Roleplaying Game Demographics: 47 Facts & Numbers [2023]

Roleplaying games have been a beloved pastime for decades, allowing players to immerse themselves in fantastical worlds and take on the personas of fictional characters.

However, the demographics of RPG players have often been a topic of discussion, with stereotypes and misconceptions prevailing.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the current state of RPG demographics and debunk some common myths about who plays these games.

Quick Demographic Facts About Roleplaying

• Gender distribution among roleplaying gamers: 54% male and 47% female.
• Age distribution of roleplaying gamers:
  • 42% are between 25-34 years old
  • 34% are between 35-44 years old
• Urbanicity of roleplaying gamers:
  • 48% live in suburban areas
• Education of roleplaying gamers:
  • 30% are college graduates
• Income level of roleplaying gamers:
  • 82% have an income of $125,000 or more
• Occupation distribution among roleplaying gamers:
  • 21% work in sales
  • 21% work in finance
  • 13% work in marketing
• Player spending on mobile role-playing games in the US increased by a third between the first eight months of 2019 and the first eight months of 2020.
• Total number of video gamers in the United States: 188.9 million
• Gaming penetration in the US: 82.9%

These demographics offer a comprehensive view of roleplaying gamers, reflecting a diverse range of ages, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This is quite different from the average demographics of mobile gamers.

Age Demographics of Roleplaying Gamers

• 42% of roleplaying gamers are aged between 25 and 34 years old
• 34% fall within the 35 to 44 years old age bracket
• In a 2022 survey, 36% of video game players came from the 18 to 34 age demographic
• 6% of gamers are aged 65 years and older
• 87.3% of female internet users aged between 16 and 24 years worldwide play video games

When reviewing the age demographics of roleplaying gamers, it’s apparent that the majority of players are within the 25 to 44 years old range, while a significant portion of younger and older players also engage in this gaming genre.

This is not that different from board game player demographics.

Marital Status Of Roleplayer Fans

The relationship status of roleplaying gamers:

• • 37% are married
  • 18% are divorced
  • 16% are cohabiting

It’s interesting to see that a significant proportion of roleplaying gamers are married, at 37%, which may challenge the stereotype of RPGs being a solitary hobby.

Additionally, the data shows that a considerable number, at 18%, are divorced, indicating that roleplaying games may serve as a form of escapism or coping mechanism for some.

The fact that 16% are cohabiting suggests that the hobby may be enjoyed by couples, and could even be a shared interest that brings them closer together.

Check also: Horror game player demographics

Gender Demographics of Roleplaying Fans

• In the United States, women accounted for 48 percent of gamers in 2022, representing an increase from 45 percent in the previous year.
• Regarding Playstation demographics, 41 percent of PlayStation 4 and 5 owners are women.
• Gender distribution among roleplaying and strategy game players is 54 percent male and 47 percent female.
• In the context of MOBA/MMORPG gamers worldwide, women constituted 35 percent of gamers in the first quarter of 2018.

The data indicates that the roleplaying and gaming communities continue to see growth and increasing gender diversity, with female gamers participating more across various platforms and genres.

Education Level Demographics

• 30% of role-playing and strategy gamers are college graduates
• 82% of players have an income of $125,000 or more

Regarding gamers’ education levels, it’s evident that a considerable percentage hold a college degree. This data could signify that those with higher education may be more inclined to enjoy complex narratives and strategic thinking often found in role-playing and strategy games.

Average Income Level

• Role-playing game players in the United States typically have higher income levels compared to other gamer demographics. Specifically, 82% of these gamers have an income of $125,000 or more.
• Education significantly contributes to the income levels of role-playing gamers. About 30% of this subgroup are college graduates.
• It is noteworthy that there is a gender pay gap among gamers. Female gamers earn, on average, $30,527, while male gamers earn $36,271.

The data suggests that role-playing gamers are a high-earning demographic, potentially due to their higher educational attainment. This could have implications for marketers and developers targeting this segment.

Profession Among Roleplayers

Industry distribution among roleplaying gamers:

• • 15% work in finance
  • 14% work in software
  • 13% work in transportation

Other Interesting Facts About Roleplaying Gaming

• Tabletop roleplaying games have been around since the 1970s.
• Dungeons & Dragons is one of the most popular tabletop RPGs, with an estimated 10 million players worldwide.
• The first electronic RPG was created in 1975, called “Dungeon.”
• The first commercially successful electronic RPG was “Wizardry,” released in 1981.
• The global market value of tabletop RPGs is expected to reach $1.1 billion by 2025.
• The video game RPG market is expected to reach $56.7 billion by 2027.
• The RPG genre is the second most popular video game genre in the United States.
• The top three RPG video games of all time, based on sales, are “World of Warcraft,” “Minecraft,” and “Diablo III.”
• The RPG video game “Final Fantasy VII” has sold over 13 million copies worldwide.
• In 2020, the video game “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” saw a surge in popularity among RPG players, selling over 30 million copies.
• The most popular RPG video games in Japan include “Dragon Quest” and “Final Fantasy.”
• RPGs are often credited with inspiring the creation of modern video games.
• Roleplaying games can help develop problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.
• RPGs can also be used for educational purposes, teaching history, science, and social studies.
• Some tabletop RPGs, like “Dungeons & Dragons,” have faced criticism for promoting satanism and witchcraft.
• In recent years, tabletop RPGs have become more inclusive, with more diverse representation of characters and players.
• The video game “Mass Effect” allows players to choose their character’s gender and sexual orientation, making it a pioneer in LGBTQ+ representation in RPGs.
• The term “LARP” stands for Live Action Role Playing, where players physically act out their characters’ actions and dialogue.
• The largest LARP event in the world, “ConQuest,” takes place in Germany and attracts over 9,000 players.
• LARPing can have physical benefits, such as increased exercise and improved social skills.
• The LARP community has faced criticism for perceived links to extremism and violence.
• The RPG genre has influenced other forms of media, including books, movies, and TV shows.
• The popular TV show “Stranger Things” features a group of kids who play “Dungeons & Dragons.”
• The book series “The Wheel of Time” was inspired by the author’s experiences playing “Dungeons & Dragons.”
• In 2017, the movie “The Dark Tower” was criticized for not staying true to the source material, a series of novels heavily influenced by RPGs.
• RPGs have inspired many internet memes and jokes, such as the “Nat 20” meme which references a critical success roll in “Dungeons & Dragons.”
• Some RPG players create their own custom campaigns and rule sets, known as “homebrew.”
• “Dungeons & Dragons” has a thriving online community, with thousands of players streaming their campaigns on platforms like Twitch.
• The RPG community is known for being welcoming and supportive, with many resources available for new players to learn and get started.
• There are 3.24 billion gamers across the world.
• The average gamer is 35 years old.
• 50% of Europeans play video games.
• Over 1.7 billion people are PC gamers.
• 46% of American gamers are female.
• Asia is the biggest gaming market, with 1.48 billion video game

In the context of the data, it is clear that roleplaying gaming attracts a diverse audience from various age groups and geographical locations, demonstrating its broad appeal and popularity.

Sources

Here are the web addresses formatted as an HTML bulleted list, with duplicates removed:

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