Gaming is no longer a small hobby; it is one of the largest and fastest-growing entertainment industries on the planet.
With billions of players and a market worth hundreds of billions of dollars, understanding the world of gaming is more important than ever. This report provides a complete look at the gaming landscape in 2025.
We will cover how many people play games, who these players are, and what kinds of games they enjoy. We will also examine the massive mobile gaming market, which makes up the largest part of the industry, and look at how games make money and how they are advertised. Let's check out Gaming Statistics..
- 3.32 Billion: The total number of active gamers worldwide.
- $92 Billion: Mobile gaming revenue, making up 49% of the entire market.
- 36: The average age of a mobile gamer.
- $2.2 Billion: Revenue earned by Monopoly GO!, the top-grossing mobile game.
- 221 Million: Downloads for Roblox, the most downloaded mobile game of 2024.
Key Gaming Statistics for 2025
- Total Number of Gamers: There are 3.32 billion active video game players around the world.
- Mobile is King: Mobile gaming makes up 49% of the entire gaming market's revenue, generating $92 billion in 2024.
- Leading Gaming Region: Asia is home to the most gamers, with nearly 1.5 billion players.
- Average Gamer Age: The average age of a mobile gamer is 36, showing that gaming is popular across all age groups.
- Gender Balance: The gaming audience is nearly even, with 53% of players being male and 46.4% being female (mobile gaming specific).
- Most Popular Genre: Casual games, like puzzles and simulations, are the most played, with 63% of gamers playing them regularly.
- Top Mobile Game: Roblox was the most downloaded mobile game in 2024 with 221 million downloads.
- Highest Earning Mobile Game: Monopoly GO! was the top-grossing mobile game, earning $2.2 billion in revenue.
How Many People Play Video Games?
The number of gamers worldwide has been growing steadily for years. In 2025, there are approximately 3.32 billion active gamers. This is an increase of over one billion players in just nine years, showing how quickly the industry has expanded.
The table below shows the consistent growth in the number of gamers since 2015.
| Year | Number of Gamers | Increase Over Previous Year |
| 2015 | 2.03 billion | – |
| 2017 | 2.33 billion | 160 million |
| 2019 | 2.64 billion | 150 million |
| 2021 | 2.96 billion | 150 million |
| 2023 | 3.22 billion | 130 million |
| 2024 | 3.32 billion | 100 million |
Gamers by Region
Gaming is a global phenomenon, but some regions have significantly more players than others. Asia is by far the largest market, with more gamers than Europe, Latin America, and North America combined.
- Asia: 1.48 billion gamers
- Europe: 715 million gamers
- Latin America: 420 million gamers
- North America: 285 million gamers
In terms of how many people in a country play games (user penetration), Japan and the UK are at the top, with 58% of their populations playing video games.
Who Are Today's Gamers? Exploring Player Demographics
The stereotype of a gamer is often a young man, but the data shows a much more diverse picture. Players come from all ages, genders, and backgrounds.
Gender in Gaming
While the overall gaming population has slightly more men, the audience is becoming more balanced every year, especially in mobile gaming.
- In the US, 53% of gamers are male, and 46% are female.
- For mobile games specifically, 53.6% of players are men and 46.4% are women.
The table below shows how the gender split in the US has changed over the years, becoming much more even.
| Year | Male Gamers | Female Gamers |
| 2006 | 62% | 38% |
| 2012 | 53% | 47% |
| 2018 | 55% | 45% |
| 2023 | 53% | 46% |
Age in Gaming
Gaming is not just for kids. In fact, the majority of gamers are adults. The average age of a mobile gamer is 36.
Here is a breakdown of gamers by age in the US:
- Under 18: 20%
- 18-34 years: 38% (the largest group)
- 35-44 years: 14%
- 45-54 years: 12%
- 55-64 years: 9%
- 65+ years: 7%
The Growth of Mobile Gaming in the Industry
While console and PC gaming are very popular, mobile gaming is the most dominant force in the industry. It generates the most revenue and has the largest number of players.
Market Share: Mobile games account for 49% of all gaming revenue, totaling $92 billion in 2024.
After a period of massive growth during the pandemic, the mobile market has stabilized and is expected to continue growing, reaching over $103 billion by 2027.
Mobile Game Downloads
In 2024, people downloaded mobile games 49.6 billion times. While revenue is growing, the number of downloads has seen a slight decline, suggesting that players are spending more money on the games they already have rather than constantly trying new ones.
Top Gaming Genres and Popular Games Right Now
With millions of games available, player preferences vary widely. However, some genres and titles are clear leaders.
Most Popular Mobile Game Genres
What people download is different from where they spend the most money.
Top Genres by Downloads:
- Simulation: 9.8 billion downloads
- Puzzle: 9.7 billion downloads
- Arcade: 9.6 billion downloads
Top Genres by Revenue:
- Strategy: $17.5 billion
- RPG (Role-Playing Games): $16.8 billion
- Puzzle: $12.2 billion
This indicates that while casual games, such as puzzles and simulators, are the most frequently downloaded, players spend the most money on in-app purchases in more complex games, including RPGs and strategy titles.
Top Mobile Games and Publishers of 2024
Here are the specific games and companies that dominated the charts.
Most Downloaded Mobile Games:
- Roblox (221 million)
- Block Blast (217 million)
- Subway Surfers (176 million)
Top-Grossing Mobile Games (Highest Revenue):
- Monopoly GO! ($2.2 billion)
- Honor of Kings ($1.8 billion)
- Royal Match ($1.4 billion)
Top Mobile Game Publishers by Downloads:
- Azur Games (1.4 billion)
- Supersonic Studios (979 million)
- SayGames (939 million)
Top Mobile Game Publishers by Revenue:
- Tencent ($6.2 billion)
- Scopely ($2.6 billion)
- Playrix ($1.6 billion)
The Business of Gaming: How Games Make Money?
The majority of mobile games are free to download. They make money through in-app purchases, in-app advertising, and subscriptions.
- In-App Purchases are Key: 95% of all money spent by users in apps comes from in-app purchases.
- Players Prefer Ads in Free Games: 82% of mobile gamers would rather play a free game with ads than pay for a game with no ads.
- Ads for Rewards: 74% of players will watch a video ad if they get an in-game reward for it.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) for mobile games in the US is $60.58 in 2025. This shows that while many players play for free, a dedicated group spends enough to make the industry highly profitable.
Player Behavior: Why People Play and How They Play
Understanding why people play games helps explain what makes them so popular.
Top Reasons for Playing Video Games:
- To unwind, relax, and decompress (66%)
- To fill time while waiting or commuting (52%)
- To escape and be entertained (51%)
- To spend time by myself (48%)
- To solve problems and think logically (37%)
Playing Habits and Session Lengths
The way people play varies by the type of game. “Classic” games like cards and board games tend to have longer playtimes, while “Casual” games like puzzles are played in shorter, more frequent bursts.
Here is a look at the average session length for different game types:
| Game Category | Average Session Length (Top 25% of Games) | Average Sessions Per Day (Top 25% of Games) |
| Casual (Puzzle, Arcade) | 7 minutes | 5 sessions |
| Classic (Card, Board) | 10 minutes | 6 sessions |
| Mid-Core (Strategy, RPG) | 8 minutes | 4 sessions |
This shows that players of classic games are highly engaged, playing longer and more often each day.
Quicklinks:
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Conclusion
The world of gaming in 2025 is bigger and more diverse than ever before. With over 3.3 billion players, it has become a primary form of entertainment for people of all ages and backgrounds across the globe.
Mobile gaming stands at the center of this industry, driving revenue and attracting a massive audience.
While the market is competitive, it continues to grow. The data indicates that players are willing to spend money on their favorite games and are open to advertising in exchange for free content.
The most successful games are those that understand their audience, offering engaging experiences that make players want to come back day after day.
As technology improves and more people get access to smartphones, the number of gamers is only set to increase.
