Majority of Gamers in the US, Japan, and More Prefer Single-Player Games - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 17 November 2025 / 2,615 Views
The results of a new survey from Ampere Analysis (via VideoGamesChronicle) reveals the majority of gamers in multiple countries prefer playing single-player games over multilayer games.
34,428 gamers in 22 markets answered the survey and and 65 percent of respondents in the USA say they prefer single-player games. This figure is 63 percent in Japan, 62 percent in Thailand, 60 percent in Germany, 58 percent in the UK, 55 percent in Mexico, 49 percent in Sweden, and 47 percent in China.
Younger gamers prefer multiplayer games compared to older gamers. 48 percent of 16-24 year olds prefer single-player games, while it was 56 percent of 25-34 year olds, and 64 percent of 55 to 64 year olds.
Ampere suggests there is "a clear divide between Gen Z and Millennials in terms of gaming tastes and perspectives."
24 percent of respondents said they would buy or download a game their friends if their friends were playing it too.
"This data reaffirms that single-player games are absolutely still viable – and sought-after – in the live service-dominated landscape," said Ampere senior research manager Louise Wooldridge.
"The market favours multiplayer games for their ongoing engagement and monetisation, but cracking a finely balanced formula for single-player games can leverage this broad audience appeal. Although most gamers prefer this content to multiplayer experiences, the friendship circle still plays a significant role in game discovery and uptake."
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can follow the author on Bluesky.
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Yes, but the percentage that do prefer online/live service are willing to pay a lot more so, we will sill only get live service going forward.
No, if there is a market for it someone will try to tap that market. Books are much less popular than other forms of entertainment and I imagine readers spend less than other hobbyists yet books still exist.
Don’t games like Fortnite and League of Legends have over 100m monthly active users?
The best selling game on the Switch is Mario Kart, not Zelda or a Mario platform game.
Somehow I’m not buying this.
A little handful of game doesn't represent "majority".
Some games are built for multiplayer, others for singleplayer. Where the majority stands is totally irrelevant.
2 games of 100m+ is not the majority? I’m pretty sure those 2 games have a combined MAU as large as the entire Nintendo + PS ecosystems combined,
I don’t know though, maybe some countries(Korea immediately springs to mind) completely skew the numbers. However I’d have listed China immediately after Korea as MP central and this study found 47% of people in China prefer single player games. I find that extremely hard to believe given how many Chinese people I know and their gaming habits.
Edit: So the study is for people aged 16+ only? That probably accounts for some of this,
I don't think you understand how surveys work...
Yes I own MKW, but I want a new Zelda, Mario, Metroid... not another MK
MP games tend to sell better because you typically need 2 or more people to buy them to even play them correctly
I think everyone in the world knows how a survey works.
“ MP games tend to sell better because you typically need 2 or more people to buy them to even play them correctly”
I don’t even know what to say to this.
Something being more consumed does not mean it is preferred on a experience or qualitative level. More people probably have plain bread in their fridge than they do pasta, that doesn't that they prefer plain bread over pasta.
It's just easier and more convenient to consume.
Many people buy Mario kart because it is a generic crowd pleaser you can play with your friends/family.
Actually Its hard to agree with that sentiment because if something is more consumed than it is preferred the most. Its not like MP games cost less than SP games so when giving the option if a consumer purchase the MP game than its the preferred genre. What people actually spend their money on is way more representive of what they want than what they say.
"It's not like multiplayer game games cost less than SP"
On average they do cost less. How many huge single player games are free to play? I can count many multiplayer games that are. And many still that are not priced $70 at release (Hell Divers 2 = $40)
"So when giving the option if a consumer purchase the MP game than its the preferred genre."
Gaming habits don't work in a binary. You can have 3 different consumers and each buy 2 games in a year. One Buy Mario Kart & Zelda, one buy Mario Kart & 3D Mario, the last Mario Kart & Pokemon. MArio Kart may be the common denominator and thus the most popular game, but in each instance the person may report preferring the single player game.
I understand the point you're making but its also important understand the results to the survey.
yes..... yes I do.
It's a no brainer online multiplayer games are toxic and cancer place to be in lol
They should add a status if split screen and local multiplayers are more popular than online games lol
Good to hear, because I have always been about the single player thing. Well, online multiplayer didn't even exist when I was a kid. As people grow up, they tend to "mature "from multiplayer to single player games. Peer pressure and the need to be in certain social circles eases off and is replaced by a growing need for more deep and meaningful experiences.
I definitely prefer single player games. I enjoy story, character development and don't want to rely on other people to advance something.
The sales numbers are saying something different.
It seems like only Chinese companies have realized this, as they update their single-player live service games every six weeks with new content and earn much more money by milking them for many years. Meanwhile, Western developers finish projects hoping to break even and turn a profit to develop the next thing.
And yet multiplayer games still sell like crazy.
I certainly do.
That's not going to sit well for the guys who want to churn out crappy free-to-play games. They don't want to put the R&D into great single player. They want to sink as little into the pot as possible and reap that sweet, sweet endless micro-transaction goodness.
Worth people remembering that most multiplayer games are free to play and free to play is mostly driven a small percent of high spenders.
Also successful multiplayer games tend to be evergreen, so yes Fortnite is huge but how many live service games launch and flop? Quite a lot. New successful releases are more single player focused than they are multiplayer. Multiplayer games just reach bigger heights
Plenty of single player games flop as well.
I highly doubt this is true.
Someone send this article to Andrew Wilson.
Nah, send him his P45.
