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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.

In a recent interview on the Pause for Thought podcast, he explained that while not every game needs to be exclusive to consoles, he feels linking certain games to specific platforms is what truly makes them special.

Released in North America in 1985 for the NES, Excitebike is a straightforward but engaging racing game. Created by Nintendo’s renowned Shigeru Miyamoto, players control a motocross racer navigating challenging jumps and obstacles. With over 4.6 million copies sold, Excitebike ranks as the ninth best-selling game on the NES, and its enduring appeal is clear. The game is incredibly replayable – players are constantly motivated to improve their scores and keep playing without getting tired of it. Even today, it offers the same fun experience it did three decades ago.

There are lots of ways to pick the best games of the year, but here’s ComicBook’s list of the top 10 games of 2025.

Ridley Scott is a talented director known for working in many different genres, but he’s particularly celebrated for his science fiction films. Though not all of his sci-fi movies are considered his best work, several are frequently ranked among the greatest films ever made. Here’s a complete list of Ridley Scott’s science fiction movies, ordered from best to worst.