According to a recent survey conducted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), video games dominate the holiday wishlists of American children, with 76% expressing a preference for gaming-related gifts. This trend highlights the growing influence of gaming culture among younger generations and its importance during the holiday season.

Top Wishlist for Kids

Gift Preferences

The survey revealed notable differences between boys and girls in their desire for video game gifts. Among children who showed an interest, 85% of boys expressed a preference for gaming-related presents, compared to 67% of girls. These findings suggest that while video games remain universally popular, they resonate more strongly with boys.

Beyond video games, children and teenagers are also interested in receiving other items as gifts. The survey identified the following as popular choices:

• Money (67%)
• Clothing (66%)
• Gadgets (62%)

These preferences indicate a diverse range of interests among young people, with practical and digital items both featuring prominently.

Spending and Purchases

Types of Gaming Gifts

Among children aged 10 to 17, specific types of video game-related gifts were particularly popular. The survey highlighted the following preferences:

1. Gaming Consoles – 47%
2. Service Subscriptions – 43%
3. Gaming Equipment – 41%
4. Console Games – 41%
5. In-Game Currency – 38%

These findings reflect the multifaceted nature of gaming culture, encompassing hardware, digital services, and virtual economies.

Top 5 Video Game-Related Gifts

Holiday Spending on Gaming

The survey also revealed that American adults are planning to allocate significant resources toward gaming-related presents. On average, adults are expected to spend approximately $312 on video game gifts this year, underscoring the value placed on fulfilling children’s gaming desires.

The ESA survey underscores the central role of video games in the holiday gift-giving landscape for American families. With a majority of children expressing a preference for gaming-related items and adults prepared to invest significantly in such gifts, video games are poised to remain a key feature of holiday celebrations. This trend highlights the enduring appeal of gaming across generations and its impact on contemporary gift-giving traditions.