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Fan Index Reveals: The MOST Popular Gaming Character of ALL TIME

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The most popular gaming character is Mario, receiving a whopping 451 points from the fan index
In second place is Sonic the Hedgehog with 394 points, receiving a staggering 59,700,700 Google searches in the last year
Legend of Zelda’s Link lands third place with 377 points, holding the largest number of Reddit mentions
The least popular gaming character is Jack from BioShock with just 48 points!

We’ve spent a lot of time at home, getting to know our favourite video games more than ever before, falling even more in love with a whole range of gaming characters. However, there is plenty of debate about which characters are the nations’ favourite!

With this in mind, experts at Stashbird.com wanted to discover the most popular gaming characters of all time from the best-selling video game franchises*. To thoroughly investigate, Stashbird.com created a gaming fans’ index by analysing the following factors:

Sales of the franchise
Average worldwide searches over the past year
Number of hashtags on Instagram
Number of Reddit mentions
Gamers’ popularity score (survey)

The top 10 most popular characters

Stashbird.com can reveal that in first place, and crowned the most popular gaming character, is Mario with a massive 451 fan index points!

Mario ranked first for franchise sales with a staggering 653,000,000 worldwide copies of Mario games sold, bagging him an easy 100 points. The fun-loving character also ranked sixth for average worldwide searches with 4,606,547 (86 points) in the past year alone! Despite these results, Mario only ranked 10th for popularity, with 45% of gamers choosing him as their ultimate favourite.

Not far behind in second place is Sonic the Hedgehog with 394 points. The extraterrestrial hedgehog ranked second for worldwide searches (59,700,000), giving him 97 points! He was voted the favourite by only 21% of gamers surveyed, however bagged himself 91 points for his 94,300 Reddit mentions.

Link from The Legend of Zelda places third, accumulating 377 points! It is no surprise as the star of the Nintendo series to have ranked top for Reddit mentions (3,920,000) and popularity score (74%), receiving 100 points for both! Interestingly, he ranked lower down for search volumes, with 1,196,200 average searches over the past year.

At number four is Donkey Kong with 354 points, scoring high with 3,930,000 yearly average searches (83 points), 570,000 Instagram hashtags (77 points) and 26,400 Reddit mentions (80 points).

To complete the 10 most popular gaming characters, the results are as follows:
5. Master Chief (Halo) 323 points, Crash (Crash Bandicoot) 323 points, Sora (Kingdom Hearts) 323 points
6. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy) 314 points
7. Pac-Man (Pac-Man) 308 points
8. Kirby (Kirby) 306 points
9. Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher) 294 points

Closing the top 10 is Ezio Auditore Da Firenze, star of four of the Assassin’s Creed games, with 291 points!

Just making the bottom 10 is Joel Miller, ranking 25th out of a possible 34 places, from the Last of Us. This is not surprising as the franchise only scored 14 points for its 24 million sales. He also scored low on Reddit searches, receiving just 29 points for his 1,670 mentions.

John Marston from Red Dead Redemption and Simon Belmont from Castlevania were both among the least popular with 94 and 74 points, respectively.

Bioshock’s Jack rounds off the bottom 10 list with measly 48 points – a staggering 403 points less than first place contender Mario.

Methodology
1. *Stashbird.com analysed the list of best-selling video game franchises that have sold at least 20 million copies and pulled the most popular/recognised character from each to compile the list of 36 most popular gaming characters of all time.
2. The team then created an index looking at several factors, including sales of the franchise, search volumes using SemRush, the number of Instagram hashtags per character and the number of mentions on Reddit.
3. Finally, to complete the index Stashbird.com surveyed 4,567 gamers worldwide to ask them to vote for their favourite from the list to give each character a popularity score.
4. Games where there is no playable main character were excluded from the list.
5. Stashbird normalised the data by using the PERCENTRANK.INC function in Excel. This function returns the rank of a value in a data set as a percentage of the data set between 0 and 1. These values were then multiplied by 100 to make the range between 0 and 100. The maximum score a character could receive was 500.This enabled the team to rank the 36 characters from most to least popular based on their total points. The data was collected on 29/02/2021 and is correct as of then.

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Swintt games go live in Italy after receiving ADM certification

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Rapidly-expanding software provider enters its 13th regulated market following Italian regulator’s approval of Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles

Having previously outlined its intentions to enter more regulated markets throughout 2025, sought-after software provider Swintt has announced that it has now officially been greenlit by Italy’s Agencia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM) to offer its slots in the country.

The new certification has initially been granted for Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt titles, and though further approval is planned for both SwinttPremium and SwinttSelect releases in the not-too-distant future, the provider has already put pen to paper with two of Italy’s leading operators.

Launched in 2024 following Swintt’s acquisition of Elysium Studios, Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt is a cutting-edge collection of releases that incorporates elements of social, mobile and casino gaming to deliver a more engaging experience that’s custom-made for the modern player.

Featuring inventive themes, innovative features and intuitive, mobile-first game mechanics, some of the biggest hits to come from the collaboration to date include the quirky, folk lore-inspired I Hate Fairytales and the swashbuckling skull and bones epic, Pirate Pledge Hold & Win.

Given both titles boast a cast of characters that includes everything from punk rock princesses to salty sea dogs and a huge selection of rewarding bonus rounds, the two games and many more from the Elysium Studios line-up are certain to prove a popular addition among Italian audiences.

With Swintt’s successful acquisition of ADM certification now paving the way for the provider to enter its 13th regulated market, the decision will significantly expand the company’s European footprint and enable it to form further partnerships with Italian operators in the months to come.

David Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Swintt, said: “At Swintt, our focus has always been on ensuring that our content gets put in front of players in as many regulated markets as possible – and acquiring ADM approval to offer our games in Italy is another significant step on this journey.

“As an established iGaming market with a huge emerging player base, we feel our Elysium Studios – Driven by Swintt line-up can make a big impact in the region and we look forward to being able to roll out our other core line-ups very soon.”

The post Swintt games go live in Italy after receiving ADM certification appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Week 45/2025 slot games releases

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Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming

Relax Gaming is diving to the ocean floor for Treasure Tumble Dream Drop, an 8×8 cluster-pays adventure in the hit Tumble series starring fearless explorer Scarlett Spinz. Momentum is everything as position multipliers build, cluster wins cascade and a suite of blocker-busting power-ups keeps the action flowing, with a maximum win potential of 10,000x.

Dive for riches in Relax Gaming release Treasure Tumble Dream Drop

Get ready for a fresh, fruity adventure with Amusnet’s newest slot – 20 Bulky Fruits Buy Bonus! This colourful game brings classic fruit symbols to life across 20 paylines, offering plenty of ways to hit winning combinations and enjoy nonstop excitement. The Buy Bonus feature lets you jump straight into the action, unlocking bonus rounds whenever you want for instant thrills.

TaDa Gaming, has added to its renowned TriLuck series with a classic Chinese themed slot game, 3 Lucky Baozhu. Offering multiple ways to win, 1000x max and 97% RTP, this gorgeously colourful game sparkles and crackles with fortune and good luck. The five reels, three rows, 50 fixed paylines grid holds traditional symbols including Caishen god of wealth, lucky red envelopes, lanterns and musical instruments.

Spinomenal has released Demi Gods VII Ultra Mode as part of its hugely successful Demi Gods Series. This is a 5×4 reel 50 lines video slot that takes players on an epic journey through the realm of the immortals, where financial fate rests with the gods. A powerful, surging soundtrack amplifies the gameplay and makes for a thunderous reels experience.

Spinomenal presents: Demi Gods VII Ultra Mode

Endorphina has released its newest Halloween title, 3 Witch Pots. The slot features 5 reels, 4 rows, and 40 fixed paylines. This Halloween addition to the Endorphina slots portfolio takes players on a mystical journey to help a skillful witch’s lair.

Endorphina Releases New Halloween Title – 3 Witch Pots

Witness the downfall of John, a man of order, a devoted father, a loyal husband and a pillar of routine. Nolimit City’s latest release, Disorder, unearths the twisted origin story of Mental and Mental II. This highly anticipated slot falls under the extreme themed category of Nolimit City slots such as Serial and Disturbed.

Nolimit City delves back into the Mental series with its latest release, Disorder

BGaming invites players to saddle up and head to the Wild West in the brand-new Wild Wick online slot. The game is the latest to be developed in collaboration with Strmlytics, a leader in live-streaming data analytics. Wild Wick introduces players to a charismatic bounty hunter inspired by classic Western Heroes from Clint Eastwood’s Man with No Name and Terence Hill’s Lucky Luke to the animated cowboys of the Soviet cartoon Treasure Island.

Draw Fast and Win Big in BGaming’s Wild Wick

Stakelogic is closing out spooky season in style with Soul Slayer, a gripping slot experience where every spin becomes a battle for survival. Set in a world consumed by demonic forces, Soul Slayer challenges players to embrace their inner warrior and strike back with precision, fury, and Wild-filled rewards.

Stakelogic summons Soul Slayer - a duel between slayer and demon

Red Rake Gaming presents Get the Coins!, a slot that combines gold coins with Major, Minor, and Grand prizes in a dynamic, fast-paced experience. This release offers rapid gameplay and an exclusive Mini-Game that delivers unique reward opportunities in every session. With its 3×3 reel format, each spin can generate coins and trigger the “Get the Coins!” Mini-Game with collectible coins whenever at least one coin appears on each reel.

Red Rake Gaming presents “Get the Coins!”: Exclusive Coin Mini-Game with Big Wins

Spinmatic announced the launch of Elemental Fusion, a revolutionary title that fuses the mechanics of Video Slots with the engaging features of Plinko games. This innovative product release highlights Spinmatic’s commitment to developing unique and compelling gaming experiences for the igaming market.

Spinmatic unveils groundbreaking hybrid Slot-Plinko game

Amusnet has released 20 Golden Coins: Reel Fishing, a next-generation video slot that combines the charm of the game classics with the thrill of modernity. This 5-reel, 20-payline release brings the joy of fishing to life with vibrant visuals, engaging features and a soundtrack that fully immerses players in a sunny day by the water.

Evoplay has launched Sky Sentinels, a new slot that lets players decide their fate under the Egyptian sky. Every spin offers a choice between the Sun and the Moon. The radiant Sun guides wins from right to left, while the mysterious Moon moves them from left to right, each creating a unique way to play and win.

Evoplay explores the power of Sun and Moon in Sky Sentinels

Million Games has announced the launch of Gatsby Gold, a 5×3, 243-ways video slot that combines the elegance of 1920s art deco with dynamic modern gameplay. The game offers 243 ways to win, a 96.3% RTP, and a maximum payout of 8,100x the bet, making it as rewarding as it is stylish.

Million Games Unveils Gatsby Gold

 

SlotMatrix has launched Tiki Baka Boom Boom, a tropical explosion of fun and fiery rewards where the Tiki gods rule the reels. Set on a volcanic island paradise, Tiki Baka Boom Boom delivers a blazing blend of visuals, high-energy mechanics, and big win potential, offering prizes up to 10,000x a player’s bet.
Volcanic thrills await in SlotMatrix’s Tiki Baka Boom Boom release

Evoplay has launched Young Deer Song, a festive high-volatility slot that takes players deep into a mystical forest where nature’s creatures lead the way to great rewards. As the moon rises over the treetops, the reels come alive in this Christmas themed title with the fox, owl, raccoon, and wolf, each carrying their own charm and fortune.

Evoplay answers the call of the wild in festive Young Deer Song

Take to the skies and soar like an eagle, then swoop in and grab big wins by spinning the reels of Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme from Booming Games. This action-packed, feature-filled slot is a wild adventure with a chance to win up to 10,000x. Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme is a 5×3, 25-fixed payline slot.

Booming Games Takes Players Sky-High with Thunder Eagle Hold and Win Extreme 10,000

Squid Gold X2 by 18Peaches invites players to dive deep into a world of mystery, magic and forgotten riches. Set within a sacred castle filled with ancient relics and hidden chambers, every spin feels like a step deeper into the unknown. The legendary golden squid is said to guard untold fortunes, and only the bravest adventurers will uncover its secrets.

18Peaches’ Squid Gold X2 plunges players into a mystical treasure hunt

With Swintt having already opened the way to a world of wonder in the original Lucky Fortune Door, this month the award-winning software provider is back in action again with Lucky Fortune Door Wild – an exciting reboot that gives players even more ways to win! Like its SwinttPremium predecessor, Lucky Fortune Door Wild is a five-reel slot that can be played with either five or ten paylines.

Swintt bring players four times the fun in Lucky Fortune Door Wild

 

The post Week 45/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Best Sportsbook Provider 2025

BETBY WRAPS UP EXPO YEAR WITH BEST SPORTSBOOK PROVIDER WIN AT SiGMA CENTRAL EUROPE B2B AWARDS

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BETBY has been named Best Sportsbook Provider 2025 at the SiGMA Central Europe B2B Awards, held during the prestigious SiGMA Central Europe event that took place from November 3-6 at Fiera Roma in Rome, Italy.

This accolade recognises BETBY’s continued commitment to excellence and innovation in sportsbook technology, reflecting the company’s efforts to deliver flexible, user-centric solutions that empower operators.

Over the past year, BETBY has continued to enhance its product portfolio with new sportsbook management tools, AI-powered features, and expanded coverage across major and niche sports. This latest recognition highlights the company’s dedication to setting new benchmarks in performance, scalability, and user experience.

Coinciding with the event, BETBY has also launched the second phase of its global campaign featuring world chess champion Magnus Carlsen, titled “Leaders Choose Leaders.” The campaign reinforces the shared values of insight, precision, and excellence, highlighting that in both chess and business, true leaders recognise and choose other leaders.

“We’re honoured to receive this recognition from SiGMA Central Europe. It’s a testament to the hard work, passion, and innovation of our entire team. Our goal has always been to build the best sportsbook infrastructure in the industry, and this award reinforces that we’re on the right path,” said Leonid Pertsovskiy, CEO at BETBY: “It also comes at a perfect moment, as we launch the second phase of our global campaign with Magnus Carlsen — ‘Leaders Choose Leaders’ — a message that perfectly reflects this achievement and our vision of leadership through excellence.”

Following previous wins across global industry events, including recent honours at SiGMA Euro-Med and SBC Summit Lisbon, this new distinction further cements BETBY’s position as a Tier-1 partner and technology provider in the iGaming sector.

To find out more about BETBY, visit: https://betby.com/

The post BETBY WRAPS UP EXPO YEAR WITH BEST SPORTSBOOK PROVIDER WIN AT SiGMA CENTRAL EUROPE B2B AWARDS appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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