Video game characters come in all shapes and sizes... from pixellated plumbers to high-def cowboys and everything in-between. It will come as no surprise that here at the Hop to Pop blog... we like our characters to have long ears, cotton ball tails, and psycho killer personalities! (Maybe we're kidding about that last part??) Rabbits have hopped their way through every level of video game lore, from the gritty graphics of early 1990s PC games to the flawless renderings of today's high tech consoles. Let's hop through some of our favorite bunny video characters!
1. Max (Sam & Max)
Why we love him: Cute he is, but cuddly he ain't! Anarchic, violent, and sarcastic, Max is a private investigator who, alongside Sam (a dog dressed in a suit) solves crimes in an absolutely unhinged manner (often breaking the law himself).
Games: Sam & Max Hit the Road (1993, LucasArts); Sam & Max Save the World; Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space; Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse
2. Bianca (Spyro the Dragon series)
Why we love her: Bianca is a white rabbit sorceress who starts out as a loyal assistant to the games' villain (The Sorceress) but quickly proves she’s kind-hearted, curious, and conflicted. She defects early, helps Spyro, and becomes a supportive ally rather than a combat-heavy hero.
Games: Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon (1998); Spyro: Season of Ice (2001, GBA); Spyro: Shadow Legacy (2005, Nintendo DS)
3. Peppy Hare (Star Fox)
Why we love him: An elder statesman of sorts, Peppy Hare is the veteran mentor of the Star Fox team: an experienced pilot who serves as the group’s voice of caution, wisdom, and history. And who could forget his iconic line, "Do a barrel roll!"
Games: Star Fox (1993, SNES); Star Fox 64 (1997); Star Fox 2 (1995/2017); Star Fox Adventures (2002); Star Fox Assault (2005); Star Fox Zero (2016)
4. Rabbids (Rayman, Mario + Rabbids)
5. Jazz Jackrabbit (Jazz Jackrabbit series)
6. Rabite (Mana series)
7. Loporrits (Final Fantasy)
Why we love them: Cheerful, polite and adorable, the Loporrits are moon-dwelling, rabbit like beings created long ago to prepare for the evacuation of life from the planet if there is an apocalypse. Under their upbeat, music-loving exteriors is a layer of quiet melancholy due to their intended purpose. These creatures are most likely a reference to the moon rabbit figure from Asian and Indigenous American myth and folklore.
Games: Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker (2021); Endwalker post-patch content
8. The Viera (Final Fantasy)
Why we love them: Beautiful and aloof, the Viera are a race of rabbit-eared humanoids in the Final Fantasy series. Known for being tall, reserved, and tied to nature, they are elegant yet formidable warriors.
Games: Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers (2019) (the only game where Viera are playable characters); Final Fantasy Tactics Advance; Final Fantasy Tactics A2; Final Fantasy XII; Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings; Final Fantasy XIV (Shadowbringers onward)
9. Bugs Bunny (Many Looney Tunes games)
Why we love him: No list of rabbit characters would be complete without Bugs Bunny... and it's no surprise that this wascally wabbit strong-armed his way into the video game world! Throughout his storied video game career, we've sen him rampaging, racing, and traveling through time, to name a few!
Games: Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage (1994, SNES/Genesis); Looney Tunes: Space Race (2000, Dreamcast/PC); Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003, GameCube/PS2/Xbox); Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal (2007, multi-platform); Looney Tunes: Cartoon Conductor; Looney Tunes: World of Mayhem; Looney Tunes Racing