GeoPoll and the Pan Africa Gaming Group released the 2025 Gaming in Africa Report during the Games for Change Africa Day event at Africa Games Week in Cape Town. The study, which now spans six countries and includes responses from more than 6,000 players, provides a detailed view of a gaming market that is expanding in scale, maturity and economic relevance.

The findings indicate that gaming across the continent has moved beyond early-stage market dynamics. Mobile devices dominate player behavior, with 91 percent identifying them as their primary platform and three-quarters reporting more than an hour of daily play. Monetization patterns show similar growth: 59 percent of respondents have made purchases after viewing in-game advertising, suggesting that performance-based mobile ad models now resonate strongly with African audiences.

This year’s survey adds Tanzania and Senegal to the original markets of Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, offering a broader picture of regional trends. While usage levels remain consistently high across the sample, the study highlights notable differences in spending habits, content discovery and cultural expectations. More than half of all respondents consider cultural relevance important in the games they choose, and a similar proportion express a desire to see more Black characters and African settings. The data suggests that representation is no longer peripheral to player engagement but influences both attention and purchasing decisions.

Payment preferences continue to evolve alongside the market. Mobile money and Google Pay now match credit cards as the most commonly used methods for in-game purchases, illustrating the growing influence of digital wallets and localized financial infrastructure. At the same time, familiar barriers persist. High data costs remain the leading obstacle for players, followed by limited disposable income for in-game spending and low awareness of titles produced within Africa. More than half of respondents could not name a game developed on the continent, pointing to challenges in distribution and visibility for local studios.

Industry leaders involved in the launch emphasized the significance of these findings. Jay Shapiro, Chairperson of PAGG, noted that the report confirms the rapid maturation of the African gaming ecosystem and underscored the need for continued investment in locally relevant content. John Murunga, Regional Director for Africa at GeoPoll, highlighted the sophistication of player behavior, particularly the strong conversion rate from in-game advertising. Glenn Gillis, CEO of Sea Monster Entertainment and Chairperson of Games for Change Africa, pointed to the data on representation as a signal for studios to align more closely with audience expectations in a growing youth market.

A new dimension in this year’s study is environmental awareness. Nearly one-third of players report using energy-saving modes while gaming, reflecting a broader shift in consumer behavior that aligns with trends observed in Western markets. The inclusion of sustainability-focused questions follows PAGG’s participation in the Playing for the Planet Alliance and its hosting of the Green Games Summit in Nairobi, initiatives aimed at promoting lower-impact practices across the industry.

The report draws on surveys conducted between September and November 2025 through GeoPoll’s mobile research platform. Respondents were aged 18 and above, with a gender distribution of 55 percent male and 45 percent female. Country samples included Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal.

The complete report, with country-specific analyses and an interactive dashboard, will be available from GeoPoll upon request at www.geopoll.com/gaming-africa-2025