According to the latest findings from research company MIDiA, 53% of gamers prefer single-player games to multiplayer setups.

This study, conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Poland, Turkey and South Africa, analysed gaming preferences by platform and age, and offered strategic recommendations based on hard data.

The results show that, despite the dominance of online games and in-game purchases, single-player games remain the preferred choice for most users.

While the majority of respondents prefer single-player options, the over-55s are the biggest fans (74%). This trend is clearly more popular with older generations, since the 45-54 age group follows at 65%, ahead of the 35-44 group at 49%, and the 25-34 group at 41%.

Only the 16-19 and 20-24 age groups place online player-vs-player gaming at the top of their preferences, at 40% and 43%, respectively.

For the researchers, this makes young gamers a target market: “The 25+ gamers are the lowest-hanging fruit to target with single-player games,” the report noted.

The findings highlight an important trend in the video game industry: while online games continue to dominate the market, the preference for single-player games offers a unique opportunity for developers and publishers. And with the development of virtual reality, video games are gradually becoming more solitary experiences.

The study also points out that many studios, initially known for their single-player games, have been pushed into the online-gaming market, often with questionable results.

For example, Crystal Dynamics’ “Marvel’s Avengers” and Electronic Arts/BioWare’s “Anthem” both failed to capture the interest of gamers. These failures not only left a bitter taste among consumers but also cost millions in development.