Number and Age of German Gamers Continues to Rise

The number of gamers in Germany is increasing significantly, particularly among older age groups. This is according to new data from game, based on surveys conducted by YouGov Shopper, NielsenIQ, and data.ai.

While the year-on-year growth in gamer numbers is moderate, a look back to 2020 reveals a 9 per cent increase in the number of gamers aged 6 to 69 in Germany. According to the industry association game, 59 per cent of the population now plays video games—equivalent to 37.5 million people.

Notably, the number of gamers aged over 60 has grown from 6.4 million to 7.7 million. The association highlights this as a particularly dynamic development. One contributing factor is that the generation that grew up with video games is now ageing.

This trend is also reflected in another notable shift over the past 12 months: the average age of German gamers. It has increased from 38.2 to 39.5 years. Other key metrics have remained largely stable. For instance, nearly 80 per cent of all gamers in Germany are still aged 18 or older, and the proportion of female gamers remains steady at 48 per cent.

"Games fascinate millions of people in Germany - young and old, women and men. The majority of Germans have been playing games for a long time and the number is increasing. The steadily rising average age of gamers is also exciting: we are fast approaching the age of 40. This makes clear what still surprises many people: whether they are 17 or 70, games inspire people of all ages and the proportion of older players is growing particularly strongly," says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game - The German Games Industry Association.

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