Analytics platform Newzoo has analyzed the female gaming market. According to the Global Gamer Study 2025, which covered 36 markets, 76% of women from the total global online population played games over the past six months. For comparison, the figure among men stands at 83%.
Smartphones remain the most popular platform among women. Participation here is nearly identical: 62% of women versus 60% of men. Mobile gaming continues to serve as the primary entry point into the ecosystem due to its accessibility.
Although men generally play more on consoles, the Nintendo Switch is an exception. 38% of women own a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite, compared to just 29% of men. On PC and other consoles (PlayStation, Xbox), the gap still favors men.
When discovering games, women rely less on traditional gaming channels such as specialized websites and communities. Instead, they are more influenced by social connections and recommendations from influencers. While men still lead in consuming content from streamers (30% vs. 26% among women), this channel remains one of the priorities for female audiences.
The most noticeable gap identified by analysts is in monetization. Only 43% of women spend money on games, compared to 58% of men. This disparity persists across all platforms.
As the global gaming audience continues to diversify, success will increasingly depend on aligning distribution models, platform strategies, and monetization with how different audiences actually engage with games.
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