49+ Video Game Addiction Statistics: Most Addictive Games
Video games have become a popular form of entertainment over the years, with millions of people around the world playing them daily.
Published On
October 1, 2023
Reviewed By Dr. Gall, Medical Director of Mainspring Recovery
Looking For Video Game Addiction Statistics?
Video games have become a popular form of entertainment over the years, with millions of people around the world playing them daily. While many people can play games without issue, others struggle with video game addiction. Here are 49 statistics that shed light on this growing problem.
Top 14 Key Video Game Addiction Statistics
The average age of video game players is 35 years old. (ESA)
65% of American adults play video games. (ESA)
43% of gamers say they play video games every day. (ESA)
The video game industry is worth over $100 billion. (Newzoo)
47% of video game players are women. (ESA)
The average time spent playing video games per day is 1 hour and 27 minutes. (Newzoo)
Mobile gaming accounts for 51% of the global gaming industry's revenue. (Newzoo)
In the US, video game sales increased by 27% in March 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns. (NPD Group)
The most popular genre of video games is action, followed by sports and shooter games. (ESA)
The global eSports market revenue is expected to reach $1.08 billion in 2021. (Statista)
1 in 10 gamers exhibit signs of addiction. (World Health Organization)
8.5% of youth gamers in the US show signs of addiction. (Psychology Today)
15% of gamers exhibit behaviors consistent with addiction. (Journal of Behavioral Addictions)
1 in 3 gamers admit to playing video games to escape reality. (Global Web Index)
Most Addictive Video Games
Here is the list of some of the most popular video games with their active players and addictive gameplay.
Here's a list of the most addictive video games, according to reviewer opinions:
Rocket League - 14.53%
Littlewood - 12.50%
Demigod - 10.77%
Stardew Valley - 6.67%
League of Legends - 4.28%
Frostpunk - 3.89%
Path of Exile - 3.60%
My Time at Portia - 3.33%
Fortnite - 2.59%
PlanetSide 2 - 2.38%
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege - 2.02%
Dota 2 - 1.68%
Animal Crossing: New Horizons - 1.58%
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - 1.35%
Fallout 3 - 1.28%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive - 1.27%
Call of Duty Black Ops 3 - 1.22%
Smite - 1.16%
The Sims 4 - 0.97%
Rust - 0.92%
Which Video Game Genres Are the Most Addictive?
Role-playing games (RPGs) are considered the most addictive video game genre.
RPGs account for 23.5% of all video game sales.
First-person shooter (FPS) games are the second most addictive genre.
FPS games account for 22.5% of all video game sales.
Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) games have a high potential for addiction due to their competitive nature.
MOBA games account for 8.2% of all video game sales.
Sports games can also be addictive, especially among fans who want to simulate playing in their favorite leagues and teams.
Sports games account for 14.9% of all video game sales.
Strategy games require players to think critically and make decisions that can affect the outcome of the game, making them potentially addictive.
Strategy games account for 6.7% of all video game sales.
Video Game Addiction by Age
In the US, 8.5% of youth aged 8 to 18 are addicted to video games. (Psychology Today)
Among college students, 9% are addicted to video games. (NCBI)
Individuals aged 18 to 24 have the highest prevalence of video game addiction. (NCBI)
In South Korea, where gaming is very popular, about 10% of teenagers and young adults are addicted to video games. (BBC News)
According to a study from the University of California, San Francisco, children who spend more than two hours a day playing video games have twice the risk of developing attention problems compared to those who play less.
Video Game Addiction by Race
African American gamers have a higher risk of video game addiction than other racial groups. (NCBI)
Hispanic/Latino gamers are more likely to experience negative consequences due to video game addiction, such as poor academic performance and relationship problems. (NCBI)
White gamers have the highest prevalence of video game addiction among all racial groups. (Psychology Today)
Asian American gamers are more likely to experience social anxiety and depression due to excessive gaming. (APA)
Native American gamers have the lowest prevalence of video game addiction among all racial groups. (Journal of Gambling Studies)
Video Game Addiction by Gender
55% of gamers are male. (ESA)
45% of gamers are female. (ESA)
Male gamers are more likely to experience video game addiction compared to female gamers (NCBI)
Among male gamers, 11.9% exhibit signs of addiction, while among female gamers, the number is 6.0%. (Journal of Behavioral Addictions)
Male gamers spend an average of 6 hours and 57 minutes per week playing video games, while female gamers spend an average of 5 hours and 12 minutes per week. (Entertainment Software Association)
The most popular types of games for male gamers are action and sports games, while female gamers prefer puzzle, simulation, and arcade-style games. (Quantic Foundry)
Female gamers are more likely to use gaming as a social activity with friends or family members than male gamers. (Entertainment Software Association)
Video Game Addiction Globally
The World Health Organization recognizes video game addiction as a mental health disorder.
In China, there are over 24 million people who are addicted to video games. (South China Morning Post)
In the UK, an estimated 2% to 3% of gamers are addicted to video games. (The Guardian)
In India, 41% of children who play video games show signs of addiction. (India Today)
In Japan, death by gaming is recognized as a legitimate cause of death, with several cases reported every year. (CNN)
In Australia, 8.5% of young people aged between 16 and 17 years old are addicted to video games. (Sydney Morning Herald)
The global economic impact of video game addiction is estimated to be around $100 billion per year. (CNBC)
Video Game Addiction Statistics in the United States
In the US, 8.5% of youth aged 8 to 18 are addicted to video games. (Psychology Today)
Among college students, 9% are addicted to video games. (NCBI)
Individuals aged 18 to 24 have the highest prevalence of video game addiction. (NCBI)
The state with the highest percentage of video game addiction is Hawaii, with a rate of 10.6%. (Addiction Resource)
The state with the lowest percentage of video game addiction is Utah, with a rate of 6.2%. (Addiction Resource)
Video game addiction is most prevalent in urban areas compared to rural areas in the US. (Journal of Addiction Medicine)
Negative Effects
Video game addiction can lead to depression and anxiety. (American Psychological Association)
15% of gamers have skipped meals to play video games. (Ipsos)
7.5% of gamers have experienced physical health problems due to excessive gaming. (Journal of Behavioral Addictions)
Violent video games have been linked to aggression and desensitization to violence. (American Psychological Association)
Average Time Spent Playing Video Games Per Country
South Korea: 2 hours, 6 minutes per day (Newzoo)
Japan: 1 hour, 28 minutes per day (Newzoo)
United States: 1 hour, 17 minutes per day (Newzoo)
