Although the popularity battle between Mario and Sonic may have been a close race in the ’90s, it seems like these days, that competition has a very clear winner. Hint: he’s more into red than he is blue. While that’s the way it goes in a broad and general sense, you might find that this opinion isn’t the predominant one everywhere you go. It actually varies on a state-by-state basis, as the folks at decluttr illustrate on the map below.
The info comes from Google search data, although we’re not sure if it’s over the past month or six months or year or what have you. Regardless, it turns out the Mario-v-Sonic debate may not be as settled as we thought. Each character emerged as the most popular in seven states—Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, South Dakota, and Washington for Mario, whereas Sonic claimed Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wyoming.
That only accounts for 14 states, though, and after a bit of quick math, we’ve determined that leaves 36 states in which they’re not the most popular. In fact, they don’t even have that large of a lead over the next two most popular character: Tomb Raider protagonist Lara Croft and Freddy Fazbear from Five Nights At Freddy’s each took six states.
Find the written-out list here, and let us know in the comments below if you’re proud of or ashamed by the video game character your state is Googling more than any other.
Images: Nintendo, decluttr
