10 Video Game Characters Who First Appeared Sooner Than You Think

9. Sonic The Hedgehog - Rad Mobile

Sonic the Hedgehog is of course one of the most iconic characters in the history of the medium, but he didn't actually make his first appearance in his own eponymous debut platformer, which was released in June 1991.

Rather, Sonic initially had a cameo appearance in the Sega-published arcade racer Rad Mobile, released a whole four months prior in February 1991.

Sonic is visible as an air freshener hanging from the driver's rearview mirror throughout the game, and though nobody knew it at the time of course, a future icon was literally hidden in plain sight.

As for Rad Mobile? The only reason anyone remembers it at all is because of the Sonic cameo.