Spyro The Dragon

A purple dragon who is the protagonist of the platforming video game series of the same name, debuting in 1998.

Action

Games

1994–2000

Years

Platforms

$29.07

Ø CIB

+45.5%

24M change

About

Spyro the Dragon is a young purple dragon tasked with rescuing his fellow dragons who have been encased in crystal by the antagonist Gnasty Gnorc. He debuted in the 1998 PlayStation game Spyro the Dragon, which spawned several sequels, re-releases, and demo versions. Throughout his adventures, Spyro utilizes his abilities to glide, charge with his horns, and breathe fire to defeat enemies and collect gems.

Created by Insomniac Games, the character's visual design was crafted by artist Charles Zembillas. Originally conceived as a green dragon named Pete, the character's color was changed to purple to ensure he stood out against the green environments of the game's 3D worlds. The character's movement mechanics, particularly his gliding physics, were programmed with assistance from NASA rocket scientists to ensure a smooth, realistic feel.

The character's debut was heavily promoted through various physical releases, including the Spyro the Dragon Demo (1998) and the retail release of Spyro the Dragon (1998). Its commercial success led to high-volume re-releases, such as Spyro the Dragon [Greatest Hits] (1998) in North America and Spyro the Dragon [Platinum] (1998) in PAL regions, alongside rare promotional versions like Spyro the Dragon [Not For Resale] (1998). The character's early legacy is also preserved in compilations like the Spyro The Dragon Combo Pack (1994). These releases established the character as a mascot for the PlayStation platform, paving the way for a long-running multi-platform franchise.