- Always weigh the pros and cons of each - Have a solid gameplay core to revolve around - Check if the trend can support of add value and relevence to the core gameplay - Have a set gameplay loop to fallback on, and try out the trends and see if they make sense

Design "trends" lose their novelty quickly and tend to be started by teams that can get the edge on their data insights the quickest. Which one to choose, becomes a complicated question as it is very team reliant. Will it take you months to build an MVP or prototype? It will launch with reduce effectiveness as customers are already on cool down towards in, and have an active "original" for comparison. Decide if your company can handle that response as it will dull your KPI impacts. If you can prototype somethings in under a week, knock out those prototypes and test them. Your design choices can't always be based off other top 10's. If you do what everyone else is doing, you're customers will not see you as a leader, but as a follower.

Data driven decision making always works when in a dilemma about which design trend to follow. Often, trends are seasonal but few leave an impact on audience that would my go to design trend.

What an interesting topic "game design trends" Or should I say "Market Trends" Let's see, what my experience says to me.. 1. Innovation and Creativity will not depend on TREND, it creates TREND. Although it is high risk. If it's been absorbed by players, the developer is Trend Maker and will be profitable. If it didn't satisfy players then it's a flop experiment. 2. Commercial games production developer will consider Game Design Trends. Which allows low risk, will bring an even business and gradually into profits. Be sure which way you want to follow and what's the outcome you want to see. Bottom line, conflicts will only come if we don't have a clear plan of What do we want to do? What do we like to see the results?

I couldn't emphasize more, the key is to be relevant to your audience. Make sure that it's aligned with what they want or need. It requires you & the team to compound the capabilities to deliver a better product which suits the market. More often than not, it takes time, and failures before one hits. Use the data to analyze the relevancy of the directions in current market situations. A great product and team can define a creative direction and become a trend-setter. But some fundamental market trends involve even macro situations, such as economics, geo-politics, and many beyond control, that you wish you don't go against.

Just like any idea, if it makes your game better and you see it, then consider it. If you're doing it just because its a trend and it'll please your investors then I suggest passing on it. I really don't agree with the market data and all this analysis. You can formulate your way to a success but at what price? The game will have a chance of being fun as long as you believe in it, not because of the trends it implements.

Just ask your customers. Always ask your customers. Build a small prototype, or two. Get 10 people to take a look and keep asking them questions until they run out of words.

When facing conflicting opinions on game design trends, focus on what matters most to your players. Understand your target audience and prioritize trends that fit their preferences. Analyze market data to see which trends are succeeding in the industry. Collaborate with your team to gather different perspectives and find common ground. This approach ensures your decisions are informed and aligned with both player expectations and market demands.

To outright ignore trends is the wrong approach. You need to understand where the audience is and where the market is heading if you want to design games with broad appeal. If you don’t care about that and are an indie dev, then do whatever you want. But for a big company or a lead designer, you have to consider shifts in audience and market preferences and adjust your design accordingly, or at least lean in that direction. Ignoring this, in my view, makes you a poor designer, as it shows an unwillingness to adapt, learn, and change.