By Ronald Gordon

If you’ve ever encountered a situation where someone just doesn’t understand the positive impact that gaming can have on an individual, we’ve got some very important information for you! For those like me who haven’t heard of them, The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is an organization focused on advocating for gaming as a medium throughout the entirety of the U.S. Not only do they advocate for legislation and proper policies around gaming, but they also publish greatly detailed studies on the effect that gaming has for players both avid and not. 

Here are some of the results from their recent study on gamers and non-gamers all throughout the U.S! 

1. 67% of the US Population, aged between 5-90, plays video games for more than 1 hour per week. That’s a majority of the millions of people currently residing within all 50 states!
2. The divide between Male and Female gamers is closer to even than before, with the survey finding that 53% of their participants were Male while 46% were Female. 
3. Despite there only being 50% of Boomers (Ages 62-80) that play games, there are more Women than Men that do so, with the split being 52% to 47%
4. Most players believe that the positives of gaming, stress relief, relaxation, mental stimulation, outweigh the potential negatives that may come from overexposure. 
5. Players and Non-players can both agree that video games help develop essential skills like problem solving and collaboration, and could even help with STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) 
6. There’s a sizable population of gamers who play to stimulate the mind and keep it sharp and attentive, with 32% of total players 18+ and 60% of Boomers and Silent Gen (62-90) saying they play to do so. 
7. 74% of players ages 18+ agree that gaming can create accessible experiences for people with different abilities. 
8. A similar 74% also agree that games can be educational, with 87% of Millennials agreeing so.
9. While most agree that games are fun and bring joy, 54% of adults agree that gaming can inspire people. 
10. Despite the console market being one of the biggest out there, 73% of gamers play on Handheld consoles or Mobile Phones/Tablets. 
11. Among total players ages 8+, over 160 Million players are exclusively Mobile players. 
12. Even amongst players 18+, Mobile still dominates with over 130 Million players, 80% of the total.
13. Among them, Female players dominate 80% of Mobile platforms for Gen Alpha and Gen Z (Ages 8-29) while Male players dominate 75-78% of Console platforms. 
14. On average, players spend about 12 hours per week gaming, meaning almost 2 and a half hours per day
15. Among the genres played most often, Puzzle games dominate with 59% of players, totalling up to over 120 Million players ages 8+
16. 74% of those players are Boomer/Silent Gen, with 82% of that age range being Female. 
17. While Puzzle games still dominate 60% of both Mobile and PC platforms, Action and Shooter games take up that same 60% for Consoles. 
18. A vast majority of 70% of total players aged 8-90 have played games with others, with 91% of Gen Alpha and 89% of Gen Z doing so. 
19. Even though 89% of total gamers choose to play solo on a weekly basis, 46% choose to play with others. 
20. 37% of players who choose to play online do so with others they’ve never interacted with before. 
21. 82% of players age 18+ agree that there is a video game for everyone, with 89 & 88% of Gen Z and Millennials agreeing. 
22. 55% of players also agreed that video games helped to create lasting memories. 
23. In a wholesome turn, 47% of players have met people they otherwise would never have through video games, and 37% have met a good friend, spouse, or significant other because of gaming. 
24. Out of all other factors, 52% of players age 18+ agree that Price is the most important attribute when it comes to considering a new game.
25. Among parents with children who play video games, 49% allow their kids to play because it teaches important skills (problem solving, creative thinking, etc.) 

Ronald Gordon is a New York Videogame Critics Circle Member and Mentor. He was the first of our writers – or any intern anywhere – to complete an internship at Rockstar Games.

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