Beyond the Console: The Many Ways We Game in 2026
When you think of gaming, the image of a teenager wearing a headset and holding a controller likely comes to mind. Yet, gaming is no longer just for teenagers, as people of all ages play a variety of titles online and offline.
For instance, parents are playing cozy, relaxing games before bed, professionals are solving puzzles on the commute, friends are connecting in virtual worlds, and so much more. Continue reading to learn about the many ways we game in 2026.
Console and PC Gaming
According to the All About Video Games – European Key Facts 2025 report, 199 million people aged between 6 and 75 across Europe play video games on consoles. It also found that 77% of players are adults and the average age is 34, with 47% playing video game consoles and 34% enjoying PC gaming.
Major releases, such as GTA VI, EA Sports FC, and Minecraft, have helped secure the success and longevity of console gaming. Subscriptions are making console gaming an affordable way to try new games. However, consoles now compete with other devices and gaming options that are gaining a huge share of the market.
Mobile Gaming
Mobile gaming has overtaken console and PC gaming and is now the largest gaming platform worldwide. According to Newzoo, approximately 3 billion people play games on their mobile devices, accounting for 83% of the world’s 3.58 billion players.
Whether you play via smartphone or tablet, there’s a mobile game for almost everyone to enjoy during a short break in the day, from fun and complex puzzles to brain teasers and strategy games. Some of the most popular mobile games include Roblox, Royal Match, Candy Crush Saga, Ludo King, and Last War: Survival, to name a few.
Online Casino Games
According to the European Gaming and Betting Association, the online gambling market generates €21.5 billion in revenue. It is popular among adults in many countries, as it allows them to play some of the oldest games in the world while potentially adding to their prize pot.
Once restricted to casinos, people can now put their card skills to the test by playing fun table games on sites like Lonkero Kasino, which offers an extensive range of table games, slots, and live dealer rooms. For example, players can play games with real croupiers streamed from a studio, creating a more realistic, social, and immersive gaming experience.
Retro Gaming
While some gamers cannot get enough of modern titles, such as GTA VI, Fields of Mistra, and Resident Evil Requiem, others long to enjoy the simpler days of gaming. Rather than battling it out on a PS5 or Nintendo Switch, many are choosing to play games on classic consoles, such as:
- NES Classic Edition
- Sony PlayStation Classic
- Sega Mega Drive Mini 2
- Atari 2600+
- Analogue Mega Sg
- Miyoo Mini Plus
It allows gamers of varying ages to enjoy a little nostalgia in their spare time, and many feel excited to share their childhood favorites with the next generation of gamers.
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
While virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) still have a long way to go to rival the above gaming options, they are becoming a fast-growing part of the gaming market. There is a growing demand for VR headsets, AR headsets, and smart glasses, with smart glasses accounting for half of all shipments. Smart glasses act as a gamer’s private cinema by projecting a virtual screen in front of the user, making them ideal for playing games on handheld devices such as Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ROG Ally.
Pokémon GO is primarily responsible for the success of AR gaming and continues to prove popular with gamers worldwide, ranking eighth in the global gaming market in June 2025.
