Video games are a massive part of the entertainment industry, but where do they rank in terms of popularity? Where is gaming most popular around the world?
We all can assume that the US is a top consumer of video games. However, you might not realize these other leading countries for gamers. Brazil and Russia have huge populations who play video games; however, these two countries fly under the radar due to their size.
Furthermore, there are other countries with sizeable populations, such as Mexico (MX), India (IN), and Iran (IR), which also rank among the top game-playing nations.
Read on to find out if your country made the list of the top places where video games are played.
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Top 8 Gaming Countries
While many countries worldwide enjoy video gaming in all of its various forms, some countries just rock the gaming world. The gaming industry is booming, from tournaments happening across the globe every year to more people playing online video games than ever before.
Vietnam
In a recent consumer survey, Vietnam had the highest number of gamers, over 18. Ninety-four percent of Vietnamese adults said they played video games via PC and mobile online gaming at least once a week. Online gaming is a massive portion of that number, as people experience an increase in downtime. Furthermore, over the last few years, Smartphone access gaming has increased exponentially because of its ease of service, and access usually has no cost downloading. So as the number of casual gaming grows and with an already large ratio of hardcore gaming, Vietnam is one of the largest gaming markets in Southeast Asia.
Nigeria
Although very recently, Nigeria has increased its network of gaming users and producers by significantly. The video game industry is still relatively small and is still in its first stages. Furthermore, as the mobile market grows, these types of video games will become more popular and more readily available.
Sixty percent of the country’s population is made up of children or young adults, so this market has increased in Nigeria throughout the last few years. And it is growing every day, expecting to double next year and possibly start producing games worldwide in the future.
Philippines
Although not prominent in video game production, the Philippines is top-ranked in online sports games. And online player-vs-player games and massive multiplayer online games (MMO). Due to a high level of streaming and copying, the country is growing higher on the list of most played video games and is expected to grow even larger next year. Even with a previous ban on video games in the late 80s, it has become the location of one of the most prominent eSports associations in the world.
China
The video game business has been and is still booming in China’s mainland. It is one of the important markets for the entire industry, both in play and production. They play a significant part in the industry’s 100 billion dollar year sales revenue. China might be the world’s gaming capital because of its large population and size, has numerous companies located all over the country.
United States
Overall, the United States of America is a prominent player of video games. According to recent surveys, sixty-five percent of people over 35 play at least one form of video gaming each day. And with multi-platforms and popular online gaming, it continues to grow annually. From console play to mobile versions, It includes a vast list of different types of games, both online and single-player.
These consist of multiplayer online, first-person shooters, virtual reality, sports and leisure games, simulators, and so many others. In some homes in the US, Fortnite or Roblox never leaves the screen. A large number of these American gamers are under the age of 18. There are over 73 million children in the United States, and a high percentage of them use some form of gaming every day.
Spain
Most recent figures show that Spain ranks on top in the race to be the country with most video games played. Although the industry itself only dates back so far, by the late 2000s, the country was the tenth highest-grossing market worldwide. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Animal Crossing seem to top Spain’s video game charts. Furthermore, the gaming market is still in its earlier stages, and all citizens of Spain, both young and old, seem to be playing more and more each day.
UK
Between 2018-2020, the number of video game users in the United Kingdom jumped almost 3 million. With half of the entire population using some video gaming device or service. The market has come to be valued at 5 billion British pounds. Sixty-two percent more adults on average in the UK started to embrace video games as a form of relaxation and entertainment. Over half of the population now has a gaming console for home use.
Japan
China has a fast ever-expanding video gaming market with an estimated turnover of $49.3 billion a year on average. Japan stands right next to China in the video game market, and the country had an estimated rough figure of 70 million players this last year. Not only a mecca of smartphone gaming usage, but Japan is also a major producer of video games and consoles. Nintendo Co., Ltd. is a well-known Japanese multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto.
Japan has embraced the gaming culture with a nearly unrivaled passion. Without the contributions of Japan, the video game industry would not be what it is today. Some of the biggest video games to come out of Japan include Space Invaders, Pac-Man, and Sonic the Hedgehog. Like some other countries on this list, Japanese gaming culture is best explored outside the home. For example, there are Pokemon centers all over Japan where you can buy merchandise, trading cards, and even visit a Pokemon cafe.
If you want to get a better understanding of the origins of Japanese gaming culture, then you need to head to a pachinko parlor. Pachinkos operate much like slot machines. The goal of the game is to launch tiny balls into gates to trigger the release of more balls. Instead of earning money, your winnings can be exchanged for prizes.
South Korea
Video gaming is also wildly popular in South Korea. In 2020, the vast majority of Koreans stated that they played video games. In fact, one survey found that more than 6 in 10 Koreans between the ages of 10 and 65 stated they played video games.
Additionally, the South Korean video game market is worth about $18.89 trillion won. South Koreans also dominate the eSports scene, and they have a reputation for being very competitive. Many of the top video game coaches and players were trained in or are from South Korea. Additionally, the country’s tournaments and pro leagues are often acclaimed as the most prestigious and competitive in the world.
While broadband internet access is common in South Korea, many Koreans play video games outside of their homes, in local gaming rooms known as “PC bangs.” A PC bang refers to a local area network gaming center where players pay an hourly fee to participate in multiplayer games.
South Korea currently has over 20,000 active PC bangs, and the bangs have become an integral part of the country’s culture and social fabric. In South Korea, going to a PC bang is the equivalent of going to a movie or a bar in the West. PC bangs are particularly popular in metropolitan cities like Seoul and Busan.
South Koreans consider cyber competition a national sport, and many TV channels broadcast video game matches regularly. The country currently has ten professional gaming leagues that are all sponsored by large corporations like Samsung and SK Telecom.
Players can win colossal rewards for placing first in these tournaments, with some of the best players earning more than half a million dollars per year.
Indonesia
When most people think of Indonesia, they often think of Bali, with its beautiful beaches and lush landscapes. However, Indonesia also has a huge gaming culture. In fact, Indonesia has the largest gaming market in Southeast Asia. At the end of 2021, the gaming market in Indonesia was worth $1.92 billion. Despite a decline in recent years, internet cafes are still relatively popular in Indonesia, and many Indonesians will frequent cafes to play video games.
Mobile games are also very popular in Indonesia, with some of the most-played games being Game of Wars: Fire Age and Clash of Clans. There has also been a handful of popular games developed in Indonesia, including Coffee Talk, DreadOut, Rage in Peace, and Legrand Legacy.
Thailand
Thailand is quickly emerging as a rising star in the gaming industry. The gaming industry in Thailand is estimated to be worth around $1 billion and has seen a growth rate of around 15-30% each year. The gaming market value is expected to hit $2 billion by 2025.
Thailand is also home to AsiaSoft, a company that aims to bring down video game prices in Thailand while also ensuring games aren’t leaked to other markets to help combat video game piracy. In 2004, AsiaSoft expanded to Singapore, and it now has offices in six countries.
Sanuk Games is another popular company in Thailand that produces video games for home consoles and mobile devices.
Taiwan
Video games are central to the Taiwanese lifestyle. In fact, a recent survey found that 66% of Taiwanese people play video games for at least half an hour a day.
Taiwan also has an underground “video game district” in its capital city, Taipei. The Taipei City Mall (TCM) is an underground mall that serves as a walkway between Taipei Main Station, and a major subway hub. What makes the TCM truly unique is that nearly half the mall consists of video game stores, a true testament to the passion for gaming in the country.
While a large number of video games are banned in China, this is not the case in Taiwan. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo all have a healthy presence in Taiwan.
Brazil
Brazil is home to the largest video game market in Latin America. Brazil was not allowed to import video games until the 1990s. Once they were allowed to be imported, they were heavily taxed as non-essential goods.
As a result, a large gray market developed in Brazil, with pirated video games becoming very popular. For this reason, many game companies avoided expanding into Brazil until the 2000s.
Recently, video games involving politicians have gone somewhat viral in Brazil. One game called Kandidatos involves hand-to-hand combat between some of Brazil’s most famous politicians.
Gabriel Nunes, the game’s creator, said the game didn’t make a cent for decades. Then in January 2022, the game was downloaded over 50,000 in the span of a week.
France
With its world-class cuisine and sophisticated culture, it may seem like the French would turn their noses up at video games. However, this is far from the case.
France has the seventh-largest video game market in the world, with the market being worth over $4 billion at the end of 2021. In 2014, France was the largest producer of video games behind the United States.
Many people forget that France had a large role in the emergence of video games in the 1980s. For example, the motorbike racing classic, 500cc Grand Prix, was an early success. Many people also credit the French with being the creators of the “survival horror” video game genre.
France is also home to a large number of video game enthusiasts. There are over 36.5 million gamers in France, the most in Europe. Several prestigious French universities also offer courses and degrees in the video gaming industry. For example, ENJIM is a national school dedicated to video games and digital interactive media.
Which Country Has The Best Esports Players In 2022?
The Esports industry alone has already surpassed a net worth of over a billion dollars in 2020 and is expected to be worth $3 billion by 2022. Millions of online players are daily players of top esports titles like League of Legends, Fortnite, Dota 2, and CS: GO. South Korea, China, Denmark, the USA, Germany, and Sweden are some of the top player countries in the world.
Final Thoughts
There are many countries around the world that enjoy video gaming in all of its various forms. Surprisingly, while most people think of Brazil and Russia as among the top game-playing nations, Spain, the UK, Japan, and Nigeria also rank among the top game-playing countries!
No matter how into gaming you are, there’s something for everyone. For a great way to pass the time, download Snake today.