There have been countless video game mascots all throughout the multiple decades that gaming has been around as a medium. Aside fromMario,Sonic the Hedgehogmight just be one of the most recognizable video game mascots in all of the industry, yes, even with the major flopsSonic’svenerable franchise has had. Due to Sonic’s popularity, many other developers hoped to create a memorable and iconic mascot for their games.
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While there have been dozens upon dozens of duds over the last thirty years or so, it’s clear thatSonichasinspired countless video game mascots, many of whom are still recognized and beloved, even if some of them haven’t had a major game release in recent years. The following video game mascots were most certainly inspired by the likes of the icon himself;Sonic the Hedgehog.
6Crash Bandicoot - One Radical Dude
Easily one of the more recognizable mascots,Crash Bandicootexudes that late 90s and early 2000s “radical” charm and vibe.Crashstarted life on the PlayStation 1 with the release of the aptly namedCrash Bandicoot. This quirky, gnarly, and cartoon-like character took theSonicattitude but played it out in top-notch 3d platforming gameplay goodness.
Crashhas been inplenty of games since that first outingwith the most recent examples beingCrash Bandicoot 4andCrash BandicootN. Sane Trilogy.WhileCrash’sdesign and vibe have gone through some growing pains, looking at youWrath of Cortex, he largely remains the lovable, radical dude platforming fans have come to expect from his presence in the gaming landscape.
5Spyro The Dragon - Purple Dragon Power
Much likeCrash Bandicoot, the purple platforming dragon,Spyroalso started lifeon the PlayStation 1 with his first foray into platforming, specifically 3d platforming. What immediately makesSpyroso charming for many fans is that he comes across as confident yet humble, brash yet playful, and kind-hearted to a T.Spyrois the epitome of the perfect gaming mascot, one that is both recognizable and memorable.
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Spyrohas had some truly remarkable games, with the most recent example being the fully remadeSpyro Reignited Trilogy, a ground-up remake of the first three games. Even around twenty years later, these games still come across as top-tier products, mostly down to the waySpyromoves about the environments and interacts with other characters.
4Ty The Tasmanian Tiger - Ready For Action
Ty the Tasmanian Tigerisa fun and quirky 3d platforming seriesthat has spawned numerous sequels and HD remasters.Tywas first brought to the mascot-themed platforming space in the early 2000s with his titular release being on the original Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, and the PlayStation 2.Ty’sadventures take him across a fictitious Australian island paradise where he must jump, hop, skip, and boomerang his way to victory.
Ty’sattitude and persona are quite different from that ofSonic, however, he still manages to have the same “chill” vibe. His Australian accent was immediately unique and helped set him apart from the likes ofSonic, Crash, or Spyro. While he hasn’t gained the fame as his aforementioned counterparts, his games still charmed an audience of loyal boomerang-throwing fans.
3Lucky From Super Lucky’s Tale - Adorable And Spunky
Okay,LuckyfromSuper Lucky’s TaleandNew Super Lucky’s Talemight just be one of the most charming, adorable, and optimistic mascots in all of gaming. This underrated mascot exudes playfulness, positivity, and bravery.Luckywas originally brought to the limelight on the Xbox One but eventually come to all console platforms in the form ofNew Super Lucky’s Tale, a 3d action-adventure platformer thatblended great level designwith a host of creative character movements.
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Luckyis just one of those mascots that puts a smile right on players' faces, mostly because his platforming adventures see him stand strong in the face of all adversity, always ready to help his friends and family, and doing so with charm and ease. Plus, being able to burrow around stages asLuckyis one of the highlights of his mascot-centric games.
2Croc From The Croc Series - Filled With An Adventurous Spirit
Crocis a charming cartoon-like crocodile that has consistently, and unfortunately,swam under the radar for many mascot fans.Legend of the GobboswasCroc’sfirst foray into the gaming world. This PlayStation 1, Dreamcast, and PC platformer was released in the late 90s at a time when the likes ofSonic, Crash, and Spyrocontinued to grow in fame.
Crochas always trailed the pack, something that is unfortunate given his games are quite fun and his persona is one that exudes courage, kindness, and, of course, showcasing a radical side that somewhat kept him in the mascot discourse. Playing one of the earlyCrocgames was akin to sitting down and watching a Saturday morning cartoon. There was going to be adventure, fun, and hilarity along the way.
1Bubsy The Bobcat - A Misunderstood Mascot
PoorBubsy the Bobcat; hehas never managed to regain the spotlightlike he somewhat did in the early 90s on the Sega Genesis.Bubsywas a character that truly meant to soak up any fame thatSonicwas gaining from his 2d fast-as-heck platforming games. WhileBubsy’sfirst couple of games on the Genesis garnered some praise, they were ultimately compared toSonicaround every corner.
Bubsy, is, of course, a bobcat. He felt almost like a carbon copy ofSonicin terms of attitude and vibe. For those that never played aSonicgame (for some reason),Bubsyprovided an enjoyable, if janky, 2d platforming experience. Unfortunately, it was the abysmal 3d incarnation ofBubsyfrom the PlayStation 1 that really put the nail in the coffin for this divisive mascot.
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