Tekken 3 stands out as one of the greatest fighting games of its generation. Released by Namco for the original PlayStation, the game introduced revolutionary mechanics and a massive cast of characters. Despite the myths and hype surrounding the unlocking process, unlocking all characters in Tekken 3 is fairly straightforward, especially once you understand the different methods involved.
Most of the starting roster is available from the outset, but there are some legendary fighters that are locked; players will have to earn access to them in the game.
Whether you prefer Arcade Mode, enjoy hitting your friends head-to-head in Versus Mode, or want to test out Tekken Force or Ball Mode, you have the opportunity to unlock everything one way or another. This guide will cover all of the verified methods to access each hidden fighter, including some fan favorites such as Dr. Bosconovitch, Gon, and Tiger. You can choose which method works best for you based on your progress in the game, or add variety by using a combination of methods.
Beat Arcade Mode Under Specific Conditions
One of the most traditional methods to unlock characters in Tekken 3 involves completing the game’s Arcade Mode with different characters. For each successful completion, a new character becomes available. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of who you’ll unlock and when:
| Character | Requirement |
| Kuma | Complete Arcade Mode once. |
| Julia | Complete Arcade Mode twice with different characters. |
| Gun Jack | Complete Arcade Mode three times with different characters. |
| Mokujin | Complete Arcade Mode four times with different characters. |
| Anna | Complete Arcade Mode five times. |
| Bryan | Complete Arcade Mode six times. |
| Heihachi | Complete Arcade Mode seven times. |
| Ogre | Complete Arcade Mode eight times. |
| True Ogre | Complete Arcade Mode nine times. |
It’s important to use different characters for each Arcade Mode completion. If you repeatedly beat the game with the same fighter, new characters won’t unlock.
Arcade Mode isn’t just a test of skill—it’s a nostalgic journey through each character’s unique endings. And if you’re trying to speed up the unlocking process, consider using faster or more powerful characters like Hwoarang, Jin Kazama, or Paul Phoenix.
Accumulate Battles in Versus Mode
If you prefer multiplayer matches or don’t want to repeatedly run through Arcade Mode, the Versus Mode unlock method offers a rewarding alternative. Every battle you play in Versus Mode, regardless of who wins, counts toward your character unlock progression.
Here’s the full list of characters and features you can unlock via battle count:
| Battles | Unlocks |
| 100 Battles | Kuma |
150 Battles | Julia |
200 Battles | Gun Jack |
250 Battles | Mokujin |
300 Battles | Anna |
350 Battles | Bryan |
400 Battles | Heihachi |
450 Battles | Ogre |
500 Battles | True Ogre |
550 Battles | Tekken Ball Mode |
| 600 Battles | Tiger |
650 Battles | Gon |
700 Battles | Dr. Bosconovitch |
750 Battles | All characters and costumes are unlocked |
This method is a great option to use if you are playing alongside friends or simply wish to grind matches while trying out different fighters. If you want to stack battles, you can change the round count to 1 and change the time limit to 15 seconds in the Options menu. This will make it easier to get through plenty of matches quicker and get characters unlocked faster.
How to Unlock Dr. Bosconovitch
This methodology is best suited if you’re playing with friends or merely wish to grind out matches while testing out some fighters.
A handy tip: In the Options menu, you can get battles quickly by setting the round count to 1 and the time limit to 15 seconds. So you can go through matches with ease to unlock characters faster.
Here’s how to unlock him:
- Start Tekken Force Mode from the main menu.
- Fight your way through multiple levels, defeating waves of Heihachi’s army.
- After clearing three levels, you’ll face Heihachi as a boss.
- Defeat him, and a fourth and final level will be unlocked.
- In this stage, you’ll face off against Dr. Bosconovitch himself.
- Defeat the doctor, and he becomes a playable character in certain modes.
To fully unlock him in all modes, you’ll need to defeat him four times in Tekken Force Mode. This can be a bit repetitive, but it’s worth it for fans who want access to the full character roster.
Dr. B is notoriously fragile and has a bizarre fighting style. He constantly falls and struggles to stay upright, making him a hilarious but tricky character to master.
How to Unlock Gon
Gon is a character from the manga Hunter x Hunter. He is a tiny dinosaur that may look like a joke character but can fart on enemies, breathe fire, and be immune to attacks for a limited time.
To unlock Gon, follow these steps:
- Unlock Tekken Ball Mode by participating in 550 Versus Mode battles or beating Arcade Mode with 10 different characters.
- Once Ball Mode is available on the main menu, enter it and choose a character to challenge.
- Eventually, Gon will appear as your opponent in Tekken Ball Mode.
- Defeat him in Ball Mode, and you’ll be prompted to enter your initials.
- Type in “GON” when prompted, and he’ll be unlocked permanently.
Gon isn’t available in every mode, but he’s fully playable in Arcade and Versus. He’s considered a novelty character, but for completionists, he’s essential.
How to Unlock Tiger Jackson
Tiger is a flashy, disco-themed alternate version of Eddy Gordo. While he shares Eddy’s capoeira fighting style, he’s got his unique flair and is popular for his retro aesthetic.
Here’s how to unlock Tiger:
- Beat the game using all 17 default and unlockable characters.
- After you’ve done this, go back to the character select screen.
- Choose Eddy Gordo, and Tiger will be automatically selected in his place if all conditions are met.
Tiger is a purely cosmetic character in terms of gameplay, but he’s one of the coolest additions to the roster for fans who love stylized fighters.
How to Become a Tekken God
This may be more relevant to modern Tekken games, but for those wondering, in ranked modes (like in Tekken 7), titles such as Tekken God Prime and Tekken God Omega are used to denote elite players.
Tekken God Prime requires 18,000 Battle Points.
Losing even a single match can cost you up to 2,500 points.
The highest known title is Tekken God Omega, which requires a staggering 83,000 Battle Points.
Even though this isn’t a feature in Tekken 3, it may be something to note, if you’re going to advance your experience in future Tekken games.
Conclusion
Finding all the hidden characters in Tekken 3 is part of the fun of the game. You get to unlock the full roster of fighters by playing Arcade Mode, Versus Mode, and Tekken Force Mode. Each way unlocks characters a little differently, but altogether they create a full experience of seeing the game from allitss different angles. If you understand how to unlock all characters in Tekken 3, you will not miss out on the rich array of characters and their individual stories! It will enrich your overall experience.
