According to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), 61% of U.S. residents between the ages of five and ninety play video games on a regular basis. In absolute terms, that amounts to 190.6 million people who spend at least one hour per week playing games. The findings are contained in the 2024 annual report Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry.
What Changed in the Methodology
The report’s data are based on a large-scale survey and a series of interviews with representatives of various demographic groups. The key methodological innovation this year is that, for the first time, children between the ages of five and seventeen were included in the quantitative portion of the research. Surveys of minors were conducted exclusively with parental consent.
Video Games as a Lifelong Pursuit, Not a Childhood Pastime
Stanley Pierre-Louis, President and CEO of ESA, emphasized that the results challenge the stereotype of video games as an activity exclusively for the young. “Video games are a cultural and social phenomenon that continues to emotionally resonate with people across all demographic groups. Everyone plays,” he stated. The average age of a gamer in the United States is 36, and the average adult player has an average of 17 years playing.
Who Exactly Is Playing
The audience profile reflects the diversity of American society. Key figures are as follows:
- 53% of gamers identify as male, 46% as female, and approximately 1% chose a non-binary identity or preferred not to answer
- Among adult gamers, 75% are white, 19% are Hispanic, 12% are Black, 4% are Asian and Pacific Islander, and 3% are Native Americans
- The share identifying as LGBTQ+ has reached 11%, notably exceeding the single-digit figures seen among older generations
- The average age of a gamer remains 36, with an average of 17 years playing
Joy, Stimulation, and Stress Relief
Positive perceptions of video games are recorded not only among gamers themselves. Among all American adults, 79% believe that games bring joy, 77% note their capacity for mental stimulation, and 76% acknowledge their stress relief effect. The primary motivators for adult gamers are the desire to relax (68%) and to have fun (67%).
“More than 75% say that games bring joy, relaxation, or relief in some form. Fun and relaxation are closely intertwined with the act of playing, and this speaks to how games support emotional well-being,” Pierre-Louis explained.
Skills and Accessibility
The practical benefits of video games are also gaining broad recognition. 73% of adults agree that games can improve cognitive skills, and 74% believe they provide an accessible experience for people with a range of abilities. Respondents believe that video games develop problem-solving (73%), teamwork (64%), adaptability (59%), communication (51%), and conflict resolution (47%).
The Youngest Gamers Set the Pace
Generation Alpha (ages five to ten) proved to be the most engaged age group: 79% of its members play weekly, compared to 56% among adults aged 18 and older. The most popular genres among Gen Alpha are arcade games (64%), action games (60%), and puzzle games (56%). Gen Alpha and Gen Z also make greater use of consoles (58%) and PC (54%) than other groups. According to Pierre-Louis, the pandemic and the widespread adoption of smartphones have significantly expanded the gaming habits of younger generations.
A Digital Space for the Whole Family
72% of American parents play video games themselves, and among them, 83% do so together with their children, citing shared time and mutual enjoyment as the main reasons. More broadly, 55% of gamers play with others on a weekly basis, and 53% of adults believe that games help create “lasting memories.” 73% of gamers agree that games are a good way to meet new people, and 39% said they met a close friend or partner through games.
A Quarter Century of Shifting Habits
Historical comparisons clearly illustrate the evolution of the audience. The average age of a gamer has risen from 29 in 2004 to 36 today. The share of those playing on mobile devices increased from 33% in 2012 to 78% in 2024, while the share of online gamers grew from 18% to 90% over the same period. 19% of gamers aged eight and older use all three platforms (PC, mobile devices, consoles). The share of gamers over 50 has grown from 9% in 1999 to 29% a quarter of a century later.
For older generations, nostalgia remains a distinct motivator: they seek to share with their children the experiences they remember from their own childhoods. In addition, older generations are drawn not only to traditional video games but also to entertainment within the iGaming industry. Some online gambling games today rival traditional online games in terms of user numbers. Based on data reviewed from relevant thematic websites, online poker, Aviator, Andar Bahar live, and various slots are among the fastest-growing segments. These are played by various adult age groups, though the share of older players continues to grow steadily.
30 Years of ESA and a New Industry Landscape
In 2024, ESA marks its thirtieth anniversary as the voice and advocate of the American video game industry. The industry landscape continues to shift: E3 has ceased to exist, and major announcements are migrating toward next-generation summer showcase formats.
The economic scale of the industry is no less impressive than its audience reach. Consumer spending on video games in the United States grew from $11.7 billion in 2002 to $57.2 billion in 2023. According to ESA’s economic research, the country’s video game industry employs 104,080 people.