With the rise of the gaming industry, developers have more leeway than ever to create edgy and interesting titles, as the March 2018 games trends show. In the always-wise words of The Game, the popular rapper from the early 2000s, consumers might hate it or love it, but the dev is on top, and those creators will keep making fascinating games until consumer interest in the industry stops.
Naturally, smash-hit game franchises have still been leveraging their universal popularity. For example, 'Pac-Man Sonic Dash' combines the two SEGA heroes into a single mobile game, which is far from an indie title. That said, perhaps the most exciting area of the industry is out on the fringes, where games like 'David Lynch Teaches Typing' and 'Level 99 Axe Rage' are redefining video game concepts.
Top 80 Games Trends in March
80
Home Arcade Cabinets
Arcade1Up Machines Will Bring Cabinet Games to the Home Market
79
Gravity-Bending Retro Games
'Jelly Mario Bros' Breaks the Original In a Fun and Hilarious Way
78
Retail-Based eSports Games
Sports Direct Will Host Live eSports Games Across Many of its Stores
77
Pocket-Sized Gaming Devices
The 'PocketSprite tiny Game Boy' Brings Nostalgia in a Mini Package
76
Next-Gen Smartphone Gamepads
The 'GameSir G5' Turns Your Device into the Optimal Game Console
75
Professional eSports Athlete Keyboards
The Logitech G Pro Gaming Keyboard is Lightning Fast
74
Dungeon-Exploring Indie Games
'It Lurks Below' Blends Gameplay to Create a Unique Experience
73
Touch-Responsive Board Games
'Blinks' is a Lit-Up Social Board Game That is Fit for Any Age Group
72
Videogame-Inspired Snow Sculptures
A Final Fantasy Snow Sculpture is at the Sapporo Snow Festival
71
Virtual Subscription PCs
Blade 'Shadow Technology' Offers Access to Powerful Equipment
70
Business-Focused Video Games
The American Mall Game Focuses on the Death of Shopping Centers
69
Surreal Typing Games
'David Lynch Teaches Typing' is an Educational Game Based on the Director
68
Real-World Video Games
Moment Factory's Real-World Pong Brings Social Aspects Back to Gaming
67
Retro Game-Upgrading Consoles
The Hyperkin 'SupaRetroN HD' Console Plays Classic Cartridge Titles
66
Canine Cryptocurrency Concepts
CryptoDoggies is Yet Another Take on Crypto Tokens
65
Hallucination-Fighting Video Games
This Therapeutic Game Helps Soothe Schizophrenia Patients
64
Randomized Ruminant References
'Llama or Alpaca?' Asks a Simple Yet Difficult Question
63
Gaming-Centric Cryptocurrencies
Atari Token is the Latest Venture from the Iconic Game Publisher
62
Powerfully Compact Gaming PCs
The Compulab 'Airtop2 Inferno' Boasts a Silent Fanless Design
61
Fake News Video Games
'Bad News' Hopes to Stop Misinformation By Teaching People How It Works
60
Apocalyptic Battle Royale Games
Fear the Wolves Twists the Battle Royale Genre With a Unique World
59
Monster-Fighting Robot Games
'Into the Breach' Lets Players Fulfill Their Kaiju-Slaying Dreams
58
Anime-Inspired Video Games
'The World Next Door' is the First Title by Viz Media
57
Superhero AR Games
Hasbro's Hero Vision Iron Man AR Helmet Lets Players Become the Iconic Hero
56
Video Game Art Marketplaces
Fans Love You is an eCommerce Platform for Video Game Artwork
55
Fashion-Focused Style Assistants
The Amazon Echo Look Uses Machine Learning to Curate Fashion
54
2D Sidescrolling Action Games
Level 99 Axe Rage Draws Inspiration From B-Movies For Intense Fun
53
Detailed Fantasy Gaming Currency
Rare Elements Creates Coins and Tokens That Enhance Game Play
52
Fully Adjustable Gaming Chairs
The Corsair T2 Road Warrior is Comfortable for All Body Types
51
Brewery-Created Mobile Games
Learn What Its Like to Run a Brewery Through 'Brew Money Inc.'
50
Pre-Built Performance PCs
The Corsair One Gaming Pc Come in Two Flavors Both with Impressive Specs
49
Snack-Dispensing Arcade Machines
SNACKADE Offers a "Playable Food Delivery" Experience
48
Resurrected LAN Cafes
The Waypoint Cafe is Reinventing the LAN Cafe for the Modern Era
47
Real Life Video Games
Rocket League RC Cars are Set to Bring the Frantic Fun into the Real-world
46
Soda-Supported ESports
The e-COPA Coca-Cola Tournament Hopes to Discover the Next ESports Star
45
Nationwide eSports Leagues
The 'Japan Esports Union' is the First Cohesive eSports League in Japan
44
Mobile eSports Tournaments
The Arena of Valor World Cup is a Large-Scale Mobile eSports Event
43
Sneaker-Inspired Game Consoles
The Air Jordan-Inspired Xbox Consoles Celebrate Iconic Sneakers
42
Internet Interaction Video Games
'Dab on 'em Haterz' Helps Players Feel Better About Themselves
41
Video Game Viewing Promotions
Viewers can Earn Exclusive Overwatch League Tokens on Twitch
40
Soccer-Managing eSports
Bidstack's Football Manager Tournament Shows Real World Applications
39
eSports Apparel Partnerships
H4X.gg is the Offical eSports Apparel Sponsor for DreamHack and ESL
38
Meditative Art Games
Joy Exhibition Lets Players Show Off Art Skills to Alien Races
37
Free-Form Art Games
The Skuiggle Game Lacks Motivation But Offers Tons of Expression
36
Tongue-In-Cheek Horror Games
The SpookyCellar Horror Game Pokes Fun at Other Games in the Genre
35
Educational Video Game Updates
Assassins Creed Discovery Mode Teaches Players Egyptian History
34
Revived Rare Video Games
Donkey Kong 3: Daigyakushuu is Now Playable for Retro Game Fans
33
Digital eSports Trading Cards
Epics.gg Recently Received Funding to Launch eSports Memorabilia
32
eSport Cryptocurrency Initiatives
Unikrn Has Seen Progress in Its eSports Crpto Betting Goals
31
Immersive Dual-Functionality Headsets
The ASUS HC102 Windows Mixed Reality Headset is Powerful
30
ESports Communications Consultancies
The Story Mob Helps ESports Companies Build Better Brands
29
Australian ESports Events
Gfinity eSport Australia Has Formed a Partnership to Host Live Events
28
Classic Video Game Guides
Dark Horse's Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia Documents the Various Games
27
Fan Analytics Platforms
The FanAI Platform Helps Esports Teams to Harness Their Fanbases
26
ESports Racing Tournaments
NASCAR is Entering ESports With a Tournament Held on Race Weekends
25
Classic Video Game Tournaments
Warcraft III Has Been Revamped for Modern Competative eSports
24
Sci-Fi Exploration Games
'In Other Waters' Places Players on a Massive, Awe-Inspiring Alien World
23
Historically Driven Video Games
'A Case of Distrust' Embroils Players in a 1920's Mystery
22
Cubic AR Toys
PleIQ Combines Tangible Cube Toys with Augmented Reality Interactions
21
Festive Video Game Updates
Overwatch's Lunar New Year Event Will Bring Several Themed Updates
20
Chat-Driven Video Games
Indie Game STAY Has Players Chat with a Mysteriously Captured Man
19
Powerful Gaming Console Routers
The Linksys WRT32XB Router Reduces Ping Times by 65%
18
Gorgeous Low-Polygon Games
'The World Begins With You' Has Beautiful Aesthetics and Design
17
Collegiate eSports Tournaments
The Fiesta Bowl is Set to Become the Premier College eSports Event
16
Premium Console Game Apps
Mario Kart Tour will Bring the Classic Game to Smartphones in 2019
15
Island Survival Games
'Island Time VR' Challenges Players to Stay Alive After a Shipwreck
14
Conservation-Focused Games
The Polyventure Game Forces Players to Face an Uncomfortable World
13
Iconic Videogame Crossovers
Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man Will Finally Crossover in Mobile Games
12
Heartwarming Indie Games
'All Our Asias' is a Beautiful Exploration on Cultural Identity
11
Romance-Driven RPGs
The Roguemance Game Combines Relationship Elements With Engaging Combat
10
Dynamic Video Game Replays
PUBG's Partnership with Minkonet Let Players Create 3D Replays
9
Live Game-Purchasing Services
Microsoft Mixer Lets Viewers Purchase Games They're Live-Streaming
8
Enamel Video Game Pins
These 'Fallout' Pins Feature Vault Boy from the Game's Perk Chart
7
European eSports Investments
Team Vitality Received Funding from Several Investment Firms
6
Noir Adventure Game Sets
Genesis Noir Takes Players on a Beautifully Illustrated and Surreal Quest
5
Family-Focused Indie Games
'Children of Morta' Blends Family Life With Monster Slaying Action
4
Folklore-Inspired Videogames
'Where the Water Tastes Like Wine' Whisks Players on a Wild Journey
3
Professional-Grade Streamer Microphones
The Razer Seiren Elite Boasts Plug-and-Play Operation
2
Arena-Sized Game Trailers
Sony's Projection-Mapping Trailer for God of War Debuted on an NBA Court
1
Martian Colony Games
Surviving Mars Tasks Players with Building and Sustaining an Off-World Colony
Related Ideas
Nostalgic Gaming Timepieces
The Retro Gaming Watch Brings Gameplay to the Wrist
Restaurant Fighting Game Collaborations
McDonald's and Warner Bros are Releasing Multiversus Toys
Brand-Themed Handheld Consoles
The HyperMegaTech Super Pocket Comes in Two Special Editions
Video Game-Inspired Tabletop Games
KessCo Debuts the Sonic Speed Battle Tabletop Game
Gaming Archetype Personality Quizzes
The New York Times Games Presents a Puzzle Personality Quiz
Novel AI-Generated Product Designs
Arcade Introduced a Transformative AI Product Creation Platform
In-Game Billboard Advertising
Gameloft Enables Partners to Advertise Natively in its Games
Streaming Series Games
Netflix Stories Invites Viewers to Participate in Their Own Adventures
2.5D Platforming Game Sequels
Ubisoft's Latest Prince of Persia Game Follows The Forgotten Sands
Game-Themed Noodle Launches
KRAFT Mac & Cheese and Nintendo Debut New Super Mario Power-Up Shapes
Retro Burger Video Games
Chili's Big Smasher BurgerTime Immerses Fans in a Reinvented Arcade Game
Video Game-Based Prize Packages
This KRAFT Mac & Cheese x Nintendo Collab Boasts Game Elements
Cozy Video Game Loungewear
The Super Mario Meets Gelato Pique Collection is Arriving in Japan
Promotional Game-Themed Collabs
Microsoft Partnered with Several CPG Brands to Offer Xbox Rewards
Nostalgic Mobile Gaming Controllers
This Nintendo Switch GameCube Controller Revives a Classic
Modern Update Mobile Games
Flappy Bird is Getting Another Launch with New Modern Changes
Video Game-Inspired LEGO Sets
LEGO Super Mario is Sure to Capture the Attention of Fans
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
Drink-Shaped Gaming Devices
7-Eleven is Giving Fans the Chance to Win a Slurpee-Shaped Tetris Game
Competitive Fighting Game Updates
Warner Bros. is Adding New Characters and Modes to MultiVersus
Interactive Video Game-Themed Tours
The Play Nintendo Tour Runs from June 13 to September 2, 2024
Professional Social Media Games
LinkedIn Released Three Games to Build Connections on its Platform
Nostalgic Handheld Gaming Systems
My Arcade Gamestation Portable Has Retro-Style Controls
Table-Top Gaming Candles
Gameplay Candles' Table Top Gaming Candles Ignite the Adventure in Us All
Team Shooter Superhero Games
Marvel Games and NetEase Unveil the Marvel Rivals Game
Resort-Inspired Video Games
Nintendo Debuts Super Mario Party Jamboree for Switch
Video Game Travel Merchandise
The Nintendo Super Mario Travel Items are Arriving for Summer
Superhero Multiplayer Arena Games
Dragon Ball Project: Multi is a Cross-Platform MOBA Title
Multifunctional Game Sets
The 'LEGO' Group is Merging Physical and Digital Play
Nugget-Inspired Video Games
McDonalds and The Sandbox Create the McNuggets Land Game
Feline-Centric Animated Games
The Little Kitty, Big City Game is Launching on May 9th
Super Hero-Inspired Mobile Games
Monopoly Go and Marvel Collaborate to Make Film Favorites Mobile
Modernized Nostalgic Gaming Consoles
The Atari Gamestation Pro Features More Than 200 Games
Cult-Favorite Game-Themed Pizza Menus
Boston Pizza & Nintendo Debut a Mushroom Kingdom-Themed Menu
Dynamic Mobile Fashion Games
Tommy Hilfiger Unveils a New Mobile Fashion Game Called FashionVerse
Pizza-Themed Arcade Games
Mike’s Hot Honey Launched an 80s-Inspired Game Called Slice Hunter
Battle-Map Mobile Game Launches
Call of Duty Announces at the Upcoming Warzone Mobile Game
Competitive Platforming Games
Scopely Announced Ranked Mode for Stumble Guys, New Collaboration
Challenging Sensory Games
Toy Mania's Quick Pops Feature Four Game Modes
Casual Mini Games
This Online Hub Allows for Players to Easily Learn Engaging Games
Nostalgic Motion Games
Hungry Hungry Hippos: Move N' Munch Reimagines a Classic Game with AI Tech
Handhand Console Game Launches
Mars After Midnight will be Launching on Playdate Soon
Video Game Refreshment Campaigns
The Suntory x Super Mario Campaign is Playful
Rebooted Fan-Favorite Skating Games
EA Games is Bringing Back Popular 'skate' Franchise
Singer-Collaborated Game Campaigns
Nintendo and Raye Join Forces on a Series of Advertisements
Remastered Fan-Favorite RPGs
Nintendo is Bringing Back the Critically-Acclaimed Paper Mario Title
Competitive Live Games
April-8 Live Game Let's Players Challenge Friends Across The Globe
Returning Fan-Favorite Fighting Games
MultiVersus is Returning on May 28th with New Characters
Haunting Gaming Adventures
The New Hauntii XBOX Game Is Super Mario Inspired
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
Gamer-Targeted Snack Promotions
Doritos and Xbox Partnered to Celebrate the Release of Starfield
VR Track Racing Games
Micro Machines: Mini Challenge Mayhem Pushes Virtual Cars to the Limits
Artist-Inspired Game Events
Lady Gaga Will Make Her Digital Debut in the Fortnite Festival
Racing Video Game-Inspired Blocks
LEGO Introduces the Dynamic Super Mario Kart Set
Chinese Youth Search Reports
Xiaohongshu Has Released Report on Search Habits Among Youth in China
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
Realistic Fighting Game Trials
Bandai Namco is Launching a Tekken 8 Demo on December 14th
Story-Mode Rhythm Arcade Games
Samba de Amigo: Party-To-Go is Launching on Apple Arcade
Bizarre Dating Sim Games
Sassy Chap Games Introduces the Date Everything! Simulation Game
Feature-Rich Retro Gamer Consoles
The XGO Handheld Retro Gaming Console Supports 10 Emulators
Micro Tabletop Arcade Games
The Coleco Revival Mini Arcade Machines Pack the Latest Technologies
Free Branded Racing Games
'Disney Speedstorm' Will be Free for All Players on September 28th
Dark Meditative Digital Games
The Crow Country Game is Inspired by Retro Classic Games
Cloud Gaming Service Updates
Nvidia Added High-Demand Games to its GeForce Now Game Service
Block Game Collaborative Projects
Minecraft Announces an Exciting Tetris Collaboration
Role-Playing Game Spin-Offs
ATLUS and Sega are Working on Two Additional 'Persona 5' Titles
Youth Movement Competitions
The PLEZi Absurdly Good Games Encourages Summer Activity
Gaming-Themed Tech Accessories
The Kojima Productions x Higround Collection Arrives This Month
Fighting Game Crossover Events
Battle Royale Game PUBG Announces a Street Fighter 6 Collaboration
Iconic Game Presentation Events
Nintendo is Hosting a Dedicated 'Direct' for Super Mario Wonder
Collectible Figurine Action Games
Funko! Announced 'Funko Fusion' for Modern Platforms
Simplistic Dynamic Game Experiences
Joelle Tindall Created the Unique Touch Egg Game
Mash-Up Board Games
Monopoly Scrabble by Winning Moves Games Combines Two Classics
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'
Accessible Game Development Apps
CrazyGames Partnered with 'Struckd' to Enable In-Browser Creation
Cartoonized Role-Playing Games
Nintendo Announced 'MythForce' as a 2023 Switch Title
All-in-One iGaming Solutions
CrazyGames Unveils a New Collection of Browser-Based Games
Robot Character Digital Games
Sony Introduces the New Astro Bot Adventure Game
Hybrid Horror Video Games
Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele Announced OD at the 2023 Game Awards
Competitive RTS Games
'Stormgate' is an Upcoming Esports-Focused RTS Title on PC
Branded Pac-Man Experiences
Pac-Man is Launching Into Roblox with a New Collaboration
Gaming Experience-Enhancing Innovations
Inspired Entertainment, Inc. Debuts New Gaming Innovations
Promotional Influencer Videos
Activision Recruits Multiple Creators to Appeal to Gen Z Consumers
Functional Gaming Toys
Nintendo's Latest Gashapon Toys Can be Added as Controller Parts
Gore-Filled Mobile Games
NetherRealm Studios Announced a New Mobile Mortal Kombat Title
Trendy In-Game Music Hubs
Roblox Launches the New Roblox Music Hub for Music Discovery
Immersive Rhythmic Concert Games
Epic Games Added Guitar Controller Support to 'Fortnite Festival'
Game-Collaborative Phygital Apparel
Balenciaga Unveils a Collaboration with Need for Speed Mobile
Interactive Digital VR Games
Horizon Worlds Launches the New Super Rumble Social VR Game
Handheld Cartridge-Style Consoles
The 'Super Pocket' is a Portable Game Console with Themed Skins
Cartoon-Themed Gaming Controllers
PowerA Unveils a Kirby Wireless Controller for Switch and PC
Large Group Video Games
Nintendo Everybody 1-2-Switch! Supports Up to 100 Players
Remade Fantasy Action Games
Nintendo is Bringing 'Epic Mickey: Rebrushed' to the Nintendo Switch
Iconic RPG Series Ports
The Kingdom Hearts Franchise is Coming to the Steam Platform
Web-Based Word Game Celebrations
New York Times Games Honors Its1,000th Wordle Puzzle
Remade 2D Animation Games
Dragon Quest is Reimagined into 2D Animation Video Games
Regal Adventure Game Designs
The Princess Peach: Showtime! Game Has a Simplistic Mission
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
Comic-Themed RPG Games
Jam City's New Game is Inspired by the Characters of the DC Universe
Classic Platforming Game Sequels
Nintendo Announced 'Mario vs. Donkey Kong' Inspired by GBA Games
Stimulating Word Association Games
Worlds of Words Challenges Players to Think Outside the Box
Addictive Chaotic Games
Angel Pop is a Bulley Shoot 'Em Up Game Available on Playdate
Pixel-Style Role-Play Games
Disney Adventures Into Pixel Gaming with its New Mobile Title
Retro Fighting Game Collections
Capcom is Releasing an Arcade Classics Bundle on Modern Platforms
Smartphone Game Feature Expansions
Apple's iPhone Event Announced its Upcoming Game Launches
Networking Platform In-App Games
LinkedIn is Working on Integrating Games to its Platform
Mentally Stimulating Game Collections
Fresh Words: Word Game Boasts Engaging and Challenging Games
Gaming-Inspired Headphone Campaigns
Nazarian Films Aims to Engage a Younger Generations
Relaxed Interactive Mobile Games
Nintendo and Niantic Join Forces on the Pikmin Finder Game
Intricately Developed Game Releases
Capcom Releases Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess This Year
Video Game Merchandise Events
The King of Games Tokyo Pop-Up Store is Nintendo Approved
Expanded Video Game Stories
Nintendo is Expanding the World of Splatoon with 'Side Order'
Phone Puzzle Games
Word Search Game Offers Mental Stimulation with Word-Based Challenges
Streaming Service-Backed Games
YouTube Is Testing Its Online Games Category Called 'Playables'
Vibrant Celebratory Gaming Consoles
The Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Red Edition is Sleek
Alien-Hunting AR Games
Google and Taito Release a Pokémon-Style AR Game with Aliens
Anime Service-Backed Games
Crunchyroll is Adding Mobile Games to its Subscription-Based Offerings
Retro Survival Horror Games
Crow Country is a Newly Immersive Modern Horror Game
Social Gaming Calendars
ArcadeCal Helps Gamers Coordinate Their Gaming Sessions
Expanded Digital Game Distributions
Limited Run Games Expands with Three Exciting Titles
Cartoon Fighting Game Events
Capcom Launched a TMNT Collaborative Event in Street Fighter VI
Dynamic Rhythm Game Updates
The Crypt of the Necrodancer Gets a New Character
Anime Franchise-Themed Digital Games
Detective Pikachu Returns Unveils its Latest Trailer
Platforming Game Spin-Offs
Nintendo Announced 'Princess Peach: Showtime' Focusing on the Character
Rhythm Game Platform Expansions
The Xbox Hi-Fi Rush Game is Launching to PS5 Platforms
Repeating Action Platformer Games
Evil Empire is Developing a Roguelite 'Prince of Persia' Title
Multiplayer Arcade-Style Racers
Aquiris is Bringing Horizon Chase 2 to Nintendo Switch Today
Collaboration-Focused Game Publishers
Aonic Launches Megabit as a Collaborative Game Publisher
Nostalgic Digital Mobile Games
Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is Launching to iOS and Android
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
Classic Action-Inspired Games
The Bomb Rush Cyberpunk Game is Launching in September
Cartoon-Inspired Animated Games
The Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland Game Nods to the 90s
Army-Based Strategy Games
Chucklefish is Back with a Sequel to the 'Wargroove' Strategy RPG
Engaging Rap Trivia Games
Rap Trivia is a Fun Hip Hop Trivia Game