- A new entertainment software association survey found that most Americans believe that video games provide the most entertainment 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 players across all age groups also spend money on in-game content
A new study by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has found 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 conducted in partnership with YouGov, video games are more popular than ever among most age groups.
According to the ESA, 67% of Americans between the ages of five and 90 now play video games one or more hours per week, which equates to 212.3 million. This is an increase of 3% (7.2 million) compared to 2025 and split roughly equally between men and women, with 53% of men and 46% of women actively playing.
The latest statistics show that parents actually like their children playing video games and enjoy playing with them, with 75% actively playing video games every week and 81% saying they also play with their children (52% at least weekly).
Nearly half (49%) of parents also believe that their children who play games learn important skills, such as problem solving and creative thinking, while the majority of American adults recognize the positive benefits of play.
85% find games fun, 78% say they offer stress relief, and 79% say they provide mental stimulation. Younger gamers in the Gen Z category (88%) also believe that games bring people together and build relationships (87%).
Gaming is a billion-dollar industry, and the cost of consoles and software has risen over the past few years, with most AAA first-party games now costing upwards of $80 to $90.
But according to the survey, most Americans (63%) believe that games offer the most value for money compared to other forms of media such as video streaming services for music, TV, movies, books and magazines.
The majority of gamers across all age groups also spend extra money on in-game content, with 69% of Gen Alpha, 78% of Gen Z and 67% of Millennials typically spending $20 per month.
54% of parents even buy in-game content for their kids, even if we don’t know which games. 93% of them also said they require approval for in-game purchases made by their children.
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