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Revealed: The public’s all-time favourite on-screen characters of film, TV and gaming
gaming
- If search volume equated to Instagram followers, the Joker could charge $102k (£74.5k) for a sponsored post
- Rachel Green has the most Instagram posts hashtagged with her name of all sitcom characters (1 million)
- Pennywise, Chucky and Jigsaw are the most searched-for horror characters
- Games featuring Pikachu rake in highest revenue ($90 billion/£65.9 billion) of all the top gaming characters
There are hundreds of iconic characters from film, TV and gaming who will forever be household names. But which characters are the public’s all-time favourites? New research by Currys looked at online search volumes and social media posts that talked about some of the most famous personalities from various media genres. Below you can find out who topped each list as the most legendary icons of their genre.
The most iconic gaming characters
- If search volume equated to Instagram followers, Sonic could charge $67k (£48.9k) for a sponsored post
- Pikachu has the most Instagram posts hashtagged with his name of all gaming characters (7.4 million)
- Mario has appeared in the most games of all characters (259)
- Total revenue for the Pokemon game series ($90 billion/£65.9 billion) is higher than any other game, with second-placed Mario Bros lagging far behind ($30.3 billion/£22.2 billion)
The world of gaming has transformed over the decades, but is it the high-definition characters of today that are the fan favourites, or the iconic cartoons of decades gone by? The answer appears to be the latter. The ever-so-speedy Sonic the Hedgehog raced to the top of the search volume ranks, followed by Pikachu and Pac-Man. It’s a similar story on Instagram, with Pikachu, Mario and Sonic receiving the most posts.
| Rank | Character | Global Monthly Search volume | No. of Insta posts with name hashtagged |
| 1 | Sonic | 6,700,000 | 3,273,487 |
| 2 | Pikachu | 3,700,000 | 7,430,874 |
| 3 | Pac-man | 3,000,000 | 1,642,920 |
| 4 | Mario | 2,100,000 | 5,559,810 |
| 5 | Big Boss | 712,500 | 2,800,000 |
| 6 | Luigi | 641,200 | 1,300,000 |
| 7 | Lara Croft | 607,700 | 735,000 |
| 8 | Kratos | 571,900 | 654,000 |
| 9 | Yoshi | 556,700 | 1,800,000 |
| 10 | Diablo | 490,900 | 1,100,000 |
The most terrifying horror characters
- If search volume equated to Instagram followers, Pennywise could charge $15k (£10.9k) for a sponsored post
- Pennywise has the most Instagram posts hashtagged with his name of all horror characters (2 million)
- Hannibal Lecter has the highest average IMDb rating (rated 7.2)
Although many of us would probably rather forget some of the most memorable horror characters, the fact that we can’t makes them all the more iconic. Taking first place for search volume and number of Instagram posts is killer clown Pennywise, who has really had a lasting impact on audiences. He’s followed by evil doll Chucky and Saw’s murderous mastermind Jigsaw in terms of search volume, and Dracula and Halloween’s Michael Myers in number of Instagram posts.
| Rank | Character | Global monthly search volume | No. of Insta posts with name hashtagged |
| 1 | Pennywise AKA IT | 1,500,000 | 2,000,000 |
| 2 | Chucky | 1,400,000 | 1,100,000 |
| 3 | Jigsaw | 967,000 | 844,000 |
| 4 | Freddy Krueger | 943,000 | 991,000 |
| 5 | Michael Myers | 798,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 6 | Frankenstein’s Monster | 673,900 | 124,000 |
| 7 | Hannibal Lecter | 635,000 | 332,000 |
| 8 | Dracula | 632,000 | 1,500,000 |
| 9 | Slenderman | 579,500 | 517,000 |
| 10 | Eli | 324,100 | 1,000,000 |
The Best-loved sitcom characters
- If search volume equated to Instagram followers, Mr Bean could charge $11k (£8k) for a sponsored post
- Rachel Green has the most Instagram posts hashtagged with her name of all sitcom characters (1 million)
- Rachel, Monica, Ross and Phoebe from Friends have the joint highest average IMDb rating (rated 8.9)
There have been plenty of memorable sitcoms over the decades, each attracting die-hard fan bases. So, it’s interesting to see that the data reveals a landslide victory for Friends, with the cast beaten only by Mr Bean in search volume. Not only does this suggest that Friends could be the most iconic sitcom of all time, but it also answers the question many Friends fans have been dying to know – who is the most popular ‘Friend’? It turns out the on-screen couple, Ross and Rachel both take the crowns.
| Rank | Character | Global monthly search volume | No. of Insta posts with name hashtagged |
| 1 | Mr Bean | 1,100,000 | 568,000 |
| 2 | Ross Geller | 589,300 | 932,000 |
| 3 | Rachel Green | 509,400 | 1,000,000 |
| 4 | Monica Geller | 491,700 | 969,000 |
| 5 | Joey Tribbiani | 470,000 | 957,000 |
| 6 | Will Smith | 364,000 | 247,000 |
| 7 | Phoebe Buffay | 338,000 | 812,000 |
| 8 | Bart Simpson | 303,000 | 590,000 |
| 9 | Jerry Seinfeld | 273,000 | 125,000 |
| 10 | Homer Simpson | 266,000 | 688,000 |
The most legendary superheroes and villains
- The Joker, Spider-Man and Black Panther are the most searched-for superheroes and villains in the world
- Batman has the most Instagram posts hashtagged with his name of all superheroes and villains (28.2 million)
- Black Panther has the highest average IMDb rating for all films he has featured in (rated 8.1)
Who steals the title as the greatest superhero is a popular topic of debate. As is the Marvel vs. DC Comics rivalry. To settle these disputes once and for all, the data reveals that Batman, and his nemesis the Joker, take the victory as the most-searched-for and posted about characters. But if we’re basing the win on a majority vote, Marvel and DC Comics are neck and neck, with five characters each ranking in the top 10 – leaving the competition very much open between the two market leaders.
| Rank | Character | Global monthly search volume | No. of Insta posts with name hashtagged |
| 1 | Joker | 10,200,000 | 13,700,000 |
| 2 | Spider-Man | 7,200,000 | 20,500,000 |
| 3 | Black Panther | 4,400,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 4 | Wonder Woman | 3,800,000 | 9,300,000 |
| 5 | Iron Man | 3,400,000 | 16,600,000 |
| 6 | Batman | 3,200,000 | 28,200,000 |
| 7 | Harley Quinn | 3,200,000 | 6,600,000 |
| 8 | Thor | 2,800,000 | 10,900,000 |
| 9 | Deadpool | 2,700,000 | 6,100,000 |
| 10 | Aquaman | 2,600,000 | 2,500,000 |
Methodology
The top characters were identified using Google searches for the “top sitcom characters”, etc. From this, a list of approximately 100 characters was curated for each category, which was narrowed down to 15 based on the highest search volumes (found using SEMRush). Instagram hashtag counts are based on the number of posts hashtagged with the characters’ names, e.g. #Sonic, etc. Potential Instagram earnings were calculated by using the search volume for each character as a hypothetical ‘follower count’. With these figures, we calculated an earning per post based on an unspoken industry standard rate of $100 per 10,000 followers. IMDb ratings were calculated by averaging the IMDb rating of all TV shows or films the character has featured in. For gaming, we identified the total number of games the characters have featured in.
155.io, the live content studio built for a mobile-first world, has appointed Raúl Cué as Head of Integration to accelerate its mission of bringing chaos-fueled content to the next-gen of players.
With extensive iGaming experience, Cué joins the 155.io team to help operators and aggregators seamlessly connect with the studio’s 24/7 live portfolio, featuring Marbles.io, Stairpon
Raúl Cué, Head of Integration at 155.io, said: “It’s rare you see a company in this space do something truly unique and that instantly drew me to Sam and 155.io. They’ve quickly curated a revolutionary portfolio of titles where my goal is elevating the integration experience for operators and aggregators. I’m looking forward to being in Lisbon for the SBC Summit where we’re bringing our live chaos to the show – watch this space!”
He will also support partners in quickly making these cutting-edge titles live, whether through Hub88.io or via simple direct integrations. Cué’s role extends to working with providers to identify and implement practical solutions, ensuring integrations are efficient as well as impactful, sustainable, and future-ready.
Cué joins 155.io from Live Casino provider EEZE, bringing an impressive track record across Live Casino, Slots, and the sweeps market.
Sam Jones, CEO of 155.io, commented: “Welcoming Raúl to the 155.io set-up adds real momentum to the significant progress we’ve made. His expertise will help us bring even more chaos, flipping the tables on real-world, awesome content that the new wave of players love. He’s exactly who we need to drive the next growth stage.”
The post 155.io names Raúl Cué as Head of Integration to unleash chaos content worldwide appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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First Look Games and Zillion Games Partner to Bring 50+ Award-Winning Titles to Global Affiliate Network
First Look Games, the London-based B2B marketing platform empowering iGaming game studios, has announced a new partnership with Zillion Games, the award-winning Cyprus-based game developer known for high-performing HTML5 slots and custom casino solutions. The partnership takes effect immediately.
Founded in 2018, First Look Games enables game studios to distribute certified marketing assets, demo games, and game information to a network of over 1000 approved affiliated publishers who collectively reach more than 40 million players worldwide. The platform offers advanced reporting tools, including Accuracy Management and Sentiment Analysis, which are set up to bring unique insights to game studios to support their growth.
Zillion Games, established in 2021, has quickly built a reputation for innovation and quality in online slots, with a portfolio of more than 50 titles, including popular releases such as Candy Stash Deluxe, Gems Sky, and Golden Dragon Deluxe. RNG-certified by iTech Labs, Zillion supports 190+ currencies, including fiat and crypto, and delivers its games to 900+ operators worldwide. Its content is available across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Brazil, USA, Brazil and other key markets, with notable growth marked by multiple EGR award wins, including EGR Europe Awards 2025 “European casino content supplier. Under 5 years” and EGR Italy Awards 2024 “Rising Star.”
Through this partnership, Zillion Games’ complete catalogue is now available to First Look Games’ affiliate network. Affiliates gain instant access to promotional materials, demo links, and game information to deliver accurate, engaging & compliant content. The collaboration aims to expand Zillion’s market reach, support growth in new jurisdictions, and set higher standards for compliance and review quality.
Partnership Benefits
Faster time to market for Zillion Games releases
Access to high-quality visuals, game sheets, and demo tools
Enhanced compliance and Accuracy Management features
Support for expansion into new regulated markets
The partnership meets the rising demand for streamlined content distribution. Affiliates will have instant access to accurate marketing materials and compliance documentation, enabling them to serve their audiences more effectively while maintaining regulatory standards.
“Partnering with First Look Games is a powerful step forward for Zillion Games,” said Tasha Sokolova, Head of Marketing at Zillion Games. “Our mission has always been to deliver unlimited excitement and massive winning opportunities to players worldwide, and now we can extend that reach through a network of trusted affiliates who share our passion for quality and innovation. With First Look Games’ advanced tools, we’re able to launch games faster, maintain the highest standards of compliance, and connect with millions of players in new and exciting ways.”
Tom Galanis, Co-Founder and CEO at First Look Games said: “We’re delighted to welcome Zillion Games to the First Look Games platform. Their recent titles have hit the mark with players and partners alike, combining standout gameplay with innovative features that set new standards in the market. We’re excited to support them on their journey by connecting them with our global network of affiliate publishers and provide them new data insights to support their growth.”
The post First Look Games and Zillion Games Partner to Bring 50+ Award-Winning Titles to Global Affiliate Network appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
MightyTips has been shortlisted for the Sports Affiliate category at the EGR Operator Awards 2025, one of the industry’s most respected events celebrating excellence in online gaming.
Over the past year, MightyTips has continued to strengthen its position as a trusted partner for sportsbooks worldwide, expanding into new markets and delivering innovative content formats to enhance user engagement. The nomination reflects the company’s commitment to providing bettors with reliable insights, comparison tools, and exclusive content that connects them with the best betting opportunities.
Operated by SEOBROTHERS, MightyTips has also introduced fresh features, including redesigned bonus listings, faster daily predictions, and exclusive interviews with sporting icons. These initiatives underline the brand’s dedication to combining affiliate expertise with media presence.
Eugene Ravdin, Head of PR at SEOBROTHERS, commented: “This nomination is a testament to our teams’ efforts to innovate while maintaining the highest standards of performance, transparency, and user experience. We are proud and determined to win in this category.”
The post MightyTips has been nominated for Sports Affiliate at the EGR Operator Awards 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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