Casual Games in Numbers

Casual gaming: games for a broad audience

Puzzles, card games and short skill challenges offer an accessible entry into casual gaming. For companies and agencies, the key is finding mechanics that fit the audience, occasion and brand message.

How many people in Germany play games?

According to Bitkom, around 39 million people aged 16 and over in Germany play video or computer games in 2026. That represents 55 per cent of this age group. These figures describe gaming overall, rather than casual gaming alone.

Source: Bitkom, Gaming in Germany 2026, published on 19 August 2026. Representative survey of 1,205 people aged 16 and over, including 663 gamers; conducted in calendar weeks 20 to 24 of 2026.

Which game genres are most widespread?

Casual games lead the rankings among gamers in Bitkom's 2026 survey. The figures refer to gamers overall, rather than a separate group of casual gamers:

• 73 per cent: Casual Games
• 69 per cent: Platform games
• 62 per cent: Strategy, management and building games
• 56 per cent: Social and messenger games
• 53 per cent: Action games

Source: Bitkom 2026. Categories may overlap, so their shares do not add up to 100 per cent.

What does this mean for your campaign?

A genre's popularity offers guidance, but does not guarantee the success of an individual advertising game. At a trade fair, a quick start and short sessions matter. Puzzles and recurring challenges may suit a customer portal. Together, we select a format based on the use case, audience interests and intended devices.

What are hyper-casual games?

Hyper-casual games focus on a particularly simple core mechanic and short sessions. The task is immediately clear: tap at the right moment, stack objects, avoid obstacles or steer a ball. Few controls and immediate feedback make it easy to get started.

A branded campaign can use this simplicity to incorporate products or imagery into a compact game idea. The right mechanic depends on the campaign goal and playing context.

What are idle games and clicker games?

Idle games focus on gradual progress and automated processes. Players often start by collecting resources or virtual currency through simple actions. They invest these in upgrades that generate more resources. Depending on the game, progress can continue during a break.

Clicker games are closely related, with repeated clicking or tapping at their core. The terms overlap but are not identical. For campaigns, the structure should fit the intended duration: a long-term progression system has different requirements from a short game session at an exhibition stand.

Editorial update: September 2026.