The video game industry has been governed by trends since time immemorial. Players love the way this landscape has evolved, even if some trends governing mainstream gaming have become tiring, after a point.
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Even in great games like Destiny 2 and Fallout, many players ruin their own gaming experience with these bad habits, often without realizing it.
However, the gaming industry relies on its soul to keep fans engaged, which is why some trends will always occupy a soft spot in the hearts of players all over the world. These trends ensure that players can still enjoy excellent video games that are in a class of their own.
Remakes Of Classic Games
Fans Love Seeing Their Favorite Games With A Fresh Coat Of Paint
It's understandable to see why AAA developers are focusing more and more on remakes than ever before. Video game development is expensive and takes more time than ever before, which is why it's easier for devs to focus on projects with an established identity instead of trying to capture fan interest with new IPs.
However, this isn't a problematic trend in the eyes of fans, since this allows them to experience excellent video games they are nostalgic for with a fresh coat of paint. Final Fantasy 7's ambitious remake project, the HD-2D remasters of classic RPGs, and the remakes of classic survival horror games make it clear that this approach isn't dying out any time soon.
The Indie Boom
Creative Developers Not Restricted By Publishers Craft Unforgettable Experiences
AAA game development was becoming more and more regimented over time, which wasn't great for players who wanted to enjoy creative video games. This is why the rise of indie game development has been so heartwarming to witness.
Titles like Braid, Fez, and Minecraft, among many other success stories, opened the floodgates for indie gaming to become mainstream. Right now, it isn't a stretch to say that some of the most imaginative and creative video games stem from the indie space, which ensures that long-time video game fans won't be jaded by the lack of creativity in the AAA space.
The Return Of Hardcore, Challenging Games
Dark Souls Paved The Way For This Trend
Sure, hardcore games were a thing before Dark Souls, but it's hard to deny the impact that this title had on the video game landscape. Dark Souls harkened back to gaming's classic era, where games were punishing and let players carve out their own path instead of having their hand held throughout the experience.
Upcoming Role-Playing Games People Are Excited For
While plenty of RPGs have been announced for 2026 and beyond, these upcoming role-playing games are especially exciting.
Miyazaki's excellent approach to this title ensured that players would fall in love with the Soulsborne games, eventually leading to the birth of the Soulslike genre. Now, more and more developers aren't shying away from crafting challenging experiences, ensuring that players won't have to suffer from the deluge of easy, approachable games that are meant to appeal to everyone.
Cross-Platform Gaming
A Trend That Needed To Come Into Reality Sooner Rather Than Later
Gone are the days when people were obsessed with console exclusives and the like. Now, players want to enjoy a similar gaming experience no matter what platform they're on while playing their favorite multiplayer games.
This is why cross-platform gaming is becoming the norm. The challenges of making PC and console players experience the same game are prevalent, but people who use controllers should be able to play with or against players all over the globe, regardless of the system they play on. This is slowly becoming a reality, to the point where crossplay will be supported in pretty much every mainstream multiplayer game.
Esports Gaining More Legitimacy
Competitive Games Are Becoming Far More Popular Than Ever
Esports has grown from a small industry no one understood into one of the biggest sports verticals around. The sheer amount of money floating around in these competitions is incredible and makes it clear that the esports industry is on the up-and-up.
From classic games like Counter-Strike to surprisingly esports-friendly titles like Rocket League, there's no shortage of video games aiming to target the esports market. Some titles, like Overwatch and Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, crash and burn in this approach, but this is more of the exception than the norm.
The Resurgence Of The JRPG Genre
Fans Of The Golden Age Love Seeing This Comeback
The golden age of JRPGs turned the PS1 into a hub for some of the greatest role-playing experiences of all time. However, as the industry evolved, players eventually lost interest in these games as they focused on games with real-time action.
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JRPG fans were dejected for the longest time, which is why they were so glad to see developers like Square Enix and Atlus develop modern games in the genre that would cater to their interests. These titles became massive successes in no time, with the critical and commercial acclaim enjoyed by games like Persona 5, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, and Octopath Traveler 2 making it clear that this genre isn't going away anytime soon.
Gaming Subscription Services
Despite Some Issues, Stuff Like PlayStation Plus And Game Pass Make Gaming More Accessible Than Ever
The idea of a Netflix for video games wasn't something that seemed viable, but Xbox shattered all expectations with the launch of Game Pass. During a time when Xbox was constantly on the losing side of the console war, this was a major win for them.
Developers may have issues with how their games may feel devalued once they're placed on Game Pass, but this is an unequivocal win for gamers. It's a consumer-friendly service that lets them play everything from certified classics to day one releases without spending a bomb, which goes a long way in tearing down the barriers that restrict players from enjoying modern titles.
The Rise Of The Roguelike Genre
This Indie Trend Is Now Worming Its Way Into The AAA Space
The indie boom has led to several genres becoming more and more prevalent in the industry. This includes roguelikes, which allow developers to meaningfully bump up the play time of their titles without having to craft an inordinate number of levels and other assets.
Titles like The Binding of Isaac and Cave Story popularized this approach and paved the way for future heavy-hitters like Hades and Slay the Spire. The fact that AAA games are now experimenting with this genre shows how viable it is, with Elden Ring Nightreign and Returnal being glowing examples of the same.
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