🔗 Share this article 2026 Declared the Age of the Croaking Craze. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the recent developer-focused presentation was undoubtedly entertaining, my primary conclusion was perhaps unexpected: I am declaring that 2026 will be the peak period for frogs in video games. A surprising total of five of the showcased games—Frog Sqwad, Stretchmancer, Unshine Arcade, Awaysis, and Big Hops—incorporate these leaping protagonists. Given that a collection of frogs is termed an army, it seems they are staking their claim. The Enduring Appeal of Amphibians Amphibians have been not at all new to the gaming landscape. Looking back at titles like Frogger to the iconic froggy chair in Animal Crossing, they have long held a niche presence. But, their prevalence has seemingly increased in recent times. A quick search for "frog game" on Steam yields an absolute deluge of results. Granted, some of these are obscure titles, a great many are bona fide titles centered on frogs. Charting the Croak Comeback To quantify this trend, I undertook a detailed review into the last half-decade of amphibian-themed gaming on Steam. My approach was somewhat arbitrary, prioritizing games with frogs in the title or featured in screenshots. The findings paint a clear picture: a steady increase from under 20 titles in 2020 to almost 60 in 2025. This dramatic growth prompts the question: what's driving this craze? The frog's elevated place in the cultural zeitgeist is also apparent elsewhere, for example the revival of Frog and Toad as nostalgic figures. However, the explosion in gaming seems especially pronounced. Designing for a Sticky Tongue In my opinion, this is a shift I can get behind. Frogs offer natural appealing traits for game developers. Unique Characters: They are perfectly suited to be designed as memorable characters that frequently end up as a highlight in any game. Innovative Systems: Their stretchy limbs and sticky tongues enable a host of unique mechanics. Several the announced projects clearly utilize these traits. Examples include the tongue-swinging in Big Hops and the stretchy arm puzzles of Stretchmancer. What the Future Holds So, what is the outlook for 2026? Given five frog games publicly revealed before the year has even started—and the potential for more—the evidence suggests for it to be the biggest year for amphibian gaming. If these games are received positively—and traditionally, games from this showcase often do—we may indeed be on the verge of a true amphibian entertainment revival.