Slimes have been a type of enemy in video games for a long time, with their earliest appearances being inspired by similar enemies from Dungeons & Dragons. In the past several decades since the inception of video games, slimes have continued to be around. Not just as enemies, but also as allies, livestock, puzzle fodder, and have even received starring roles in a number of video games.
Since they still frequently appear in games to this day, it's clear that slimes are here to stay. But which slimes are the best, and who can out-goo the rest of the competition?
11 Slime-san - Slime-san
Slime-san may not be the first slime to get a starring role in a video game, but he's definitely one of the most recent. In his debut game, Slime-san must escape the giant worm who has eaten him, or else he will meet an untimely end due to rising stomach acid.
Slime-san clearly doesn't let stressful situations bother him, though, as he always smiles no matter the difficult trials await him. It's almost as if he knows he'll return to his Slime family eventually, and because of that, he has no fear of being digested. Slime-san's optimism is something we could all use these days.
10 Jell - Monster Rancher
Jells are interesting because they usually have a humanoid appearance, which isn't common for most slime monsters in video games. In Monster Rancher 3, their design was altered to be more amorphous, as those Jells had never interacted with humans previously, but the more humanoid design returned once again in Monster Rancher 4.
Jells' abilities include absorbing enemy attacks and transfiguring their bodies into any shape. In the Monster Rancher anime series, Jells are a common reoccurring enemy but are somewhat dimwitted and defeated easily. They may not be the most well-known slimes, but fans of the series remember them well.
9 Puyo - Puyo Puyo & Mado Monogatari
The titular stacking slimes of the Puyo Puyo series were first introduced as enemies in a Japan-exclusive JRPG series called Mado Monogatari. In the Puyo Puyo series, Puyos are participating in a magic battle via the use of a spell known as Owanimo, which can clear four creatures of the same color once they are stacked together.
In addition to several different colored Puyos, there are several Puyos that can inhibit the player. These slimes have also made the series so popular that it even crossed over with Tetris in 2014 with Puyo Puyo Tetris and its 2020 sequel, which is nothing short of impressive.
8 Umibozu - Nioh
Probably one of the most terrifying slimes in video game history, the Umibozu is a giant ocean-dwelling monster that violently attacks unsuspecting ships at night when they're passing through calm waters. In Japanese mythology, Umibozu are usually described as being more humanoid in appearance, similar to the Jells from Monster Rancher, but in Nioh, it has a more amorphous appearance.
The attacks of this boss Yokai include using its tentacles, spitting out previously consumed ship wreckage, creating smaller versions of itself, and emitting a powerful energy beam that's best to avoid. Luckily, the Umi-Bozu isn't invincible and is weak to fire, so skilled players should have little trouble defeating it.
7 Slime - Shin Megami Tensei
The slimes that appear in the Shin Megami Tensei series and various spin-offs are not as joyous as many of their counterparts; however, there does seem to be a reason for that. Also known as ooze thanks to being inspired by the similar enemies from Dungeons & Dragons, the Slimes from Shin Megami Tensei and its spinoffs have been said to be failed demon summonings which resulted in an incomplete form.
These slimes also enjoy collecting shiny objects, perhaps because with enough magnetite, they will be able to materialize fully. Their intelligence level is also said to vary, which may be again is due to their origins as incomplete summons.
6 PlatinumNumemon - Digimon
Numemon is a disgusting Champion-level Digimon that prefers to live in sewers and has several signature attacks that involve throwing poo. However, the Mega-level PlatinumNumemon is quite the opposite, preferring to decorate itself with any jewelry it can get its hands on and attacks by throwing piles of junk.
In both Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth games, PlatinumNumemon has a support skill called Platinum Bonus, which increases the amount of experience gained by the party, making it a helpful ally. Unlike its more repulsive counterpart, PlatinumNumemon has never appeared in any Digimon anime series and has only appeared in video games so far.
5 Gooey - Kirby
One of Kirby's most notable allies in several games, Gooey made his first appearance in Kirby's Dream Land 2 for the Game Boy. Gooey pops out of bags in his debut title and heals Kirby whenever an animal friend is already present. Gooey received a more prominent role in the next game, being a playable character and having some of the same abilities as Kirby, including the copy ability and the ability to work alongside Kirby's animal friends.
Gooey also notably had his color changed between Kirby's Dream Land 2 and 3, switching from black to blue, and most recently appeared as a playable character in Kirby Fighters 2, managing to stay relevant to the series.
4 Flan - Final Fantasy
One of the ugliest slime enemies, and not as appetizing as their namesake, Flan and their various subspecies have been a staple of the Final Fantasy series since the first game, although the appearance they are known for now started as a new design in Final Fantasy 2.
Like many of their gooey contemporaries in other games, Flan are usually encountered closest to the start of each game they appear in and can have similar absorption and reproductive abilities. However, Flan are not always the same and have several differences in the various games they appear in, but they always have a more appalling appearance than their contemporaries.
3 Pink Slime - Slime Rancher
While Pink Slimes may be the most common slimes in Slime Rancher, it also makes them the most recognizable. Like a handful of other slimes in video games, Pink Slimes are a cheerful bunch and happen to be the easiest slime to raise due to their docile temperament and willingness to eat any food they're given.
Pink Slimes may not be as valuable as all the other Slimes in Slime Rancher, but every rancher has to start somewhere and become more valuable over time, due to the Pink Plorts they produce being an essential resource for Slime science.
2 Ditto - Pokemon
Ditto isn't is only slime Pokemon around, but its ability to transform into any other Pokemon helps make it one of the most memorable. It is said that Ditto will have difficulty transforming into an exact duplicate if something makes it laugh or it relies only on memory. Similarly, several Ditto in the anime series have been shown to have trouble transforming, either not transforming their face or getting another feature wrong.
Because of its ability to transform, Ditto can breed with any other Pokemon besides other Ditto and those in the Undiscovered egg group, including Legendary Pokemon, Mythical Pokemon, baby Pokemon, Ultra Beasts, and a small number of other special Pokemon.
1 Slime - Dragon Quest
The most iconic slimes in the history of video games are those that have appeared throughout the Dragon Quest series. First appearing in Dragon Quest back in 1986, the Slimes have ascended from being an early enemy encounter to being the mascot for the entire franchise.
Slimes aren't always just enemies in every Dragon Quest title either, being allies in titles like Dragon Quest 5, Dragon Quest Monsters, Dragon Quest Tact, and Dragon Quest Builders 2, as well as being the main character in Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime. Slimes have appeared in every Dragon Quest title to date, a trend that will never change, and have even had several controllers modeled after them.