When video games were first developed, they were almost exclusively played by men.
This was for a variety of reasons—the fact that most of the people working in the tech sphere were male, the lack of accessibility to digital and graphic design education for women, and a string of cultural norms that dictated what kind of activities women were suited to participating in.
But in today’s significantly more progressive age, women are making up for lost time by joining the gaming demographic in droves and meeting their
Today, nearly three quarters of the global female population play video games, and of that population, eight in ten play every single day.
The gaming industry is no longer just targeting men; it has dramatically expanded and evolved to incorporate women’s gaming preferences and needs. When it comes to designing, developing, and marketing video games, women are no longer being sidelined—in fact, they are driving the industry forward.
Why are more women playing video games?
There are lots of reasons why video games have become such a staple part of women’s lives and hobby preferences around the world.
With gender norms changing and evolving significantly in the past ten years, the door has opened up for a new era of gaming that accommodates a much wider range of gender identities and orientations to enjoy this stimulating digital pastime.
But what are the exact factors involved in why more girls and women specifically are playing video games at a rate never seen before? Let’s dive into five of the main ones to consider in 2024.
1. Increased digital accessibility
First things first: video games in general have become a lot more accessible in the past decade. Women naturally make up a vast portion of the global population, and as technological accessibility has increased, so has accession to video games—by males, females, and people of other gender identities.
You can now play video games from desktops, mobile phones, and all manner of devices, as well as install custom graphics, features, and limited-edition gadgets that enhance the overall video game playing experience. Women want in on the action, and they’re getting it!
2. Female-oriented game development
In previous decades, video games have typically been designed with male players in mind.
This meant that games were oriented from the get-go to meet male consumer needs and appeal to the kind of avatars, world-building, and player experiences of male-identifying individuals. But this is no longer the case.
As more women have shown marketable interest in the gaming sphere, video game brands have taken note of the high demand for female-oriented gaming styles and started developing games that not only consider female players’ needs but actively target them as they would’ve previously done with males.
The result is a slew of incredible gaming options that naturally draw in female players and deliver a gaming experience that extends beyond the world of masculine stereotypes and tendencies.
3. More women in the industry
Another reason why more women are joining the enormous global population of gamers is that there are more female game developers and designers in the industry. While it is still, of course, possible for male developers to produce video games that appeal to female players, the concepts and characters they come up with cannot compare to those that women create for themselves.
As the gaming industry evolves, more female game designers have entered the market, helping contribute to a more gender-inclusive gaming era.
Having more women in the industry has been a defining component of the rise of females in the gaming universe, and it is only likely to continue growing over time.
4. Challenging stereotypes
Gender stereotypes have always pervaded society. Historically speaking, women have not been encouraged to participate in activities that were considered masculine or violent—two things commonly associated with video games in the past, despite not being a true depiction of the craft.
But these outdated notions have been migrating from the collective societies for decades now. The stereotype of gamers being teenage boys is no longer deemed the norm, and we now have an incredible range of people and demographics enjoying the creative world of gaming.
As these cultural ideologies have shifted, it has become much easier and more welcoming for females to purchase, play, and consume all sorts of gaming content without being scrutinized for their gender.
5. More diverse gaming options
In the past, there wasn’t a huge variety of video game genres to choose from. Wars, drag races, and killing sprees tended to be the primary industry offerings. This may have contributed to women’s cultural disinterest in the games, which did not embody traditionally feminine themes.
However, in today’s world, you not only still have all the classics available, but you also have more complex, psychological, and abstract gaming options to explore. From console game to games at Lucky Creek online casino, there’s so many options to enjoy, opening up the possibility for females to choose video games that appeal to their individual preferences.
What kind of games do women tend to like?
Part of why women have historically been left out of gaming trends and demographics isn’t because they aren’t interested in playing, but more because the games that were available simply didn’t cater to their more nuanced gaming style or aesthetics.
However, today’s gaming scene looks very different from what it used to be. Not only have gaming brands adapted their features and gaming profiles to suit a broad gender spectrum, but the rise of interest has triggered a release of video games specifically designed for non-male players.
Some of the most popular video games within the global female demographic relate to complex character development, social dynamics, horticulture, and high fantasy. The Sims, Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Farm Heroes Saga, and Minecraft being some of the most sought after.
Conclusion
After years of being somewhat excluded from the video gaming industry, female perspectives, experiences, and participation are reaching an all-time high. With more women game developers, shifting cultural attitudes, and increased digital accessibility, the rise of females in gaming marks a new era of the industry.