Video Game Character Costumes — Cosplay Guide & Gallery

Costumes by game franchise

Final Fantasy

Tailored jackets, pauldrons and oversized weapons. Most builds are a sewing base plus one big foam or 3D-printed hero prop.

Genshin Impact & HoYoverse

Heavy on layered fabric, trims and glowing accents. Off-the-rack sets are widely available; wigs usually need styling.

The Legend of Zelda

Tunics, leather-look belts and a shield/sword pair. Foam armour and a printed Master Sword carry the silhouette.

Overwatch & hero shooters

Full armour kits. Plan these as 3D-print or EVA-foam projects with a bodysuit underlay rather than a sewing build.

Soulslike & dark fantasy

Weathering is the whole build. Buy a plain base, then dye, sand and dry-brush it until it reads as battle-worn.

Buying guide

The costume base: buy, commission, or sew

Most video game characters wear something structured — a coat, a uniform, a bodysuit — so the base decides how the whole build reads. Pre-made sets from cosplay retailers are the fastest route and fine for stage-distance photos; a commission gets you fabric weight and fit that survives close-ups; sewing yourself is the cheapest per-costume once you own the pattern and machine.

▸Compare at least two retailers on the same character — cut and fabric vary a lot between sellers.
▸Read the size chart in centimetres, not the S/M/L label; most cosplay sizing runs small.
▸Budget for alterations: hemming and taking in a waist is normal even on a good set.
▸Check whether the listing includes the accessories in the promo photo — often it does not.

Armour and weapon props

Game designs love oversized swords, pauldrons and gauntlets. EVA foam is light, cheap and forgiving — the default for large armour. 3D printing wins on small, detailed parts: emblems, buckles, gun bodies, filigree. Combining both (foam mass, printed detail) keeps a big build wearable for a full convention day.

▸Weigh the piece before you commit — anything over the shoulders needs a harness.
▸Seal foam with heat and contact cement before priming, or paint will crack at the seams.
▸Check convention weapon policy: most require blunt, non-metal props with a peace-bond.
▸Plan travel — build oversized weapons in sections with a magnet or dowel join.

Wigs and hair

Game hair is stylised: sharp spikes, unnatural colours, volume no human head produces. Buy a wig one shade lighter than reference art (photos read darker) and style it yourself with got2b glued spiking gel and low heat. A lace-front is worth the extra cost for characters with an exposed hairline.

▸Match the hair colour to the in-game model, not to fan art.
▸Buy extra wefts in the same colour for spikes, buns and clip-on ponytails.
▸Use a wig cap plus a couple of pins — game wigs are heavy and shift.
▸Style before the convention, then transport it on a foam head in a box.

Shoes, gloves and small accessories

The parts people skip are the parts that date a photo. Boot covers over comfortable shoes beat character boots you cannot walk in. Gloves, belts and holsters are cheap to buy plain and repaint. Contacts finish an unnatural eye colour — buy prescription-grade from a licensed seller only.

▸Boot covers over your own broken-in shoes for anything longer than an hour.
▸Spray-dye plain accessories rather than hunting for exact-colour listings.
▸Buy contacts early — shipping and prescription checks take weeks.
▸Pack a repair kit: safety pins, hot glue sticks, super glue, matching thread.

Budgeting a game cosplay

A simple platformer or modern-clothes character lands well under a costume-plus-wig budget. A layered RPG outfit roughly doubles that once trims and a styled wig are included. Full armour is a different category entirely — treat the materials, paint and tooling as the real cost and the fabric underlayer as the cheap part.

▸Start with a character whose silhouette you can hit with two or three purchased pieces.
▸Spend the money on the piece the camera looks at: the wig and the hero prop.
▸Reuse a bodysuit, boots and a wig cap across builds.
▸Buy in the order things ship: contacts and wig first, fabric last.

Video game cosplay FAQ

What is the easiest video game character costume for a beginner?

Pick a character whose outfit is mostly normal clothing with one recognisable accessory — a Nintendo platformer character, a modern-dress RPG protagonist, or a Pokémon trainer. You can assemble the base from separates, then spend your effort on the wig and the single signature prop that makes the character readable.

Should I buy a video game costume or make it myself?

Buy when the design is a standard garment shape and you need it by a fixed convention date. Make it when the character has an unusual silhouette, when you need a specific fit, or when no seller offers the variant you want. Many builds are a hybrid: a purchased base with hand-made armour, trims and props.

How much does a video game cosplay cost?

A simple purchased outfit with a wig is the low end. A layered RPG costume with trims, boots and a styled wig is roughly double that. A full armour build is priced by materials and tools — foam, filament, primer, paint and a respirator — plus the weeks of work, so cost scales with how much of the character is armour rather than fabric.

What material should I use for game armour and weapons?

EVA foam for large, curved armour because it is light and cheap; 3D printing for small, detailed parts like emblems, buckles and gun bodies; worbla or thermoplastic for pieces that need to hold a sharp edge. Most convention-ready builds mix foam mass with printed detail and finish everything with primer, paint and a sealant.

Are prop weapons allowed at conventions?

Almost always, with conditions. Typical rules require props to be blunt, made of non-metal materials, and peace-bonded at a weapons check when you arrive. Length limits are common. Check the specific convention's policy before you build, and design oversized weapons to break down for transport.

How do I get the colours right for a game character?

Use in-game screenshots and the official 3D model rather than fan art, and check the character under neutral lighting in-game. Order fabric and wig swatches when you can — screens over-saturate. When in doubt, go one shade lighter than the reference; photography and convention lighting darken everything.

Most-searched game character costumes