# Gesture-Based Card Games 'Happy Salmon' is a Quirky, Fast-Paced Game of Fist Bumps and High-Fives By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2017-02-23 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/happy-salmon References: [northstargames](https://www.northstargames.com/products/happy-salmon) & [cnbc](http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/22/the-13-hottest-toys-from-the-new-york-toy-fair.html) At the annual Toy Fair in NYC, North Star Games unveiled a quirky new [gesture-based card game](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speedmoji) called 'Happy Salmon.' The premise of the game is to discard one's cards by performing actions such as high-fives and fist bumps to express the excitement of matching cards with another player. As North Star Games describes: "With so many mini-celebrations built into the play, it’s the happiest game ever!" The game is extremely fast-paced, with rounds of Happy Salmon typically lasting about one minute. In total, there are 72 cards that can be divided amongst three to six players at a time. Once game time is up, the entire [fish-themed card game](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chop-drop-chili) can be put away in a salmon-shaped carrying case, making it a great on-the-go game to being along for [family trips and other group gatherings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dat-game-family-edition). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.5/10 - Popularity: 25% | Activity: 13% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Youth](https://www.trendhunter.com/youth) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Gesture-based Games:** An emerging trend in gaming that involves using gestures instead of traditional controllers, creating a more interactive and immersive gaming experience. - **Fast-paced Gameplay:** A trend towards games with quick rounds and fast-paced gameplay, catering to the needs of busy individuals looking for short bursts of entertainment. - **Portable Card Games:** A growing trend of card games that come in compact, portable forms, allowing for easy transportation and on-the-go play. ### Who This Affects Most - **Gaming Industry:** This trend presents an opportunity for game developers to create innovative gesture-based games and capitalize on the demand for interactive gaming experiences. - **Toy Industry:** Toy companies can explore the development of fast-paced card games to cater to the growing market of individuals looking for quick and engaging activities. - **Travel Industry:** The portable nature of these card games opens up opportunities for the travel industry to offer entertainment options that are easy to carry and can enhance group gatherings during trips. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Card-Matching Foodie Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/themed-card-game.md) - [Friendship-Focused Party Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/catch-the-vibe.md) - [Compact Dexterity Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dropolter.md) - [One-Minute Card Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/danger-danger.md) - [Flexible Family-Friendly Card Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uno-flex.md) - [Flip-and-Stick Party Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chicken-vs-hotdog.md) - [Simplistic Dynamic Game Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/touch-egg.md) - [Cooperative Card-Matching Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fireside-games.md) - [Wombat-Themed Party Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handtohand-wombat.md)