The 2025 Essential Facts About the US Video Game Industry report from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) confirms what many longtime players already knew: video games aren’t just a kid thing. The average gamer is 36 years old, and more than half of all US adults play every single week. Even among Boomers and folks in their 80s, tens of millions are picking up controllers, mainly to relax and keep their minds sharp. Puzzle and strategy games are especially popular with older adults who cite mental stimulation as one of their top reasons for playing.

What’s driving this surge? Aside from being fun, video games are helping people manage stress, connect with loved ones, and even build new skills. People with kids are more likely to game, with 70 percent of parents reporting playing with their kids, often as a way to socialize and spend time together. With new consoles like the recently launched Nintendo Switch 2 keeping gaming in the spotlight, the hobby continues to morph into something multigenerational and beneficial beyond simple entertainment.