"They've never all appeared together at once, except on lists of video game legends. And, surely, in the dreams of some gamers. They would certainly make a peculiar group: a mustachioed plumber, a fearless archeologist, a lightning-fast hedgehog, a warrior and a princess, a monkey in a tie, a marsupial in jeans and a strange yellow rodent. Outlandish, to those unfamiliar with them. But for those who know of their existence, these creatures are global icons."
"In 2026, they're celebrating with milestone birthdays: Mario and Donkey Kong are turning 45; Zelda and Link will be 40; Sonic turns 35, while members of a younger generation will be 30: Pikachu, Lara Croft and Crash Bandicoot. Indeed, this year is a true tribute to an era of unbridled creativity the one that invented the first icons of consoles and computers."
"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, the 2018 Nintendo Switch title, came closest to bringing them all together: only Lara Croft was missing, while Crash just made a brief appearance. The game also featured the protagonists of Metroid and Castlevania, two other key franchises now celebrating their 40th anniversaries. It's impossible to gather so many stars in any other art form. And lately, this is even the case when it comes to video games themselves, which are increasingly successful, mainstream, and populated."
Several foundational video game characters reach milestone anniversaries in 2026, including Mario and Donkey Kong (45), Zelda and Link (40), Sonic (35), and Pikachu, Lara Croft, and Crash Bandicoot (30). These characters emerged during an era that created the first console and computer icons, producing shared gaming experiences that made certain protagonists globally recognizable. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate nearly united many of these figures, illustrating how games can gather diverse franchises. Other franchises like Metroid and Castlevania also mark 40 years. The persistence of these characters reflects both the industry's evolution and their cultural reach beyond screens.
Read at english.elpais.com
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