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

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.

The post Mario Tops The List As The World’s Most Popular Video Game Character Online appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

A stylish new chapter in gaming fashion

The worlds of gaming and fashion collide once again as 100 Thieves teams up with The Pokémon Company International to unveil The Pokémon + 100 Thieves ‘25 Collection. Building on their successful 2024 collaboration, this new line captures the adventurous spirit of Pokémon Trainers while staying true to 100 Thieves’ reputation for premium streetwear and cutting-edge design.

Get ready, Trainers! 👀

— Pokémon (@Pokemon) October 15, 2025

The Next Chapter of Pokémon x 100 Thieves

Described by the organisation as “a bold new apparel collection that perfectly fuses contemporary streetwear with the expansive world of Pokémon,” the ‘25 Collection showcases 100 Thieves’ signature craftsmanship and attention to detail. Each piece is designed to blend comfort, quality, and creativity, appealing to fans who want to express their love for Pokémon through premium fashion.

According to 100 Thieves, this drop “represents our deep commitment to quality and design, capturing the essence of a Pokémon Trainer’s ambitious journey.”

Expert Craftsmanship and Iconic Design

100 Thieves has evolved.

The iconic collaboration is back: Pokémon + 100 Thieves ’25 Collection

10.25.2025 pic.twitter.com/4zwr7tXAdE

— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) October 16, 2025

Spanning 19 pieces in total, the Pokémon + 100 Thieves ‘25 Collection is one of the brand’s most detailed releases to date. It features a mix of high-quality cut-and-sew garments, including:

• Double knee carpenter pants
• Two premium jerseys
• A reversible vest
• A flannel jacket

These are complemented by a core line of four unique t-shirts and four hoodies, each spotlighting fan-favourite Pokémon like Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Dragonite, Mew, Umbreon, Lugia, and Ho-Oh.

Rounding out the drop is a Gyarados crewneck and a Kanto Region–inspired Ash Ketchum cap, embroidered with the classic 100 Thieves core logo, a subtle nod to the series’ roots and the timeless trainer aesthetic.

When and Where to Get It

The Pokémon + 100 Thieves ‘25 Collection launches Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 10 AM PST, available exclusively through 100Thieves.com.

Given the success of their previous collaboration, fans should expect items to sell out quickly. This collection blends nostalgia with modern design in a way that only 100 Thieves can deliver, making it a must-have for collectors, fashion enthusiasts, and Pokémon Trainers alike.

The post 100 Thieves and Pokemon Reunite for Premium ‘25 Collection appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

I never checked out the original Detective Pikachu game, despite being super curious about it.

A detective adventure game with a talking Pikachu, it couldn’t sound more up my alley. After watching end enjoying the movie far more than I should have, I still didn’t play the game. Now the sequel Detective Pikachu Returns is out, I figured I’ll jump in.

The game kicks off with a short synopsis of the first game, which turns out was pretty close to what happened in the movie. Tim meets Pikachu who not only talks, but is a great detective. The kicker, only Tim can understand him. They are doing some investigating when an issue of rampaging Pokémon leads to them finding a mysterious drug called R has been getting released. So pretty much what we saw in the movie.

Detective Pikachu Returns kicks off 2 years later. There is a celebration of what Tim and Pikachu achieved two years earlier when a raging corviknight attacks. Here Tim and Pikachu need to get to the bottom of it. The reason I am not touching the story much is because a lot of the story is pretty obvious, and a lot of it is also in the movie. It’s an odd choice, but yeah, it is what it is.

The bulk of the game is walking around, talking to people and getting past puzzles. The puzzles themself are consistently incredibly easy, and I don’t know how I feel about that. It’s clearly an excellent entry point for our younger nerds to get into detective games which is cool. But it would have been awesome if it needed a little bit more brain power and let there be accessibility options and hints for younger players.

The art style is, well, fine.

They have used some chunkier styles to make it simple and look OK, but it just never gets past OK. Like, it’s not bad, it’s just not good. Not a lot of detail, not the cleanest lines, again, just kinda OK. The voice acting is pretty similar as well, with being totally fine. Pikachu’s deep voice really threw me off as I was expecting Ryan Reynolds voice to come out, but yea, it’s good enough.

Whether you will enjoy Detective Pikachu Returns will really depend on your mood, or age. If you want a chill as, silly, detective adventure, there is fun to be had here.

If you’re younger and want to try something different, this is a great gateway into the genre. If you want to engage your brain, this won’t be what you’re looking for.

The post Detective Pikachu Returns (Switch) Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.