(BPT) - Key Takeaways
- Despite common stereotypes about who plays video games, the truth is video games are for everyone. More than 2/3 of Americans play every week.
- A 2026 report from The Entertainment Software Association reveals who, how and why Americans are playing video games.
- The average age of video game players has increased to 37 years old.
- Men and women both enjoy video games, in roughly equal numbers.
- Players and non-players see the benefits of playing video games: creative thinking, problem solving, mental stimulation, communication skills and stress relief.
Close your eyes and imagine someone playing video games. Who do you picture? Your image of a typical video game player may not be entirely accurate. Those who play video games are constantly evolving, as new games and methods of playing appeal to people of all ages.
The 2026 report* from The Entertainment Software Association reveals that video game players may not be who you think: They might be your grandmother, your sister, your dad … or anyone!
Playing video games is more popular than ever. The number of Americans who play video games every week totals 212.3 million, up 3% over last year. That means over two-thirds of Americans (67%) are playing at least one hour every week.
Here's what the report discovered about who's playing — and the benefits they see in video games.
What ages of people play video games?
Video games aren't just for kids: It's true that more than 80% of Gen Alpha (ages 5-13) and Gen Z (14-29) play video games, but a majority of adults are powering up as well. Over 7 in 10 Millennials (ages 30-45), 56% of Gen X (45-61) and half of Baby Boomers (62-80) say they play weekly. Even 32% of the Silent Generation (ages 81-90) are joining in on the fun.
It may surprise you that half of all people who are currently playing video games in the U.S. are 35 or older.
How many women play video games compared to men?
Contrary to popular belief, playing video games is actually split about equally between men and women, with 53% of men and 46% of women actively playing. Only slightly more boys and men play than girls and women across all generations, with one notable exception: 52% of Boomer women play games, compared to 47% of men in that generation.
Playing video games is more popular than ever: 212.3 million Americans play video games every week, up 3% over last year.
Do most adult video game players have full-time jobs?
Yes, typical video game players are employed full time, using games as a leisure activity. The truth is, adult players (18 and up) are more likely to be employed full-time (39%) or to have children (35%) compared to the general U.S. population (34% and 30%, respectively).
According to the report, players spend roughly 20% of their weekly screen time playing games, with most game play occurring in the evening or later, especially on weekends.
What do Americans feel are the main benefits of video game play?
Americans feel overwhelmingly positive about video games. The survey found that most adults, including those who don't play video games regularly, recognize positive benefits video games provide, including:
- Being fun (85%)
- Bringing joy (81%)
- Providing mental stimulation (79%)
- Offering stress relief (78%)
Younger players (Gen Z) especially believe that video games offer a great way to bring people together (88%) and build relationships (87%).
Overall, most adults agree that playing video games helps develop problem-solving skills (76%) and teamwork/collaboration (67%), plus adaptability and resilience (58%) and communication skills (52%).
Americans also find that video games offer tremendous entertainment value. A majority of players (63%) say video games deliver the most value for their money compared to streaming services for music, TV and movies, as well as books, magazines and news articles.
What are parental attitudes about playing video games?
Parents are joining in on the fun of video games, turning play time into family time. A majority of American parents (75%) play video games each week, and 81% of them say they also play with their children. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of parents also say they prefer their child spend time playing video games than being on social media, and 70% believe playing video games offers more potential benefits for children compared to social media.
Parents are also careful to monitor children's game play. Two-thirds of parents say they use parental controls, with that number jumping to 70% for parents of kids aged 12 and younger.
The picture is changing
With this clearer picture of who is enjoying video games in the U.S. today, it's obvious that many stereotypes around video games are outdated. Next time you imagine someone playing video games, your mental picture may look very different.
Learn more about who is playing video games at TheESA.com/facts.
*YouGov and ESA conducted a 20-minute online survey in the U.S. from Feb. 11-25 among 13,545 total respondents recruited from YouGov's proprietary online panel. Data is weighted to be representative of the overall U.S. population in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, education, state, census region, and the distribution of gamers vs. non-gamers, as defined above. 18+ respondents were asked about all members of their household in order to size gamers as young as 5 years old. Gamers aged 8-17 were asked to complete the survey under the supervision of a parent.
