chocobo

Chocobo is a fictional avian species in the Final Fantasy video game franchise published by Square Enix. They are large, flightless birds with rounded bodies, long legs, and stout beaks. The yellow chocobo is the best known variant and is often treated as the series’ mascot, though many games feature chocobos in a range of colors and forms. The species first appeared in Final Fantasy II (1988) as a rideable mount and has since become a recurring element throughout the series and its spinoffs.

In gameplay, chocobos commonly function as mounts that allow characters to travel more quickly across overworld maps and fields. In several titles, players can breed chocobos to produce different colors with distinct traits and abilities, and some entries enable flying or access to otherwise unreachable areas through special equipment or conditions. The exact mechanics of care, racing, and breeding vary by game.

Chocobos also appear in numerous spin-off titles and associated media, including racing and dungeon-crawler games, as well as merchandise and promotional material. The creature is widely recognized as a symbol of the Final Fantasy series and remains a popular subject for fans due to its varied colors, personalities, and in-game utilities rather than combat emphasis.