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While I found the recent indie games event was highly engaging, my primary conclusion was perhaps unexpected: I am convinced that 2026 will be the unrivaled era for frogs in video games.

No fewer than five of the featured titles—Frog Sqwad, Stretchmancer, Unshine Arcade, Awaysis, and Big Hops—prominently include these leaping protagonists. Considering a band of frogs is termed an army, it seems they are launching an invasion.

A Legacy of Leaping

Croaking characters are not at all new to the world of games. From the arcade classic Frogger to the iconic froggy chair in Animal Crossing, they have consistently maintained a niche presence. But, their visibility has seemingly exploded in recent times.

A quick search for "frog game" on Steam reveals an staggering number of results. Granted, some of these are novelty titles, a sizable number are bona fide Frog Games.

Charting the Croak Comeback

To quantify this rise, I performed a thorough analysis into the last half-decade of frog-related gaming on Steam. My approach was based on clear indicators, counting games with frogs in the title or clearly visible in screenshots.

The data paint a clear picture: a steady uptick from less than 20 titles in 2020 to close to 60 in 2025.

This dramatic growth prompts the question: where is this interest coming from? The creature's growing prominence in the public consciousness is also evident elsewhere, for example the popularity of Frog and Toad as beloved characters. Yet, the wave in gaming seems particularly powerful.

The Allure of Amphibian Mechanics

Honestly, this is a trend I can fully endorse. Frogs possess inherent design advantages for game developers.

• Unique Characters: They are incredibly easy to be designed as endearing characters that often become a fan favorite in any game.
• Dynamic Mechanics: Their long tongues and prehensile tongues facilitate a host of creative gameplay ideas.

Many of the showcased games clearly utilize these traits. For instance the tongue-grappling in Big Hops and the extra-long limb puzzles of Stretchmancer.

On the Cusp of a Croaking Renaissance

So, what can we expect in 2026? With five frog games publicly revealed before the year has even begun—and the potential for more—the evidence suggests for it to be the largest year so far.

Should these games are received positively—and traditionally, games from this showcase often do—we could very well be witnessing a true croaking cultural moment.