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While I found the recent Day of the Devs showcase was a delight to watch, my primary conclusion was perhaps unexpected: I am declaring that 2026 will be the peak period 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 leaping protagonists. Considering a collection of frogs is known as an army, it feels they are launching an invasion.

The Enduring Appeal of Amphibians

Croaking characters are not at all new to the gaming landscape. From the arcade classic Frogger to the beloved froggy chair in Animal Crossing, they have enjoyed a cult following. Yet, their popularity has seemingly increased in recent times.

A cursory search for "frog game" on Steam reveals an staggering number of results. Although, some of these are low-budget titles, a significant portion are bona fide Frog Games.

A Data-Driven Dive

To grasp this trend, I conducted a detailed review into the last half-decade of frog-related gaming on Steam. My approach was admittedly subjective, focusing on games with frogs in the title or clearly visible in screenshots.

The results paint a clear picture: a steady increase from under 20 titles in 2020 to close to 60 in 2025.

This notable escalation prompts the question: where is this interest coming from? The amphibian's rising status in the public consciousness is also apparent elsewhere, for example the resurgence of Frog and Toad as nostalgic figures. But, the wave in gaming seems uniquely pronounced.

Why Frogs? The Game Design Advantage

In my opinion, this is a trend I can wholeheartedly support. Frogs possess inherent creative potential for game developers.

• Weird Little Guys: They are ideally shaped to be designed as quirky characters that often become a highlight in any game.
• Unique Gameplay: Their long tongues and sticky tongues facilitate a wide array of innovative control schemes.

A number of the announced projects smartly employ these traits. Take the tongue-swinging in Big Hops and the extra-long limb 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 started—and the potential for more—the evidence suggests for it to be the most significant year for amphibian gaming.

Should these games are received positively—and traditionally, games from this showcase tend to succeed—we could very well be on the verge of a full-blown amphibian entertainment revival.