt nanomachines became a storytelling crutch in Metal Gear Solid 4, as they were used to explain most of the strange and formerly supernatural elements of the series. This continues in the spin-off sequel Metal Gear Rising Revengeance when it comes to the final boss.

Senator Armstrong initially seems like a regular politician, but it's eventually revealed that he's an incredibly strong fighter. And he explains his superhuman strength by simply saying, "Nanomachines, son." It's a hilarious statement that has become a well-known meme.

31 "The Cake Is A Lie" - Rattmann (Portal)

In the original Portal game, the tyrannical AI GlaDOS does the majority of the talking. And she delivers a litany of great lines. Yet, she is not responsible for the most famous quote in the game.

That prize goes to an unseen character known as Rattmann. He has written "The Cake Is A Lie" all over the walls to warn you or any other test subject that GlaDOS is lying about the cake she is promising you for finishing the tests. The line subsequently became a meme and now lives forever in gaming history.

30 "You’d Just Come After Her." - Joel (The Last Of Us)

The HBO series based on The Last Of Us has made the game more famous. As a result, significant bits of dialogue are more famous, too, especially when they also feature in the show. This is the case for the final words Joel says to Marlene before executing her.

The quote stands out because it occurs during one of Joel's most brutal acts. Marlene just wanted a cure for humanity. Yet, Joel wouldn't trade Ellie for that, and he's willing to kill fairly innocent people like Marlene to protect her. The line in question proves that and adds extra impact to the scene.

29 "Had To Be Me. Someone Else Might Have Gotten It Wrong." - Mordin (Mass Effect 3)

The Mass Effect series is filled with interesting companions. One of the most popular is the Salarian scientist Mordin Solus. The guy is mainly known for being highly intelligent and talking a lot. Due to the latter, he says a lot of words throughout the series. But the ones that live long in the memory are his last.

As he's about to sacrifice his life to unleash a life-saving cure, he points out that he had to be the one to do it because "someone else might have gotten it wrong." It's a perfect line for the character as it's witty and arrogant, just like him.

28 "It's A Me, Mario!" - Mario (Super Mario Series)

No character in gaming history is as recognizable as Mario. Even people who have never played a video game before have heard of the little Italian plumber. Part of the reason for the fame is that he's been around for so many years.

Yet, in that time, he hasn't said that many words. He's been mostly mute, but he still has a signature catchphrase, "It's A Me, Mario!" It's a standard greeting that stands out because of Mario's Italian accent.

27 "Remember, No Russian." – Vladimir Makarov (Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2)

There is an abundance of iconic Call Of Duty missions, particularly in the Modern Warfare series of games. The most famous one, though, is No Russian. This is, of course, the mission where you join the evil Makarov in mercilessly killing a bunch of civilians in an airport. The villain's goal is to frame America and trigger a new major conflict.

This is why he needs to make sure his team doesn't give away that they're actually Russian. This is the purpose of the level's opening line, "Remember, No Russian," which is almost as famous as the mission itself.

26 "Nothing Is True, Everything Is Permitted." - Various (Assassin's Creed Series)

Naturally, in most of the Assassin's Creed games, you play as a member of the Assassin Brotherhood. This Order has its own set of codes and rules, which are passed down by each generation. They also have certain beliefs and commonly used phrases, such as "Nothing Is True, Everything Is Permitted."

The exact meaning of those words is debated. Series favorite Ezio believes that "Nothing Is True" means that society is fragile and they must be the shepherds of their own civilization. As for "Everything Is Permitted," he thinks it's about living with the consequences of your own actions. Regardless of the meaning, though, the phrase is uttered a lot throughout the games, which makes it very memorable.

25 "It’s Time To Kick Ass And Chew Bubble Gum…And I’m All Outta Gum." – Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem Series)

A lot of things about the Duke Nukem games haven't aged well. And that is not solely down to the technical limitations of the time. The whole personality of the main character is questionable when viewed with a contemporary moral code.

That being said, Duke Nukem still serves as a memorable video game character. So much so that his most used catchphrases also live long in the memory. For example, nobody could forget his classic bubble gum chewing line. The phrase originally comes from the 1988 movie, They Live, starring famous wrestler Roddy Piper. Yet, a lot of people remember those words because of Duke.

24 "Where’s Everyone Going? Bingo?" – Leon Kennedy (Resident Evil 4)

Throughout Resident Evil 4, Leon Kennedy proves to be one of the funniest characters in gaming. However, much of it is accidental, as many of his lines are so cheesy they're hilarious. The most famous one comes early in the game when the horde of infected he is fighting all walk away at the same time. Leon responds by asking if everyone is going to Bingo.

The line is so silly, especially since the protagonist was just fighting for his life several seconds beforehand. The ridiculousness of the quote helped it become infamous. As a result, it was one of the only lines not rewritten for the remake.

23 "Get Over Here" - Scorpion (Mortal Kombat Series)

Mortal Kombat has been around since the early '90s. And throughout all that time, Scorpion has been one of its most recognizable characters. In fact, he's among the famous gaming characters in general.

He's been more talkative in recent games due to the extra focus put on the game's stories. But the line he's most known for is "Get Over Here." He commonly uses the phrase when dragging people towards him with his Kunai. And he's been doing it since the original game. The fame and longevity of the Mortal Kombat series have made the quote famous.

22 "Would You Kindly…" - Various (Bioshock)

The original Bioshock is a beloved FPS game for several reasons. For instance, fans love the atmosphere, visuals, and main story. Part of the reason the story is so great is because of the late twist where you find out that your guide is actually the villain Frank Fontaine.

Not only does he lie throughout the game, but he also subtly controls the protagonist with the phrase "Would You Kindly." He does this by continually saying the line and turning it into a hypnotic trigger. It's so important to the story and said so often that it's impossible to forget.

21 "Niko, It’s Roman! Let’s Go Bowling!" - Roman Bellic (Grand Theft Auto 4)

While playing Grand Theft Auto 4, your allies will occasionally call you up and ask to hang out. Niko's cousin Roman seems to do it more often than most other characters. And the activity he usually wants to partake in is bowling.

So much so that his insistence to hit the lanes became a meme shortly after the game's release. The constant jokes about his love of bowling have made the verbiage of his invitation famous. People who haven't even played the game know it.

20 "Do A Barrel Roll!" – Peppy Hare (Star Fox 64)

While Star Fox hasn't maintained relevance as well as some other long-running gaming series, the early titles are remembered fondly. Yet, you could argue that one single line from the series is more famous than the games themselves.

This line is, of course, "Do A Barrel Roll." It isn't a particularly remarkable piece of video game dialogue. But there is something about Peppy Hare's delivery of the line that makes it stand out. And these days, it's incredibly famous due to it becoming a popular and heavily used meme.