7. Pom-Pom – miHoYo
Pom-Pom is not the official mascot of miHoYo, but they won a place in my heart with their long, floppy ears and darling conductor outfit. I have to admit, I haven’t played Honkai: Star Rail, but I have watched my mother play it—the muscle trashcans are fabulous.
Pom-Pom sounds like an adorable mascot, reminding you to get some sleep and seeming to enjoy the cosy lifestyle. They speak in the third person, which is a perfect addition in traits to create a cutie pie, a la Gurgi (The Black Cauldron), Elmo (Sesame Street), or Ice Bear (We Bare Bears); not quite The Hulk, or Minsc (Baldur’s Gate), though some might disagree.
8. Opa-Opa – SEGA
Before Sonic and Alex Kidd, there was Opa-Opa. An adorable little spacecraft from the Fantasy Zone series, Opa-Opa is SEGA’s second mascot (the first being Professor Asobin), one who absolutely deserves a spot on my list.
With his cute little wings and tiny feet, his design is simple but memorable. To double up on this, Opa-Opa was an accompanying character in the anime Zillion, which SEGA partially funded. He also enjoys shopping, albeit usually for new weapons, but you can help him get snazzy new boots.
Though his time as SEGA’s mascot was short-lived, Opa-Opa appeared in many SEGA games in the years to come, the latest of which was as part of a pre-global release event in Sonic Rumble. We haven’t received a new Fantasy Zone game for quite some time, the newest release being Super Fantasy Zone in 1992, though we did get a port in 2022 for the SEGA Genesis Mini 2. I would wholeheartedly love to see Opa-Opa return in a new title for the series. SEGA- it’s never too late to bring him back. I promise.
9. Shantae – WayForward Technologies
The only ‘human’ on my list is Shantae. I’m not a huge fan of humans, but this half-genie is too enchanting not to add to my list. Her colour scheme is pleasing to the eye, and the way her hair flows is super pretty. I’m quite a visual person, so a lot of the appeal to me is the way that she has been drawn, her outfits, and her expressions.
I haven’t played the games (look, another game I haven’t played!), but it definitely sounds like something I’d enjoy playing, or at least watching someone play. Listen, I was the younger sibling, I didn’t get to play games much.
10. Bubblun – Taito
Bubblun is probably one of my favourite mascots ever. Sure, I prefer his twin brother, Bobblun, but he isn’t the face of the company. If you’ve never played Bubble Bobble, Puzzle Bobble, Bust-a-Move, or any other game that Bub features in, you are missing out. In fact, Bust-a-Move 2 made it on the list of our favourite PS2 games.
He is a young boy (whose human name is Bubby, and the main character of the Rainbow Island series) who gets turned into a Bubble Dragon by the magician Super Drunk in the Wizard’s Forest. Bubble Dragons are adorable, they have the power to fire bubbles from their mouths, which is the main form of attack in the Bubble Bobble game. In this game, it’s your mission to rescue your girlfriend, Betty, by capturing enemies in your bubbles and making your way to the 100th floor in the Cave of Monsters.
It’s delightful that this character is built with a lot of personality, especially in the later games in the series, where we see his identity shine as the games progress throughout the years. Bub has been around since 1986, making him a staple in the world of mascots, where he is still shining today.
11. Moogle – Square Enix
Probably one of the most recognised mascots on this list, the Moogle is an iconic character from the Final Fantasy franchise. Moogles are well-loved creatures—specifically by my brother, Kupovon—who captured the hearts of many gamers back in the 90s. I mean, who doesn’t love a cute little kitty cat? And what’s even better: it has bat wings and a pompom on its head!
These creatures come in some different forms, depending on the game they’re in. It’s always a great time when you see your first Moogle in-game, and always fun when you see references to them before they show up. I long for Yuffie’s Moogle hood in FF7: Remake Intergrade, someone should make one for me. I will return the favour by crocheting a plushie for you.
12. Chocobo – Square Enix
Another famous mascot is Square Enix’s Chocobo. It’s a bird with a distinctive silhouette and an even more distinctive cry, which I hear daily as it’s Kane’s message tone. Its brightly coloured down goes well with its long legs and big beak. This translates well into any art style. Baby Chocobo are also adorable, with their big heads and teeny, tiny wings.
Most iterations allow you to raise your own Chocobo, forming an attachment to the vivid birds. The fact that they’re incredibly useful for travel helps it quite a bit. Their gangly legs when they run are absolutely darling, and the Chocobo theme is great, too. It changes a bit through the games but has the same base melody.
Let me know if any of my picks shouldn’t count as a mascot, and tell me your favourites in the comments. Who knows, maybe I’ll make a list compiling my favourite game mascots, such as Pikmin (yes, I’m on a Pikmin kick) or the unofficial face of Story of Seasons, the chunky cow.
Dividers provided by Sarida Graphics.
Melltith, or Melly, enjoys cosier or slower paced games and likes to take her time with things.
She's a very crafty person who will throw her all into a multitude of new projects and skills.