Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Mid-Aughts
Play
The nostalgia cycle shrinks to include kidult play that references the mid-2000s.
3.8
Trend score
Trend
What is the Mid-Aughts Play trend?
Mid-Aughts Play: The concept of Millennials trading in a traditional approach to adulthood for one that prioritizes experience and play is transforming to include young Millennials, and even older members of Generation Z. This is manifesting through adult board and card games that references mid-2000s nostalgia. This demonstrates the increased pace of change, as the nostalgia cycle begins to shrink to include more recent cultural movements.
Trend themes
Themes within the Mid-Aughts Play trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Nostalgia Cycle Shrinking
As the nostalgia cycle begins to shrink, businesses can focus on creating products and services that cater to recent cultural trends.
02
Augmented Reality Gaming
Businesses can capitalize on the rise of immersive gaming experiences by creating augmented reality products and services, which allow users to experience the gaming world in a new and innovative way.
03
Adultification of Play
The shift towards prioritizing experience and play is a trend that creates opportunities for businesses to create more games and activities that cater to an older audience.
Industry implications
What the Mid-Aughts Play trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Gaming
The gaming industry can capitalize on the rise of nostalgic and immersive experiences by creating more games that cater to current cultural trends and employ innovative technologies.
For
Entertainment
The entertainment industry can create experiences that tap into the current trends of nostalgia and play to attract a wider audience and provide unique experiences for customers.
For
E-commerce
The e-commerce industry can take advantage of the rise of adult-themed games and activities by selling and marketing products that are catered to older age groups.
Workshop question
How can your company better prepare for the increased pace of the nostalgia cycle?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Mid-Aughts Play
Trend score 3.8 out of 10, from popularity 67%, activity 40%, freshness 8%.
Popularity67%
Activity40%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Mid-Aughts Play trend
3 featured examples from Jul 25 to Oct 16, 2017CategoryPop Culture
Magical Escape Rooms
This Harry Potter Escape Room Takes Participants Through an Adventure
Opportunity to attract Harry Potter fans with themed attractions and experiences that enhance their travel and leisure experiences.
CategoryTech
AR Card Games
Yu-Gi-Oh! Has Been Reinvented as an Augmented Reality Card Game
Innovation in AR and mixed-reality gaming provide opportunities for game developers to explore new gaming experiences
CategoryLife-Stages
Magical Literature Card Games
'Cards Against Potter' Puts a Wizardly Spin on the Game
Manufacturers can capitalize on the popularity of popular entertainment franchises by creating themed merchandise like card games.
