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
Football Management Tournaments
FIFAe Introduces the Football Manager FIFAe World Cup
Industrial Handheld Gaming Consoles
The Conceptual PocketMan P1 Has Exposed Components
Nostalgic Gaming Timepieces
The Retro Gaming Watch Brings Gameplay to the Wrist
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
Projector-Equipped Handheld Gaming Consoles
This Nintendo Game Boy Concept is 90s-Inspired
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
Next-Gen Drinking Games
Almost Friday Features Four Mini-Games for Adults & Beer Can-Shaped Cards
Reservation-Based Gaming Retail Initiatives
PlayStation 5 Pro in Japan is for Hardcore Gamers
Stylish Gaming Controllers
The Xbox Wireless Controller Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition is Chic
Streaming Series Games
Netflix Stories Invites Viewers to Participate in Their Own Adventures
Creative Game-Themed Peripherals
The Higround x Minecraft Collection Has Several Styles
Gamer-Centric Fast Food Campaigns
Burger King's Gaming Campaign to Rewards “Burger-to-King” Goals
Handheld Gaming Console Concepts
Alex Casabo Designs the Playfusion Console Concept
Retro Video Game Stores
Gamestop is Opening 'Retro' Locations to Sell Used Games
Modern Update Mobile Games
Flappy Bird is Getting Another Launch with New Modern Changes
Coming-Of-Age Digital Games
Uvula and AbleGamers Develop the Cartoonish To a T Game
Heritage-Inspired Game Consoles
PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection Nods to the First Console
Inclusive Gaming Tournaments
Logitech G is Hosting a Tournament for Players with Disabilities
Interactive Video Game-Themed Tours
The Play Nintendo Tour Runs from June 13 to September 2, 2024
Score-Tracking Esports Applications
The Esports World Cup Now Has a Mobile App for Attendees
Monetizable Mobile Gaming Apps
'Playbite' Enables Players to Win Gift Cards and Prizes
African Esports Phone Partnerships
Samsung Ghana Unites with PlayProvince’s Call of Duty Team
Esports CSR Initiatives
The Global Esports Federation Launched a Global Social Impact Initiative
Interactive Sports Game Predictions
Guul's EURO 2024 Predictor Offers Connection and camaraderie
Egg-Centric Metaverse Games
American Egg Board Launched a Tower of Eggs Pop-Up on Roblox
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
Retro Game-Streaming Services
'Antstream' is the First Licensed Retro Game Service on iPhone
Artful Diverse Gaming Backgrounds
The Xbox Celebrates Collection Honors Cultural Heritage
Gamified Tennis Metaverses
Race to Wimbledon is a Fast-Paced Game on Fortnite
Social Sports Applications
EA is Launching the EA Sports Social App on Web and Mobile
Battle Royale Gaming Peripherals
Razer and KRAFTON Released a Special PUBG Collection of Devices
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
Multifunctional Game Sets
The 'LEGO' Group is Merging Physical and Digital Play
Pay-What-You-Want Gaming Platforms
Humble Bundle Changes Game Distribution with Flexible Pricing
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
Interactive App-Themed Game Maps
Twitch Unveiled 'The Glitch' Brand Map in Fortnite for Twitchcon
Latin American-Targeted Esports Experiences
Community Gaming Enters a Partnership with Moonton
Comprehensive Tech Showcase Events
Logitech Announced Gadgets and Software at 'LogiPlay 2024'
Political Campaign Game Maps
Fortnite Develops Freedom Town for Harris/Walz Campaign
Mobile Escape Rooms
Phone Escape: Hopeless Takes Mobile Entertainment to New Dimensions
Expanded Game-Streaming Services
Sony Added a Number of Games to its 'PS Plus' Service in June
Artist-Inspired Game Events
Lady Gaga Will Make Her Digital Debut in the Fortnite Festival
Influencer-Based Gaming Activations
Niantic Taps Google to Recruit Creators for Pokémon GO Fest
Game Console-Branches Streetwear
PlayStation Joins F.C. Real Bristol and SOPH on a Fashion Capsule
Gaming Ads-Inspired Video Games
D3 Publisher and Monkeycraft Present the Ironic Those Games
Sports Car-Themed Arenas
Ferrari World Yas Island Hosts an Inaugural Event Ahead of its Launch
Realistic Fighting Game Trials
Bandai Namco is Launching a Tekken 8 Demo on December 14th
Free Urban Adventure Games
Adventure City Games Launches a Consumer-Focused Initiative in BC
Co-Branded Racing Game Events
Xbox and Gilette Launched the 'Gilette P1 Program' in Forza
Cross-Cultural Esports Programs
USEF and Ghost Gaming Debut the International Esports Exchange
Collaborative Gaming Peripherals
Razer Releases a New Fortnite Gaming Peripherals Collection
Feature-Rich Retro Gamer Consoles
The XGO Handheld Retro Gaming Console Supports 10 Emulators
Expansive Touchscreen Control Games
The Assassins Creed Mirage Game Expands to iPhones and iPads
Streaming Service Game Controllers
Netflix Unveils a New Game Controller App for iPhones
Dark Meditative Digital Games
The Crow Country Game is Inspired by Retro Classic Games
Inclusive Gaming Initiatives
RNIB and Twitch are Creating Change for Gamers with Sight Loss
Youth Movement Competitions
The PLEZi Absurdly Good Games Encourages Summer Activity
Gaming-Themed Tech Accessories
The Kojima Productions x Higround Collection Arrives This Month
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
Teleporting First-Person Shooter Games
1047 Games Announced the Sequel to the Shooter 'Splitgate'
Game Streaming Service Updates
Sony has Added Several Titles to 'PlayStation Plus Premium'
Cartoonized Role-Playing Games
Nintendo Announced 'MythForce' as a 2023 Switch Title
Earth-Honoring AR Games
Balenciaga Launches the Regenerative Agriculture Experience
Esports Data-Based Deals
Bayes Esports Debuts a New Data Supplying Deal with the Esports World Cup
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
Gaming Aim Training Tournaments
Logitech G and Aim Lab Launched 'The Gauntlet' Competition
Youth Esports Safety Initiatives
British Esports Partnered with the NSPCC on a Series of Events
Gaming Experience-Enhancing Innovations
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. Debuts New Gaming Innovations
Organization-Backed Video Games
Esports Organization 100 Thieves Launches the 'Bank Heist' Game
VR-Based First-Person Shooter Games
SGEntertec Debuts the Highly Anticipated Bounty City
Immersive Rhythmic Concert Games
Epic Games Added Guitar Controller Support to 'Fortnite Festival'
Turkey-Based Game Studios
Frantic Games Raised $2.4 Million to Develop Engaging Mobile Games
Esports Bitcoin Tournaments
Crypto Betting Platform Thunderpick Announces a $600K CS:GO Tournament
Insect-Inspired Strategy Games
The Empire of the Ants Game is Set to Arrive in November
Esports Championship Events
The European Games Esports Championships Announces its Game Titles
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
In-Car Gaming Systems
Volkswagen Will Feature AirConsole's Video Games in its Vehicles
Large Group Video Games
Nintendo Everybody 1-2-Switch! Supports Up to 100 Players
Anticipated Video Game Tests
Activision is Hosting a Beta for its Upcoming Shooter 'Black Ops 6'
Sport-Themed Game Maps
Topgolf Introduces a New Driving Range Map for Fortnite Players
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
FPS Training Tournaments
Logitech G is Partnering with Aim Labs to Host a Training Competition
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
Short-Form Gaming Video Apps
'FreshCut' is TikTok for Video Games and Gaming News
Virtual Table Top Games
TinyTable Combines the Joy of Table Top Games with Virtual Video Calls
High-Motion VR Action Games
Attack on Titan VR Lets Players Hunt Massive Monsters in the Metaverse
Indian Esports Community Platforms
AA Gaming Launches the AA Play App for Esports Enthusiasts
Turn-Based Strategy Games
EA SPORTS Debuts the Football Strategy Game 'FC Tactical'
Youth-Focused Game Tournaments
Inter Milan and Mkers Unveil a New Fortnite Tournament Series
Youth-Supporting Esports Opportunities
British Esports Launches the PUBG Mobile College Tournament
Fast-Paced History Games
ZoomYear Challenges Players to Guess the Year a Photograph Was Taken
Educational Esports Experiences
Gameplan Taps PSEL to Create Dynamic Learning Opportunities
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
Gaming-Inspired Headphone Campaigns
Nazarian Films Aims to Engage a Younger Generations
Smartphone Game Feature Expansions
Apple's iPhone Event Announced its Upcoming Game Launches
Regional Gaming Platforms
Indian Esports Group 'AA Gaming' Launched 'AA Play' Platform
Dynamic First-Person Shooter Games
The Upcoming Immortals of Aveum Game Gets a Trailer
Spanish FPS Game Launches
Novarama Launched its Debut FPS Title 'United 1944' on PC via Steam
Professional Battle Royale Events
Activision Unveils the 150K 'Who is the King' Warzone Tournament
Streaming Service-Backed Games
YouTube Is Testing Its Online Games Category Called 'Playables'
Social Gaming Calendars
ArcadeCal Helps Gamers Coordinate Their Gaming Sessions
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
Expanded Digital Game Distributions
Limited Run Games Expands with Three Exciting Titles
Game-Themed Browser Hidden Features
Google Unveils a Katamari Damacy Hidden Easter Egg
Team-Based Party Shooters
Foamstars is a Splatoon-Like Shooter from Square Enix
Indian Shooter Game Promotions
KRAFTON Partners with S8UL to Promote Bullet Echo India
Isolating Alien Survival Games
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Continues Samus' Story after Many Years
Competitive Battle Royale Events
Red Bull is Hosting an Esports Event at the Godfrey Hotel
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
Inclusive Accessibility-Focused Tournaments
Ghost Gaming Hosts the 'Adaptive Gaming Cup'
Esports Wellness Courses
Entain Foundation U.S. Introduces a New Esports Mental Wellness Campaign
Femme-Focused Tournament Series
Thunderpick Partners with the*gameHERS for a New Tournament Series
Skill-Enhancing Esports Programs
s1mple Unveils a Educational Program for Counter-Strike Players
Competition-Based Esports Partnerships
Esports World Cup Recruits Heinz, Logitech G, and Secretlab
Daily Gaming Mystery-Solving
Players are Tasked to Guess the Game with 'Daily Game Trivia'
Indie Game-Adapted Movies
The El Paso, Elsewhere Game is Getting Turned into a Movie
US Student Esports Programs
Gen.G Introduces The Next Gen Fellowship for US Students
Newspaper Gaming Platforms
kr3m Crafts an Interactive, Reader-Centric Gaming Platform for Le Monde
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
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
Online Trivia Platforms
Masters of Trivia Offers a New Take With a Diverse Array of Topics