Only two characters have been playable in all eight main Tekken installments to date: Nina Williams and Paul Phoenix. In the story mode of the game, each character generally has their own personal reasons for entering the tournament and competing for the prize. A few characters have supernatural origin, such as Devil and Ogre, while animal characters like Kuma the bear and Roger the kangaroo provide comic relief.
Players can choose from a diverse cast that hails from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and fighting styles.