Do you feel discouraged from getting into cosplay? Are you worried that it may take a lot of effort to be satisfying? Do not fret because you can start by doing easy cosplay projects.
So, what is the idea behind simple cosplaying? It is an act in which you dress up as your favorite characters using pieces of clothing without little to no styling. Therefore, you can just grab parts of the costume from your closet or a local thrift shop.
You will be surprised at how many characters across different media that you can portray with a small effort. In this article, we will look at 40 of them. Let’s check them out!
40 Easy Cosplay Recommendations
Wondering which fictional character you can cosplay with ease? Say no more! Here are some of the most notable cosplay ideas that does not take a lot of effort:
1. Mario & Luigi – Mario Bros
The Mario Bros franchise may be more than 35 years old as of this writing, but its characters are proven to be a timeless choice for cosplayers. Especially with the release of the Super Mario Bros movie in 2023, dressing up as a character from the series is still very relevant.
What’s more interesting, the titular character’s look makes one of the simplest easy cosplay costumes. To cosplay as Mario, you need:
- A red long sleeve shirt
- A blue denim overall
- A red baseball hat
- A pair of white gloves
- A pair of brown boots
- A fake mustache
Dressing up as Luigi is as effortless as that. The only difference is that you need a green shirt and hat instead of red.
2. Lara Croft – Tomb Raider
Among video game cosplayers, Lara Croft is another cult classic. One of the reasons is her realistic choice of wardrobe.
But while Lara’s bold appearance from Tomb Raider’s early days is iconic, what makes for an easy cosplay is her costume in the 2013 iteration of the game.
Lara’s outfit from the 2013 Tomb Raider consists of:
- A white tank top under a blue tank top with spaghetti straps
- Dark khaki work pants
- Black combat boots
If you have more resources, wrapping bandages around your arm or leg can further bring Lara’s character to live. This will look awesome especially with a bow and a bag of arrows strapped to your back.
3. CJ – Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Players of GTA: San Andreas have the option to customize CJ’s outfit. However, the main character’s default clothing is what makes for an easy cosplay male costume. It consists of:
- A white tank top tucked into white briefs
- Baggy blue denim pants
- A brown belt
- Black sneakers
Remember, you need to let the pants droop and expose your briefs. This little detail will make people recognize that you portray CJ’s 90s look.
4. Joel Miller – The Last of Us
Characters from post-apocalyptic video games are usually simple to cosplay as they dress up very plainly. Among the notable ones is Joel Miller from The Last of Us.
To look like Joel, you only need the following set of clothing for your easy cosplay setup:
- A grayish green flannel buttoned up shirt
- A brown trucker jacket
- Blue denim pants
- Brown leather boots
- A rugged backpack
- A round watch
Complementing the costume with a gas mask and an outdoor flashlight would be awesome. But since those items may not be easy to get, they are optional.
What’s more important, you should smear some dirt on your shirt and pants. Since Joel does not seem to change clothes during the hardships in the game, it just makes sense if your costume looks worn.
5. Ryu & Ken – Street Fighter
Those who are looking for easy cosplay ideas typically stay away from arcade-style fighting games as the casts usually wear intricate attires. Street Fighter, however, has a few that you can portray with little effort.
Ryu, for example, dons a white sleeveless karate uniform (karategi) without any ornament. That being said, you can just get any plain karate uniform and cut the sleeves off. Then, complete the costume by getting:
- A black karate belt
- A read headband
- Red half finger boxing gloves
Cosplaying as Ken is also as easy. His apparels are like Ryu’s albeit with a different color. Instead of a white karategi, Ken’s easy cosplay costume uses a red one.
6. Nathan Drake – Uncharted
If you are a guy and want to recreate an adventurer’s vibe that Lara Croft has, cosplaying as Nathan Drake is probably the best way to go.
Luckily, Nate’s ensemble is easy to copy even though it consists of some parts. What you need are:
- A khaki or dark blue henley shirt
- Worn denim or cargo pants
- Brown shoulder holster
- A blue scarf
- A leather bracelet
- Brown boots
- A ring necklace
7. Max Caulfield – Life Is Strange
Life Is Strange is full of characters that can be considered easy cosplay ideas. Max Caulfield, for example, wears the following day-to-day clothing:
- A gray hoodie
- A dusty pink t-shirt
- Blue denim pants
- Black sneakers
- A black sling bag
The less straightforward part of cosplaying Max is probably her hair. If you do not have dark brown hair, you can consider getting a wig and style it into a medium bob to nail the character’s look.
8. Sim – The Sims
If you want a quick cosplay costume that costs almost none, becoming a sim is a no-brainer. You can dress up with anything you have since the game is known for a vast avatar customization.
The only accessory you need to be recognized as a sim is the plumbob, the diamond that indicates the character you control in the game. To create it, you need:
- A plastic headband (preferably one that has an identical color to your hair)
- A short wire to connect the headband and the plumbob
- Green cardstock paper as the plumbob
- Glue
9. Steve – Minecraft
Minecraft’s Steve can be another easy cosplay project to do. All you need is a cyan t-shirt, blue denim pants, and a pickaxe or a toy sword.
Nonetheless, you can take the costume to another level by designing Steve’s pixelated head using a stiff paper and paint. Some people even use the same treatment for the character’s items as well.
10. Lee Everett – Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Are you a fan of The Walking Dead? Choosing someone to portray from the franchise can be difficult because of the seemingly endless character list.
However, Lee Everett from the game spin-off is an easy cosplay character for beginners as he wears a simple and consistent set of clothing. To mimic his look, you only require:
- A long-sleeved denim buttoned up shirt
- A white t-shirt underneath
- Blue denim pants
- Black shoes
- A round watch
And many more!
To view the complete list, please visit Virtual Tech Vision.
FAQs
Q: Can I cosplay as these characters even if I’m a beginner?
A: Absolutely! These easy cosplay characters are perfect for beginners as they often require everyday clothing that you may already have in your closet. Plus, they are recognizable and will allow you to immerse yourself in the world of cosplay.
Q: Where can I find the necessary items for these costumes?
A: Many of the items can be found in your local thrift stores or online marketplaces. You can also get creative and make some of the items yourself. The goal is to have fun and be resourceful in bringing your favorite characters to life.
Q: Can I add my own spin to these costumes?
A: Absolutely! Cosplay is all about expressing your creativity and personal style. Feel free to add your own unique touches to these costumes to make them truly your own.
Q: Are there any other easy cosplay characters that I can try?
A: Definitely! The world of cosplay is vast, and there are countless characters from various mediums that can be cosplayed with ease. Don’t be afraid to explore beyond this list and discover characters that resonate with you.
Conclusion
Cosplaying does not always require a meticulous costume and properties that cost a fortune. As long as you can replicate your favorite character’s appearance and bring it to life, it is all that matters.
In this article, we have looked at various characters from video games to animes that you can portray with everyday clothing. Even if you do not have the necessary apparels for your character, they are easy to find in stores.
So, which characters are you most excited to dress up as? Tell us your easy cosplay projects down in the comments!
