The 16 Best Platformer Mascot Characters of All Time

Industry-defining icons go head to head with cult heroes and forgotten also-rans, spanning flat 2D sprites and bold 3D adventurers across every console war. Who is the true king of the genre?

1

Mario

Nintendo's mustachioed plumber, the most iconic and best-selling platforming mascot in gaming.

1000pts

2

Sonic the Hedgehog

Sega's blue speedster, created to rival Mario and define the company's identity.

795pts

3

Banjo and Kazooie

Rare's bear-and-bird duo at the heart of a beloved Nintendo 64 collectathon series.

733pts

4

Conker

Rare's foul-mouthed red squirrel who subverted the cute-mascot platformer mold.

733pts

5

Kirby

HAL Laboratory's pink puffball who inhales enemies to copy their abilities.

733pts

6

Gex

The TV-obsessed, pop-culture-quipping gecko mascot of Crystal Dynamics' platformers.

733pts

7

Sly Cooper

The cane-wielding raccoon thief leading Sucker Punch's stealth-platforming trilogy.

681pts

8

Earthworm Jim

The wacky cartoon earthworm in a robotic supersuit from the '90s 2D era.

681pts

9

Yoshi

The friendly dinosaur who flutter-jumps and gobbles enemies in his own platforming series.

681pts

10

Donkey Kong

Nintendo's tie-wearing ape, star of both the arcade classic and the Country series.

619pts

11

Mega Man

Capcom's blue robot hero who absorbs the powers of defeated bosses.

619pts

12

Jak and Daxter

Naughty Dog's adventurous boy and his wisecracking ottsel sidekick.

619pts

13

Crash Bandicoot

The spinning, bug-eyed marsupial who became the PlayStation's unofficial 3D mascot.

545pts

14

Klonoa

Namco's long-eared dream traveler from a pair of cult-favorite platformers.

545pts

15

Spyro the Dragon

The cute purple dragon whose PS1 trilogy went claw-to-toe with Nintendo's stars.

454pts

16

Rayman

Ubisoft's limbless hero known for vibrant 2D platformers and inventive level design.

454pts