2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for video game history. Several of the medium’s most recognizable characters are celebrating major anniversaries, including Super Mario and Donkey Kong turning 45, Zelda and Link reaching 40, Sonic the Hedgehog marking 35 years, and Pikachu, Lara Croft, and Crash Bandicoot hitting 30. Together, these milestones point back to the era that helped define how games were made, marketed, and remembered, while also showing how those early ideas still influence modern releases.
These characters rarely share the same screen outside crossover projects like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but culturally they occupy the same space. They represent a time when the console market was smaller, competition was clearer, and mascots mattered. In a present-day industry shaped by live services, massive backlogs, and even web3-adjacent experiments in ownership and collectibles, their longevity highlights how much the foundations of gaming still matter.
When Characters Became the Face of Consoles
In the early days of home consoles, games were fewer and audiences were more unified. When Donkey Kong launched in 1981, introducing Mario as a barrel-dodging plumber, Nintendo quickly realized that recognizable characters could carry entire platforms. Mario’s success led to dedicated series for both him and Donkey Kong, helping define Nintendo’s identity through the 1980s.
Sega followed a similar strategy in the early 1990s with Sonic the Hedgehog. Rather than treating protagonists as disposable, Sega designed Sonic to be visually simple, fast, and expressive. His role went beyond gameplay: Sonic became Sega’s answer to Mario, and their rivalry shaped marketing, design, and even player loyalty for years. It was a period when characters weren’t just part of games, they were part of the hardware story.
The Shift to 3D and New Mascots
The mid-1990s introduced a major turning point with the arrival of the original PlayStation. Sony needed its own identity and found it in Crash Bandicoot, a character built specifically for three-dimensional movement. Technical limits influenced his design, from camera angles to body proportions, but those constraints helped define how early 3D platformers felt and played.
That same year brought Lara Croft with Tomb Raider. Unlike most mascots of the time, Lara was built around exploration and atmosphere rather than speed or humor. Her success showed that players were ready for more grounded adventures, even if early portrayals reflected the industry’s uneven approach to representation. Over time, Lara became one of gaming’s first global stars, crossing into film, music events, and mainstream media in ways few characters had before.
Reinvention as a Survival Strategy
One reason these characters are still around decades later is their ability to change without losing their identity. Mario has moved from 2D platforming to open-ended 3D worlds, party games, sports spinoffs, and cinematic adaptations, while still keeping controls and tone approachable. As of 2025, the Mario series has sold more than 450 million copies, showing how consistency paired with experimentation can keep a franchise active across generations.
Sonic followed a similar path. After Sega exited the console market, many assumed the hedgehog would fade away with the hardware. Instead, Sonic continued through multiplatform releases and later found renewed visibility through successful movie adaptations, which fed interest back into the games. Lara Croft also benefited from reinvention, especially with the 2013 Tomb Raider reboot that reframed her as a more vulnerable and human protagonist, helping modernize the franchise for new audiences.
Cultural Reach Beyond the Controller
These icons persist because they operate outside games as much as within them. Mario, Sonic, Crash, and Lara Croft appear in films, TV projects, clothing lines, toys, orchestral concerts, and esports-adjacent events. Link’s music from The Legend of Zelda, for example, is now performed worldwide in classical settings, turning game soundtracks into cultural fixtures.
That crossover presence matters in a media environment where attention is fragmented. While newer characters like Ellie from The Last of Us or Kratos from God of War are critically respected, few have achieved the same symbolic reach across generations. The early mascots benefited from timing: fewer releases, shared player experiences, and clearer visual branding made them easier to recognize and remember.
Why Fewer New Icons Break Through
Modern gaming is bigger, but also more crowded. Players juggle massive digital libraries, subscription services, and constant updates. With so many choices, individual games often struggle to define an era the way Super Mario Bros. or Sonic the Hedgehog once did. Developers also tend to build longer, more complex experiences, which can dilute immediate memorability.
In the 1980s and 1990s, simplicity worked in a character’s favor. Everyone knew Mario because everyone played Mario. Today, attention is split across genres, platforms, and live-service ecosystems, including experiments tied to web3 economies and digital ownership. While those systems introduce new ways to engage, they rarely create mascots with the universal recognition of earlier decades.
What the 2026 Anniversaries Represent
Several franchises are using 2026 as both a celebration and a reset, with new releases tied to long-running series such as Mario Tennis Fever, Pokémon Pocopia, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. These projects are less about nostalgia alone and more about testing how legacy characters adapt to modern design expectations.
The anniversaries of Super Mario, Sonic, Lara Croft, and their peers ultimately highlight a simple pattern: technology evolves, markets expand, and trends shift, but characters endure when they balance accessibility, identity, and reinvention. In a medium defined by constant change, their continued relevance shows how much of today’s gaming culture still traces back to ideas formed decades ago.
Make sure to check out our articles about top games to play in 2026:
Best Nintendo Switch Games for 2026
Best First-Person Shooters for 2026
Best PlayStation Indie Games for 2026
Best Multiplayer Games for 2026
Most Anticipated Games of 2026
Top Game Releases for January 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which video game characters are celebrating anniversaries in 2026?
In 2026, Super Mario and Donkey Kong turn 45, Zelda and Link reach 40, Sonic the Hedgehog turns 35, and Pikachu, Lara Croft, and Crash Bandicoot mark 30 years.
Why are Mario, Sonic, and Lara Croft still popular today?
They remain relevant because their franchises continually reinvent gameplay and presentation while preserving recognizable identities that appeal to both longtime fans and new players.
What made early video game mascots important?
Early mascots helped define entire consoles. With fewer games on the market, characters like Mario and Sonic became shared cultural reference points for players worldwide.
Has modern gaming produced icons like Mario and Sonic?
While modern characters are successful, the crowded market and fragmented attention make it harder for new mascots to achieve the same universal recognition as early gaming icons.
How do these characters influence gaming culture today?
They extend beyond games into film, music, merchandise, and events, reinforcing their presence in popular culture and keeping long-running franchises visible across generations.
