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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.
SOFTSWISS, an international iGaming software provider, hosted the second season of its award-winning Summer Kids Camp in August on the shores of Lake Jeziorsko, Poland. The initiative brought together over 100 children of SOFTSWISS employees from more than 11 countries, reaffirming the company’s commitment to a people-first culture that extends well beyond the workplace.
The 11-day camp combined sports, creativity, and early career exploration, with over 50 engaging activities amounting to nearly 350 hours of programming. Children took part in everything from tournaments and creative workshops to speaking clubs and hands-on masterclasses.
A standout feature of this year’s programme was the camp coin system – a playful, gamified experience that introduced children to basic economic thinking. Kids earned coins for being proactive or engaged in educational tasks, and then spent them on fun privileges like ice cream, song requests at the disco, or even “becoming a PE teacher” for an hour, which many cleverly used to cancel morning workouts.
“The coin system helped teach initiative, responsibility, and teamwork in a fun way – almost like running a small business,” said Hanna Sauchuk, Event Producer at SOFTSWISS. One of the most touching moments was when the kids pooled their savings to ‘buy’ a collective sunrise celebration on the final day. That kind of collaboration and emotional intelligence is exactly what we hoped to nurture.”
Last year’s event has earned external recognition, winning the Eventex Award 2025 in the Corporate Event category – placing SOFTSWISS’ initiative alongside brand-led experiences from Disney, Nike, and Netflix.
“For me, this is not just another corporate project – it is one of the most meaningful things we do at SOFTSWISS. It brings our core value ‘We see people’ to life in the most tangible way. We don’t just see professionals at their desks; we see human beings with families, dreams, and passions. The Kids Camp is our way of saying: your family matters to us as much as your work does. It’s an investment in joy, in connection, and in kindness. Because when children are happy, their parents shine – and together, we create a stronger, more united community. This is rare in business, and that’s exactly why we are proud to make it happen at the highest quality,” said Ivan Montik, Founder of SOFTSWISS.
About SOFTSWISS
SOFTSWISS is an international technology company with over 15 years of experience in developing innovative solutions for the iGaming industry. SOFTSWISS holds a number of gaming licences and provides comprehensive software for managing iGaming projects. The company’s product portfolio includes the Online Casino Platform, the Game Aggregator with over 35,000 casino games, Affilka Affiliate Platform, the Sportsbook Software and the Jackpot Aggregator. In 2013, SOFTSWISS revolutionised the industry by introducing the world’s first Bitcoin-optimised online casino solution. The expert team, based in Malta, Poland, and Georgia, counts over 2,000 employees.
The post SOFTSWISS Kids Camp: Award-Winning Initiative Putting Families First appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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BETBY INTRODUCES HELP ARENA, RAISING THE STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION
BETBY, a leading provider of cutting-edge sportsbook solutions, has announced the launch of Help Arena, a comprehensive customer support platform designed to enhance operational efficiency and streamline communication with its partners.
Help Arena serves as a central hub where BETBY partners can access support, submit and manage tickets, and stay informed with tailored updates, all from one intuitive portal. The platform is built to simplify day-to-day operations by consolidating communication and support tools into a single, easy-to-use interface, whilst ensuring that all customer queries and requests are met in a short timeframe
Through Help Arena, partners can engage in real-time communication with BETBY’s support team via an integrated widget and dedicated email channel. The platform is ideated to also support communication through multiple popular messaging apps, reflecting BETBY’s commitment to accessible and responsive support.
The platform features an efficient ticketing system, enabling users to create, track, and manage support requests with ease. Alongside this, Help Arena includes a robust knowledge base and FAQ section covering key topics such as sportsbook features, risk management, Betby Games, and betting rules. Partners can also access release notes and technical maintenance notifications, ensuring they are always up to date with the latest developments.
“Help Arena was developed to provide our partners with a seamless, efficient, and transparent support experience,” said Kirill Zhgun, Head of Customer Support at BETBY. “We understand that convenience and clarity are key to productive partnerships, and Help Arena reflects our commitment to making support as streamlined and effective as possible.”
Looking ahead, BETBY plans to continue enhancing the platform with new features, including deeper analytics, improved reporting tools, and greater customization options. The team is also actively working on expanding the knowledge base and FAQ section to support five languages, making Help Arena even more accessible to a global audience. Help Arena represents not just a support tool, but a long-term investment in the success and satisfaction of BETBY’s partners.
The launch of Help Arena marks a significant milestone in BETBY’s mission to deliver world-class service and operational excellence across the iGaming industry. Partners are encouraged to explore the platform and discover how BETBY is redefining customer support.
To find out more about BETBY, visit: https://betby.com/
About Betby
Betby is a leading B2B provider of top-tier sports betting services, renowned for its groundbreaking technology and dedication to excellence. Betby’s team of industry veterans tap into their knowledge and expertise to deliver a premium, adaptable, and scalable sportsbook platform tailored to meet the varied demands of operators across the globe. From dynamic in-play betting options to robust risk management tools and ground-breaking AI tools, Betby is committed to propelling the success of its partners in the rapidly evolving landscape of online sports betting.
For more information visit betby.com
The post BETBY INTRODUCES HELP ARENA, RAISING THE STANDARD FOR CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND COLLABORATION appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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MixRift Appoints Former Meta VP Ingrid Cotoros to Board of Advisors to Accelerate Mixed Reality Gaming Innovation
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