Gaming by Age Statistics 2026

These gaming by age statistics show how video game participation now stretches from young children to older adults, with recent U.S. and UK data pointing to strong engagement across nearly every generation.

Gaming by age statistics (top highlights)

• ESA reported that 205.1 million Americans ages 5 to 90 play video games regularly in 2025.
• The average U.S. video game player is now 36 years old.
• Gen Alpha had the highest weekly play rate in ESA’s 2025 data, with 83% playing video games each week.
• ESA said 60% of U.S. adults ages 18 and older play video games every week.
• Nearly half of Boomers ages 61 to 79 play weekly, and 36% of the Silent Generation ages 80 to 90 do as well.
• In 2025, 28% of U.S. players were age 50 or older.
• ESA’s 2024 report showed that 29% of players were age 50 or older, up from 17% in 2004 and 9% in 1999.
• In the 2024 U.S. player mix, 24% of players were under 18, 47% were ages 18 to 50, and 29% were age 50 or older.
• Pew Research found that 85% of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 play video games, and 41% play at least once a day.
• Nearly all U.S. teen boys play video games, at 97%.
• Among teen girls, 81% of ages 13 to 14 play video games versus 67% of ages 15 to 17.
• Among teens who play video games, 72% say one reason they play is to spend time with others.
• 47% of teen players say they have made a friend online from playing video games.
• Ofcom reported that 53% of UK adults play games.
• In the UK, 85% of adults ages 16 to 24 play games, compared with 25% of adults ages 65 and older.

Weekly video game play by U.S. age group

Max = 83%. Widths: Gen Alpha (ages 5-12) 100.00%, Adults 18+ 72.29%, Boomers (ages 61-79) 59.04%, Silent Generation (ages 80-90) 43.37%

U.S. players age 50 and older over time

Max = 29%. Widths: 1999 31.03%, 2004 58.62%, 2024 100.00%

U.S. player age mix in 2024

Max = 47%. Widths: Under 18 51.06%, Ages 18-50 100.00%, Ages 50+ 61.70%

Average age of the U.S. video game player

Max = 36 years. Widths: 2004 80.56%, 2024 100.00%

U.S. teen girls who play video games by age

Max = 81%. Widths: Girls ages 13-14 100.00%, Girls ages 15-17 82.72%

UK adult gaming by age

Max = 85%. Widths: Ages 16-24 100.00%, All adults 62.35%, Ages 65+ 29.41%

What these gaming by age statistics show

Gaming is no longer concentrated in a narrow youth segment. The strongest participation still shows up among younger groups, but recent ESA and Ofcom data make it clear that gaming has become a cross-generational habit rather than a teen-only pastime.

The aging of the player base is especially visible in the U.S. market. Older adults now account for a far larger share of players than they did in the late 1990s and early 2000s, while the average player age has moved firmly into the mid-30s. At the same time, teen participation remains high, which means the gaming market is broadening at both ends of the age spectrum.

Sources

• Entertainment Software Association, 2025 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry
• Entertainment Software Association, 2024 Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry
• Pew Research Center, Teens and Video Games Today, May 2024
• Ofcom, Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report 2025