ESA Essential Facts Report Finds 60% of Adults Play Video Games as Entertainment

The new Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Essential Facts annual report on the U.S. Video Game Industry for 2025 has been released by the trade association.

The ESA states that while video games remain wildly popular among Generation Alpha (ages 5 to 12), with 83% playing video games weekly, the 2025 report reveals that America’s favorite pastime isn’t just child’s play. Sixty percent of adults (ages 18 and up) play video games every week and the average age of today’s player is now 36 years old. Americans continue to play games as they age, with nearly half of Boomers (ages 61 to 79) and 36% of the Silent Generation (ages 80-90) playing video games weekly. This year’s report also explores preferences, behaviors and attitudes, with players of all ages saying video games are a great way to relax, have fun, keep their minds sharp and stay connected.

“Video games are a powerful cultural force due to their widespread appeal across every demographic as a fun and beneficial way to spend time,” says, Stanley Pierre-Louis, president of The Entertainment Software Association (ESA). “With nearly two-thirds of Americans regularly playing, it’s important to recognize that the nation’s most beloved form of entertainment also provides mental stimulation, stress relief and meaningful social connection that extends well beyond the moment of play.”

A Closer Look at the ESA Essential Facts 2025 Report Findings

Examining the results of the annual study, the trade group finds that high numbers of individuals engage in gaming activities:

Gamers Represent Nearly Every Age Demographic

Nearly two-thirds of Americans ages 5 to 90 (205.1 million) regularly play video games.
The ESA Essential Facts report finds the average player is 36 years old and, on average, has been playing for 18 years.
The split between men and women who play is about equal, with 47% women and 52% men. However, for older generations, women play more than men: 52% of Boomer women play video games, compared to 46% of Boomer men.

Mental Stimulation Seen as Primary Benefit from Older Generations

More than half of Generation X play video games every week, with 49% of Boomers and 36% of the Silent Generation also joining the fun.
According to the ESA Essential Facts report, the top reasons Boomers and the Silent Generation play are to keep their minds sharp (65%) and to pass the time or relax (77%). They prefer puzzle (73%) and skill and chance (55%) games.

Video Games Seen as Supporting Mental, Social and Emotional Health

U.S. adults (gamers and non-gamers) agree that video games bring people joy (84%), provide mental stimulation and stress relief (81%), provide accessible experiences
- The ESA Essential Facts report suggests people engage in gaming to help improve cognitive skills (77%); gaming activities bring people together (76%), and 70% state that gaming is educational.
- Participants in the study also believe that video games can teach problem-solving (78%), teamwork and collaboration (69%), adaptability and resilience (60%), and STEAM (57%) and communication (53%) skills.

ESA Essential Facts Report Reveals Video Games Offer Familial Bonding Opportunities

Parents are more likely to play video games – 70% of parents play video games, compared to 60% of all adults.
82% of parents who play video games play with their kids, with 52% playing with their kids at least weekly.
The top three reasons parents play with their children are because it’s fun for all of us (61%), a good opportunity to socialize with my child(ren) (55%) and a great way for the family to spend time together (55%).

Parents Prefer Video Games Over Social Media for Child Entertainment

78% of parents whose children play video games regularly use ESRB ratings (Source: Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB)).
86% use at least one parental control setting on their kids’ devices to manage their play (Source: ESRB).
70% of all parents say they prefer that their children spend time playing video games than on social media.

Video Games Seen as Valuable Social Tools

55% of all players (ages 8 to 90) play video games with others weekly and 72% have ever played video games with others.
78% of all players believe video games can introduce them to new friends and relationships. Generation Z feels it the most strongly (89%), while the majority of Boomers and the Silent Generation (60%) agree.
The ESA Essential Facts report says that Generation Z (70%) and Millennials (61%) have met people through video games they would not otherwise have met. Report participants also say they met a good friend or significant other through video games (63% Generation Z, 49% Millennials).
79% of Generation Alpha and Generation Z play with their friends, and 55% of Generation Alpha plays with their parents.

Video Games Potent Source of Entertainment Media Discovery

Younger generations are more likely to find other forms of entertainment through video games, with Generation Z and Millennials reporting they discovered new songs (39% and 30% respectively) and new TV shows/movies (28% and 24% respectively) because of a game they played.
The ESA Essential Facts study emphasizes that 56% of adult players who play real-life sports play a video game version of the sport, with 87% of them believing it improves their real-life performance.

Video Games Also Seen as Being Highly Accessible to Those With Disabilities

Roughly one-in-five adult players report having a disability (21%).
More than half of players with disabilities think video games are very accessible (56%), and close to half (49%) rated overall accessibility of video games to be extremely/very important.

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