Google has released 2020's most popular searches, and Among Us has topped the charts as the most Googled game of the year. The game joins the late, great Kobe Bryant, President-Elect Joe Biden, and Tiger King as some of the searches that trended the most in 2020.

Among Us catapulted into popularity almost entirely by accident. It was released over two years ago by indie studio InnerSloth to limited initial success, but exploded onto the scene after it was streamed by a few notable Twitch streamers earlier this year. With the COVID-19 pandemic in full force, the population at large picked up the game as a way to pass the time with friends while sheltering in place. As a result, Among Us reached up to half a billion active players, and spawned a series of crossovers and fan tributes.

Related: Among Us Tops Nintendo Switch's Beststellers Chart After A Single Day

Google traditionally releases their top trending searches at the end of every year, which often accurately reflect the climate and major events of the year. It isn't necessarily a measure of how searched a term is, but how the searches are categorized, and the top five of each category is reported on Google Trends at the end of the year. Among Us didn't place in the overall searches category, but eked out other major contenders in the Games category like Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, Genshin Impact, and The Last of Us Part 2

Among Us

It's unsurprising that the pandemic ultimately took the top spot in overall searches and in global news, considering it was the driving force behind almost every major trend this year. Gaming in particular has been increasing thanks to shelter-in-place, and accessible, replayable titles like Among Us have a particular appeal. InnerSloth has addressed the game's overwhelming popularity by continuing to churn out new content while simultaneously upgrading the game to meet the unexpected server demands. But as Google Trends indicates, the team will continue to have its work cut out for it, considering that Among Us's huge popularity is only increasing as the year comes to a tumultuous end.

2020 has been one of the most trying years in recent memory, with the deaths of major beloved figures like Chadwick Boseman, Kobe Bryant, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, coupled with an economic recession, an intense presidential debate, and of course, a worldwide global pandemic. But video games have, thankfully, endured, and as Google can testify, one relatively unknown title with simple mechanics and style managed to keep spirits up, and that in times like these, what kids AND adults most want in their video games is simple, uncomplicated, occasionally stabby fun.

Next: Among Us, Cyberpunk 2077 Make Steam's 2020 Best-Selling Games List

Among Us is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, and Android.

Source: Google Trends