Market (Overall)·Updated Mar 17, 2026 by Entertainment Software Association
71% of global players use video games to relieve stress, while 62% utilize them as a tool to reduce anxiety.
67% of gamers believe that video games foster social connection, with nearly 50% of players having met a close friend or significant other through gaming platforms.
The 2023 survey of nearly 13,000 players across 12 countries confirms that fun remains the primary motivator for gaming, followed by significant mental health and social benefits.
Academic research indicates that action games can improve reading skills and attention control, while specific titles like Tetris or exergames help mitigate trauma symptoms and reduce loneliness in older adults.
Players consistently report that gaming enhances cognitive development, specifically citing improvements in creativity and problem-solving skills.
The findings are based on a demographically representative sample of active gamers aged 16 and older who play at least one hour per week, supported by approximately 15 academic studies.
71% of global players use video games to relieve stress, while 62% utilize them as a tool to reduce anxiety.
67% of gamers believe that video games foster social connection, with nearly 50% of players having met a close friend or significant other through gaming platforms.
The 2023 survey of nearly 13,000 players across 12 countries confirms that fun remains the primary motivator for gaming, followed by significant mental health and social benefits.
Academic research indicates that action games can improve reading skills and attention control, while specific titles like Tetris or exergames help mitigate trauma symptoms and reduce loneliness in older adults.
Players consistently report that gaming enhances cognitive development, specifically citing improvements in creativity and problem-solving skills.
The findings are based on a demographically representative sample of active gamers aged 16 and older who play at least one hour per week, supported by approximately 15 academic studies.