Positive thoughts

Overall, 44 per cent of respondents claimed that playing games had improved their mood, while 43 per cent believed that their mental health benefited.

Moreover, concentration and problem-solving skills were also cited as a benefit by 13 per cent and 41 per cent of those surveyed, respectively.

The majority of mobile players are female, with 65 per cent of those aged between 10 and 65 playing games. However, since COVID-19 hit the world, there has been a rise in male players as 31 per cent of men are playing mobile games more frequently.

Furthermore, 69 per cent of respondents – both male and female – are playing mobile games more than they used to. Meanwhile, 63 per cent spend more time on smartphones than consoles.

Take care

Boomers, those aged between 57 and 75, have also seen an increase in the amount of time spent playing mobile games. The national average for playing time was up by four per cent. However, Boomers saw a rise of 28 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

Moreover, 85 per cent of the older generation believe self-care to be essential for stress management, compared to the 63 per cent of millennials.

"We're heartened to see the national conversation about self-care has expanded to include playing mobile games"

"They are widely available, downloadable on your smartphone, and many are free as compared to the high cost of gaming consoles. They are certainly not a substitute for professional help, but they can help everyone, especially parents, manage the daily stresses of life and make things a little easier.