The gaming industry in Latin America is exploding, and Mexico and Colombia are leading the charge. With the regional market hitting US$25.7 billion in 2023, these two countries are proving they’re not just players in the global gaming landscape; they’re becoming game changers themselves.
Mexico commands the largest player base with nearly 69 million active gamers, while Colombia is quietly building an impressive reputation as a creative powerhouse. Both nations are producing talent, creating jobs, and developing games that resonate worldwide. But success comes with challenges, and the region must overcome significant obstacles to maintain this incredible momentum.
Mexico: the mobile gaming powerhouse
Mexico is the undisputed heavyweight of Latin American gaming. With 68.7 million active gamers, the country dwarfs other regional competitors in player population. The mobile gaming market alone generated US$1.5 billion in 2024, showcasing how smartphones have democratized access to gaming across all social classes.
The accessibility factor cannot be overstated. Mexico’s widespread smartphone adoption combined with the popularity of free-to-play games created a perfect storm for market growth. Industry experts project the market will double by 2023, meaning the next eight years will see explosive expansion.
Industry leader David Alonso from UDIT emphasizes that Mexico is “leaving behind its observer status to become a key player, with new narratives and its own identity.” This transformation goes beyond numbers; it reflects a cultural shift where Mexican game development is gaining recognition globally.
Colombia: The creative giant punching above its weight
While Colombia’s total market size trails Mexico’s, the country compensates through creative excellence and strategic focus. Colombia boasts over 87,000 cultural companies and has secured COP 9,948 million in financing for 123 gaming and animation projects. These numbers demonstrate serious government and private sector investment in the creative economy.
Colombian professionals excel in two-dimensional and three-dimensional art, animation, game narratives, and character design. These skilled workers increasingly find employment with international studios, essentially exporting their talent and expertise worldwide.
This brain gain effect strengthens Colombia’s position as a regional creative center, attracting investment from global companies seeking high-quality, cost-effective development resources. The combination of technical proficiency and artistic vision will continue to position Colombia as an increasingly attractive partner for international game studios.
Job creation and digital employment
The gaming industry boom has created massive employment opportunities across multiple disciplines.
The sector generates demand for programmers skilled in C++, C#, Unity, and Unreal Engine; three-dimensional artists and animators; user experience designers; narrative designers; quality assurance testers; and community managers. This diversity means the gaming industry offers career paths for people with vastly different skill sets.
Remote work has amplified these opportunities, allowing Colombian and Mexican professionals to work for studios anywhere globally while maintaining local residency.
This arrangement benefits both workers and companies; employees enjoy location flexibility while companies access talent at competitive rates. The multiplier effect strengthens local economies as remote workers spend earnings domestically, supporting restaurants, housing, technology providers, and other services.
Gamification’s growing impact beyond entertainment
Gaming’s influence extends far beyond entertainment into education, culture, and social impact. In Mexico, studios incorporate local mythology and indigenous imaginary into their games, creating culturally relevant narratives that resonate internationally.
Colombian organizations integrate gamification into youth engagement, financial education, and professional training programs. The global gamified platform market will reach US$38.8 billion by 2030, demonstrating how gaming mechanics will increasingly influence multiple industries.
Obstacles blocking the path forward
Despite remarkable progress, significant challenges threaten sustained growth. Mexico and Colombia face inadequate specialized financing, difficulty retaining senior talent, inconsistent technological infrastructure, and outdated regulatory frameworks.
Mexico debates an 8% tax on violent games while Colombia struggles with labor reform and lacks specific gaming regulations. Alonso notes the essential missing piece: “What’s lacking is a legal and financial framework permitting competition with Montreal or Tokyo.”
Mexico and Colombia have genuinely elevated the Latin American gaming industry to global prominence through talent, creativity, and technological advancement.
The industry’s trajectory remains profoundly positive, with live-service games, mobile expansion, artificial intelligence integration, and esports growth driving future opportunities. However, the region cannot rest on current achievements. Both nations must prioritize regulatory modernization, financing mechanisms, and infrastructure investment to compete with established gaming hubs. The exciting part is that Alonso believes the next major Latin American gaming intellectual property is coming soon, likely from Mexico or Colombia. That thought alone should inspire confidence in the region’s future.