This originally started as a top ten but has now become a tribute list. While the likes of Mario, Sonic and Spyro (Damn you Skylanders) still manage to stay around many of their contemporaries fell by the wayside, this is my tribute to them.
Zool
In the early 90s former Game Studios Gremlin Developed Zool a Gremlin Ninja as their answer to the rise of the likes of Sonic and Mario but beyond the sequel the game has not been seen since 1993 and with Gremlin no more, is unlikely to see a comeback.
Gex
A wise cracking Gecko best described as the animal version of Duke Nukem, a largely forgotten being of Crystal Dynamics creation for the Playstation era, not been seen since late 1999.
Croc
An attempt by a 2nd Party Publisher to design a Yoshi Platformer became Croc instead, not seen since 1999.
Ristar
A rejected Sonic design becoming it's own game, came too late in the Mega Drive's life to be relevant, not seen since 1995 bar cameos.
Bubsy
What can possibly go wrong? Well making a Sonic ripoff and wasting all the money on the cartoon killed this series indefinitely. Not seen since 1996.
James Pond
A secret agent fish imitating popular movie characters, with puns such as Robocod and Splash Gordon to name a few, not seen since 1993. Killed off entirely by a failed Android Comeback in 2011.
Crash Bandicoot
The biggest casualty on this list, Crash was the unofficial Playstation Mascot until the trend for mascots died out during the most recent Console Generation. Not seen since 2008, minor games in 2009 & 2010 on Android, talks of Crash returning have stalled many times.
Earthworm Jim
A major name more for it's cartoon than it's Video Game, the power suit wearing Jim hasn't been seen since 1999 with the forth game stuck in Development Hell since 2008.
Vectorman
A running gunner game with a Green Robot made from sphere like metal, same as Ristar, joined the Mega Drive too late to be relevant, not been seen since 1996.
Lemmings
A rodent said to possess suicidal tendencies, you simply have to save these green haired blue robed rodents from dying. Not been seen since 2000 mainly due to the former developers having more time for Grand Theft Auto.
Alex Kidd
Sega's former mascot, a Monkey like creature that loved playing Janken. Never really took off and has not been seen beyond guest appearances since 1990.
Bomberman
Never recovered from it's gritty episode on the X-Box 360. Not been seen since 2010 and is likely not to come back anytime soon.
Klonoa
Namco's feline like platformer was largely left untouched beyond 2002 after failing to break Western Audiences, an attempt to bring him back as a Webcomic in 2012 failed when the company making it went bust.
Tak
A shaman with a worthy attempt at making it big never really went all the way. Not seen since 2005, 2009 if you include the failed cartoon.
Ty the Tasmanian Tiger
You can't help but think Crash Bandicoot clone, not seen since 2005, however the 4th game was said to be on Steam earlier this year but no wiki page means not relevant in this world.
Bub & Bob
The Puzzle Bobble Dinos have had a mixed run over the years but hasn't been around since 2009. A certain Candy game is blamed for their demise.
Cool Spot
A mascot for 7UP drinks, like his contemporaries, he never made that many good games, not seen since 1997.
Conker
What started as a whimsical forest creature became the foul mouthed drunken squirrel we know today. Not seen since 2005 and an attempt of a comeback last year failed.
Blinx
An attempt to make a mascot for the X-Box before it went to Master Chief. Blinx never caught on and dropped out of view in 2004.
Jazz Jackrabbit
Basically the non sci-fi Bucky O'Hare, not been seen since 2002 following an unpopular redesign.
Abe
The Oddworld series is still as odd as ever, not been seen since 2005, a HD remake of the first game has not long been released.
Battletoads
Known for notorious difficulty and shameless ripoffs of more popular franchises, the Battletoads hasn't been active since 1994 despite recent attempts of a revival, no one has yet taken the plunge on it.
Goemon
Based on the Robin Hood style thief of the same name, Goemon has been an active character in Konami's line up for years but has not been active since 2005 with it's last game being Japan only.
Jak & Daxter
Knowing that this hasn't been active since 2009 despite being a relatively modern franchise makes me feel old.
Parappa the Rapper
Just like rap itself in the late 90s early 2000s it got bad. Not been active since 2002.
Samba De Amigo
Killed off by Rock Band indefinitely in 2007, the pioneer of rhythm games is resigned to the history books and guest appearances. People simply don't like Samba anymore.
Toejam & Earl
Despite being strangely popular I have no idea what to make of it. Not been active since 2003.
Billy Hatcher
Billed as Sega's game changer, came out as a still born franchise. Never went beyond 2003. Doesn't help that looking up Billy Hatcher Online only gets you a Baseball Player.
Dynamite Dux
Another still born franchise from Sega not seen since 1988, homage Bean the Dynamite only appeared in Sonic the Fighters 1996.
Viewtiful Joe
Finally Capcom's Movie Otaku, largely forgotten during Capcom's dick years, not been active beyond guest appearances since 2006.
