2024 has been nothing short of spectacular for fans across different domains, with Google Trends reflecting the intense public interest in both gaming and sports. This article explores the most searched and celebrated themes of the year, particularly highlighting trends from the Pokémon franchise and the Olympic Games.
For Pokémon enthusiasts, the year kicked off with the highly anticipated Taken Treasures event, which introduced Varoom, the franchise's first-ever Steel/Poison type Pokémon. This debut sent search interest skyrocketing by 4,800%, making Varoom the month’s standout search. February followed with the Lunar New Year event wherein Drampa and the Sinnoh Tour ramped up excitement, particularly around the Origin Formes of Palkia and Dialga. Surprisingly, Palkia garnered more attention than Dialga, possibly owing to its more eye-catching design.
Moving to March, the focus transcended to the Legendary Pokémon, with Tapu Koko dominating searches after its appearance alongside its new signature move, Nature’s Madness. The Sizeable Surprises event added to the buzz with shiny Ultra Beasts, leading to Kartana's significant searchés, particularly because of its utility as a Grass type attacker.
The summer months witnessed heightened search attention on Yveltal, thanks to its multiple strengths and shiny availability among the competitive Pokémon community. Meanwhile, trainers shared their fascination with Tandemaus, especially during its transition to Maushold, causing noticeable search spikes. The excitement continued as the Galar region's starters arrived, with Dreepy stealing spotlight as the sought-after Pokémon.
Fast forward to October, and the Pokémon discourse took intriguing turns with rumors of Typhlosion’s bizarre narratives capturing trainer imaginations. November’s search trends pivoted to Regieleki, the electric type Regi, alongside TCG Pocket's buzz as it made waves within the Pokémon franchise community. Finally, Sinistea rounded off the year, with its unique two forms making it exceptionally coveted, along with its ghostly charm intriguing fans.
Shifting gears from gaming to athletic accomplishment, the Olympic Games brought unparalleled excitement this year, with Google searches reflecting the public’s passion for sports. The Summer Olympics held from July 26 to August 11 saw Simone Biles topping search queries as she returned triumphantly, reaffirmed as “the greatest of all time” (G.O.A.T.) following her stellar performances.
Alongside Biles, young NBA star Anthony Edwards captured significant interest, particularly after his gold-winning experience with the U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team. Other Olympic athletes like golfer Scottie Scheffler, who won his second major championship and Olympic gold, and swimmer Katie Ledecky, who set new records, also drew considerable attention, showcasing the collective enthusiasm for sportsmanship.
From the perspective of music, the Hampton Roads area was abuzz over trending tracks. Kendrick Lamar’s powerful diss tracks “Not Like Us” and “Euphoria” dominated local searches, following their release as part of hip-hop’s latest contentious narratives. His track “Not Like Us” even topped Apple Music's global charts, highlighting its cultural resonance.
Other musical artists making waves included Eminem, with his nostalgic return to form, and Megan Thee Stallion, showcasing cross-cultural influence with her bilingual track, “Mamushi.” These records gained traction particularly due to viral trends on social media platforms like TikTok, emphasizing how digital culture continues to shape preferences and interests.
The search trends don't merely reflect personal interests; they also show community engagement with significant public events. During April, for example, the total solar eclipse captured local attention as people sought solar eclipse glasses, and the upcoming 2024 Presidential elections fueled inquiries on early voting locations.
All these trends point to the vibrant interactions people have with both cultural and sports events. Amidst significant shifts across music, sports, and gaming, the year 2024 exemplifies how interests evolve, driven by community engagement and pop culture phenomena.
Reflecting on the highs and milestones of the past year, the compiled search trends from Google provide valuable insights, drawing the connections among communities, cultural experiences, and sporting events. With 2025 on the horizon, the only certainty is the continued evolution of what captures the world's attention.
