gaming rankings Archives - Shane the Gamer Gaming & eSports News Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:31:54 +0000 en-NZ hourly 1 https://www.shanethegamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/stg-play-final-cropped-black.png gaming rankings Archives - Shane the Gamer 32 32 Mario Tops The List As The World’s Most Popular Video Game Character Online https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/most-popular-video-game-characters-2026/ https://www.shanethegamer.com/esports-news/most-popular-video-game-characters-2026/#respond Fri, 16 Jan 2026 06:31:54 +0000 https://www.shanethegamer.com/?p=79975 A new January 2026 study has revealed the most popular video game characters on the internet, and it is a familiar face sitting firmly at the top. According to fresh research from studio Galaxsys, Mario is officially the most recognisable gaming icon online right now, beating out decades of competition from across consoles, genres, and […]

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A new January 2026 study has revealed the most popular video game characters on the internet, and it is a familiar face sitting firmly at the top. According to fresh research from studio Galaxsys, Mario is officially the most recognisable gaming icon online right now, beating out decades of competition from across consoles, genres, and generations.

The report analysed 25 famous playable characters, measuring how often they appear and are searched for across five major online platforms. These included Google searches, Instagram hashtags, TikTok trends, and YouTube videos and channels. Each character was then given an overall Engagement Score based on their combined popularity across the web.

The results paint a clear picture of which gaming legends still dominate online culture in 2026, and which newer icons are quickly catching up.

How The Rankings Were Calculated

Galaxsys tracked online popularity using a mix of social and search data to reflect how players actually engage with gaming characters today. The study looked at Instagram hashtags for fan art and community posts, TikTok hashtags for viral trends, YouTube videos and channels for creator activity, and monthly Google searches for overall interest.

By combining all of this data, each character received a single Engagement Score, making it easier to compare long running legends with modern era favourites. You can access the complete research methodologies and findings here.

The Top 25 Most Popular Video Game Characters Online

Character Video Game Game Release Year Google Searches Per Month Instagram Hashtags TikTok Hashtags Videos On YouTube YouTube Channels Engagement Score
Mario Super Mario Bros. 1985 18,949,570 6.6 mln 2.5 mln 1.6 mln 330 k 92.9
Pikachu Pokémon 1996 5,546,080 9.6 mln 3.1 mln 1.1 mln 256 k 88.1
Sonic the Hedgehog Sonic the Hedgehog 1991 13,428,730 5.5 mln 2.3 mln 1.2 mln 314 k 79.2
Pac-Man Pac-Man 1980 83,811,220 1.7 mln 218.3 k 147 k 44 k 36.2
Kratos God of War 2005 1,386,120 1 mln 764.7 k 671 k 119 k 28.1
Jinx League of Legends 2009 2,269,240 1.3 mln 1.9 mln 211 k 63 k 26.9
Arthur Morgan Red Dead Redemption 2 2018 597,310 652 k 796.3 k 407 k 55 k 18.2
Kirby Kirby’s Dream Land 1992 2,565,570 1.7 mln 410.1 k 202 k 54 k 15.1
Lara Croft Tomb Raider 1996 10,754,480 856 k 224.6 k 172 k 28 k 11.4
Donkey Kong Donkey Kong 1981 5,655,120 782 k 169.1 k 157 k 40 k 9.9
Leon S. Kennedy Resident Evil 2 1998 2,246,030 310 k 515.5 k 76 k 16 k 7.3
Sub-Zero Mortal Kombat 1992 702,710 785 k 222.8 k 89 k 26 k 6.7
Princess Peach Super Mario Bros. 1985 3,127,300 697 k 232.5 k 64 k 16 k 6.1
Master Chief Halo 2001 2,993,270 645 k 185.4 k 63 k 16 k 5.5
Aloy Horizon Zero Dawn 2017 191,730 475 k 150.9 k 125 k 19 k 5.2
Chun-Li Street Fighter 1991 1,965,980 631 k 114.2 k 57 k 13 k 4.3
Geralt of Rivia The Witcher 2007 1,218,720 602 k 122.7 k 50 k 11 k 3.8
Tracer Overwatch 2016 150,260 828 k 124 k 32 k 10 k 3.7
Nathan Drake Uncharted 2007 838,650 259 k 84.9 k 49 k 9.6 k 2.4
Cloud Strife Final Fantasy VII 1997 645,290 351 k 114.7 k 30 k 5.9 k 2.2
Sephiroth Final Fantasy VII 1997 898,570 208 k 83.9 k 38 k 8.9 k 2.0
Ezio Auditore Assassin’s Creed II 2009 174,790 196 k 55.4 k 47 k 7.8 k 1.6
Solid Snake Metal Gear Solid 1998 1,587,080 183 k 56.8 k 22 k 6.5 k 1.5
Samus Aran Metroid 1986 754,350 277 k 30.2 k 13 k 3.9 k 0.9
Minecraft Steve Minecraft 2011 2,221,220 44 k 16.1 k 12 k 5 k 0.7

Why Classic Characters Still Dominate

Commenting on the findings, Galaxsys CEO Hayk Sargsyan explained why characters like Pac-Man and Mario continue to outperform many modern icons. He noted that Pac-Man was one of the first games to reach everyday people, not just dedicated gamers, thanks to its simple and fun design. Mario followed a similar path but evolved continuously over decades, allowing Nintendo to build something even bigger around the character.

While newer characters may trend heavily on social media, this research shows that long standing icons still hold unmatched recognition and staying power online.

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