This post was created as part of Nexon PEAK activities.

When I think of game characters I would like to keep by my side, five picks come to mind, from Kei in Blue Archive to Pink Bean in MapleStory. Just seeing their tiny forms can brighten my day, and getting to know their personalities and habits makes them even more endearing. Here are the cute characters and in-game pets I would love to have as desktop companions.

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Desktop pets are characters that wander around your computer screen, bringing a little joy with their movements. Rather than looking at actual desktop programs, I have imagined how I would like these friends from games to behave if they came to visit my screen.

Contents
1. Kei from Blue Archive
2. Abby from Azur Promilia
3. 세일러 수달 and 웨딩 담비 from Mabinogi Mobile
4. 블랑 and 앰버 from Elsword
5. Pink Bean from MapleStory

1. Kei from Blue Archive

My pick from Blue Archive would be Kei. There is something about her small, cute appearance that makes me want to look after her. She is not all sweetness and gentleness, though. Her slightly curt but endearing, tsundere-like side is part of what draws me to her.

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She brings out my protective instincts but still speaks her mind, which makes her more interesting than a character I simply find cute. If you like an adorable design paired with a distinct personality, she is worth a closer look.

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Her popularity has been remarkable, too. At the recent Comic Market, the world's largest doujin event, she ranked 1st by an overwhelming margin for the number of booths registered for an individual character.

Kei was also included among the students available through the in-game 5th Anniversary Special Fes 3-Star Student Selector. If you have not met Kei yet, this is a chance to recruit her.

As a desktop pet, I would love for her to watch me work with apparent indifference, then speak up when I go too long without a break. An expression suggesting she was not worried about me, of course, would be enough to make me smile at the screen.

2. Abby from Azur Promilia

Abby from Azur Promilia is another small, cute character who brings out my protective instincts. She is actually a young dragon girl, though. Her love of meat and her breath attacks make an appealing contrast to her tiny appearance.

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I like that her eyes can light up at the sight of delicious food, yet she can also show the strength of a dragon. She is a lovely choice for anyone who enjoys unexpected character traits as much as cute designs.

If she visited my screen, I would love to see her sitting in a corner, munching on meat and occasionally letting out a little breath attack. Ideally, she would leave my work windows unscathed and simply stare at me when she got hungry.

Nexon PEAK is currently hosting the “Silly Little Abby Drawing Contest!” You have until November 26 at 11:59 PM to upload an Abby-themed drawing and enter.

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Upload your artwork in PNG, GIF, or JPG format, set the content type to “Illustration,” and add the tag #하찮은아비. Publishing the post alone does not complete your entry; you also need to select the artwork on the entry page and submit it.

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Prizes include a laptop, an iPad, a wireless gaming mouse, and fried chicken. Concepts and ideas will be considered alongside drawing skills, so it could be fun to share your own take on an adorable Abby.

3. 세일러 수달 and 웨딩 담비 from Mabinogi Mobile

From Mabinogi Mobile, I chose 세일러 수달 and 웨딩 담비, two pets added in October. I have seen plenty of dogs and cats as pets in games, but otters and martens are relatively rare. That makes these two a welcome change—and all the more tempting to own.

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As the name suggests, 세일러 수달 wears a charming sailor-themed outfit. The little clothes complement the otter's rounded features, making it feel like a tiny travel companion.

웨딩 담비 has a different appeal. It is not just a slight variation on a familiar animal; being a marten is enough to make it feel fresh. It is likely to catch the eye of anyone looking for an in-game pet beyond the usual dogs and cats.

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Both are Epic pets that can be obtained by chance from the Pet Lucky Box. This Lucky Box is on sale until December 16 at 11:59 PM.

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On my desktop, I would like to see the otter fiddling with a pebble in a corner of the screen while the marten moves along the edges of a window. Part of their charm is the chance to enjoy the company of animals in games and on screen that would be difficult to keep in real life.

4. 블랑 and 앰버 from Elsword

Lately, I have been watching the occasional YouTube Shorts video featuring foxes. They help me understand what people mean by being “bewitched by a fox.” Around the same time, 블랑 and 앰버 arrived in Elsword, tempting me to return to the game.

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블랑 and 앰버 are butler-themed pets added on November 5, and they are on sale until maintenance on December 3. Their cute looks and butler theme already make them a lovely fit for desktop companions.

Their special command is “Tea Time!” They toss tableware into place to set a tea table for their owner. If you prefer pets whose actions have a little personality to those that simply follow you around, these two should be especially appealing.

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It would be lovely to pause while writing at my computer and see them preparing tea on one side of the screen. They may not be able to brew an actual cup, but they could certainly serve as little butlers who remind me to take a break.

5. Pink Bean from MapleStory

When it comes to MapleStory, Pink Bean is hard to leave out. That round body and pink coloring are instantly recognizable. This is a character whose cuteness needs no explanation.

Although Pink Bean appears as a boss, pet versions such as “말랑 핑크빈” and “솜사탕 핑크빈” have also been available in the past. This is not a look at a current event where you can get one; I chose Pink Bean simply as a character I would like to keep by my side.

I also own a Pink Bean creature and hat in DNF Mobile. It is lovely to encounter a character I know from MapleStory in another game. Seeing the creature and hat together really brings out Pink Bean's distinctive presence.

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That familiarity makes Pink Bean feel like the desktop pet I would be most comfortable having around. Bouncing along the bottom of the screen and dozing off with me when I stop working would be enough. Even without elaborate features, the occasional glance would brighten my mood.

Closing Thoughts

Those are my picks from five games for cute characters and in-game pets I would love to see as desktop companions.

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Kei and Abby appeal to me for their personalities and unexpected charms, the otter and marten for being uncommon animals, and 블랑 and 앰버 for their roles as little butlers. Pink Bean feels even more familiar thanks to the creature and hat I own. Having these friends from games join me in a corner of my screen while I work would make an ordinary day a little more enjoyable.