“Contrary to misconceptions, gamers are interested in improving their wellness, and consider games an excellent way to reduce stress and fostering social opportunities. Players want video games that help reduce anxiety and create more positive social interactions. Combating toxicity online may accomplish both.”
– Brian Benway, Gaming and Entertainment Analyst
This Report will look at the following areas:
- Wellness areas that gamers are most interested in seeing in video games
- Research being conducted on health and wellness, and how that impacts video games
- Which countries are considering changing laws based on wellness impact of video games
- How charity organizations are incorporating gaming to bring greater focus on health topics
- Why gamers prefer certain wellness elements for themselves and their children
- Gamers’ attitudes toward wellness elements in games and how that affects purchase decisions
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Overview
- What you need to know
- This Report looks at the following areas
- Definition
- Market context
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Executive Summary
- Top Takeaways
- Consumer trends
- Gamers are highly interested in wellness
- Figure 1: Wellness focus areas, 2023
- Gaming is seen as a great way to reduce stress, particularly among women
- Figure 2: Perceptions of video games benefits, by parental status and gender 2023
- Companies need to ensure online gaming environments are seen as safe
- Figure 3: Video game social inclusion, by gender and age, 2023
- Active gamers experience more wellness benefits from games than casuals
- Figure 4: Attitudes towards video games and wellness – Any agree, by frequency and device usage, 2023
- Competitive strategies
- Market predictions
- Figure 5: Global video game revenue, 2019-25
- Figure 6: Gaming and wellness outlook, 2023-28
- Opportunities
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Global and US Wellness Market
- Tech-based wellness solutions will remain popular for their convenience
- Figure 7: Global healthcare spending by GDP, 1980-2021
- Tech-based wellness solutions will remain popular for their convenience
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Global and US Gaming Market
- Global revenue growth to resume in 2023 after short-lived decline in 2022
- Figure 8: Global video game revenue, 2019-25
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- Figure 9: Global video game revenue, by segment, 2022
- Global revenue growth to resume in 2023 after short-lived decline in 2022
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Market Drivers
- Growing overlap of tech and wellness in the wearables space
- Studies show video games aren’t harmful, may make players feel better
- What does the EU’s updated stance on video games mean?
- Ongoing gaming crackdown in China thaws slightly with unfrozen licenses
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Key Players
- Nintendo provides virtual workouts and more
- Start-up DeepWell Digital Therapeutics wants players to play well
- Charitable activity makes gaming a positive force for the real world
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Competitive Strategies and Market Opportunities
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- Figure 10: Pillars of Mintel Trends Technology and Wellbeing
- Pokémon Go took aim at smartwatches, but third-party wearables fired back
- Figure 11: PowersavesPro fitness watch for Pokémon Go, 2020
- Nootropics an alternative for gamers who don’t want tons of caffeine
- Figure 12: Zero DB Nootropic beverage, 2023
- AI could open the door to infinitely playable content
- Figure 13: IGN reports on Nothing, Forever, 2023
- Sludge content may kill attention span, but it is driving engagement
- Figure 14: Subway surfers sludge content TikTok, 2023
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Fast Facts – Video Games & the Consumer
- Gamers are interested in improving their wellness
- Gaming is seen as a way to reduce stress, particularly among women
- Companies need to ensure online gaming environments are seen as safe
- Shifting focus away from winning and losing may help build communities
- Games can encourage positive experiences and development in children
- Active gamers experience more wellness benefits from games than casuals
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Wellness Focus Areas
- Physical, mental and emotional wellness are top areas for improvement
- Figure 15: Wellness focus areas, by gamer status, 2023
- Young women gamers are concerned with mental and emotional wellness
- Figure 16: Video game players’ wellness focus areas, by age and gender, 2023
- Multiplayer gamers know social wellness is important to their hobby
- Figure 17: Video game players’ wellness focus areas, by gamer segment, 2023
- Physical, mental and emotional wellness are top areas for improvement
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Wellness Activities
- Humans crave connection and video games help facilitate community
- Figure 18: Non-gaming wellness activities, by gamers, 2023
- Gaming in the gym already has a home fitness blueprint
- Figure 19: Non-gaming wellness activities, by gender and generation, 2023
- Gamers have largely accepted gamification, which can drive other activities
- Figure 20: Non-gaming wellness activities, by frequency and device usage, 2023
- Humans crave connection and video games help facilitate community
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Perceptions of Video Game Benefits
- Gamers see benefits in specific wellness areas beyond fitness
- Figure 21: Perceptions of video game benefits, 2023
- Younger gamers push the benefits of gaming further
- Figure 22: Perceptions of video game benefits, by generation, 2023
- Dads are often highly enthusiastic, but all agree gaming beats stress
- Figure 23: Perceptions of video game benefits, by parental status and gender 2023
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- Figure 24: Parents’ perceptions of video game benefits, by gender of child, 2023
- Gamers see benefits in specific wellness areas beyond fitness
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Video Game Social Inclusion
- With ad targeting becoming difficult, gather fans at events
- Figure 25: Video game social inclusion, 2023
- Inclusivity in games should help build more diversity in social gatherings
- Figure 26: Video game social inclusion, by race and Hispanic origin, 2023
- Building trust in online experiences starts when players are kids
- Figure 27: Video game social inclusion, by gender and age, 2023
- With ad targeting becoming difficult, gather fans at events
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Desired Gaming Wellness Interests
- Improving social skills may shift gamers’ focus away from wins and loses
- Figure 28: Desired gaming wellness interest, 2023
- Nintendo boasts lower toxicity, high parental trust and interest in wellness
- Figure 29: Desired gaming wellness interest, by console platform, 2023
- Parents want their little gamers to love themselves and their bodies
- Figure 30: Desired gaming wellness interest, by children’s gender and age, 2023
- Improving social skills may shift gamers’ focus away from wins and loses
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Parents’ Perceptions of Video Games for Children
- Puzzles and teamwork are a winning combo for family games
- Figure 31: Parents’ perceptions of video games for children, 2023
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- Figure 32: Metacritic best-reviewed of the year game, 2021
- Parents see the greater benefits from gaming in young girls
- Figure 33: Parents’ perceptions of video games for children, by child’s age and gender, 2023
- Parents with PhDs know best, even if they don’t
- Figure 34: Parents’ perception of video games for children, by parent education level, 2023
- Puzzles and teamwork are a winning combo for family games
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Attitudes Towards Video Games and Wellness
- For the widest appeal, promote mental stimulation and relaxation
- Figure 35: Attitudes towards video games and wellness, by gamer segment, 2023
- Active gamers see the most benefits from engagement with the hobby
- Figure 36: Attitudes towards video games and wellness, by frequency and device usage, 2023
- For the widest appeal, promote mental stimulation and relaxation
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Attitudes Towards Wellness Concepts
- Fitness and wellness wearables may find success partnering with VR
- Figure 37: Attitudes towards wellness concepts, by gender and age, 2023
- Village life sims may grow further with more diversity and inclusivity
- Figure 38: Attitudes towards wellness concepts, by race and Hispanic origin, 2023
- Fitness and wellness wearables may find success partnering with VR
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Attitudes Towards Gaming Gadgets
- Gaming peripherals cause parents to weigh cost against features
- Figure 39: Parents’ attitudes towards gaming gadgets, by child gender and age, 2023
- User generated content may help keep peripheral-based games fresh
- Figure 40: Attitudes towards gaming gadgets, by gender and parental status, 2023
- Gaming peripherals cause parents to weigh cost against features
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Appendix – Data Sources and Abbreviations
- Data sources
- Sales data
- Consumer survey data
- Abbreviations and terms
- Abbreviations
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Appendix – The Consumer
- US gamer segments
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- Figure 41: Gamer segments, 2023
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- Figure 42: Top reasons for playing video games, by gamer segments, 2023
- Achievers – Characteristics and demographics
- Figure 43: Primary Achievers, by key demographics, 2023
- Explorers – Characteristics and demographics
- Figure 44: Primary Explorers, by key demographics, 2023
- Socializers – Characteristics and demographics
- Figure 45: Primary Socializers, by key demographics, 2023
- Competitors – Characteristics and demographics
- Figure 46: Primary Competitors, by key demographics, 2023
- Who are the Other gamers?
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- Figure 47: Other gamers, by key demographics, 2023
- US gamer device usage
- Figure 48: US gamer device usage, 2023
- US gaming frequency
- Figure 49: Gaming frequency, 2023
- Attitudes toward video games and wellness
- Figure 50: Attitudes toward video games and wellness, 2023
- Attitudes toward wellness concepts
- Figure 51: Attitudes toward wellness concepts, 2023
- Attitudes toward gaming gadgets
- Figure 52: Attitudes toward gaming gadgets, 2023
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