By Jon Scarr
Video Games Canada, the national video game industry association formerly known as ESAC, released its 2026 Essential Facts report on November 9th. The research examines how Canadians play video games, including the devices they use, their favourite genres, how often they play and differences between generations and regions.
The survey found that 48% of Canadian adults aged 18 to 64 played video games in the previous four weeks. Among adults surveyed who play video games, 88% reported playing at least weekly and 34% every day.
Canadian Gaming Habits Across Generations
The average age of adults surveyed who play video games was 39. Gaming was part of the weekly routine for most of the children and teens surveyed, too. Among those aged 6 to 17, 93% played at least once a week and 42% played daily.
Gen X had the highest daily gaming rate among the adult generations, at 40%. That's ahead of Gen Z at 35% and Millennials at 30%. Gen Z had the highest share playing several times a week, at 42%.
Millennials made up 39% of surveyed adults who play video games. Gen Z and Gen X each accounted for 28%, with Baby Boomers in the 18-to-64 age range making up the remaining 5%. We covered the report's separate findings about interest in video game careers in our November 9th article.
Burson conducted the research through the Leger Opinion online panel from October 1st to 16th, 2026. The survey included 1,650 adults, 250 children and 250 teens. Its principal adult gaming sample comprised 1,322 respondents, while the regional adult participation estimates used a sample of 760.
Devices Canadians Use for Gaming
Among surveyed adults who play video games, 60% used mobile devices in the previous four weeks. Respondents could select more than one device.
Consoles came first among children and teens, with 67% reporting that they played on one. Mobile devices followed at 60%, then computers at 39%.
Consoles were especially common among Millennials at 71%, compared with 61% of Gen Z and 49% of Gen X. Among Gen X, 67% used mobile devices.
Favourite Genres Across Age Groups
Action and adventure games came first among surveyed adults at 44%, but puzzle, word and educational games weren't far behind at 40%. Strategy and simulation games followed at 37%, casual and social games at 35%, and sports and racing at 31%.
Action and adventure games were the most reported genre among Gen Z adults at 46% and Millennials at 52%. For Gen X, puzzle, word and educational games came first at 48%. Respondents could select more than one genre.
Gaming Habits Across Canada in 2026
Alberta recorded the highest participation in the regional breakdown, at 54% of adults aged 18 to 64. Ontario followed at 49%, while British Columbia and the Prairies each recorded 47%. Atlantic Canada came in at 46% and Quebec at 43%.
Among surveyed adult gamers, mobile use reached 68% in the Prairies, 65% in Alberta, 64% in British Columbia and 62% in Ontario. In Quebec, 60% played on consoles; in Atlantic Canada, that figure was 74%.
The average age of surveyed adult gamers was highest in Atlantic Canada at 41.1, compared with 38.4 in Alberta and Quebec.
Action and adventure games were reported by 44% in British Columbia and Ontario, and 46% in the Prairies and Quebec. Alberta had a tie at 43% between strategy and puzzle, word and educational games. In Atlantic Canada, puzzle, word and educational games came first at 40%, ahead of action and adventure games at 38%.
Mobile gaming was common among adults, but consoles topped the device results for kids and teens. Gen X also had different genre preferences from Gen Z and Millennials. There's quite a bit of variety in how Canadians play, and the regional results show that it isn't the same everywhere.
What about you? Are you mainly gaming on console, PC or mobile? And which genres do you keep coming back to? Do these results match your own gaming habits? Let us know in the comments.
Jon Scarr
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