Newzoo

Role-Playing Games (RPGs) represent the highest-revenue genre in the global gaming market as of 2022. The genre is characterized by deep character development, party-based mechanics, and progression systems centered on quests and combat. While RPGs are played across all platforms, they maintain a strong presence on PC and console, where they consistently rank among the top genres for monthly active users.

The demographic profile of the RPG audience is predominantly male, accounting for 58% of players, and skews toward younger age groups, with 59% of the player base falling between the ages of 10 and 30. Engagement patterns reveal that RPG players are highly active, averaging 18.8 sessions per month. The genre also demonstrates significant cross-genre appeal, with high player overlap in the adventure, shooter, and battle royale categories. High magical fantasy remains the most popular thematic element, utilized by 63% of the player base, while skill and talent trees serve as the most prevalent gameplay mechanic.

Monetization within the RPG space is dominated by pay-to-play models, which reach 97% of the player base, followed closely by in-app purchases at 90%. Geographically, the United States and Japan lead in monthly active users on PC and console. The genre also maintains a robust live-streaming presence, generating 205 million hours watched across platforms like Twitch and Facebook Gaming in June 2022. These insights are derived from data covering 37 markets, excluding China and India, and utilize proprietary gamer segmentation to analyze player motivations, viewing habits, and engagement metrics across the broader gaming ecosystem.

Global PC and console revenues are expected to grow modestly through 2027, with consoles driving the majority of expansion at an estimated +13 % CAGR while PC revenue rises only in single digits. 2024 saw a plateau for PCs, dominated by free‑to‑play and in‑game monetisation, whereas console sales are set to rebound from 2025 thanks to strong releases such as GTA VI and the launch of Nintendo Switch 2. Player growth remains incremental, with PC players increasing at +2.3 % annually and console players at +3.5 %, driven largely by established franchises rather than breakthrough innovation.

Playtime data confirm that 2024 experienced a 6 % YoY increase, with Pay‑to‑Play titles (e.g., Call of Duty) and free‑to‑play hits (Fortnite, Roblox) accounting for most of the lift. New releases captured only about 9 % of total playtime, underscoring that long‑running series dominate the market. Console audiences remain heavily slate‑dependent: 67 % of new‑release hours come from annual franchises, while PC players show a higher share of non‑annual titles. In the US and Western Europe, non‑annual franchise games contribute a smaller slice of console revenue (≈8–22 %) compared to annual franchises, which drive the bulk of earnings.

Engagement patterns reveal a sharp decline in title diversity on PC and Xbox, with the average number of titles played per player falling 27 % on Steam in the US and up to 34 % in Russia and Brazil. PlayStation, by contrast, shows modest growth in title engagement. Genre preferences are shifting away from Battle Royale toward Adventure and Role‑Playing, reflecting a broader industry trend toward narrative‑rich, long‑form gameplay. Nostalgia and free‑to‑play models continue to sustain short‑term spikes, but long‑term retention hinges on continuous content updates and robust live‑service strategies. New IPs must prioritize originality, polished gameplay loops, and community‑first discovery to overcome the legacy brand advantage and achieve lasting commercial success.

The Global Games Market Report 2025 projects a steady expansion of the worldwide player base to 3.6 billion, with payers rising to 1.6 billion and total revenue reaching $188.8 billion, a 3.4 % increase year‑over‑year. Mobile dominates growth and revenue, contributing $103 billion (55 % of the market) and expanding 4.5 % YoY, while PC and console follow at 3.1 % and 2.5 %. The report notes that average spend per payer is expected to decline slightly through 2028 as the market matures, underscoring the importance of retention, innovative monetization and post‑launch content to sustain growth in an increasingly saturated ecosystem.

Geographically, the Asia‑Pacific region leads with a 4.2 % YoY increase, and North America remains strong for console sales (5.4 %). Key growth drivers include the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, continued success of live‑service titles on PC, and a shift toward direct‑to‑consumer monetization in mobile. Discoverability challenges and content fragmentation are identified as notable hurdles across all platforms.

Single‑player AAA titles released in the February–May window outperform those launched August–November by an average of 34 %, largely due to crowded holiday windows and cannibalization. Early Access titles that transition to full release within 4–9 months generate the highest new‑player lift, while staggered cross‑platform releases capture only about 13 % of the total player base. Player attrition drops sharply in weeks 2–5 and stabilizes after week 12, indicating that longer main‑story content (20–40 hours) and simulation elements help retain players over the long term.

The commercial life of single‑player titles is increasingly driven by post‑launch content, strategic discounting and community engagement rather than initial premium spend. DLC revenue shares evolve over a game’s lifecycle, with genres aligning to specific monetization models and subscriptions gaining influence on long‑term engagement. Post‑launch content is identified as the key determinant of discoverability, retention and profitability across a game’s back catalogue.

Methodologically, the report employs a top‑down, data‑driven model that blends proprietary engagement metrics (Game Performance Monitor, Steam data), public economic indicators and partner insights to forecast platform‑specific player, payer and revenue figures through 2028. The approach excludes taxes, hardware and gambling from revenue calculations and provides detailed platform‑by‑platform forecasts (PC, console, mobile, cloud, VR) alongside analytical tools for market segmentation, genre trends and post‑launch monetization strategies.

Shooter games represent the fifth highest‑earning genre worldwide, generating approximately $2.24 billion in 2022 across all platforms. The report focuses on the genre’s popularity, player demographics, engagement patterns, and monetization strategies within a global context that excludes China and India. Data derive from Newzoo’s Global Games Market, Consumer Insights – Games & Esports 2022, and the Newzoo Expert platform, covering 37 markets with a sample of 19,544 recent shooter players and 60,020 broader gamers.

Key findings show that shooters dominate PC and console play, with 68 % of monthly active users (MAU) on these platforms also engaging in shooter titles. Player overlap with other genres is high: 56 % of shooter players also play adventure games, while strategy and simulation overlap remains low. The contemporary war theme and level‑based mechanics are the most common in shooter titles. Monetization is overwhelmingly pay‑to‑play; 97 % of shooter players experience in‑app purchases, and advertising is the least used model.

Demographically, core personas—Ultimate Gamers and All‑Round Enthusiasts—account for the largest shooter player base, yet nearly all persona groups play shooters. Motivations to spend include social interaction and access to special offers, with 13,659 of the 19,544 shooter players identified as payers. Live‑streaming data indicate that shooters rank highly on Twitch and Facebook Gaming, reinforcing the genre’s strong community presence. The report underscores shooters’ robust revenue streams, broad demographic appeal, and central role in competitive online play.

The report examines how gaming engagement varies across generational cohorts, drawing on a representative online sample of 72,068 respondents from 33 global markets (North America, EMEA, APAC). Data were collected via Computer Assisted Web Interviewing between January and April 2021. Findings show that younger generations devote a larger share of leisure time to gaming, with Gen Z and Millennials spending 11–12% of their free time on games versus 18% for Baby Boomers. Weekly playtime averages 7 hours and 20 minutes for Gen Z, 6 hours and 30 minutes for Millennials, dropping to just over 2 hours for Baby Boomers. Gaming remains the dominant entertainment medium across all ages, though motivations shift: younger players cite competition, socializing and achievement, while older players prioritize relaxation.

Platform preferences differ markedly; Gen Z spends 77% of gaming spend on mobile, whereas Baby Boomers allocate 73% to PC. Younger gamers also engage more with game‑related content, with 71–67% of Gen Z and Millennials both playing and watching games, compared to 44–51% for older cohorts. Persona segmentation reveals that “Ultimate Gamers” and “Community Gamers” dominate among Gen Z, whereas older groups are more likely to be “Time‑Fillers” or “Bargain Buyers.”

The report highlights the metaverse as a growing trend, with 70% of Gen Z and 63% of Millennials expecting to spend more time in virtual worlds. Overall, the study underscores a generational shift toward immersive, social gaming experiences and signals expanding opportunities for brands to reach diverse gamer audiences.

The analysis establishes that genre is the primary driver of mobile‑game discovery, influencing 49 % of players across nine major markets and outweighing recommendations and advertising. Within this framework, strategy titles deliver the highest lifetime value and revenue per install, a result of dense monetisation layers such as consumable boosts, speed‑ups, loot‑box bundles and limited‑time offers. Player motivations and churn factors differ markedly by genre and region: Japanese action‑RPG/MMORPG users play chiefly for stress relief (47 %) and item collection (37 %), while boredom, repetitiveness and aggressive monetisation trigger attrition, mirroring the experience of over a third of Korean RPG players who abandon games due to pushy in‑app purchases.

Puzzle gamers are predominantly female (≈ 70 %) and older (≈ 60 % aged 35 +), favor short solo sessions, and seek stress relief and time‑killing. A pronounced mismatch exists between their expectations—learning, accomplishment and unique experiences—and current offerings, with only 17‑32 % feeling satisfied, leading to churn driven by boredom, slow progress and intrusive ads. Successful titles mitigate this through frequent live events, special‑event currencies and diverse level‑goal designs, while modest social engagement (20‑30 %) still influences retention. Notably, more than 80 % of U.S. puzzle players and roughly 68 % of Japanese players would return after a 30‑day hiatus if informed of new content, and 30‑36 % cite such updates as a decisive factor. Hyper‑casual audiences in the United States, United Kingdom and South Korea also demonstrate high receptivity to developer communication, exceeding 80 %.

A comprehensive catalogue of core gameplay and monetisation mechanics—battle‑passes, consumable boosts, crafting, limited‑time bundles, VIP tiers, loot‑boxes

Produced through a partnership between Newzoo and Pangle, this analysis examines the global mobile puzzle game market with a specific focus on the divergent trends between Western and Eastern territories. The study covers major markets including the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea, utilizing 2020 revenue data and 2021 consumer insights. By comparing market dynamics, monetization strategies, and player demographics, the research aims to provide actionable intelligence for developers seeking global expansion.

Findings indicate that the United States is the world’s largest mobile puzzle market, followed by Japan and China. While classic match-3 mechanics remain dominant globally, the genre is evolving through "meta" elements like narrative and decoration. A significant regional distinction exists in monetization: Western titles rely heavily on in-app advertising (IAA) and simple economies, whereas Eastern titles—particularly in Japan—integrate deep character collection, progression, and gacha mechanics, leading to higher in-app purchase (IAP) revenue. Data shows that while Western players demonstrate a higher tolerance for frequent ad breaks, Japanese players prefer longer sessions with fewer interruptions but show a greater willingness to pay for additional functions and aesthetic enhancements.

Demographically, puzzle gamers across all regions skew female and are typically full-time employees with mid-to-high income. However, Eastern players tend to be younger and more highly educated than their Western counterparts. The methodology relies on Newzoo’s proprietary Global Games Market Report and Consumer Insights, supplemented by a case study from Japanese developer Translimit. The analysis concludes that success in the puzzle genre requires localized user acquisition strategies, such as performance-based A/B testing and region-specific ad creative optimization, to navigate the distinct cultural expectations of the global mobile audience.

Hypercasual mobile games represent a significant and evolving segment of the global gaming industry, accounting for 36 of the top 100 downloaded mobile games in 2021. While the genre is characterized by simple mechanics and high accessibility, it has faced increasing competition, leading to a shift toward hybrid-casual models. These newer titles incorporate meta-features and live operations to improve player retention, which typically falls below 10% by the seventh day for standard hypercasual titles.

The market demonstrates distinct regional variations, with hypercasual games enjoying significantly higher popularity in Western markets like the United States and United Kingdom compared to Japan and South Korea. In 2021, runner and racing subgenres overtook simulation and puzzle titles as the most downloaded categories. Demographically, hypercasual players across key markets skew male, are often full-time employees with mid-to-high incomes, and are younger than the average mobile gamer.

Monetization remains primarily driven by in-game advertising, with interstitial video identified as the most adopted format, followed by rewarded videos and banner ads. However, hybrid monetization is rising, with developers increasingly offering in-app purchases for ad removal or exclusive content. Data from 2021 indicates that the hypercasual sector is highly dynamic; only eight of the top 36 hypercasual titles from 2020 remained in the top rankings the following year. To maintain growth, publishers are leveraging broad targeting strategies that are less affected by privacy changes like IDFA and are utilizing sophisticated retention optimization tools to acquire loyal users.

This research, conducted by Newzoo in collaboration with Intel, examines the state of diversity and inclusion within the United States gaming market. The study challenges the misconception that the gaming population is primarily composed of young, white males, noting that there are approximately 2.7 billion gamers globally. By analyzing a representative sample of 1,824 gamers aged 10–65 via Computer Assisted Web Interviewing in early 2020, the findings identify significant gaps in representation, accessibility, and affordability that impact marginalized communities.

The data reveals that gamers of color, particularly Black and Hispanic/Latinx players, tend to be younger and more engaged than their white counterparts. For instance, roughly 75% of Black PC players are under the age of 35, compared to 50% of white players. Furthermore, Black and Asian PC gaming populations skew more female than other groups. Despite this high engagement, 47% of all U.S. gamers report avoiding titles they feel are not made for them, and over half emphasize the importance of diverse character representation—a sentiment strongest among LGBTQIA+ players and those with disabilities.

Economic factors play a critical role in gaming habits and hardware preferences. Due to historical economic disparities and younger average ages, Black and Hispanic/Latinx gamers are more likely to use laptops rather than expensive high-end desktops and show a higher affinity for game library subscriptions like Xbox Game Pass. These services provide a lower barrier to entry for high-quality content. Additionally, the study finds that players of color are more likely to be "Ultimate Gamers" or "Subscribers" compared to white gamers, who have a higher share of "Lapsed Gamers."

The analysis concludes that the industry must move beyond "sitting on the fence" regarding societal issues. Nearly half of U.S. gamers are more likely to support publishers that take active stances on social justice. By prioritizing affordability, accessibility, and authentic representation, hardware and software providers can better serve an evolving, diverse audience and unlock significant untapped revenue and engagement opportunities.

Unlocking Games Revenue: Player Behavior and Payment Trends in the West examines the evolving monetization landscape across North America and Europe. Produced through a partnership between Newzoo and Tebex, the analysis combines market intelligence with transaction data from over $1 billion in processed payments. The primary thesis suggests that as payer growth in mature Western markets plateaus—with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) through 2027 of only 1.1% in North America and 3.1% in Europe—industry success depends on maximizing value from existing players through diversified payment methods and localized monetization strategies.

The scope of the research focuses on PC, console, and mobile platforms in 2024 and 2025. Findings indicate that while North America and Europe house only 20% of the global player base, they account for 46% of total gaming spend. North America leads the world in average annual spend per payer at $324.90, compared to $125.40 in Europe. Regional motivations for spending differ significantly; North American players prioritize personalization and character customization, whereas European players are more value-conscious, citing sales, special offers, and the removal of advertisements as primary drivers for transactions.

A critical finding involves the impact of alternative payment methods on Average Transaction Value (ATV). While traditional cards and digital wallets dominate total volume, emerging methods like Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and cryptocurrency yield significantly higher ATVs. In North America, BNPL transactions average $85.00 compared to $52.20 for cards. Furthermore, the data shows that players using both traditional and alternative methods do not decrease their transaction frequency, suggesting that offering diverse payment options directly unlocks higher spending tiers. The analysis concludes that studios must reduce friction in payment flows and embrace unbundled, web-based storefronts to maintain loyalty and revenue in a maturing market.

This analysis explores the intersection of intellectual property (IP) fandom and player engagement within the global gaming industry. The primary thesis is that while transmedia collaborations are essential for driving player acquisition and retention in a live-service landscape, the effectiveness of an IP is heavily dictated by regional awareness and cultural sentiment. Success in global gaming requires a move away from one-size-fits-all licensing toward market-specific strategies that align with local fanbases.

The findings are based on the 2025 Global Gamer Study, which surveyed over 73,000 consumers across 36 markets, tracking awareness and attitudes toward 42 popular entertainment IPs. Data indicates that a majority of gamers in 24 of the 36 countries are more likely to play a game featuring their favorite IP. This influence is strongest in South Asia (74%) and Latin America (64%), while Western Europe and Oceania show more reserved engagement levels (45%).

The research categorizes IPs into four quadrants based on the relationship between awareness and favorability. Global Favorites, such as Harry Potter and Disney, maintain near-universal recognition (90%) and high sentiment. Familiar Faces like Star Wars and Barbie possess high awareness but suffer from polarizing or lower favorability in specific regions. Hidden Gems, including Studio Ghibli and various anime titles, maintain niche global awareness but command intense loyalty in specific markets like Japan or Vietnam. Finally, IPs with Limited Appeal, such as Doctor Who or Percy Jackson, struggle with both low recognition and lukewarm sentiment outside their core territories.

Geographic variations are stark; for instance, anime franchises like Dragon Ball achieve 85–90% awareness in Latin America and Southeast Asia, nearly double their recognition in the West. Conversely, Western staples like DC Comics see high awareness in the U.S. (70%) but significantly lower traction in Japan (21%). The study concludes that cultural resonance, linguistic accessibility, and historical distribution patterns are the primary drivers of IP success in the gaming sector.

Roblox has evolved from a youth-centric gaming site into a massive entertainment ecosystem and creator economy, boasting nearly 112 million daily active users and distributing over $300 million to creators in a single quarter. While the platform shares structural similarities with mobile gaming—such as an 80% mobile user base and monetization driven by cosmetics and gacha—it functions more like a social media platform such as TikTok or YouTube. Success is dictated by cultural fluency, rapid iteration, and social momentum rather than high graphical fidelity or traditional production cycles.

The platform’s audience is maturing, with the 13+ demographic growing at 54% year-over-year, significantly outpacing younger cohorts. This shift brings higher spending power and more sophisticated expectations to the ecosystem. Data indicates that Roblox is not a siloed experience; only 24% of players engage exclusively on mobile, with significant playtime occurring on PlayStation and PC. The genre landscape is dominated by Roleplay, Simulation, and Platformers, characterized by low-friction, social, and trend-driven mechanics that prioritize accessibility over complex skill sets.

For traditional developers, the platform serves as a strategic testing ground for intellectual property and audience cultivation among Gen Z and Gen Alpha. Because the discovery algorithm rewards speed and native platform knowledge, established studios are increasingly partnering with Roblox-native creators to navigate the unique development rhythm. The most effective strategies treat the platform as a long-term engagement tool rather than a standard publishing channel, focusing on branded activations and collaborative IP experiences to build brand affinity with the next generation of gamers.