Recently, it has become impossible to walk across campus without spotting someone playing Clash Royale or hearing its theme song ringing in my ears. Whether it be in the StuFac or hallways, students are constantly on their phones, tapping away and in battle. I wanted to know how popular Clash Royale was on campus, so I asked 20 students whether they had downloaded it; 12 responded that they had. Clash Royale has taken over.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that a mobile game has dominated our school. Last year, the same phenomenon occurred with Brawl Stars. At that time, it felt like everyone was playing, talking, and just overall engrossed in the game. Yet now, it is almost as if the game has entirely disappeared. Clash Royale has since filled that void, and this shift at our school reflects a broader pattern. This year, the United States has hit a peak in terms of player counts in Clash Royale compared to previous years.
So why the sudden resurgence?
Part of it, I think, comes down to social influence. Students naturally follow trends, perhaps driven by the desire to fit in. I’ll admit I’m no exception. I played the game back in 2020, deleted it, and never thought much about it again—until this year. Seeing my friends around me playing it, I felt the urge to download it again. It’s easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing, especially when they seem to have so much fun doing it.
There’s also something about Clash Royale that makes it a perfect game for a student. Each in-game “battle” lasts just two minutes, which means it fits neatly into short breaks— between classes, at lunch, or even while walking to the Stufac. The game is competitive, yet not overly stressful, fun, and easy to pick up. The different characters appear in the form of cards, and together create “decks,” allowing players to mix and match and experiment. Furthermore, Clash Royale has constant updates, rewards, events, and overall, provides much versatility.
Still, I wonder about the pattern behind how these mobile games rise and fall. Every year or so, a new mobile game seems to appear and completely take over our conversations. Whether it’s Among Us, Genshin Impact, Brawl Stars, or now Clash Royale, the cycle repeats. While there’s nothing inherently wrong about this course of events, I feel like this reflects a larger societal issue that reveals our short attention hyperfixations and the increasing speed at which we move from one thing to another. With the overload of information provided through social media, it’s easy to get caught up in one trend before discarding it and moving on to the next. For now, Clash Royale is the reigning champion. But if history tells us anything, another contender will rise soon –– and I can’t help but wonder what game will capture our attention next.