Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Ironic
Gaming
Digital culture is reflected in offline board game concepts.
2.4
Trend score
Trend
What is the Ironic Gaming trend?
Ironic Gaming: Innovative offline board game concepts that reference a pervasive digital culture are beginning to emerge in the entertainment realm. Without literal digital components, such offline activities suggest that even when unplugged, consumers are largely defined by the online culture that they are embedded in.
Trend themes
Themes within the Ironic Gaming trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Offline Games Mirror Digital Culture
As our lives become more digital, offline gaming experiences are being designed to reflect that culture.
02
Gamification of Education
Board games that subtly teach valuable skills like coding are becoming increasingly popular among parents and educators alike.
03
Internet-Inspired Gaming
Card and board games that incorporate aspects of internet culture like predictive search and linked articles are becoming more common.
Industry implications
What the Ironic Gaming trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toy and Game Industry
Manufacturers can create gaming experiences that meet the growing need for offline technology.
For
Tech Education Industry
Educators can develop new board game concepts that teach valuable technology skills and concepts.
For
Entertainment and Media Industry
Brands can create games that appeal to the current digital culture and generation of people who grew up playing video games.
Workshop question
What relationship, if any, does your brand have with Internet Culture?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Ironic Gaming
Trend score 2.4 out of 10, from popularity 36%, activity 28%, freshness 8%.
Popularity36%
Activity28%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
South America
Evidence
Examples of the Ironic Gaming trend
5 featured examples from Sep 30, 2013 to Aug 27, 2015CategoryLifestyle
Internet-Based Card Games
This Wikipedia Card Game Puts Your Internet Skills to Good Use
There is an opportunity to incorporate gaming elements such as those in Linknotize into educational materials, creating more engaging and enjoyable learning experiences for studen…
CategoryTech
Pixelated Solitare Sets
This Card Deck Design is Aesthetically Inspired by the Retro Computer Game
The gaming industry can create products that incorporate retro graphics to appeal to consumers who enjoy reminiscing.
CategoryTech
Predictive Search Board Games
The Query Game Plays Off Google's Predictive Search Feature
Incorporating popular online culture into board game design presents a niche opportunity to differentiate and appeal to younger audiences.
CategoryTech
8-Bit Board Games
Mega Man: the Board Game Takes the Blue Bomber from the TV to the Table
The success of the Mega Man board game on Kickstarter highlights the potential for innovation and growth in the board game industry.
CategoryLife-Stages
Subtle Programming Board Games
Robot Turtles Teaches Young Kids to Think Like Coders
Developing new board games and toys that teach children important skills such as programming and encourage learning through fun activities.
