Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
Video gaming worldwide - statistics & facts
Gone is the niche and nerd reputation; with about two billion global gamers and gaming titles being available on almost every digital device, video games are one of the most popular and enduring hobbies worldwide. Gamer preferences can vary vastly across age groups, genders, and regions – luckily, there is a seemingly infinite range of games to choose from.
The global gaming market
While the continuously declining physical game sales received a bump during the pandemic, digital sales account for most video gaming revenues worldwide. Overall, mobile games are one of the biggest gaming segments, with over 126 billion U.S. dollars in annual revenues. Only hardware is a bigger money maker. The United States is the biggest gaming market worldwide, having overtaken China in second place. Japan, a major market with beloved gaming products worldwide, ranked third.
A snapshot of the global gaming audience
The easily accessible genre of mobile gaming is the most popular in terms of audiences – current figures estimate about two billion mobile gamers worldwide. The power of mobile is also reflected in other ways – mobile-first markets such as the Philippines and Indonesia top the ranking of global video gaming penetration, as over 95 percent of internet users play video games in these markets. The video gaming penetration worldwide was 82.1 percent across any device.Â
A global 2025 survey found that more than eight in ten internet users aged 16 to 44 years played video games on any device, with men slightly more likely to do so. During the survey, two in three internet users stated they played video games on smartphones, making them the most popular gaming devices among global gaming audiences. PCs were ranked second, with nearly a third of gamers stating they played games on the device.Â
What kind of video games are popular?
A survey of gamers worldwide revealed that shooter and action adventures were the most-played gaming genres among most age groups, with sports and racing games following in terms of general popularity. Younger gamers were more likely to play battle royale titles, whereas free-to-play casino and RPG games stood out with older gaming audiences.Â
Despite the popularity of casual games, players are more than willing to spend on competitive gaming titles. In 2025 so far, the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) title Honor of Kings was the highest-grossing gaming app worldwide, followed by the survival challenge game Last War: Survival.
Gaming is more than games
Gaming is more than just games – for many fans, it’s a lifestyle. Just like there are many options for which games to pick, there are also many ways to engage with video games. For example, streaming and video content are an important part of the medium, with many gamers being happy to watch online reviews, walkthroughs, Let’s Plays, or other user-generated content.
YouTube and Twitch are the most popular video platforms for gaming content, with the top gaming streamers accumulating millions of subscribers. Recently, it’s not just the top gaming personalities who get the views – industry showcases, gaming conferences, and awards shows have slowly but surely gone digital and are now being watched by millions online.
With so many options, video games and related content are more accessible than ever, making video games a truly mainstream entertainment option for audiences worldwide.
