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While I found the recent indie games event was a delight to watch, my main revelation was a personal epiphany: I am certain that 2026 will be the unrivaled era for frogs in video games.

No fewer than five of the showcased games—Frog Sqwad, Stretchmancer, Unshine Arcade, Awaysis, and Big Hops—in some way feature these amphibious creatures. Given that a collection of frogs is known as an army, it appears they are taking over the industry.

The Enduring Appeal of Amphibians

Frogs are far from new to the gaming landscape. From the arcade classic Frogger to the coveted froggy chair in Animal Crossing, they have long held a special place. Yet, their prevalence has seemingly surged in recent times.

A simple search for "frog game" on Steam yields an absolute deluge of results. While, some of these are obscure titles, a great many are serious titles centered on frogs.

Tracking the Tadpole Trend

To understand this rise, I undertook a detailed review into the last half-decade of frog-related gaming on Steam. My methodology was admittedly subjective, prioritizing games with frogs in the title or clearly visible in screenshots.

The data 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 amphibian's growing prominence in the cultural zeitgeist is somewhat visible elsewhere, for example the resurgence of Frog and Toad as beloved characters. However, the wave in gaming appears especially powerful.

Designing for a Sticky Tongue

Frankly, this is a movement I can get behind. Frogs possess inherent creative potential for game developers.

• Charming Creatures: They are ideally shaped to be designed as memorable characters that tend to be a standout feature in any game.
• Dynamic Mechanics: Their elastic legs and sticky tongues facilitate a host of unique mechanics.

A number of the showcased games clearly utilize these traits. For instance the tongue-grappling in Big Hops and the elasticity-based puzzles of Stretchmancer.

On the Cusp of a Croaking Renaissance

So, what does this mean for 2026? Given five frog games publicly revealed before the year has even begun—and the potential for more—the trajectory is clear for it to be the largest year so far.

When these games perform well—and traditionally, games from this showcase tend to succeed—we could very well be entering a genuine amphibian entertainment revival.