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In the digital jungle of gaming communities, you might find a welcoming tribe of allies or stumble into a den of trolls. We're diving deep into the virtual vortex to uncover the friendliest forums, the most toxic chatrooms, and the inclusive oases where everyone feels welcome. Whether you’re a female gamer searching for safe zones or just trying to dodge the drama, this guide will help you navigate the spectrum of online spaces.
To do this we surveyed 4,000 dedicated gamers—each logging at least 6 hours a week—to reveal the highs and lows of these gaming communities. Plus, we’ve broken down the results by PC and console to see how the platforms measure up. Ready to discover where your favorite community lands? Let’s explore!
With a whopping 3.32 billion active gamers around the globe—an increase of over a billion in just 8 years—gaming has truly leveled up as a social activity. It’s like a worldwide LAN party, where friendships and connections are formed across borders and cultures. In this section, we’ll spotlight the friendliest, most inclusive, and top spots for female gamers. So, whether you’re on a quest for supportive teammates, inviting forums, or safe zones free from trolls, we’ve got your back!
The #1 friendliest gaming community? Minecraft takes the crown. This beloved sandbox game is praised for its creativity, limitless possibilities, and supportive environment, which fosters a safe and engaging space for players of all ages and backgrounds. As a result, it stands as the most inclusive gaming community and 3rd best community for female gamers. The game’s community-driven initiatives frequently support charitable causes and address global issues, further solidifying Minecraft’s reputation as a nurturing and inclusive environment.
The Sims lands in 2nd place for friendliness, proving that even virtual suburbia can be a warm and welcoming place. Known for its creativity and storytelling, The Sims isn’t just about building houses—it’s about building a great community. It also scores as the #1 gaming space for female gamers (according to our female respondents), showing it truly knows how to represent and celebrate diverse voices. Plus, with the 2nd most inclusive environment, The Sims is dedicated to making sure everyone feels at home, whether they’re crafting the perfect virtual life or just hanging out in their digital neighborhood.
World of Warcraft grabs the 3rd spot thanks to its creativity and lively player interactions that make every quest feel like a team effort. Its extensive guilds and in-game events create a community that’s anything but “orc-dinary.” Additionally, it ranks 2nd for the best space for female gamers.
Elden Ring boasts the 4th friendliest community, admired for its engaging and immersive world. Hot on its heels is Deep Rock Galactic in 5th, where the 'rock-solid' teamwork of its players proves that mining together builds the best kind of friendships.
Wrapping up the top 10 friendliest communities are No Man’s Sky, Warframe, Roblox, Among Us and Dark Souls. No Man’s Sky welcomes you to a universe that’s as vast as it is friendly. Warframe has its supportive community, and Roblox excels in fostering creativity and inclusivity. While, Among Us fosters teamwork and communication as players collaborate to identify the imposter. And then there’s Dark Souls—yes, it’s tough, but it rewards you with thrilling adventures and epic discoveries, proving that even the darkest dungeons can have a heart of gold.
Nearly half of our respondents—47%—reported frequently encountering toxic behavior in gaming communities, whereas only 3% claimed to have never experienced it at all. We delved into which gaming spaces top the list for toxicity.
Call of Duty has the #1 most toxic community, according to our respondents. Players often face the highest levels of hostility here, thanks to a fierce competitive spirit that can bring out the worst in people. The anonymity of online play doesn’t help, leading to a mix of verbal jabs and drama. So, if you dive into Call of Duty, just remember to keep your cool and maybe mute the entire lobby.
League of Legends takes the 2nd spot. The high-stakes nature of team-based play often leads to intense frustration, where one player’s performance can impact the whole team’s success. This can result in some seriously heated interactions and the occasional verbal fireworks. Counter-Strike comes in 3rd for toxic behavior, while Fortnite lands in 4th place, where negativity can sometimes feel like an extra battle royale challenge. And the 5th spot goes to Grand Theft Auto, proving that even virtual mayhem has its share of drama.
FIFA, Valorant, Dota 2, Overwatch, and CS2 round out the top 10, each bringing their own brand of competitive chaos. In these communities, you might find yourself in the middle of some heated debates and high-energy interactions.
Unfortunately, the prevalence of toxic behavior in these gaming communities has led some players to feel compelled to conceal their gender. From our respondents, 25% of women and 30% of transgender gamers admit to frequently hiding their gender. Only 3% of men feel it necessary to hide their gender when gaming. These statistics underscore the critical importance of fostering inclusive and supportive gaming communities.
We then broke down the data by gaming platforms: Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, to see how each one compares.
PC Gamers: When it comes to the friendliest hangouts, Minecraft takes the top spot, proving it's as much about building friendships as it is about blocks. The Sims comes in 2nd, where you can play house and still be surrounded by friendly faces. World of Warcraft quests into 3rd place, showing that even epic adventures can come with warm welcomes. Deep Rock Galactic digs into 4th with its cooperative charm, while Warframe completes the top 5. The Sims boasts the best community for female PC gamers, with Minecraft as being the most inclusive.
PlayStation Gamers: For the friendliest community, Minecraft leads the pack, proving you can build great friendships alongside your pixelated wonders. The Sims takes 2nd place with its warm neighborhood vibes, while Elden Ring fights its way to 3rd, showing camaraderie can thrive even in tough quests. Destiny 2 takes 4th , and No Man’s Sky explores 5th, proving space can be welcoming too. Plus, The Sims stands out as the most inclusive and best for female PlayStation gamers. So whether you’re crafting, decorating, or adventuring, there’s a friendly spot for everyone!
Xbox Gamers: Over in Xbox territory, The Sims leads the friendliest community, with Minecraft constructing its way to 2nd place. Destiny 2 rockets into 3rd, Elden Ring challenges into 4th, and Dark Souls battles for 5th. Once again, The Sims proves to be the best community for female gamers and the most inclusive.
Across all platforms, our respondents reveal the standout friendly communities share a common trait: members who are always ready to help and support each other.
PC Gamers: If you’re diving into the world of PC gaming, be prepared for a potential minefield of toxicity. At the top of the "Most Toxic Community" leaderboard is League of Legends, where the banter can be brutal. Call of Duty doesn’t fare much better, snagging the 2nd spot, with Counter-Strike taking 3rd place. Valorant and Fortnite join the top 5, proving that drama is a common theme across many popular titles. With 50% of PC gamers reporting frequent run-ins with toxic behavior, it’s clear that negativity has a strong presence in this platform.
PlayStation Gamers: On PlayStation, Call of Duty claims the title for the most toxic community. League of Legends doesn’t escape the wrath either, landing in 2nd place, with FIFA and Grand Theft Auto following closely behind. Fortnite stumbles into 5th place, adding to the lineup of games where gamers might find themselves dodging not just bullets but a fair share of hostility. Here, 43% of PlayStation gamers say toxic behavior is a common encounter, making it a battleground for more than just in-game conflicts.
Xbox Gamers: Over on Xbox, Call of Duty retains its title as the most toxic game, mirroring its PlayStation counterpart. Fortnite lands in the 2nd spot, while FIFA and Grand Theft Auto follow in 3rd and 4th. Overwatch rounds out the top 5. Xbox gamers also report that 43% frequently encounter toxic behavior, highlighting that this issue is a widespread challenge across platforms.
Overall, Minecraft stands out as the ultimate haven for friendliness and inclusivity, alongside The Sims and World of Warcraft. Conversely, the darker side of gaming reveals Call of Duty and League of Legends as the most toxic environments, topping the charts for less-than-pleasant interactions. Whether you’re navigating the complexities of virtual friendships or fending off digital negativity, there’s a place for everyone. Just remember, while some communities are bursting with positivity, others might test your patience - so try not to let the trolls get under your skin and keep your game face on!
We surveyed 4,000 gamers who log at least 6 hours a week to gather insights on their experiences with gaming communities. The data was then analyzed by gender and gaming platform to uncover trends and opinions.
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