Researchers at 1337Games.io analysed Instagram, TikTok, and Google search data to find which video game characters fans are getting tattooed the most. By searching each character with “tattoo” or “tattoos” and indexing hashtag counts, TikTok views, and monthly search volume, the team ranked the top ten most popular gaming tattoos.
Top 10 Video Game Characters Tattooed by Fans
| Rank | Character | Instagram Hashtags | TikTok Hashtag Views | Google Searches (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pikachu | 33,900 | 10,703,140 | 11,900 |
| 2 | Mario | 27,500 | 4,004,565 | 7,100 |
| 3 | Kratos | 5,100 | 2,901,783 | 9,800 |
| 4 | Kirby | 5,100 | 2,916,200 | 3,950 |
| 5 | Sonic | 6,000 | 312,500 | 5,100 |
| 6 | Ryu | 17,100 | 81,200 | 610 |
| 7 | Crash Bandicoot | 5,100 | 161,000 | 3,350 |
| 8 | Bowser | 1,100 | 3,200,000 | 1,210 |
| 9 | Yoshi | 1,500 | 126,243 | 2,850 |
| 10 | Spyro | 1,100 | 53,100 | 1,680 |
Insights on the Most Popular Gaming Tattoos
- Pikachu tops the list as the most tattooed video game character. Fans can’t get enough of the yellow Pokémon, with over 10.7 million TikTok views for #pikachutattoo and a combined 10,741,934 views across Instagram and TikTok.
- Mario, the iconic Italian plumber, comes in second. Following the recent release of the Mario movie, fans shared 27,500 Instagram hashtags and 7,100 monthly Google searches related to Mario tattoos.
- Kratos, the fierce protagonist of God of War, ranks third. Last year’s God of War Ragnarök release likely contributed to Kratos tattoos generating 2.9 million TikTok views and 9,800 monthly Google searches.
- Kirby ranks fourth, with 2.9 million TikTok views for #kirbytattoo and 3,950 Google searches each month. Nintendo fans continue to celebrate the lovable pink hero.
- Sonic the Hedgehog comes fifth, amassing 312,500 TikTok views and 6,000 Instagram hashtags, while averaging 5,100 Google searches per month.
- Ryu, the Street Fighter legend, is sixth on the list. #ryutattoo has 81,200 TikTok views, 17,100 Instagram hashtags, and an average of 610 monthly Google searches.
- Crash Bandicoot ranks seventh. Fans generated 161,000 TikTok views and 5,100 Instagram hashtags, with 3,350 monthly Google searches.
- Bowser, Mario’s nemesis, ranks eighth. With 3.2 million TikTok views and 1,100 Instagram hashtags, Bowser tattoos are also searched 1,210 times per month on Google.
- Yoshi, Mario’s trusted companion, is ninth, with 126,243 TikTok views, 1,500 Instagram hashtags, and 2,850 Google searches monthly.
- Spyro, the purple dragon, rounds out the top ten. Fans have shared 53,100 TikTok views and 1,100 Instagram hashtags for Spyro tattoos.
Gaming Tattoos Show Cultural Impact
Emre Aksu, Editor-in-Chief of 1337Games.io, commented: “Tattoos aren’t for everyone, let alone gaming tattoos. However, what this data shows is just how impactful a favourite video game can actually be. The majority of the list features retro game characters that have become entrenched in popular culture through nostalgia and franchisement, with characters such as Sonic and Yoshi standing the test of time. With the recent number of movies being based on video games coming out, we can expect these numbers to continue to grow as more storylines, characters, and universe building evolve.”
For full research credit, please visit 1337Games.io.
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