The 2022 Essential Facts About The Video Game Industry report published by the Entertainment Software Association, which includes companies such as Microsoft, Tencent, Take-Two, and Sony, offers us many details about the habits of video gamers.
In the report, there is a lot of information from the habits of the American gamer community to the preferred devices, from the device preferences according to age to which type of games they prefer. We have compiled the highlights of the report for you.
66% of Americans play video games at least weekly
America has a large and diverse player base, as can be expected. As can be seen in the report, two-thirds of Americans include video games in their lives. More importantly, 66% of Americans say they play a video game at least once a week.
In addition, 48% of the community defines themselves as female, while 52% define themselves as male. Here, we can easily see that the player community is evenly distributed.
In addition, the report provides data that video game players do sports at the same rate as non-players and have a superior participation rate in creative activities (33% vs. 22%).
Benefits of playing games
As many other academic studies have revealed, playing video games helps our brains work more creatively and stay healthy. According to studies, the vast majority of Americans hold views that video games are beneficial.
While 93% of people argue that video games cheer them up, the rate of those who think video games are inspiring reaches 81%. While the number of people who believe that video games reduce stress is 89%, the rate of those who say that they help children learn to lose and win is 73%.
The general opinions of the majority about playing games are as follows;
- 88% of players agree that video games can bring different people together
- 90% of players agree that video games can create accessible experiences for people of all abilities
- 83% of players say video games create a sense of community
- 73% of parents say video games are a much-needed break for their kids during the pandemic
Player habits and preferences
Due to the pandemic experienced in the past, many people started to spend a lot of time at home. The console crisis experienced in this period reveals how much people tend to play games. As we have seen in many reports, the increase in the downloads of games published on mobile platforms also supports this.
As you will see below, mobile devices are easily accessible today has made them more preferred than all other devices. In the table where PC, console, and mobile devices are highly preferred, it is noteworthy that tablet and VR devices are less preferred. The future of VR will undoubtedly be bright. Still, in the current period, both the lack of accessibility and the inadequacy of technology push this console far back in the list.
Most of the games people play on these devices are Puzzle types (Tetris, Candy Crush Saga, etc.) with 65%. Arcade (Pac-Man, Super Mario Party, etc.) follows the puzzle genre with 57%, while games of chance (Solitaire, etc.) take third place with 46%. At the bottom of the list, there are games in the sports genre with 28% (Madden NFL, FIFA, NBA 2K, etc.).
While 71% of smartphone players state that they play Puzzle type games, this number drops to 60% in the Arcade genre. The preferences of PC gamers are also similar to smartphone users. While 64% of the players state that they play Puzzle type games, the number of those who prefer Arcade is 61%. However, things do not work the same way on the console side. While 68% of console players say they play Arcade games, 61% prefer Action games.
In addition, 61% of players plan to continue their gaming habits in the coming years.
Almost all age groups use smartphones as the main gaming device
According to research on groups of players separated by age, it is seen that as age increases, people play more games with their families but spend less time playing games in general. In addition, as the age ratio increases, it is not overlooked that Puzzle and Chance games are more preferred. Young players prefer Arcade and Puzzle games, which are active and competitive, and mostly play games for more than 3 hours a week.
The general opinion on games is that they are suitable for stress relief. Players aged 45 and over state that they prefer to play games to have fun with their spouses and children, while players aged 65 and over are the condition that they like games to meet new people and spend time.
18- 34 Age Group
While most people in this age group state that they play games from more than one device, men (52%) prefer to play games with other people more than women (44%).
- 67% Smartphone
- 66% Console
- 64% Multiple devices
35-44 Age Group
The majority of this age group prefers to play games with a smartphone. Although there are many reasons for this, the biggest reason is that they prefer more accessible and easy games compared to young people. In addition, the report states that men in this age group (62%) play games for fun more than women (57%).
- 77% Smartphone
- 59% Multiple devices
- 57% Console
45-54 Age Group
People in this age group generally prefer puzzles and games of chance. While the most popular genre among men is sports games with 34%, women prefer puzzle games with 53%.
- 74% Smartphone
- 57% Multiple devices
- 43% Console
55-64 Age Group
66% of people in this group mostly play multiplayer and online games, but this rate drops to 43% for those who only play with friends. In addition, 71% of people in this group state that they play more than 3 hours a week.
- 65% Smartphone
- 42% PC
65 years and older
This age group’s most significant game preference is Puzzle with 82%, followed by games of chance with 63%. In addition, 68% of the age group state that they use these games to exercise their brains.
- 63% Smartphone
- 57% PC
In conclusion
The vast majority of people use games as a tool to relieve stress and have fun. As the age ratio increases, people prefer games to have more fun with their families and turn to multiplayer games. While young players prefer games where reflexes come to the fore, players aged 45 and over generally prefer more casual games such as puzzles and games of chance, where they can exercise their minds.
All age groups state that they play games on more than one game device, but mobile devices have a significant advantage in the market due to their accessibility. It seems that mobile devices will not leave this throne in the future.
