By Mallory Mattingly
Did you know most gamers are 35 or older? That’s what the Entertainment Software Association’s 2025 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry report discovered.
The study found that “36 is the average age of players.” Most players have “been playing for 18 years, and is just as likely to be female (47%) as male (52%). In some age brackets, such as Baby Boomers, women actually outnumber men as players,” WFLA Tampa reported.
However, the study mainly focused on why people game.
It found that 68% of players 18 and older play video gams to “pass the time or relax,” while 62% play “to have fun,” and 35% play to “keep my mind sharp.”
“Video games are a powerful cultural force due to their widespread appeal across every demographic,” ESA President and CEO Stanley Pierre-Louis said. “They offer far more than fun. They support mental well-being, social bonds, and lifelong learning.”
AARP found that for people over 50 tend to use video games to “avoid boredom, reduce stress, stay mentally fit” and “have fun.”
“It gives me a means of escape, relaxation, friendships I would never [think] I had or would need,” retired nurse Sandy Barber, 66, of Plainfield, Connecticut, said. She created a friendship with a thirtysomething couple from the United Kingdom, thanks to a Facebook group of dedicated Animal Crossing fans.
“The younger friends I meet and can talk [with] about the games they are playing keeps my spirits up,” she explained. “Their support helped me through my darkest times.”
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AARP also found that “the ranks of video gamers 50 and older have grown by more than 12 million in the past six years, a 30% increase. About 45% of older adults said they played video games in 2022, up from 38% six years earlier. That’s about a quarter of all video game players.”
Another gamer, Joe Shaw, reconnected with some of his lifelong friends over video games after his wife passed away.
“That’s part of it, the camaraderie, the companionship that you have from sharing a particular interest,” Shaw said. “I remember playing a game with a younger man, and I mentioned something about my age. He said, ‘Wow, why are you playing games?’ Well, I’ve been gaming one way or another before that kid was born.”
While video games usually get a bad rap — often for good reason — they can help older people connect with friends, keep their minds sharp, reduce stress and have fun. As with any screen time activity, though, moderation is key.
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