There is no doubt about it. Gaming is on the rise. That is partially due to the fact that gamers no longer need consoles to play many of their favorite games. Instead, they can play games online, and with mobile devices. So, Americans can now play games anytime from any place. A survey by Entertainment Software Association found 93 percent of American households now own a smartphone, and almost half of those people use their phones to play video games. Let’s take a closer look at interesting facts about American gamers.
What types of games are most popular?
The latest statistics from Statista show what types of video games were most popular in 2018 in the US. At the top of the list is action games. They accounted for 26.9 percent of all video games sold in the US. The second most popular game genre was shooter games, with 20.9 percent of sales, and the third most popular was role-playing games, which accounted for 11.3 percent of sales. The top three are followed by sports games, at 11.1 percent, and then adventure games, at 7.9 percent.
It’s not just video games that Americans love playing. Casino games, such as those played on online platforms like Casumo casino, are also hugely popular. Statista’s latest statistics show:
- 48 percent of Americans play slot games.
- 16 percent play blackjack.
- 6 percent play poker.
- 5 percent play roulette.
- 4 percent play video poker.
Who plays video games?
According to Entertainment Software Association, more than 214 million Americans played video games for one hour or more each week in 2020 and 75 percent of all households contain at least one gamer. The figures show 64 percent of US adults and 70 percent of Americans under the age of 18 regularly play video games.
Which age ranges play video games the most?
The survey by Entertainment Software Association offers plenty more insights about the American gamer. When it comes to the ages of people playing video games in the US in 2020, the average age range was between 35 and 44 years of age. While young people still generally play games more than older people, it’s clear that Americans of all ages enjoy playing video games. Here are the stats for each age range:
- 38 percent of American gamers were aged 18 to 34.
- 26 percent were aged 35 to 54.
- 21 percent were under 18 years of age.
- 9 percent were aged 55 to 64.
- 6 percent were over 65 years of age.
Why do Americans play video games?
What is driving people to play video games in 2020? According to the survey by Entertainment Software Association, 80 percent of Americans surveyed said games provide mental stimulation and 79 percent said they played for relaxation. The stats also show how sociable gaming has become in recent years. Unlike the old days when gamers could only play games with other people in the same room, now people can play video games online and connect with friends or strangers all over the world. The survey found 65 percent of Americans played with others online or in-person in 2020.
Are parents paying attention to their children’s gaming habits?
You may think parents don’t show an interest in what games their children are playing. But in fact, the Entertainment Software Association survey found 92 percent of parents pay attention to the games their children play. Furthermore, 55 percent of parents said they spend time playing video games with their children at least once a week. Also, 84 percent of parents said they were aware of the ratings of video games and 74 percent believe video games can be educational for their children.
Photo by Florian Gagnepain on Unsplash
About the Author/s
Tom is a lifelong New Jersey resident, Rutgers and FDU alumni and the publisher of The Digest.
