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Gaming Trends in Indonesia 2025: Differences in Men’s and Women’s Playing Styles

For many people, playing games is not just entertainment, but also a way to unwind after a tiring routine. With that, Jakpat dived deeper into how Indonesian people interact with the gaming world and how their behavior shapes this industry trend.

Jakpat conducted a survey of 1,203 respondents who shared their views on the gaming world. As many as 96% of gamers play using mobile devices such as tablets and mobile phones. As many as 28% play using PCs/laptops, while 16% use consoles. Interestingly, 2 out of 3 gamers plan to upgrade their gaming devices in the near future.

Septiana Widi Sugiastuti, Research Lead at Jakpat, responded to the results, “There is a striking gap between men and women in the use of PC and console platforms to play games. Men tend to be more open to platforms that require more commitment, both in terms of hardware, playing time, and game difficulty.”

Favorite Game Genre

The difference in preferences between men and women gamers is also evident in the choice of genres. As many as 55% of men like the MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) genre, while 69% of women enjoy puzzle-type games more. In third place, strategy games are a balanced choice between the two genders.

When it comes to favorite games, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang dominates with 52% of players, mainly from men (65%) compared to women (34%). In the next position is Candy Crush Saga which is preferred by 30% of respondents, the majority of whom are women (47%). The third most popular game is Roblox (28%), with an almost equal proportion of male and female players.

Gaming-Related Expenses

As many as 3 out of 5 gamers have purchased game-related items. More than half make in-app purchases such as skins, items, or diamonds. In addition, 45% buy supporting accessories such as controllers and keyboards, while 37% spend funds on major devices such as consoles, gaming PCs/laptops, or new phones.

In the last three months, 4 out of 10 respondents spent between IDR 50,000-IDR 100,000 on gaming needs, with e-wallet payment methods dominating up to 86%.

When there is a collaboration between the brand and the game, 1 in 2 gamers is interested in buying the exclusive item. 47% are attracted to shopping promos that offer rewards, and another 46% prefer physical merchandise such as t-shirts or game-themed accessories.

Septiana adds, “Understanding differences in preferences based on gender is key in designing an effective marketing strategy. Male gamers tend to prefer exclusive digital elements and competitive aspects, while female gamers are more interested in fun social experiences, such as collaborations with food brands. To reach a wider audience, it’s important to integrate digital elements like in-game rewards with physical products like merchandise or food. Make sure the brand appears relevant to gamers’ lifestyles and is active on platforms like TikTok, YouTube Gaming, and Discord.”