- A new combination of entertainment software A study found that most Americans believe video games offer the best value for money compared to other forms of entertainment.
- 75% of parents actively play video games every week, while 81% enjoy playing with their children
- The majority of gamers of all ages also spend money on gaming content.
A new study from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reveals that the majority of gamers in the United States prefer to spend their money on video games because they believe they provide more entertainment value than other forms of media.
As detailed in its annual Essential Facts about the US Video Game Industry report produced in partnership with YouGov, video games are more popular than ever among most age groups.
According to the ESA, 67% of Americans ages five to 90 now play video games one or more hours per week, which equates to 212.3 million. This figure is up 3% (7.2 million) compared to 2025, and split fairly evenly between men and women, with 53% men and 46% women actively playing.
The latest stats show that parents actually enjoy having their kids play video games and enjoy playing with them, with 75% actively playing video games every week and 81% saying they also play with their kids (52% at least once a week).
Nearly half (49%) of parents also believe games teach their children important skills, such as problem solving and creative thinking, while the majority of U.S. adults recognize the positive benefits of gaming.
85% find games fun, 78% say they relieve stress, and 79% say they provide mental stimulation. Younger Gen Z gamers (88%) also believe gaming brings people together and builds relationships (87%).
Gaming is a billion-dollar industry, and the cost of consoles and software has increased in recent years, with most first-party AAA games now costing between $80 and $90.
However, according to the study, most Americans (63%) believe that games offer the best value when compared to other forms of media like video streaming services for music, television, movies, books and magazines.
The majority of gamers across all age groups also spend extra money on gaming content, with 69% of Gen Alpha, 78% of Gen Z, and 67% of Millennials typically spending $20 per month.
54% of parents even buy content in games for their children, even if we don’t know which games. 93% of them also said they needed approval for in-game purchases made by their children.
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