According to Fandom’s 2023 Inside Gaming report, people’s gaming engagement has increased in every major demographic, platform, and game genre over the past five years. While everyone is playing more games in general, some generations are more inclined to play. However, although the Z generation comes to mind first, they are not the ones who play the most games.

Millennials play more games

In a comprehensive survey, it was stated that millennials spend more time playing games than younger age groups. Two out of five millennials surveyed say they play 22 hours a week or more. Millennials also tend to prefer computers over other gaming platforms such as consoles, while younger generations are more likely to lean towards mobile gaming, probably because of their entry costs.

Interest in a particular game also differs between age groups, as you can imagine. Young gamers are more influenced by publishers or popular games than older players. Meanwhile, millennials tend to buy games that offer good character development and strong stories.

Why are we playing games? The answers to the question also differ. Young people report that they play games because of the excitement of pursuing success and that they see games as a way to pass the time. Older audiences say they enjoy the intellectual stimulation and exploration the games offer.

Parents are now playing more games with their children

Play has also become a way for parents to bond with their children. While 56 percent of the parents who participated in the survey said that playing games is a fun activity to do together, 41 percent stated that they want to convey their admiration to their children. One-third of parents said they believed playing games together helped develop teamwork and collaboration skills, a quarter said they developed leadership skills, and 26 percent said they thought playing together taught important life skills.

More and more games are played

Over the past five years, gaming attendance has increased across every demographic, platform, and genre. 45 percent of gamers spend more time playing games than ever before. While it is stated that millennials are an important (and not yet used) audience in the field of play, it is reported that 52 percent of millennials consider playing games as their number 1 interest.

The top 5 games that parents played with their children were Mario (50%), Minecraft (48%), Roblox (37%), Super Smash Bros (33%) and Kirby (32%). However, minors mostly played battle royal (49%), racing (46%), and survival (39%); Millennials are leaning more towards MMO (41%), strategy (27%) and RPG (26%) genres, with games like Elden Ring or World of Warcraft.