More Than 41 Million People in Germany Play Video Games

More Than 41 Million People in Germany Play Video Games

• Around 6 in 10 people aged 6 to 69 in Germany play video games
• Average age of video game players is 38.3 years
• The smartphone is Germany’s most popular gaming platform, followed by game consoles

Germany is a nation of gamers: around 6 in 10 people aged 6 to 69 play video games. Across all age groups, a total of 41.2 million people in Germany play games. This was announced today by game – The German Games Industry Association, based on data from the market research firm YouGov. The data captures the German population more comprehensively than before, as people without German citizenship have now been included for the first time, painting a fuller picture of the games community. The average age of all players in Germany, regardless of age or citizenship, is 38.3 years. Yet games are for all ages: 79 per cent of players are over 18. The gender split is nearly even: around 46 per cent of players are women and around 54 per cent are men.

 ‘Games captivate more than 41 million people in Germany – young and old, women and men alike. Video game players make up one of the largest and most diverse communities in the country. For the first time, the data also provides a more comprehensive view of all players in Germany, once again demonstrating the enormous popularity of games across society as a whole,’ said Felix Falk, Managing Director of game. ‘The huge diversity of games culture is also reflected in how people play: whether on a smartphone, a console, a PC, or several devices at once – people in Germany find their way to their hobby through a wide variety of routes.’

Which platforms do video game players in Germany use most?

With 23.7 million players, the smartphone is the most widely used gaming device in Germany. Game consoles come in second, with around 22.1 million players. PCs account for around 14 million players, while 9.9 million people reach for a tablet to play games. Platform use is broadly diverse: around 19 million gamers play on two or more devices.

German games market grew by 4 per cent in 2025

After a slight decline in the previous year, revenue from games, games hardware and online gaming services in Germany in 2025 is back on a growth track, as the game association reported in March. Total revenue in 2025 reached around 9.4 billion euros – a rise of 4 per cent. Games hardware was among the key drivers of growth, with the game consoles segment (+26 per cent) and gaming PC accessories (+13 per cent) posting particularly strong gains. Revenue from online gaming services such as PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass also continued to climb, surpassing the one-billion-euro mark for the first time.

About the market data

The market data is based on statistics compiled by YouGov Shopper, Nielsen IQ and Sensor Tower. The methods used by YouGov Shopper to collect data on Germany’s digital games market are unique worldwide and stand out for their quality. They include an ongoing survey of 25,000 consumers who are representative of the German population as a whole regarding their video game purchasing and usage habits, as well as a retail panel. The data collection methods provide a unique insight into the German market for computer and video games.

Please note: From 2025 onwards, YouGov Shopper includes all people living in Germany in its player statistics. Up to and including 2024, the market research firm’s demographic data on players covered only people in Germany with German citizenship.

game – The German Games Industry Association

We are the association of the German games industry. Our members represent the entire video game ecosystem, from development studios and publishers to esports event organisers, educational institutions and other related entities. We are co-organisers of gamescom, the world’s biggest event for video games. We are a shareholder in the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK), the Foundation for Digital Games Culture, the esports player foundation, game events and the collecting society VHG, as well as co-host of the German Computer Game Awards. Serving as a central point of contact for media, as well as political and social institutions, we provide comprehensive expertise in areas including market development, game culture and media literacy, and address any inquiries or concerns. Together we are making Germany the heart of gaming worldwide. With games, we enrich the lives of all people.