There have been countless video game mascots all throughout the multiple decades that gaming has been around as a medium. Aside from Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog might just be one of the most recognizable video game mascots in all of the industry, yes, even with the major flops Sonic's venerable franchise has had. Due to Sonic's popularity, many other developers hoped to create a memorable and iconic mascot for their games.
While there have been dozens upon dozens of duds over the last thirty years or so, it's clear that Sonic has inspired 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.
6 Crash Bandicoot - One Radical Dude
Easily one of the more recognizable mascots, Crash Bandicoot exudes that late 90s and early 2000s "radical" charm and vibe. Crash started life on the PlayStation 1 with the release of the aptly named Crash Bandicoot. This quirky, gnarly, and cartoon-like character took the Sonic attitude but played it out in top-notch 3d platforming gameplay goodness.
Crash has been in plenty of games since that first outing with the most recent examples being Crash Bandicoot 4 and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. While Crash's design and vibe have gone through some growing pains, looking at you Wrath of Cortex, he largely remains the lovable, radical dude platforming fans have come to expect from his presence in the gaming landscape.
5 Spyro The Dragon - Purple Dragon Power
Much like Crash Bandicoot, the purple platforming dragon, Spyro also started life on the PlayStation 1 with his first foray into platforming, specifically 3d platforming. What immediately makes Spyro so charming for many fans is that he comes across as confident yet humble, brash yet playful, and kind-hearted to a T. Spyro is the epitome of the perfect gaming mascot, one that is both recognizable and memorable.
Spyro has had some truly remarkable games, with the most recent example being the fully remade Spyro 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 way Spyro moves about the environments and interacts with other characters.
4 Ty The Tasmanian Tiger - Ready For Action
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger is a fun and quirky 3d platforming series that has spawned numerous sequels and HD remasters. Ty was 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's adventures take him across a fictitious Australian island paradise where he must jump, hop, skip, and boomerang his way to victory.
Ty's attitude and persona are quite different from that of Sonic, however, he still manages to have the same "chill" vibe. His Australian accent was immediately unique and helped set him apart from the likes of Sonic, 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.
3 Lucky From Super Lucky's Tale - Adorable And Spunky
Okay, Lucky from Super Lucky's Tale and New Super Lucky's Tale might just be one of the most charming, adorable, and optimistic mascots in all of gaming. This underrated mascot exudes playfulness, positivity, and bravery. Lucky was originally brought to the limelight on the Xbox One but eventually come to all console platforms in the form of New Super Lucky's Tale, a 3d action-adventure platformer that blended great level design with a host of creative character movements.
Lucky is 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 as Lucky is one of the highlights of his mascot-centric games.
2 Croc From The Croc Series - Filled With An Adventurous Spirit
Croc is a charming cartoon-like crocodile that has consistently, and unfortunately, swam under the radar for many mascot fans. Legend of the Gobbos was Croc's first foray into the gaming world. This PlayStation 1, Dreamcast, and PC platformer was released in the late 90s at a time when the likes of Sonic, Crash, and Spyro continued to grow in fame.
Croc has 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 early Croc games was akin to sitting down and watching a Saturday morning cartoon. There was going to be adventure, fun, and hilarity along the way.
1 Bubsy The Bobcat - A Misunderstood Mascot
Poor Bubsy the Bobcat; he has never managed to regain the spotlight like he somewhat did in the early 90s on the Sega Genesis. Bubsy was a character that truly meant to soak up any fame that Sonic was gaining from his 2d fast-as-heck platforming games. While Bubsy's first couple of games on the Genesis garnered some praise, they were ultimately compared to Sonic around every corner.
Bubsy, is, of course, a bobcat. He felt almost like a carbon copy of Sonic in terms of attitude and vibe. For those that never played a Sonic game (for some reason), Bubsy provided an enjoyable, if janky, 2d platforming experience. Unfortunately, it was the abysmal 3d incarnation of Bubsy from the PlayStation 1 that really put the nail in the coffin for this divisive mascot.