Most popular video game genres in the U.S. 2020-2021

Published by
Jessica Clement,
Sep 12, 2022
Despite the gaming industry's large gains during the COVID-19 pandemic, user engagement with video games is declining again as many restrictions are starting to ease. As such, many gaming genres have lost players compared to the previous year. However, the indie genre was the only one that increased in audience reach year-over-year. A survey of console and PC gamers in the United States found that 17 percent of respondents played indie games in March 2022, compared to only 13 percent of gamers who engaged with the genre in the previous year.

Most popular video gaming genres among PC and console gamers in the United States March 2021 and March 2022

CharacteristicMarch 2021March 2022
Action / adventure 44% 40%
Casual 37% 29%
First-person shooter (FPS) 33% 29%
Strategy / puzzle 30% 23%
Racing 28% 26%
Simulation 26% 25%
Massive multiplayer / RPGs 25% 23%
Sports 23% 20%
Other 23% 18%
Fighting 21% 18%
Party games 20% 16%
Horror 17% 15%
Battle royale 16% 14%
Showing entries 1 to 13 (16 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Share of respondents40%40%29%29%29%29%23%23%26%26%25%25%23%23%20%20%18%18%18%18%16%16%15%15%14%14%9%9%17%17%9%9%44%44%37%37%33%33%30%30%28%28%26%26%25%25%23%23%23%23%21%21%20%20%17%17%16%16%14%14%13%13%9%9%March 2021March 2022Action / adventureCasualFirst-person shooter (FPS)Strategy / puzzleRacingSimulationMassive multiplayer / RPGsSportsOtherFightingParty gamesHorrorBattle royaleMusic / dance / singingIndieMOBA
0%2.5%5%7.5%10%12.5%15%17.5%20%22.5%25%27.5%30%32.5%35%37.5%40%42.5%45%47.5%50%

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Release date

March 2022

Region

United States

Survey time period

March 2021 and March 2022

Special properties

among PC and console gamers

Supplementary notes

Original question: "Which of the following types of games do you personally play on a console or computer? Please check all that apply".

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Overview

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Gamer demographics

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Genre preferences

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User spending & monetization

5

Young gamers

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