How online gaming is connecting tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India

How Online Gaming Is Bringing Tier 2 and Tier 3 India Together? 

Online gaming in India has moved much beyond big cities. Cities at tier 2and tier 3 are now the epicentre of a gaming revolution. Whether it’s sharing battle grounds, wagering money on high-stakes rummy or poker, small cities are singing the same digital song.

Despite the presence of international bigwigs occupying the primary space, local gamers are stamping their authority and voice in the online gaming sphere big time. Players in small towns are now as capable as those living in metros.

High-speed Internet and Low-Cost Phones have evened the playing field

The telecom boom and low-cost smartphones have transformed the gaming scene completely. Devices with prices under ₹15,000 have become strong enough to run popular multiplayer games. Add to that low-cost 4G and 5G data, and every small town has the same level of access as every city. A student in Madhya Pradesh can now play rummy or poker with a student in Mumbai with no lag and connection cuts. No more need for geographical catch-up.

Increased Income driving high budgets

Much of it relates to economic growth in rural towns. Increase in revenues has made online gaming a favourite and inexpensive pastime for many living in tier-2 and tier-3 towns.

According to Visa reports, expenditures related to online gaming in small towns have grown sixteen times from 2019 to 2024.

This change has propelled online gaming from being a niche space to a mainstream activity. Spending on in-game purchases has increased astronomically.

Did you know that almost two-thirds of all gamers in India today are from non-metro areas, and in 2024 alone, 43 percent of the gamers were also first-time earners located in tier two and three towns.

Localised Games are winning hearts

Global games are big; no doubt about it; however, those rooted in your culture win loyalty. Most Gaming Platforms currently have Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and other Indian language interfaces and tutorials. Local themes and stories act as a genesis for attracting players from all walks of life.

It is this localisation that has converted first-time users into regular players. These games are less foreign; they feel more at home, and it is easier for the audience to foster a connection.

The Role of Community Managers and Local Streamers

The role played by community managers and local streamers cannot be understated. They are broadcasting in vernacular, giving expert suggestions, and regularly organising weekend gatherings. Such micro influencers understand the difference between the global gaming trend and local taste and have played a major role in the rise of domestic online gaming.

Their success and popularity help young gamers to create teams, participate in tournaments, and become more confident.

The Boom Is Being Fuelled by Grassroots Tournaments

Many tier-2 towns like Indore, Patna, Coimbatore, and Bhubaneshwar organise local e-sport tournaments. Battle royale, similar strategy games, and card games events are becoming social hubs for like-minded people to connect. The prize pool may not match up to the bigwigs, but the excitement and fame are enormous.

These tournaments contribute to larger national circuits, giving players in smaller towns a stage to appear in larger venues, based on their performance.

Gaming experts say casual and mid-core gaming in tier two and three towns is massively outpacing metro growth, becoming the fastest-growing strata of the Indian gaming population.

Digital payments made it easy

Mobile wallets and UPIs have opened the door to easy purchases in gaming. Just a couple of taps and the player will be able to top up rummy or loot box credits without breaking a sweat.

This convenience of paying without hassles have pushed the monthly earnings through in-app spends and tournament fees in non-metro towns to the highest levels in history.

Casual Games still rule the roost

Competitive games generate hype, but lots of people with lesser means and origins in smaller towns start and persist with casual games. People from tier-2 and tier-3 towns enjoy puzzle games, carrom, fantasy quizzes, Poker, and rummy more than high-intensity battle royale games.

Such games have few requirements on hardware, and offer instant fun: no long downloads, no requirement for high storage, and no sharp learning curves.

Card games got a facelift through digitalisation

Card games such as 13 card rummy, Online Chess, Carrom, and Poker have gained enormous reception in small towns. To a lot of people, they are old-time pastimes reinvented on the internet, with real money, with daily leagues and competitive rankings. 

This online redesign of age-old games provides local small-town players a fair opportunity to cash out their gaming skills.

The rise of E-sports

Battle royale games, pool games, and racing games have also gained considerable traction in the tier-2 and tier-3 towns. A new breed of talent is being formed with small prizes, thanks to the streamers and influencers. Many of them host tournaments in their respective small towns and cities. National esports circuits now draw on some of the events. The progression from small-town leagues to big events is now very common.

How will this shape the Digital Future of India?

OneVerse Gaming with its portfolio of online games bridges the gap between tier two and tier three in India and goes beyond mere entertainment. These games help foster digital literacy, a sense of community, and ambition. Through play, players not only acquire tech skills, financial transaction flows, teamwork, and resilience, but they also develop important, soft skills, such as how to communicate and actively participate in a game or team activity.

The foundation of such change lies in the improved infrastructure, affordability, language access, payment systems, local events, and local influencers. Without these pillars, the boom would not have been possible.

Final Takeaway

Playing games online has now become a unifier – connecting Madurai to Mumbai, Palakkad to Patna. This shared online world is where rural and urban India finds their words and talents intertwined.

The more the industry expands, the more opportunities the local talent, creators, developers, and entrepreneurs will have. The gaming story in India is now pan Indian, and the ride has just begun!