Gamers Seek Relaxation and Entertainment, Though Many Say They’re More Competitive While in Game
What is your primary motivation for gaming?
When asked what their primary motivation for gaming is, 42% of respondents said they play to relax or unwind, the highest share. The second most common answer was that gamers play to be entertained, which garnered 34% of responses, while just 11% said they play because it’s fun to win.
Compared to your personality outside of gaming, how would you describe the degree to which your personality in the gaming world is:
However, when asked how their personality in the gaming world compared to outside of gaming, 44% of gamers surveyed said they’re more competitive, compared to just 12% who said they’re less competitive. Many respondents also indicated they’re more confident, friendly, curious, impulsive, and ambitious when they game.
Gen Z gamers were the most likely to point to the social aspects of gaming as their primary motivation for playing with 12% saying they play to keep up with friends and another 8% saying they play because it’s a good way to meet people. Less than 3% of baby boomer gamers picked either option as their primary motivator.
In describing their personality in the gaming world, 43% of Gen Z gamers said they were friendlier than in their day-to-day life outside of gaming. For older generations, just 32% said the same.