From the beginning of video games, memorable characters have been just as crucial as the games themselves. They build brand recognition and give fans a reason to keep coming back, which can boost sales and keep game series popular. While iconic characters like Mario and Sonic are huge successes, many others don’t achieve lasting fame. Despite efforts and investment in enjoyable games, some company mascots just haven’t taken off. Here are five examples of characters that never quite became big hits.
1) Cool Spot & The Noid
In the 1980s and 90s, many companies created video game mascots to promote their brands. Some were quite successful in getting people to buy their games, while others didn’t gain much popularity due to poor game quality. Two memorable examples are Cool Spot, created by 7-Up, and the Noid, from Domino’s Pizza. These games were essentially interactive commercials that became briefly popular. Cool Spot first appeared in the game Cool Spot on several gaming consoles, and the Noid starred in Yo! Noid for the NES. While they were well-known for a time, both characters eventually faded from public view. Recently, the current owner of the Cool Spot brand declined a request to bring the character back, making a return unlikely.
2) Bubsy
Bubsy is a classic video game character first created by Activision in 1993 for the Super NES and Sega Genesis game, Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind. He’s an adorable orange bobcat who sports a white shirt with an exclamation point and is known for his catchphrase, “What could possibly go wrong?” While six Bubsy games have been released over the years, the character never became hugely popular, even with a new game launching in 2019. Though mostly known to fans of his original games, Bubsy is attempting a revival. A new game, Bubsy 4D, is planned for release in 2026 on all major consoles, and could help him reach a wider audience.
3) Alex Kidd
Alex Kidd is a classic video game character who first appeared in several games for Sega before Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega originally intended him to be their main mascot, and he debuted in Alex Kidd in Miracle World on the Sega Master System in 1986. He starred in five more games during the 1990s, but eventually faded in popularity as Sonic became more successful. After being largely forgotten for decades, Alex Kidd returned with a modern remake of his original game, Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX, released in June 2021. This was his most recent standalone game and was available on all major consoles.
4) Gex
Gex is a gecko character who first appeared in the 1995 PlayStation game of the same name. He was one of several characters PlayStation tried to establish as a mascot – alongside popular figures like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Ratchet & Clank. Gex starred in three games between 1995 and 1999. A fourth game was planned, but Eidos Interactive cancelled it, instead incorporating some of its ideas into the PlayStation 2 game Whiplash. Despite this, Gex remains a beloved character for many, and the 2025 release of Gex Trilogy was well-received by fans.
5) Bonk
The NEC TurboGrafx-16 (known as the PC Engine in Japan) wasn’t a major competitor in the 1990s console market, but it did find a dedicated audience. Its main character, Bonk, was a caveboy who starred in a series of side-scrolling platformer games, defeating enemies by literally headbutting them. Bonk appeared in six games, and also inspired the Air Zonk spin-off series. Despite being fun to play, Bonk, much like the TurboGrafx-16 itself, never became hugely popular. He’s been featured on various consoles over time, most recently in Bonk’s Adventure on the TurboGrafx-16 Mini – although that version is only available in Japanese.
If we missed any of your favorite retired mascots, let us know in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-12-28 17:40