Player's game preferences in the gaming industry

88 billion games were downloaded in 2023. 90% of gamers in India prefer smartphones for gaming. 41% of online gamers in India are women. Blockchain gaming could grow at a CAGR of 21.8% till 2030. The online poker game has 10% women participation. Gaming, like any other industry, generated a lot of interesting facts and figures like these.

But much like a game of rummy or poker, industry watchers also pay attention to the psychology of the gamer. Numbers indicate the preferences of gamers and the emerging industry trends. However, to make sense of it and insightfully draw conclusions, in-depth observations are necessary.   

Understanding player’s preferences 

The gaming preferences of players are an area of interest not just for game developers and companies but also for industry watchers. A meaningful understanding of player preferences also cascades rich benefits, eventually, for the players as well.

The importance of these insights can be gauged from the fact that leading gaming studios like Sony Interactive and EA invest a lot of funds in them. Games user research is a recognised vocation that engages experts who study various aspects of player preferences. These researchers try to understand player behaviour, experiences, and feedback. They look into gamer’s opinions, reviews, interviews and surveys for meaningful information, along with any other data that the platforms generate. 

The impact of game preferences  

A study of gamer preferences indicates that preferences are dictated by a variety of factors. Their gaming objective, social orientation, challenge expectations, gender, etc., end up having a significant influence on their gaming preferences.

Take social orientation, for instance. Gamers with a high social orientation tend to go for competitive, multiplayer gaming formats. Games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike and FIFA are quite popular among this category of gamers. On the other hand, a low social orientation and, consequently, a low preference for competitive communities and multiplayer environments leads to different gaming preferences. Games like Civilisation, Fallout and Final Fantasy are more popular among these gamers.

Differences in gaming preferences are also palpable when one looks at the aesthetic and narrative orientations of the gamers. Some gamers prefer games with low aesthetic and narrative aspects. This is the reason why games like Pokemon and Super Mario continue to rule the roost. However, gamers with a broad canvas preference go for a session of Assassin’s Creed or World of Warcraft.

When it comes to challenges and goals, again, the preferences of the gamers can be rather divisive. Millions of gamers consciously choose games that are almost notorious for their difficulty. 

Influence of demographics 

By 2024, it is estimated that there will be around 3.34 billion gamers across the world. The affinity towards gaming has seen a significant increase in the Asia-Pacific region. An interesting shift in gaming preference can be seen in the average age of the gamer. No longer a child’s play, the average age of the gamer is now around 35 years. 

Demographics spell out many interesting differences in preferences. Who prefers shooter games, for instance? Young males are the biggest patrons. In the US, nearly 80% of gamers between the ages of 18 and 34 prefer shooter games. Women may form 40% of the gaming community and own 41% of PlayStation consoles. However, when it comes to preferences, they choose family games, puzzles, and role-play games more.

Preferences and behaviour in poker

When it comes to player psychology, preferences and behaviour, the cerebral world of poker is worth considering a look. You might see behavioural traits and preferences prominently during your poker game on Pocket52. You will find players who play a lot of hands and players who keep it limited to a few poker hands only. And then, you have the aggressive poker pro who bluffs more and is not afraid to bet on a weaker hand. 

These two traits combine to shape most regular and Texas Holdem poker-playing preferences. The tight, aggressive players are selective about the number of hands they play but go all-out aggressive when they do. Similarly, you have loose and aggressive players. If they are successful, they will know exactly when not to bluff, making them dangerous opponents.

Many modern poker players also try to mimic Game Theory Optimal (GTO) solvers in their playing style. Opponents struggle to understand the strategy behind such a playing style. Inversely, GTO players don’t try to exploit their opponent’s strategy either.

Preferences influence the gaming industry

Understanding the poker player’s preferences and patterns is a study in itself. However, the larger picture is that gaming preferences have a major influence on the industry. Developers make a lot of effort to understand these preferences so they can develop games that appeal to their target audience. 

The psychological profile of the player is the driving force behind their preferences. Demographic factors like gender and age also play a part in shaping player preferences. Most leading platforms are using game user research to unravel new insights into player preferences every day.