If you’ve ever been a gamer, you’ll recognize a few common gaming personality types. Achievers and Explorers are two examples of gamers who enjoy working towards goals and achieving high scores. While Socializers play games for social interactions, Beaters thrive on competition and will spend hours working to improve their character in the game. And Completionists are a mix of Explorers and Achievers, who want to complete all aspects of a game.

Women tend to be more reluctant to label themselves “gamers.” In fact, men are twice as likely as women to call themselves “gamers.” Three in ten men (14%) say the term describes them well, and 12% of men aged 18-29 say it describes them perfectly. These people may be a little more reclusive and reserved in social situations, but they’re clearly connected to the gaming community. The following types of women are more likely to call themselves “gamers” than men.

Among the benefits of gaming are social connections. While the 51-65 age group spends the most time watching television, younger gamers prioritize gaming over social media, movies, and streaming TV. As such, gaming has become a valuable tool for big brands to connect with younger consumers and reach a wider audience. However, it’s not only young men who benefit from social interaction in a game. Despite the benefits of social interaction, the majority of older gamers report that they enjoy the company’s products.

Another advantage of playing video games is that they improve manual dexterity. Many games are controller-based, which is a great boon for the hands. In fact, one study found that surgeons who played video games were quicker at performing advanced surgeries and made 37 percent fewer mistakes than their counterparts. Some studies even show that playing video games can help people with certain physical conditions, including stroke victims. Some games even help the brain produce more gray matter, which enhances social skills.

Gamers can vary from casual gamers to professional esports competitors. It can refer to people who play games for fun, for recreation, or as a career. Many people who play video games are devoted aficionados. But there’s no doubt that the vast majority of these people enjoy playing games, whether they’re purely for the entertainment and competition they provide. You can also find people who share the same interests as you, whether you’re an aspiring professional or an amateur gamer.

According to ukie, there are over 2.2 billion gamers worldwide. The Asia-Pacific region, including China, is the largest market for games, making up nearly a quarter of global gaming revenue. The North America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa, which comprise the rest of the world, combined, accounted for only 9% of the global market. However, Latin America and Mexico weren’t included in the ukie’s estimate of game revenues.

Despite the popularity of video games, the stigma associated with them is far from accurate. Many gamers, especially Gen Z, have forged lasting bonds with others through their participation in online communities. Indeed, these communities can help people who are socially isolated and mentally stressed. The explosive growth of gaming shows that gaming has become an outlet for connecting with others who are different from themselves. If this is the case, the stereotypes of gamers are largely based on the past.