India’s gamers are clocking in more time playing than watching movies. It is no wonder, then, that the country’s digital gaming sector is poised to become a ₹33,243 crore market by FY28 (as per an EY study). Take a second look at this, and you’ll see that young gamers today are not merely spinning wheels or chasing lucky draws anymore. Instead, they are solving puzzles, deploying strategies and outwitting rivals.
Strategy-based games like rummy on RummyCulture and chess are rapidly climbing the popularity chart and witnessing strong growth trends. This is because for young players, winning is no longer about luck. It is all about logic. Platforms that reward tactical thinking are now dominating screen time.
As uncertainty grows offline, India’s youth are doubling down on control, mastery and agency in their digital lives. They want games that challenge them, reward their decisions and let them earn their wins.
Young Gamers Favouring Logic Over Luck
Young players in India are spending more time than ever on skill-centric games. On average, these gamers spend 10 to 12 hours each week immersed in their favourite activity, marking a 20% year-on-year increase. A significant part of this growth comes from skill-based formats. The trend, while stronger now, can be traced back to the early lockdowns in 2020.
During this period, mobile-based gaming platforms saw their user base jump by 200%, with online regional games like rummy and ludo recording a 4x to 5x surge in activity. The average time per play session also climbed from 32 minutes to 45 minutes as more young people sought interactive entertainment without compromising on strategy.
Beyond individual gaming preferences, the entire real-money skill-based gaming segment also boomed during this period and recorded a 50% increase in downloads. This wasn’t a standalone phenomenon, however. The lockdowns eased, and the world returned to a new normal, but the online skill-based gaming sector has continued to flourish.
Notably, gamers under 24 years, who are tech-savvy and have a lot of time to dedicate to gaming, are driving the surge in mobile game adoption. Within the real-money segment, card-based skill games like RummyCulture rummy app continue to draw a large number of players, with about 10% of all Indian gamers preferring them. Among this demographic, rummy commands close to 60% of the user base.
What’s Driving the Move Toward Strategy Over Serendipity?
Psychology remains a key reason for this shift. Skill-based games satisfy the need for control and mastery in a way that chance-based games cannot. In games of pure luck, like the lottery or slots, players have no influence over the outcome. In contrast, games like rummy or chess let players actively apply strategies and improve their technique with practice.
So, why does this matter to young players?
Research into the motives of gaming suggests that many gamers are motivated by skill development. They log the most hours when a game challenges them to hone their skills. Winning a rummy match or climbing the chess rankings offers a concrete feeling of achievement because such victories stem from the player’s ability, and not just a lucky roll of the dice.
The thrill of competition is another big pull. In one analysis, 37% of online rummy players admitted they play the game primarily for the thrill of competing against other skilled participants. Many skill-based platforms fuel this motive by offering leaderboards, tournaments and leagues, so young users can earn bragging rights.
Control is another crucial factor. These skill-based gaming options give players a feeling of control over the outcome. Even when luck plays a supporting role (like a dealt hand of cards), good decisions and solid strategies can sway the result. Psychologically, this can be highly rewarding. As one expert commentary from Forbes put it, skill-based gaming lets people do what they love, without the element of chance.
Reframing Play as Progress
In the modern narrative, games that draw on skill and strategy are being culturally reframed as productive entertainment. Indian society, in particular, has long held certain games of skill in high regard. Chess, for instance, has always been celebrated as a cerebral pursuit that sharpens the mind.
Now, online rummy apps are highlighting similar benefits. Card-based games like this encourage strategy, engage memory and call for quick decision-making. Players must recall which cards have been discarded, plan their melds and anticipate opponents’ moves, all within minutes. This stimulates cognitive skills, improves concentration and drives critical thinking by forcing quick, calculated decisions. Young adults can justify it as training the brain, blurring the line between gaming and learning.
Culturally, too, skill games carry far less stigma than luck-based gambling. Rummy has enjoyed traditional popularity in Indian society as a go-to leisure activity for large groups of people. Many Indians have grown up seeing the elders in their family play rummy or chess during get-togethers, so these games evoke a sense of nostalgia and carry generational legitimacy.
There’s also an aspect of aspiration at play. Today’s youngsters enjoy the challenge of improving at a game and possibly earning rewards from it. They see top rummy and chess players gaining recognition, and it motivates them to choose skill-based games over chance-driven plays.
A Trend Rooted in Tradition and Technology
The growing preference for skill-based games among India’s youth is a confluence of tradition, psychology, and technology. India has a rich history of games that mix skill and chance, from the ancient game of dice to centuries of chess and cards. Today’s young gamers inherit this cultural affection for skill, now augmented by smartphones and high-speed internet.
They have easy access to a variety of skill games at their fingertips, and they are seizing the opportunity to play in ways that feel engaging and empowering. As this generation matures, their digital habits will increasingly prioritise platforms that reward engagement instead of escapism. And while chance-based games may never fully disappear, they are no longer the default.