J. Clement
Research lead covering internet and gaming
Video gaming genres: casual gaming - statistics & facts
What originally rose to prominence as browser-based games for social media audiences has grown into one of the most beloved and highest-grossing gaming genres of them all: casual games. Casual gaming titles are available on every platform but are most closely associated with mobile devices. In July 2023, the highest-grossing casual gaming app was Royal Match, with over 82.6 million U.S. dollars in IAP revenues.
Not all casual games are the same – many different subgenres of casual games make the genre appealing and accessible for any type of gamer. Popular casual gaming genres include puzzle games (including match-3 games in which the player moves tiles around so that matching ones adjoin another), hidden object games, casual adventure games, life simulation and sports games, casual strategy games, arcade games, word and trivia games, as well as party and board games.
In 2022, the most popular casual mobile gaming subgenre based on downloads was a hypercasual simulation, followed by word games.
Who plays casual games?
Casual games usually involve simple rules, short gaming sessions, and require less learned skills or familiarity with common video game mechanics. About 31 percent of gamers in the United States play casual games, making it the fourth-most popular gaming genre and ranking ahead of strategy, shooter, and sports games. On average, the daily time spent with casual gaming apps among female gamers was 16.7 minutes per day, while male players averaged 15.2 daily minutes.What are the popular casual games and subgenres?
When it comes to casual gaming, there is one sweet success story that stands above them all: Candy Crush Saga. The match-3 title was first launched as a social game on Facebook in April 2012 before making its transition to mobile, where it quickly became one of the highest-grossing mobile games of all time. Despite over a decade on the market, Candy Crush Saga shows no signs of slowing down, as the game had its most profitable quarters ever in 2023.Not all casual games are the same – many different subgenres of casual games make the genre appealing and accessible for any type of gamer. Popular casual gaming genres include puzzle games (including match-3 games in which the player moves tiles around so that matching ones adjoin another), hidden object games, casual adventure games, life simulation and sports games, casual strategy games, arcade games, word and trivia games, as well as party and board games.
In 2022, the most popular casual mobile gaming subgenre based on downloads was a hypercasual simulation, followed by word games.
Casual games are popular beyond mobile
While the image of casual gaming is inextricably bound to mobile, there are also plenty of casual gaming titles for PC and console. Popular casual games for PC and console include titles from major gaming publishers, such as Electronic Arts’ The Sims or Plants vs. Zombies, or Nintendo’s Wii Sports, which is one of the best-selling console games of all time. Party game titles like Super Mario Party or Jackbox Party are also popular for casual gaming with others. Additional notable casual gaming titles for non-mobile platforms include Disney’s Dreamlight Valley, as well as indie titles such as Cozy Grove or the BAFTA award-winning Unpacking.
