As legend has it, the first game to ever be played involved two cavemen bidding rations of mammoth meat to see who could throw a tapir's thigh bone farther, so the impressive detail and immersiveness in the April 2018 games trends show just how far gaming has come in humanity's short time on this planet.
The gaming industry is massive, and today there's an entire sub-industry that's risen up around it: e-sports and streaming. Through the 90s and 2000s, the kid who was happy to simply sit and watch his or her friends playing a game was an outlier, but sites like Twitch and even YouTube streams have shown that watching someone else play a game can be riveting. Indeed, esports matches have become popular live entertainment for Gen Z and even some Millennials, and companies are building esports arenas in response. Arlington, Texas, will in fact play host to the first ever arena built solely for gaming competitions.
Top 50 Games Trends in April
49
Underground eSports Bars
Red Bull Opens a Gaming Sphere with the Latest Tech in Gaming Culture
48
Gravity-Bending Retro Games
'Jelly Mario Bros' Breaks the Original In a Fun and Hilarious Way
47
LED-Equipped Speakers
The Logitech G560 Speakers Feature Impressive Specs and RGB Lighting
46
Audiophile-Approved Gaming Headphones
The Audeze Mobius Brings Advanced Sound to Gaming
45
Stylish First-Person Shooter Games
Alientrap's Gunhead Game Is Action Packed and Visually Stunning
44
Game-Upgrading VR Apps
The 'CLOVR' App Lets Players Partake in Any Game in VR
43
Avid Gamer Lifestyle Laptops
The Acer Nitro 5 Laptop is Ready for Intensive Gaming Sessions
42
Professional Esports Stadiums
'Esports Stadium Arlington' Will Provide Immersive Live Experiences
41
Surreal Typing Games
'David Lynch Teaches Typing' is an Educational Game Based on the Director
40
Retro-Inspired Indie Games
The Messenger is a Ninja Gaiden-Esque Adventure For Modern Gamers
39
AI-Powered eSports Apps
The Blink Mobile eSports Platform Uses AI to Highlight Clips for Sharing
38
Life-Emulating Video Games
'The Way Of Life' Lets Players Experience Life In Various Stages
37
Mobile Battle Royale Games
The PUBG Mobile Game Brings the Frantic Gameplay to Smartphone Users
36
Intense Gamer Smartphones
The RAZER Tarox offers Advanced Functionalities for Gamers to Enjoy
35
Iconic Console Revivals
The Atari VCS Will Be at GDC 2018 and Pre-Orders Will Be Open Soon
34
Randomized Ruminant References
'Llama or Alpaca?' Asks a Simple Yet Difficult Question
33
Joyful Nonviolent Videogames
Color and Music are the Main Focuses of Newt One and Its World
32
Information-Relaying Gaming Lights
The 'Pink Basilisk' Light Displays Health or Other Metrics
31
Fast-Paced Sci-Fi Games
Clunker Junker is a Unique Gaming Experience With a Massive Set Up
30
Cloud Gaming Services
The Microsoft Gaming Cloud Division is Hoping to Change the Market
29
Trivia-Focused Dating Apps
The Updated Lively App Hopes Users Will Connect Over Live Video Trivia
28
Celebrity Streaming Appearances
Drake's Fornite Stream Shattered Streaming Records On Twitch
27
Blockchain-Powered Board Games
The Blok.Party Playtable Uses Modern Tech to Change Classic Games
26
High-Performance Gaming Headphones
The Audeze Mobius Give Players an Edge Through Immersion
25
Gun Control Video Games
Game For Our Lives Raises Awareness For The Changing of Gun Control Laws
24
Mysterious Gaming Box Sets
Playdead Has Announced a Realdoll Collaboration of a Mystery Box
23
Calming Enviroment Games
Puny Astronaut's Skye Focuses on Art Style Rather Than Intense Action
22
Audiophile Gaming Headsets
The New Arctis Pro Line Brings High-Quality Audio To Gamers
21
Military-Inspired Gaming Headsets
The Victrix Pro AF ANC Uses Military Tech to Aid Pro Gamers
20
Retro-Themed Horror Games
The Bvoid Horror Game Focuses on Atmosphere Rather Than Jump Scares
19
Dream-Inspired Video Games
The Proxi Game Gives Players the Chance to Have Their Memories Featured
18
Gamified Stock Apps
'The Trading Game' App Makes Stocks and Forex Trading More Enjoyable
17
Official eSports Sponsorships
Old Spice Has Just Become the Sponsor for the Overwatch Contenders
16
eSport Cryptocurrency Initiatives
Unikrn Has Seen Progress in Its eSports Crpto Betting Goals
15
Expression-Based AR Games
Tender Claws' TendAR Stars a Virtual Fish That Responds to Emotions
14
Motion-Tracking VR Systems
OptiTrack's Active VR System Lets Player Movements Control the Game
13
Reverse Horror Games
The 'Carrion' Game Puts Player in Control of a Ravenous Monster
12
Lossless Audio Gamer Headsets
The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Series Headphones are High-Quality
11
Free PC Game Programs
Twitch's Free Games With Prime Will Be Available for Prime Membership Users
10
VR Cultivation Board Games
Catan VR Brings a New Experience to the Classic Pastime
9
Iconic Videogame Orchestras
The Metal Gear Orchestra Is Finally Coming To Europe and North America
8
Zen-Inducing Video Games
Bird Game Lulls Players Into Peace But Also Challenges Them Intensely
7
Hacker-Focused Indie Games
'Tech Support: Error Unknown' Gives Players Power But Forces Choices
6
Boss Battle RPGs
Neo Impossible Bosses Will Challenge Even the Best Micromanagers
5
Story-Driven Platformers
Apocalypse Cow Blends Elements of Animated Films and Classic Games
4
Finish Line-Free Racing Games
Codemasters' 'Onrush' Changes the Dynamics of Racing Games
3
Passive 2D Brawlers
'Way of the Passive Fist' Turns Focuses on Defensive Combat in the Wasteland
2
Dinosaur-Hunting Games
'Jurassic World Alive' Will Let Players Live Out Prehistoric Dreams
1
Goofy Golfing Video Games
What the Golf? Embraces Absurdity with a Nominally Golf-Based Experience
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Gaming Timepieces
The Retro Gaming Watch Brings Gameplay to the Wrist
Industrial Handheld Gaming Consoles
The Conceptual PocketMan P1 Has Exposed Components
Monthly Free Game Bundles
Sony Confirmed its Three Free Titles on PlayStation for June
Dedicated Web3 Gaming Platforms
Gamestop is Working with 'Elixir' on a Crypto Gaming Launcher
Compact Gamepad Designs
99 City 8's Gamepad Concept Boasts a Hint of Playful Color
Gaming Archetype Personality Quizzes
The New York Times Games Presents a Puzzle Personality Quiz
Ergonomic Minimalist Gaming Controllers
The Moenix Game Controller Concept Has a Yoke-Style Design
Chic Retro Consoles
The Atari Gamestation is a MInimalist Console for Retro Gamers
Stylish Gaming Controllers
The Xbox Wireless Controller Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition is Chic
Remote Esports Coaching
eGame Studio Launches an Esports Coaching Application Called Game Lens
Scent-Releasing Gaming Devices
The 'Gamescent' Syncs with Gameplay to Add a Sense of Smell
Connected Gamer Campaigns
Heineken's Just Another Night Out Shatters Anti-Social Stereotypes
Coming-Of-Age Digital Games
Uvula and AbleGamers Develop the Cartoonish To a T Game
Monetizable Mobile Gaming Apps
'Playbite' Enables Players to Win Gift Cards and Prizes
Singe-Player Adventurous Games
Crystal Dynamics is Developing the Next Tomb Raider Game
Cloud-Based Retro Gamer Apps
The Polymega App Offers Access to Nostalgic Titles
Nostalgic Handheld Gaming Systems
My Arcade Gamestation Portable Has Retro-Style Controls
First-Person Vintage-Inspired Games
Mouse is a New Shooter Game Inspired by Vintage Disney
Monstrous Horror Video Games
This Game Challenges Players to Evade An AI-Fueled Monster
Gamified Tennis Metaverses
Race to Wimbledon is a Fast-Paced Game on Fortnite
Artful Diverse Gaming Backgrounds
The Xbox Celebrates Collection Honors Cultural Heritage
Arcade-Style Metaverse Games
JD Sports Steps into the Metaverse with 'King of the Game'
Battle Royale Gaming Peripherals
Razer and KRAFTON Released a Special PUBG Collection of Devices
Team Shooter Superhero Games
Marvel Games and NetEase Unveil the Marvel Rivals Game
Feline-Centric Animated Games
The Little Kitty, Big City Game is Launching on May 9th
Data-Driven Esports Partnerships
Electronic Arts Teams Up with Stats Perform Ahead of FC24
Modernized Nostalgic Gaming Consoles
The Atari Gamestation Pro Features More Than 200 Games
Musician-Themed Online Games
Fortnite Festival Lets Players Get in on the Concert Action
Battle-Map Mobile Game Launches
Call of Duty Announces at the Upcoming Warzone Mobile Game
Virtual Car Meetups
7-Eleven is Inviting Fans to Meet Virtually in Fortnite
Gen Z Sports Apps
Stadium Live is Aiming to Entice Gen Z Consumers with Immersive Experiences
Expansive Touchscreen Control Games
The Assassins Creed Mirage Game Expands to iPhones and iPads
Versatile Gaming Controllers
Yifeeling Design Launches a Controller with Detachable Design
Women-Only Esports Tournaments
Galaxy Racer Will Host a $250,000 Multi-Title Tournament for Women
Artist-Inspired Game Events
Lady Gaga Will Make Her Digital Debut in the Fortnite Festival
Game Streaming Service Updates
Sony has Added Several Titles to 'PlayStation Plus Premium'
Gaming Ads-Inspired Video Games
D3 Publisher and Monkeycraft Present the Ironic Those Games
Branded Gaming Events
Ubisoft Announced 'Ubisoft Forward' for June 12th in Los Angeles
VR-Compatible Gaming Controllers
The Conceptual 'Game Start' Gaming Controller is Multifunctional
Realistic Fighting Game Trials
Bandai Namco is Launching a Tekken 8 Demo on December 14th
Gaming Clip-Capturing Apps
Epic Games Releases the Postparty App to Clip Game Captures
Athlete-Backed Game Consoles
Lebron James Showcases His Own Custom PlayStation 5
Feature-Rich Retro Gamer Consoles
The XGO Handheld Retro Gaming Console Supports 10 Emulators
Virtual Game Tourism Campaigns
Cape Town Launches a Virtual Game for a New Tourism Campaign
Streaming Service Game Controllers
Netflix Unveils a New Game Controller App for iPhones
Women-Led Esports Tournaments
Complexity Gaming and ClaraATwork Will Host a Women-Led Tournament
Inclusive Gaming Initiatives
RNIB and Twitch are Creating Change for Gamers with Sight Loss
Futuristic Military Game Events
Battlefield 2042's 'Killswitch' Mode is the Highlight of its Event
Geography-Based Esports Competitions
GeoGuessr Hosts Its First Esports World Cup with 24 Players
Work-Ditching Video Game Campaigns
Call of Duty's "Ghost Your Boss" Invites Players to Skip Work
Enhanced Game Engines
Epic Games Moved Fortnite to Unreal Engine 5.1 for Chapter 4
Cartoonized Role-Playing Games
Nintendo Announced 'MythForce' as a 2023 Switch Title
Earth-Honoring AR Games
Balenciaga Launches the Regenerative Agriculture Experience
Sci-Fi-Themed Game Consoles
Xbox and Lucasfilm Released 'The Mandalorian' Consoles and Controller
All-in-One iGaming Solutions
CrazyGames Unveils a New Collection of Browser-Based Games
Anime-Style Dating Games
Studio Sai Announces a Release Date for its Anime-Style Dating Sim
Mobile Game Platform Expansions
Google is Expanding its 'Play Games' Windows Application
Vintage Game-Inspired Peripherals
Higround Unveils a New Street Fighter Gaming Collection
Toy-Themed Racing Games
LEGO and 2K Partnered Up to Develop 'LEGO 2K Drive' on Modern Consoles
First-Person Shooter Ports
Activision Released Three Prior CoD Games on the Steam Gaming Platform
Multiplayer Online RTS Games
NCSOFT Unveiled 'Project G' as its First-Ever 'MMORTS' Title
Youth Esports Safety Initiatives
British Esports Partnered with the NSPCC on a Series of Events
Host-To-Earn Esports Platforms
ESPL Now Enables Everyone to Be An Organizer of Amateur Esports
Augmented Reality Hunting Games
Capcom and Niantic are Launching 'Monster Hunter Now'
Organization-Backed Video Games
Esports Organization 100 Thieves Launches the 'Bank Heist' Game
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
In-Car Gaming Expansions
Tesla Launches Thousands of Games in Its Cars with Steam
Collaboration Sci-Fi Gamer Consoles
The Microsoft The Mandalorian Xbox Consoles are Fan-Approved
Turkey-Based Game Studios
Frantic Games Raised $2.4 Million to Develop Engaging Mobile Games
Esports Basketball Events
ESL FACEIT Group and FIBA Launch the NBA 2K23 eFIBA Esports Tournament
Esports Bitcoin Tournaments
Crypto Betting Platform Thunderpick Announces a $600K CS:GO Tournament
Esports Championship Events
The European Games Esports Championships Announces its Game Titles
Anime Game Collaborations
Epic Games Added 'Attack on Titan' Content to Fortnite: Battle Royale
Iconic Game Thriller Films
The Tale of the Tetris Game is Being Transformed into a Movie
Clip-Sharing Game Platforms
Epic Games Launches Postparty for Sharing Fortnite Gameplay Clips
Inclusive Gaming Initiatives
FIFAe Kicks Off New Female Esports Inclusivity Programme
Retro Basketball Arcade James
Arcade1Up Presents Two New NBA Jam Cabinet Game Consoles
Esports Commercial Tournaments
Echo Esports Shares the Commercial Partners for Race to World First
Dedicated Gaming Gear Shops
The Samsung Game Portal is Launching in 30 Countries
Horror-Themed Action Shooters
Gunfire Games is Back with 'Remnant II' on Steam and Major Consoles
Large Group Video Games
Nintendo Everybody 1-2-Switch! Supports Up to 100 Players
Host-To-Earn Platforms
ESPL is Launching the ESPL Arena to Integrate Web3 and Esports Hosting
Nationwide French Esports Ecosystems
France Confirms its Plans for a National Esports Ecosystem
Genre-Defining Shooter Games
Id Software is Reportedly Remastering the Original FPS 'Quake II'
Next-Gen Crime Games
Rockstar Games is Set to Launch 'Grand Theft Auto VI' in 2025
Mixed-Reality Treasure Hunts
EE is Kicking Off Its Inaugural Game Day with a Special Treasure Hunt
Women's Day-Inspired Tournaments
True Gamer Partners with Sony to Host a Match for Women's Day
MENA-Based Esports Events
Saudi Arabia is Expected to Host the World Esports Championship
Horror Franchise-Themed Games
A Paranormal Activity Game is Currently in the Works
Virtual Table Top Games
TinyTable Combines the Joy of Table Top Games with Virtual Video Calls
Short-Form Gaming Video Apps
'FreshCut' is TikTok for Video Games and Gaming News
Immersive Rhythmic Concert Games
Epic Games Added Guitar Controller Support to 'Fortnite Festival'
Mobile Esports Events
Tribe Gaming Partners with Samsung for a Mobile Gaming Event in Las Vegas
Turn-Based Strategy Games
EA SPORTS Debuts the Football Strategy Game 'FC Tactical'
Entrepreneurial Esports Events
Esports Insider and the University of Warwick to Host ESI Next Gen
Convention-Enabled Esports Tournaments
Call of Duty's Championship Will Air at DreamHack Atlanta
Post-Apocalyptic City-Building Games
11 Bit Studios' Frontpunk 2 Game Will Arrive by the Summer
Virtual Reality Racing Games
Sony Confirmed that Gran Turismo 7 Will be on PSVR2 from Day One
Smartphone Game Feature Expansions
Apple's iPhone Event Announced its Upcoming Game Launches
PC-Based Virtual Game Remakes
The System Shock Remake is Getting Another Delay of its Launch
Dynamic First-Person Shooter Games
The Upcoming Immortals of Aveum Game Gets a Trailer
Professional Battle Royale Events
Activision Unveils the 150K 'Who is the King' Warzone Tournament
Playable Guest Character Rosters
Tomb Raider's Lara Croft is the Latest Playable CoD Character
Streaming Service-Backed Games
YouTube Is Testing Its Online Games Category Called 'Playables'
Spanish FPS Game Launches
Novarama Launched its Debut FPS Title 'United 1944' on PC via Steam
Eco-Focused Esports Initiatives
GameSquare and Mastercard Tackle Deforestation with a New Game
Action Rhythm Animated Games
Xbox and Bethesda Develop the New Hi-Fi Rush Game Available Now
Cultural Supernatural Games
Tango Gameworks is Bringing Ghostwire: Tokyo to Xbox Game Pass
Science-Based Gaming Platforms
Skillprint Launched a New First-of-Its-Kind Gaming Pairing Platform
Gamer Organization Apps
Skich Debuts New Features for its Tinder-Style Game Recommendation App
Alien-Hunting AR Games
Google and Taito Release a Pokémon-Style AR Game with Aliens
Collaborative Platform-Backed Tournaments
CSGOEmpire Unveils its Own Counter-Strike 2 Tournament
Convention-Based Esports Events
The Snapdragon Pro Series Will Be Held at DreamHack Japan
Student-Focused Esports Deals
Generation Esports Partners with Nintendo for Middle School Esports
Game-Themed Browser Hidden Features
Google Unveils a Katamari Damacy Hidden Easter Egg
Subscription-Based Mobile Games
Netflix Unveils the TMNT: Shredder's Revenge Mobile Game
Team-Based Party Shooters
Foamstars is a Splatoon-Like Shooter from Square Enix
Dating Sim-Inclusive Digital Games
The New Overwatch 2 Game is Designed with a New Control Map
Scholastic Esports Partnerships
National Student Esports Partnered with Nintendo UK for Splatoon 3
Remastered Sci-Fi Shooters
Nintendo Shadow Dropped 'Metroid Prime Remastered' at Nintendo Direct
Magical Shooter Games
Immortals of Aveum from Ascendant Studios is a Fantasy FPS Game
Easter-Themed Game Giveaways
Fanatical's 'Mystery Egg Bundle' Holds Golden Egg Prizes
Tactical Game Esports
Challengermode Partnered with BLAST on Rainbow Six: Siege Tournaments
Esports Wellness Courses
Entain Foundation U.S. Introduces a New Esports Mental Wellness Campaign
Inclusive Accessibility-Focused Tournaments
Ghost Gaming Hosts the 'Adaptive Gaming Cup'
Femme-Focused Tournament Series
Thunderpick Partners with the*gameHERS for a New Tournament Series
Indian Shooter Game Promotions
KRAFTON Partners with S8UL to Promote Bullet Echo India
Daily Gaming Mystery-Solving
Players are Tasked to Guess the Game with 'Daily Game Trivia'
High-Tier Esports Tournaments
PUBG Mobile Debuts Changes to Its Esports Partnership Program in SEA
Indie Game-Adapted Movies
The El Paso, Elsewhere Game is Getting Turned into a Movie
Animated Series-Themed RPGs
Paramount Prepares to Launch the Avatar Generations Mobile Game
Campaign-Led Esports Studios
Guild Launches New Creative Services Division Called ‘Guild Studios’
First-Party Game Platform Launches
The Horizon Forbidden West Game is Prepared to Expand
Newspaper Gaming Platforms
kr3m Crafts an Interactive, Reader-Centric Gaming Platform for Le Monde
Digital Game Expansive Modes
Warzone 2.0 Prepares to Launch with a New Map and Feature Update
Classic Action-Inspired Games
The Bomb Rush Cyberpunk Game is Launching in September
International RPG Tournaments
Genshin Impact Announces Its First International Tournament for 2023
Revamped Dual-Stick Digital Games
The Metroid Prime Remastered Game Gets a New Digital Form
Digital Game Platform Expansions
Blizzard Announces that it is Launching Overwatch 2 on Steam
Educational Esports Endeavors
British Esports Debuts an Education Partnership with Level Infinite