J. Clement
Research lead covering internet and gaming
Mobile gaming habits in the United States - Statistics & Facts
Mobile gaming has become a driving force behind the rapid growth of the U.S. video gaming market. Previously considered a niche industry, mobile gaming has set in motion one of the most impactful (digital) gaming transformations of the past few decades. In 2023, mobile gaming revenue surpassed the 18-billion-dollar mark and accounted for the second largest area making up the video gaming revenue in the United States. As mobile adaption and smartphone usage continue with strong growth, gaming publishers focus on the mobile ecosystem more vigorously than ever, leaving no doubt that the mobile gaming phenomenon will continue to modify the U.S. gaming landscape and influence gaming behavior and engagement of millions of players across the country.
Mobile has diversified gamer demographics
Fueled by nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns, the mobile gaming user penetration rate in the U.S. jumped from 41 percent in 2019 to over 46 percent in 2023. Long before this surge in user count, the mobile gaming audience had become increasingly diverse with regard to age and gender. According to a recent survey, female players accounted for 54 percent of smartphone gamers in the U.S. in 2023, while they only made up 47 percent of console gamers. As for mobile gaming age demographics, another survey revealed that smartphone video games are particularly popular with players aged 30 to 39 years. Considering that children nowadays have increased access to (mobile) technology, it comes as no surprise that smartphones and tablets have also become preferred devices for playing video games among young children and teens in the United States.Mobile user behavior and engagement
As part of a 2023 survey on mobile gamer engagement, about a third of respondents stated they played mobile games for one to five hours per week, while another nine percent reportedly did so for over 20 hours. Action and adventure games were among the preferred mobile gaming genres among tablet users in early 2023, while puzzle and casino games held the highest share of mobile gaming revenue. As more publishers enter the mobile gaming scene by launching new gaming titles or reinventing established franchises for mobile, the mobile gaming revolution is unlikely to recede anytime soon.
