List of video game mascots explained

A video game mascot is a mascot that is used by video game companies to promote both the company and their specific video game series and franchises.[1] Video game mascots are sometimes considered to be similar to those at sporting events, with larger-than-life animals, such as Pikachu or Crash Bandicoot. However, some video game mascots, especially modern ones, are more human, such as Nathan Drake or Lara Croft becoming a series mascot.

There are few rules surrounding which characters are considered to be mascots for a series, but they are generally those that are featured highly in the promotional media for the game, and are often those that are known outside of the game platform. Many video game mascots have transcended their original video game series and have been promoted across multiple games and platforms.

Company/System mascots

● Koei-Tecmo — Nyabraham Lynnyahn

Specific series mascots

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A History of Videogame Mascots. July 30, 2014. Paste. December 29, 2017. July 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150702091809/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/07/marketing-history-a-gallery-of-gaming-mascots.html. dead.
  2. Web site: One of the worst video game mascots is getting his first new game in 20 years. Mike. Wehner. June 9, 2017. bgr.com. December 29, 2017. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112439/http://bgr.com/2017/06/09/bubsy-the-woolies-strike-back-playstation-4/. live.
  3. May 1993 . Feedback - New Mascots . Super NES Buyer's Guide . Sendai Publishing . 3 . 3 . 8 . Ed . Semrad.
  4. Web site: Klonoa May Get Poochied For American Wii Release. Michael. McWhertor. kotaku.com. October 30, 2008. January 3, 2018. September 1, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180901145528/https://kotaku.com/5071318/klonoa-may-get-poochied-for-american-wii-release. live.
  5. Web site: A History of Videogame Mascots. . July 30, 2014. Paste. December 27, 2017. July 2, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150702091809/http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/07/marketing-history-a-gallery-of-gaming-mascots.html. dead.
  6. Web site: E3 2011: Halfbrick Studios Demos 'Machine Gun Jetpack,' 'Fruit Ninja Frenzy' and 'Fruit Ninja Kinect'. June 9, 2011. gamerant.com. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054429/https://gamerant.com/fruit-ninja-frenzy-machine-gun-jetpack-previews-sieg-88292/. live.
  7. Web site: Stop What You're Doing and Get Jetpack Joyride for Your iPhone Now. Michael. McWhertor. kotaku.com. September 5, 2011. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112207/https://kotaku.com/5837313/stop-what-youre-doing-and-get-jetpack-joyride-for-your-iphone-now. live.
  8. Web site: 15 Forgotten Video Game Mascots From the 1990s. October 4, 2017. mentalfloss.com. December 29, 2017. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112448/http://mentalfloss.com/article/504911/15-forgotten-video-game-mascots-1990s. live.
  9. Web site: Hideo Kojima reveals the character behind the new Kojima Productions logo. Polygon. May 17, 2016. May 22, 2021. October 26, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211026023701/https://www.polygon.com/2016/5/17/11692240/kojima-productions-logo-character-ludens-hideo-kojima. live.
  10. Web site: 2024年に30歳を迎える大谷翔平選手がKONAMI野球ゲームアンバサダーに就任. January 16, 2024. Konami. January 25, 2024. January 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240120143447/https://www.konami.com/games/corporate/ja/news/topics/20240116/. live.
  11. Web site: What did we do to deserve the PC-FX? (And the PC-FX GA) . April 21, 2022 . May 26, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220526044851/https://nicole.express/2020/what-did-pcfx-deserve.html . live .
  12. Web site: The Top Ten Best Video Game Mascots That You Probably Didn't Even Know Were Meant To Be Mascots. cinemablend.com. July 2, 2009. December 29, 2017. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112400/https://www.cinemablend.com/games/Top-Ten-Best-Video-Game-Mascots-You-Probably-Didn-t-Even-Know-Were-Meant-Mascots-18450.html. live.
  13. Web site: Feature: Gaming's Most Iconic Mascots. Liam. Martin. January 16, 2011. Digital Spy. December 27, 2017. August 7, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180807185754/http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a298048/feature-gamings-most-iconic-mascots/. live.
  14. News: Freidly . Damien . What Everyone Forgets About Pikachu . 20 January 2022 . ScreenRant . 14 January 2022 . January 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120021426/https://screenrant.com/pokemon-why-pikachu-scared-poke-balls-ash/ . live .
  15. News: Kaliroff . Marc . In 1993, Kirby's Adventure and Sakurai's "Kirbyism" Broke Ground . 20 January 2022 . Goomba Stomp Magazine . 5 January 2022 . January 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120021446/https://goombastomp.com/kirbys-adventure-and-sakurais-kirbyism/ . live .
  16. Web site: Super Sonico Celebrates Her 10th Anniversary with Sanrio. crunchyroll.com. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112229/http://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2017/10/06-1/super-sonico-celebrates-her-10th-anniversary-with-sanrio. live.
  17. Web site: Being A Virtual Gravure Idol's Personal Photographer Isn't Easy. Mike. Fahey. July 10, 2016. Kotaku. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112234/https://kotaku.com/being-a-virtual-gravure-idols-personal-photographer-isn-1783245655. live.
  18. News: Yeung . Karlie . Pants vs. Pants, A Cultural Divide - Blog . 20 January 2022 . Nintendo World Report . 30 August 2010 . January 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220120020951/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/blog/23941/pants-vs-pants-a-cultural-divide . live .
  19. Web site: Remembering Sega's Exiled Mascot. Luke Plunkett. April 6, 2011. February 27, 2020. September 14, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170914125748/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/04/remembering-segas-exiled-mascot/. live.
  20. Web site: McWhertor . Michael . Sega has a new mascot with a cool history . Polygon . 25 March 2020 . en . 25 March 2020 . March 25, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200325203740/https://www.polygon.com/2020/3/25/21194385/sega-new-mascot-sega-shiro-segata-sanshiro-60th-anniversary . live .
  21. Web site: "Angry Birds, Happy Planet" climate action campaign honored with The UN Foundation's Global Leadership Award. October 19, 2016. Rovio. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054311/http://www.rovio.com/news/angry-birds-happy-planet-climate-action-campaign-honored-un-foundations-global-leadership-award. live.
  22. Web site: NIS America's Annual Press Event Brings News of 2017 Lineup. Shephard. Kenneth. February 17, 2017. CGMagazineOnline.com. CGMagazine. February 17, 2017. February 18, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170218103842/http://www.cgmagonline.com/2017/02/17/nis-americas-annual-press-event-brings-news-2017-lineup/. live.
  23. Web site: Xbox 360 Version of Street Fighter X Tekken Could Have Had Master Chief or Marcus Fenix as Playable Fighters. Nerd Reactor. January 23, 2012. December 29, 2017. It was originally announced that the PS VITA (and later PlayStation 3) version of Street Fighter X Tekken would add Cole MacGrath from Infamous and two of Sony’s mascots, Kuro and Toro, as exclusive characters only on PS3 and VITA, and Microsoft fans were left wondering if they could expect a similar surprise.. Chris. Del Castillo. December 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060121/http://nerdreactor.com/2012/01/23/xbox-360-version-of-street-fighter-x-tekken-could-had-master-chief-or-marcus-fenix-as-playable-fighters/. live.
  24. Web site: Sony grooming Sackboy to be face of PS3. Purchese. Robert. August 13, 2008. Eurogamer. Gamer Network. August 13, 2008. January 24, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130124213417/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/sony-grooming-sackboy-to-be-face-of-ps3. live.
  25. Web site: The Making Of: PlayStation - Edge Magazine . Next-gen.biz. https://web.archive.org/web/20120527153943/http://www.edge-online.com/features/making-playstation?page=5. 27 May 2012. 24 April 2009 . 16 January 2016.
  26. Web site: Did You Know The Origin Stories of These Famous Video Game Mascots?. smosh.com. January 3, 2018. December 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060152/http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/articles/did-you-know-origin-stories-these-famous-video-game-mascots. live.
  27. Web site: Generation gone: Where PlayStation mascot Crash Bandicoot is today. August 13, 2019. August 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190813215753/https://venturebeat.com/community/2013/11/16/looking-back-where-crash-bandicoot-is-today/. live.
  28. Web site: Review: Astro's Playroom. November 6, 2020. November 16, 2020. November 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201123223912/https://www.destructoid.com/stories/review-astro-s-playroom-607996.phtml. live.
  29. Web site: Astro-Bot spinoff Astro's Playroom confirmed for PS5. November 16, 2020. October 23, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201023023615/https://www.shacknews.com/article/118596/astro-bot-spinoff-astros-playroom-confirmed-for-ps5. live.
  30. Web site: Here's Why PlayStation is Using Astro Bot in a Non-VR Game. October 6, 2020. November 16, 2020. January 22, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210122222617/https://uploadvr.com/astros-playroom-vr/. live.
  31. Web site: Is Astro Bot the Mascot of the PS4 Era?. October 3, 2018. November 16, 2020. November 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025502/https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2018/10/talking_point_is_astro_bot_the_mascot_of_the_ps4_era. live.
  32. Web site: Our 10 Favourite Japanese Video Game Mascots. ricedigital. August 4, 2020. May 22, 2021. December 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205135619/https://ricedigital.co.uk/10-favourite-japanese-video-game-mascots/. live.
  33. Web site: 15 Thing You Never Knew About Final Fantasy VII. screenrant. January 23, 2017. May 22, 2021. April 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210418002748/https://screenrant.com/final-fantasy-vii-trivia-facts-star-wars-cloud-strife-game/. live.
  34. Aero the Acro-Bat - Sunsoft . . 49 . 6 . Sendai Publishing . August 1993 . 96.
  35. Web site: Interview: Shantae Co-Creator Matt Bozon Discusses the Series' Future & Shantae in Super Smash Bros. . Isaac . Chris . December 2, 2015 . . December 2, 2015 . December 3, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151203174143/http://www.themarysue.com/interview-with-shantae-co-creator-matt-bozon/ . live .
  36. Web site: Be Kind, Rewind: The Real Story Behind Blinx, Xbox's Mediocre Mascot. GamesRadar. April 4, 2017. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228112323/http://www.gamesradar.com/be-kind-rewind-the-real-story-behind-blinx-xboxs-mediocre-mascot/. live.
  37. Web site: Meet red, the Angry Birds mascot. Peggy. Loh. July 21, 2016. New Straits Times. Malaysia. December 27, 2017. December 28, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171719/https://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/07/159791/meet-red-angry-birds-mascot. live.
  38. Pirrello, Phil and Monfette, Christopher (2008-05-12). Big Screen Big Daddy . IGN. Retrieved on 2020-04-16
  39. Web site: The Best Video Game Mascots of All Time25. Crash Bandicoot . Rich . Knight . Gus . Turner . August 23, 2013 . . December 27, 2017 . September 12, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170912054912/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2013/08/best-video-game-mascots/crash-bandicoot . live .
  40. Web site: 10 Lost Video Game Mascots: Where Are They Now?. Alex. Hartwig. March 22, 2016. Nerd Much. December 29, 2017. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229112833/https://www.nerdmuch.com/games/9034/missing-video-game-mascots-icons-crash-spyro-conker/. live.
  41. Web site: Disgaea Mascot Featured in New PSP Title. John. Tanaka. IGN. 2008-08-29. 2008-11-27. February 16, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120216084157/http://uk.psp.ign.com/articles/906/906607p1.html. live.
  42. Web site: The 50 Greatest Video Game Characters. Empire. December 29, 2017. November 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121102113748/http://www.empireonline.com/features/50-greatest-video-game-characters/default.asp?film=13. live.
  43. Web site: 2020-06-11 . Everything You Need to Know About the Nissan Skyline GT-R . 2024-08-01 . Hypebeast.
  44. Web site: O'Connell . RJ . The Legend Of The Castrol TOM’s Supra . 2024-08-01 . www.dailysportscar.com.
  45. Web site: The lesser-known videogames of famous designers. Den of Geek. May 14, 2013. December 29, 2017. December 29, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232431/http://www.denofgeek.com/games/gaming/25579/the-lesser-known-videogames-of-famous-designers. live.
  46. Web site: 20 Most Popular Anime/Game Names to Give Children. animenewsnetwork. May 22, 2021. October 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231003222432/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2010-08-12/20-most-popular-anime/game-names-to-give-children. live.
  47. Web site: Video Game Characters You Can Meet (Or Could Have Met) In Theme Parks. TheGamer. September 19, 2020. May 22, 2021. February 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210204092955/https://www.thegamer.com/video-game-theme-park-sonic-mario-crash-spyro/. live.
  48. Web site: The rise of Sackboy, the mascot PlayStation has been searching for. Yin-Poole. Wesley. 9 November 2012. Eurogamer. Gamer Network. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200224214148/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-10-17-the-rise-of-sackboy-the-mascot-playstation-has-been-searching-for. 24 February 2020. 24 February 2020.
  49. Web site: Misadventures of Tron Bonne, The. Neil Foster. February 20, 2016. September 23, 2021. October 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211027111754/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/misadventures-of-tron-bonne-the/. live.
  50. Web site: A History of Videogame Mascots. Paste.. July 30, 2014. May 20, 2020. March 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210308152052/https://www.pastemagazine.com/games/marketing-history-a-gallery-of-gaming-mascots/. dead.