Category
Lifestyle
Assisted Choices
Trend cluster
Category
Topical
Gaming
Games targeted toward adults take on topical, of-the-moment themes.
4.1
Trend score
Trend
What is the Topical Gaming trend?
Topical Gaming: Increasing engagement and capitalizing off of buzz, games focused around pop culture phenomena like politics or Internet memes are taking off. By playing into topics that consumers are already interested in and talking about, game creators are not only able to increase sales, but generate word-of-mouth around the products themselves as well. This shift toward a more niche version of existing products is reflective of a consumer base that seeks out goods that reflect their specific interests.
Trend themes
Themes within the Topical Gaming trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Pop Culture Phenomena
Games focused around pop culture phenomena take advantage of buzz-worthy topics to increase sales and generate word-of-mouth around the products themselves.
02
Niche Products
A shift towards niche products is reflective of a consumer base that seeks out goods that reflect their specific interests; this presents significant opportunities for creators to capitalize.
03
Humorous Adaptation
Humorous adaptations of popular games and apps, such as dating apps and internet memes, allow for immense innovation opportunities within traditional board games and card games.
Industry implications
What the Topical Gaming trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Gaming
The gaming industry is experiencing growth as games become more niche in response to ever-growing pop culture phenomena trends.
For
Marketing
Marketing professionals can look to capitalize on pop culture phenomena trends by creating products reflective of current cultures and subcultures to target specific consumers.
For
Entertainment
Entertainment industry professionals must adapt to the trend of humorous adaptations of popular games to remain competitive in an ever-changing market.
Workshop question
If you were to leverage a pop culture phenomenon to connect with consumers, which one would you choose and how would you leverage it?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Topical Gaming
Trend score 4.1 out of 10, from popularity 63%, activity 51%, freshness 8%.
Popularity63%
Activity51%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Evidence
Examples of the Topical Gaming trend
4 featured examples from Feb 12 to Jul 6, 2016CategoryPop Culture
Comically Insulting Card Games
This New Cards Against Humanity Game Mocks Donald Trump
The creation of 'Trump Against Humanity' signals the opportunity for disruptive innovation within the party game industry, as businesses capitalize on the trend of unconventional…
CategoryArt & Design
Virus-Fighting Board Games
This Complex Board Game is Said to Be the Best One Ever Made
Opportunity for board game manufacturers to innovate and create more intricate and immersive games.
CategoryPop Culture
Internet Meme Board Games
The 'What Do You Meme?' Card Board Game Has Players Caption Memes
Opportunity for board game companies to tap into the popularity of Internet memes and create meme-themed games that target younger audiences.
CategoryPop Culture
Dating App Card Games
This Tinder-Based Card Game Pokes Fun at Online Dating
Developing card games and gamified experiences based on popular online platforms like Tinder creates opportunities for innovation in the gaming industry.
