By Jon Scarr
Video Games Canada's 2026 Essential Facts report, released November 9th, found that 91% of surveyed adult gamers often or sometimes play to relax, manage stress or improve their mood. Among surveyed teens, the figure was 90%. If you've ever fired up a game just to unwind, you're in good company.
There's a social side to gaming, too. Among surveyed teens, 70% said video games help them stay connected with friends and family. The research also covers Canadian-developed games and how parents use ratings when choosing games for their kids.
Relaxation and Mental Wellness Among Canadian Gamers
Having fun was the most common reason surveyed adults gave for gaming, at 59%. Unwinding followed at 44%, with 35% citing personal time. One quarter mentioned using their brain, and 18% cited comfort. Respondents could choose up to three main reasons for playing.
Gen X adults cited unwinding at 53% and exercising their brain at 31%. For Gen Z adults, those figures were 37% and 18%, respectively.
Asked about mental wellness, 78% of surveyed adults believed video games could have a positive effect. The figure was 69% among surveyed teens. These were people's views about gaming, rather than measured medical outcomes.
Adult gamers also associated video games with joy and mental stimulation, both at 82%, and stress relief at 81%. Another 77% associated gaming with developing skills. The responses counted those who strongly or somewhat agreed.
Gaming With Friends and Family
Among surveyed teens, 68% said gaming had helped them make new friends. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of surveyed adults agreed games could bring different kinds of people together, and 63% believed they could encourage community and connection.
Who you play with also differs by generation. Among surveyed Gen Z adults, 59% reported playing with friends, compared with 43% of Millennials and 27% of Gen X. Playing alone was more common among Gen X adults (45%) than Millennials (26%) or Gen Z adults (19%).
Among surveyed adults, 41% usually played with friends and 26% played with online-only friends. Others reported playing alone (32%), with a spouse or partner (22%) or with their children (18%). Respondents could select more than one playing companion. Among adults who played online, 35% cited social interaction as one of their main reasons.
In his foreword, Video Games Canada president and CEO Paul Fogolin said eight in ten parents who play games also play with their children monthly. Among surveyed adults, 71% identified fun as a benefit of playing together, and 55% cited quality time. Others mentioned communication and teamwork (33%), learning and problem-solving (27%), and understanding a child's interests (22%). Adults in Atlantic Canada were among the most likely to report positive family and community connections through gaming.
I've been playing Mario Kart since the SNES days. It's a good example of how gaming can be just as much about playing together as it is about winning.
Canadian-Developed Games and Industry Support
Among surveyed adult gamers, 68% said it was important to have Canadian-developed games available to play. Yet only 32% said they'd knowingly played one. That figure reached 46% among surveyed gamers in Quebec.
Beyond individual games, 61% of surveyed adult gamers considered the Canadian video game industry important to Canada's economy.
Video Game Ratings and Parents' Choices
Among surveyed adult gamers, 77% were aware that a video game rating system exists. Of the 447 parent gamers who answered a separate question, 69% said they always or sometimes checked ratings when choosing games for their children.
There's something encouraging about the family findings. Many parents who play video games also play alongside their children. I've covered Canada's gaming industry for years, so the gap between how many gamers value Canadian-developed games and how many say they've knowingly played one caught my attention.
Which Canadian-developed game do you think more Canadians should know about? Let us know in the comments.
Jon Scarr
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