Viral study finds most American gamers are 65 and older

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A new study by the Entertainment Software Association found that seniors are the most active gamers in the United States.

In early October 2025, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) released a report called ‘The Power of Play.’ The study included a survey of over 24,000 gamers aged 16 and older, representing 21 countries across six continents.

A key finding from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) is that video game players are almost evenly split between men and women – 48% identify as female and 51% as male. In fact, in several countries, women actually outnumber men among gamers. For example, in the US, 52% of gamers are women and 48% are men, and in South Africa, the numbers are even more skewed, with 58% female players and 41% male players.

The survey found that 21% of respondents play games on PCs, and another 21% prefer consoles. Only a small fraction, just 3%, use VR headsets or other specialized gaming hardware.

The difference in console gaming between men and women was smaller than with mobile gaming. 27% of male gamers play on consoles, and 21% of female gamers do as well.

Elderly gamers dominate America

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) recently found that the typical gamer is 41 years old. Their research also showed that mobile games are the most popular choice, played by 55% of people surveyed – both men and women. Specifically, 46% of male gamers and 64% of female gamers prefer playing on their phones or tablets over consoles or PCs.

Surprisingly, the largest group of gamers in the United States are actually people aged 65 and older, representing 22% of those surveyed.

The next largest group of American players was between 35 and 44 years old, representing 19% of the total. Players aged 44-54 and 55-64 each made up 17%.

ESA study finds women play video games almost as much as men

I was really interested to see what ESA found about gaming preferences between men and women! It turns out women *really* love puzzle games – way more than men do. Men, on the other hand, tend to gravitate towards action, fighting, and shooting games. It’s cool to see those differences!

Generally, people under 35 enjoy a wider variety of game types than those over 55. However, older players actually play more puzzle games and tend to prefer playing on mobile devices.

Women now make up 48% of gamers, per the ESA

— TopMob (@TopMob) October 13, 2025

According to an ESA survey, most gamers – between 70 and 80% – reported that gaming helps them stay mentally sharp, relieve stress, cope with daily problems, and connect with others.

Interestingly, both men and women use gaming equally as a way to relieve stress and unwind.

A recent study has sparked discussion among gamers. PlaySafe ID’s 2025 survey revealed that most players in the US and UK would like to see identity verification used to stop cheaters and improve their gaming experience.

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2025-10-14 01:20