We’ve all heard about 2026 being the new 2016. This popular idea spread between Instagram filters, the rise of squishies, fashion trends, and, most notably, Bieberchella. It may not be as obvious, but the spread of 2016 trends has carried its way into video games. You might be scrolling on TikTok and see a storytime alongside Subway Surfers or an article about Among Us in The Echo, or perhaps see a kid in class swiping furiously at their screen playing Fruit Ninja. So, the big question: What’s behind the rise of 2016, specifically the revival of nostalgic video games?

A Forbes article highlights the “distinctive, retro aesthetic, defined by oversaturated Instagram posts and Snapchat’s ‘dog filter’ which was viewed as an exciting technological advancement at the time.” Forbes continues by emphasizing the fact that TikTok and Instagram users have been drawn back to the same silly filters of 2016, some nostalgic of the past, and others attempting to get a glimpse of the innocence that many associate with 2016. One of the standout features of 2016, Pokémon Go, has also seen a rise in popularity since its origin. Forbes sums up this pattern by saying, “The 2016 trend looks back at an internet that was just beginning to erode, but still retained an earnest innocence, in which posting a heavily filtered picture of an overpriced coffee was the height of sophistication.” 

Other games, like Jetpack Joyride or Temple Run, have remained prevalent in many people’s lives. In 2026, a Variety article highlighted a new update to the 2016 classic Fruit Ninja: a Virtual Reality Fruit Ninja. This major update just shows that Fruit Ninja is back to stay, and we agree. The dopamine rush of Crossy Road or Roblox: Tower of Hell has filled our dark and sad high school days stuck in the windowless C floor with a sense of enjoyment and purpose. 

Though it has indeed been ten years since 2016, not much has changed. Sawyer Dufresne (’27) points out that “We have the same president in 2016 and 2026.” This major detail could be related to why many of us feel like we’re reliving 2016 again. Amidst the extreme political polarization we are facing still in 2026, perhaps we are reminiscing on more peaceful and unified times. 

So, whether you feel inclined to redownload the newest version of Pokémon Go, Subway Surfers, or Fruit Ninja, or peruse Amazon for the 20-piece bulk pack of squishies, our advice: Do it.