The Games Americans Are Most Willing to Cheat At

Salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, games and cheating . . . some things just naturally go together. Of course not every game involves cheating, but it may happen more than you think. In fact, there are probably many games you never even considered as ones people might cheat at.

At Solitaired, we know a thing or two about gaming. While it may be a bit more difficult to cheat while playing online games like Mahjong Solitaire, we wanted to learn more about which games spark the urge to bend the rules. We surveyed Americans all over the country to determine which games are most often played and cheated at across six different categories, board and tabletop games, card games, computer and console games, lawn and party games, mobile phone games, and physical sports.

Using these responses, we ranked the games from most to least likely to be cheated on, while also discovering general insights regarding the methods used while cheating, opinions on cheating, and more. Read on to learn if your favorite game is full of cheaters.

Key Takeaways

• Americans are most likely to cheat while playing The Sims series, Grand Theft Auto
series, and Minecraft.
• Americans are most likely to cheat while playing computer and console games.
• When it comes to games, 61% of Americans admit to cheating.
• When it comes to cheating at games, cheat codes, hacks, and bots are the most common methods.
• The most common reasons Americans have for cheating is for fun, winning, and curiosity.
• When it comes to cheating in games, 41% of Americans think it’s okay at times.
• Nearly 3 in 4 Americans say they have caught someone cheating at a game.

The Games Americans Cheat at the Most and Least

If you have ever played a game, it is likely that you have experienced someone cheating, or even been guilty of cheating yourself. While cheating can at times be funny or playful, other times it can ruin the game for others. But what about those games where your cheating doesn’t impact anyone else? You know, single-player games. Like The Sims series.

The life-simulation video game is played by millions of people around the world who escape from reality and enter a virtual world where they can build their dream home, develop relationships, and more. So how did this simple game make its way to the number one spot for the game Americans cheat at the most?

Perhaps that’s because the creators of the game actually encourage it. Electronic Arts, the game publisher, has even gone as far as to share cheat codes for the game on its website. Overall, we found 47% of Sims players cheat while playing the game.

In second place with 33% of players admitting to cheating is the Grand Theft Auto series. While a majority of the cheating reports involved codes being used, this differs from Sims as GTA is an online multiplayer action-adventure game. So oftentimes cheating in the game can impact others’ experiences, causing them to turn to chat forums to vent their frustrations.

In fourth place with nearly 1 in 4 players saying they cheat is golf. Switching gears from the online gaming world to an in-person game, we found one of the most common cheating methods golfers use is misreporting. This may come as little surprise to those who have played before as it can be common to lie about the true number of strokes on a hole.

On the opposite end of the spectrum with the least cheaters is Candy Crush Saga, as only 4% of players say they find loopholes. You may be wondering, “How does someone cheat at Candy Crush?” According to Game Developer, there are many methods, including changing the system clock to trick the game into thinking more time has passed.

In second place for the least cheaters is cornhole, followed by checkers and chess. Overall, we found 61% of Americans admit to cheating while playing games, with computer and console games being the source of most cheating.

We also found that Americans who cheat at games are most likely to say it’s okay in casual gaming settings and when the impact on others is low. As we approach the upcoming election, we also wanted to learn if there was any correlation between political affiliation and cheating in games. As a result, we found Republicans are more likely than Democrats to cheat during game time.

The Most Common Methods Cheaters Use While Gaming

After discovering which games Americans cheat at most, we wanted to dive into their methods. Most cheaters use cheat codes, hacks, and bots. As previously mentioned these are very common in online games as it allows players to make the game easier and gain a competitive edge over other players. Overall we found 6 in 10 gamers use this method when cheating.

In second place, with 40% of cheaters saying they do it, is using outside help like a search engine or AI. In third place, with 1 in 4 players admitting to it, is exploiting bugs or glitches. Up next on our list are methods more commonly found among in-person games. In fourth is espionage, or peeking at your opponent's cards, which nearly 1 in 4 people do. This is followed by sneaking actions, like taking extra turns or moving extra spaces than allowed, and conspiring with other players using things like signals or phrases, which rank fifth and sixth, respectively.

So why do gamers cheat? According to nearly two-thirds of cheaters, it’s simply for fun. Other reasons include winning, curiosity, and testing the limits of the game. In addition to the ways and reasons people cheat, we also wanted to uncover how they learn to do it. We found the most common source cheaters turn to are online tutorials and videos providing detailed instructions.

Overall, nearly 3 in 4 Americans say they have caught someone cheating at a game. While it doesn’t bother all gamers, we found cheating annoys every 1 in 3 people. So before you decide to bend the rules or attempt a cheat code, consider those you are playing with. After all, 2 in 5 Americans say they have stopped playing a game after catching someone cheating.

Conclusion

Although cheating can be done with little to no harm to others, it is important to remember the purpose of gaming . . . having fun. While some people may not be bothered by the hacking, sleight of hand, or other methods, it can take away the fun of the game for others.

So next time you plan a game night or log on to play your favorite video game, be mindful of how your actions may impact the other enjoying the game alongside you. For those who find themselves irritated or bothered by the antics of other gamers, try switching games for a bit or even spend some time flying solo in your favorite single-player game.

If you are still searching for the right game to take on solo, try a relaxing game of Klondike Solitaire, Golf Solitaire, FreeCell, or one of the many other games found on Solitaired.

Methodology

In this study, we surveyed more than 1,500 Americans across the country to learn about the games they play and the games they cheat at. To do this, we built a list of popular games played across various categories (computer and console, card, etc.). We asked respondents which games they play and if they cheat while playing it. We then analyzed the data to determine the games Americans cheat at the most.

In addition to an overall ranking of the games people cheat at the most, we also asked respondents how they cheat at these games, where they learned their methods, how they feel when others cheat, and more.