Despite how dangerous they can be in real-life, fictional bears tend to be some of the most beloved characters in entertainment. Series like Pokemon or Animal Crossing have a history of endearing their fan bases to lovable characters and creatures who belong to the bear family.
What makes a bear-inspired character memorable or well-liked can range from how fearsome and intimidating it is, to how friendly and charismatic it showcases itself to be in conversation. There are no limits to what a bear can be in the world of gaming, and the following examples shine a light on the best there is.
7 Megan - Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing is home to more than a handful of lovable bear villagers who call your community home and dazzle you with their rich personalities. The best of the best when it comes to these bears has to be Megan. She's a violet bear with green eyes who loves her colourful appearance and is willing to make a joke at her own expense.
Her default rainbow-striped shirt really adds to her overall vibrancy and she's often a welcome addition to any island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. You'll often hear her exclaiming her signature catchphrase of "sundae", reminding you that there's never a wrong time for ice cream.
6 Fizzlybear - Viva Pinata
The last Viva Pinata game was released in 2008, with its animated TV show ending in 2011, so it's been more than a decade since something new in the series was released. That means most of you likely aren't familiar with the adorable bear pinata known as Fizzlybear. In the animated show, there was a specific Fizzlybear named Franklin that enjoyed surfing and loved to party. It was also quite clear that he wasn't a great liar. Just look at that face. How could he lie to you?
5 Runebear - Elden Ring
Those who jump into Elden Ring and begin to explore the territory of Limgrave will come across many dangerous enemies and creatures lurking in the untraversed areas of the Lands Between. Large bears can be found in the forests of East Limgrave, but it isn't until you travel south to the Weeping Peninsula located on the other side of the Bridge of Sacrifices where things get truly unnerving. Located in a cave just west of a lookout tower is a cave containing a boss fight with a creature known as Runebear. This hefty thing packs quite a punch and you can easily become distracted by the glowing runic patterns displayed on its fur.
4 Tibbers - League Of Legends
League of Legends remains one of the most popular video games on the planet, and thanks to its expansion to other entertainment mediums, the series is becoming rather mainstream. Tibbers is a giant dangerous bear companion who fights at the side of a small girl named Annie.
She can summon him to fight alongside her in an effort to turn the tide of battle in her favor. It's a neat twist on the idea of lone wolf and cub stories, but with the wolf being a dangerous girl and the cub being a gigantic elemental bear.
3 Monokuma - Danganronpa
A list talking about bear characters in video games wouldn't be complete without Danganronpa's robotic bear, Monokuma. After announcing himself as the Headmaster of Hope's Peak Academy in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, he returns in both the sequel and third entry in the series. Outside his iconic appearance which has him looking like the bear version of Batman villain Two-Face, he is a physical manifestation of human duality. This means he showcases both the kindness and evil that people display, given the circumstance and situation they find themselves in at any given moment.
2 Ursaring - Pokemon
Ursaring, and by extension Ursaluna, are the premier bear Pokemon when looking at the entire roster of creatures. The former first appeared in Pokemon Gold & Silver and is the Normal-type final evolution of the cuddly bear cub Pokemon Teddiursa. This evolution occurs when Teddiursa is trained up to level 30.
The latter, Ursaluna, is a new third evolutionary form in this line, introduced in Pokemon: Legends Arceus. From Teddiursa to Ursaluna, they all have a special connection to the moon, which is evident by the patterns marked in their fur displaying the moon at differing stages.
1 Banjo - Banjo-Kazooie
It's hard to deny Banjo's place in video game royalty, let alone when specifically highlighting bears. He was one half of the titular duo featured in Rare's hit-platforming title Banjo-Kazooie. Despite the series not seeing a new entry in over 12 years, the love for it hasn't faded. Banjo and his partner Kazooie most recently made their way to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch as featured playable DLC fighters. When asked to name a bear from video games, Banjo is almost always the first that comes to mind for anyone who owned an N64.