Modern Gamer Types: Which One Are You?

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Gaming is a comprehensive entertainment platform that attracts a wide and diverse spectrum of people. To better understand how players combine different modes of interaction and form their identity, we decided to analyze the various gamer types highlighted in Newzoo’s Gamer Segmentation and Gamer Personas report. Do you want to find out which category you belong to? Let’s discover it together!

Today, being a gamer transcends the traditional definition of a person who plays video games. The multiplicity of interactions related to gaming becomes apparent when we view gaming not only as software and hardware but as a phenomenon with a socio-cultural dimension that shapes the relationships among players and their experiences. Increasingly, an interest in games is linked to additional activities, such such as following the websites of development studios and publishers, using social media, or making specific hardware decisions.

Okay, but why should we care about this? As it turns out, understanding modern gamers and their behavior is crucial today, not just for traditional media and brands that want to stay current, but also for gamers themselves. By recognizing our different personalities and attitudes, we will better understand each other, thereby improving communication within the gaming community.

So, let’s categorize all 9 types of gamers from the Newzoo report:

• Ultimate Gamer (“King” of Gaming) – Ultimate Gamers live and breathe games. They play on all platforms, across all genres, and are always seeking the best possible experience. They spend a lot of time watching gaming content and, along with their communities, follow everything happening in the world of games and esports. Since they have significant financial means, they can afford the latest games, the best hardware, and the freshest gaming accessories.
• All-Round Enthusiast (Passionate but Balanced Player) – All-Round Enthusiasts are passionate gamers who spend a large number of hours playing weekly. They may not be as dedicated as Ultimate Gamers, but games are still a serious matter for them. They are usually employed full-time, so purchasing the latest titles and hardware is not a problem. They participate in gaming culture in various ways: they play, watch content, own games, and enjoy the social aspect of gaming. However, unlike Ultimate Gamers, they balance gaming with other interests.
• Community Gamer (Social Player) – Community Gamers don’t necessarily play a lot, but their passion for gaming transcends just playing. Their level of watching gaming content is comparable to that of Ultimate Gamers! Besides following gaming content, they actively participate in the community, discuss the latest news, and gaming is an important part of their identity. They often use creative social platforms and proudly share their passion for games online.
• Solo Gamer (Independent Player) – Playing games is extremely important to Solo Gamers, who often have a more traditional approach to gaming. They prefer single-player adventures and immersive experiences and invest heavily in peripherals and equipment to maximize their enjoyment. However, outside of playing itself, they are among the least likely gamer types to regularly follow gaming content and use community resources to stay up-to-date with gaming news.

• Mainstream Gamer (“Average” Player) – Although Mainstream Gamers are passionate about playing, they don’t spend a lot of money on games. They mostly play free-to-play titles and discounted games, which the industry is increasingly encouraging. Their hardware investments are also minimal, which is likely related to the fact that Mainstream Gamers are often mobile-first players—mobile gaming is currently experiencing the healthiest growth.
• Time Filler (Player out of Boredom) – Time Fillers are not interested in esports or gaming video content. These casual players rarely play more than a few hours a week, so they don’t consider games an essential part of their lives. They play only to fill time; for example, they will play a quick game of Candy Crush or Clash of Clans while commuting or waiting for a friend. Because of this, hardware is not important to them.
• Popcorn Gamer (“Game Viewer”) – Popcorn Gamers don’t spend much time playing games, but that doesn’t stop them from spending hours watching gaming video content, live streams, or esports. Although they play occasionally, they prefer to passively enjoy the gaming industry through videos. Accordingly, they are also prone to watching traditional TV and online videos/series, often more than they play games.
• Backseat Viewer (Passive Observer) – Backseat Viewers enjoy gaming video content and esports on major platforms, but they do not play games themselves. Many of them are former gamers who, due to work or family obligations, no longer have the time or equipment to play. However, not all are former players; some discovered esports independently of games or, like fans of traditional sports, simply enjoy watching professionals in action.
• Lapsed Gamer (Former Player) – What sets Lapsed Gamers apart from other types is that they are no longer game enthusiasts. Although they once played, they no longer play and rarely follow gaming content. But that doesn’t mean they won’t re-engage; as many as 20% plan to start playing again in the next six months, and more than half are aware of the existence of esports.