I might be fairly new to figure collecting, but I am a little embarrassed by the sheer number of items sitting next to my desk as I write this. That won't stop me from spending hours sifting through the shelves of shops like Surugaya or Book Off to find the perfect Hatsune Miku to add to my ever-growing collection.
While some might see my display cabinet as showing rookie numbers, there is a unique satisfaction in finding a new figure of something you love. However, if there is one thing my collection is missing, it is any high-quality video game figures.
The struggle to find affordable video game figures
The difference between finding a Miku figurine and a video game figure is that the former is much easier to track down. I cannot tell you the last time I saw a gaming figure that wasn't an incredibly expensive statue or a rare pre-order bonus.
Aside from the odd Amiibo and a Tekken 7 statue I absolutely adore, my video game figure collection remains quite sparse. But when something is hard to find, I have quickly learned that people will simply make it themselves.
Many creators are now making their own figures at any scale, either from scratch or by using existing figures as a base. After seeing some incredible examples of this skill, I am starting to think differently about how I can grow my own collection.
The art of customising video game figures
TikTok user @yumenikkis is a perfect example of this creative movement. Wanting to bring Mari from Omori into their collection, they took a figure of Mizuhara Chizuru from Rent a Girlfriend and essentially disassembled it for a total customisation.
This process involved:
- Removing and repainting the hair
- Editing the facial features
- Completely changing the colour palette of the outfit
- Reimagining the base as a picnic basket with tiny clay candy
The end result is just as impressive as it sounds. Customising a figure is an impressive feat, especially considering how little detail characters in Omori typically have. The attention to detail on the base alone—replacing a plain plastic circle with a themed basket—is what would sell me on this piece in a shop.
Sculpting from scratch with Fallen Petal Studios
Another stellar example is Fallen Petal Studios, another creator I discovered while falling down the custom figure rabbit hole. They take things a step further by creating clay figures entirely from scratch, displaying them on small wooden blocks.
Their portfolio includes a wide range of characters and even different media:
- Cagney Carnation from Cuphead
- The Lamb from Cult of the Lamb
- Leah from Stardew Valley (complete with a little clay chisel and hammer)
- Characters from Adventure Time, Over the Garden Wall, and Hazbin Hotel
- Various characters from Studio Ghibli films
These pieces are almost Amiibo-esque due to their smaller design and simpler features, which I find incredibly adorable.
Next time I have the fleeting thought about not owning enough gaming merchandise, I will look at my collection to see if there is anything worth customising. I cannot guarantee that any of my Mikus will be sacrificed, but perhaps the figures tucked away on the bottom shelf might be next. If I spend some time customising them, they might at least earn a spot in a more visible location.
