How Have Japanese Gaming Characters Influenced The Wider Gaming Industry?
February 9, 2026
There can be no denying that Pokemon absolutely took the world by storm, and has never really released its grip. Very different from many forms of Western media, Pokemon managed to capture hearts and minds across Europe and the United States, with shows, games, comics, figurines, and more appealing to folks everywhere.
The cuteness of Pokemon's core characters was a huge element in its popularity.
It proved to have an impressive amount of staying power as well. While the old games were undeniably a massive hit, more modern titles have continued to see great success. Pokemon Go, for example, was a phenomenal success upon its release, earning about $207 million in its first month alone. While that died down quickly, it still generates around $500 million per year and retains millions of active users.
Of course, that is just one tiny portion of Pokemon's success, and of the greater success of Japanese games and media across the world. So, it's not really surprising that Japanese characters have had an impact on other forms of media, with many games incorporating Japanese elements and styles to attract audiences. We're going to explore more about this today.
Games Creating Cute Characters
Pokemon's popularity came from many different elements, but we can't deny that the cuteness of its core characters was a huge element. Pikachu, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle - each had its own charm and beauty, and the big eyes and adorable voices certainly captivated many.
Game developers were quick to recognize just how powerful that approach was, and we now see this style of character incorporated in games of all kinds. Take, for example, slots games, where designers are always looking for new ways to ensure their games stand out. Here, characters are the absolute core of attracting gamers and creating a sense of connection within the game. Take those found in the main casino jackpots - like Gold Rush Gus, for instance. With his red nose, diminutive form, and ragged hat, he is immediately iconic, and encapsulates a little of that cuteness that was found among the Pokemon.
Combine that with the setting, attractive gems gleaming, and you've got an immediately appealing setting. It's very different from the Pokemon games in style, but there's no doubt that the appeal of the character and the approach to the game's aesthetic is drawing on Pokemon's simple charm. It's unquestionably “kawaii!” Indeed, Gus is such a popular character, we even see him appearing outside his games (yes, there are multiple Gus games!) and helping people to understand different casino concepts, like in this video about low volatility slots.
Of course, the influence goes way beyond casino games. Take an option like Hollow Knight; the atmosphere could hardly be more different, and yet there is something in the diminutive characters and setting that has a very Japanese influence. Perhaps it's more Studio Ghibli than Pokemon (yes, we're aware that Ghibli makes movies, not games, but the Japanese atmosphere is still worth remarking upon, given Hollow Knight's popularity), but there's no question that it's present and working its magic within this Australian-made title too.
RPG Format
Japan can't claim to have solely invented the RPG format, and there are elements in most RPG games that draw from a wide variety of media and influences, with the leveling system and stat blocks often being based on mechanics from Dungeons and Dragons, or other similar tabletop games. However, there is little question that Japan has had a wider influence over this particular genre of games than many other titles. There's a reason RPG games are often divided into Japanese RPGs and Western ones.
Even looking at the Western-style RPGs, though, you'll still see many signs of Japanese influence creeping through. Franchises like the Final Fantasy series or the Zelda games have simply had too much influence on the world of gaming as a whole for them to be ignored.
It's not just themes that other games tend to borrow from these (although if you were to list how many video game protagonists are quiet, brooding types with troubled pasts, memory issues, and a large sword, you'll certainly see some Cloud parallels). Many games also pay direct homage to titles like these, either through subtle nods, such as the player character raising a newly acquired item over their heads the way Link does, or direct parodies.
Platformers
Next up, one that might not sound as obvious: basic platforming games. This might be a little more unexpected since, after all, you don't hear people making the distinction between Japanese and Western platformer games. Still, if you ask people to picture a character from this genre, there's a pretty high chance that their minds will jump straight to Mario. Actually, if we're being honest, Mario might be the first thought for many people if asked to picture a character from a video game; that's how influential he has been.
This might seem strange, given that "stocky plumber in a red hat" doesn't sound like the most striking of character designs to an outside observer, but there are actually some very good reasons for this. His design was intended to take full advantage of the limited hardware at the time, and has been updated and refined constantly over the years, keeping him a central part of the gaming world as a whole.
Really, Japanese characters are at the core of so many video game ideas that they are an integral part of gaming's fabric and flow. Slots, mainstream video games, casual mobile games - all borrow from and acknowledge Japan's influence.
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