UK-based RuneScape developer Jagex has published a new report on gamers’ playing habits, with some unusual stats within it.
The report found that 7% of gamers like to play naked, apparently, and that the most popular gaming food is a ‘home-cooked meal’.
43% wear ‘pyjamas or loungewear’, and 30% wear a T-shirt and jeans.
Jagex surveyed just under 2,000 gamers from around the world.
To no surprise, it found that over half of gamers play games in their bedrooms (52.5%), with 23% playing in the living room and 20.5% in a home office.
3.5% play games in their basement.
And half of gamers (49%) say they game more than they used to, given the lockdowns.
15% game during the ‘standard’ working hours of 8am- 4pm, 8% owned up to gaming when they should be working.
Players are also enjoying connecting with friends online while socialising in real life is on hold: 71% of gamers play with other people, be they online friends, friends from real life or family members.
7% play from midnight to 4am as gaming night owls, and just 2% potentially pulling all-nighters (or very early starts), playing in the 4am to 8am slot. The majority (48.5%) play during the evening slot of 8pm to midnight, and 26.5% play from 4pm to 8pm.
Phil Mansell, CEO of Jagex, said: “Although the past 12 months have been incredibly challenging for everyone across the world, it’s great that gaming has cemented its place as a go-to pastime for more and more people looking to interact and socialise through online games, especially as we cope with the restrictions and lockdowns used to fight the pandemic.
“This past year has also clearly been important in overturning negative stereotypes about video games that linger in popular culture.”
When it comes to snacking while gaming, 37% of all players surveyed don’t eat at all while gaming, while the next biggest group (21%) only polish off home-cooked food.
Less than half of that amount (10%) consume the next most popular choice – crisps – and fast food such as pizza (9%), and chocolate and sweets (5% each) languish further down in popularity by comparison.
At 4%, fruit beats chicken nuggets, chips and meat-based snacks (3% each).
Most gamers also opt to rehydrate with water (54%) way before anything else, although a cup of tea or coffee is also enjoyed by 14%, with regular sodas/fizzy drinks the favourite choice for 9%.
19% listen to electronic music while playing, and it registers as the favourite genre for players aged 18 to 24. The next most popular genre is rock (14%), but podcasts come in a strong third with 11%.
Further reading: Research reveals the UK’s most popular gaming franchises, average UK gamer spend, the most played games during lockdown and more
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Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
