Top hobbies for geeks: looking back & ahead

The year was 2017. Moviegoers flocked to see Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” was heard everywhere. The Big Bang Theory reigned as the top-rated show (bazinga!). And here on Planet Devolutions, we looked at some of the top hobbies for geeks.

Fast forward eight years, and we thought it would be fun to reflect on those hobbies, to see if they are still inspiring geeks around the world to embrace their inner tech enthusiast. We also thought it would be interesting to look at some geeky hobbies that didn’t make the list in 2017, but deserve a spot here in 2025. Let’s begin our recap!

Metal Earth

Metal Earth modeling was a relatively unknown hobby back in 2017, yet was generating a lot of buzz because of just how different it is compared to other geeky hobbies. There is a variety of 3D model kits, which contain sheets of metal. The idea is to use flat-nosed pliers to meticulously snip and fold the metal pieces, and end up with something amazing, like the Millennium Falcon. No gluing or soldering is required, and build time can take anywhere from a few hours to several days (keep in mind that Metal Earth is actually a brand name, but it is often used as a term to describe the entire hobby).

Is Metal Earth still popular in 2025? Definitely! Over on Reddit, the r/metalearth sub has over 11,000 members. As Metal Earth enthusiast and blogger Future Driven Mom writes: “As the popularity of Metal Earth continues to grow, there are several trends and innovations shaping the future of this unique hobby. One notable trend is the increasing variety of subjects available as model options, catering to a wide range of interests and preferences. From expanding into new genres such as science fiction and fantasy to offering more diverse representations of historical landmarks, there’s no shortage of exciting possibilities on the horizon.”

Retro gaming

It has been said that the classics never go out of style, and fans of retro gaming back in 2017 would readily agree — at least, they would, if they could take a break from their favorite NES, SNES, Sega, PlayStation 1, N64, MAME, and GameBoy games. But we all know how hard it is to tear ourselves away from an immersive session of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (zero fluff, awesome weapon mechanics, cool side quests, and spectacular music — what’s not to love?).

Is retro gaming still popular in 2025? Not only is retro gaming still a big hit, but the pandemic lockdowns (and associated boredom) re-introduced many people to the beloved titles and systems that nurtured their love of gaming. As Old School Gamer magazine points out: “Retro titles are popular among many members of the gaming fraternity, with millions of people sampling older releases alongside today's more sophisticated titles. While there is plenty of competition for retro products to compete with these days, retro games are proving they can still coexist with them.”

LEGO

Back in 2017, we knew that we would incur the wrath of geeks everywhere if we failed to pay homage to LEGO. Indeed, geeks can debate and disagree on so much — such as Apple vs. Android, PC vs. Mac, Call of Duty vs. Battlefield, DV vs. Marvel, and of course Star Wars vs. Star Trek — but if there is one thing that unites all of geekdom, it is an intense love of LEGO, LEGO, and more LEGO.

Is LEGO still popular in 2025? The answer should be obvious: LEGO-mania is not just alive and well, but has grown significantly in the last eight years. And for proof, we can simply look at the revenues of the Danish-based LEGO group. In 2017, the company generated revenues of $5.74 billion USD. In 2024, the company generated revenues of nearly $10.8 billion USD. That’s a massive increase (and a lot more people in agony after stepping on a LEGO piece!).

Home brewing

Home brewing beer has been around for several decades, but it wasn’t until the 1990s that it really took off with the rise of the craft beer movement. Instead of searching around for a beer that aligned with their flavor, calorie, and alcohol content preferences, people could create their own perfect brew — or experiment and discover something new. Back in 2017, we simply had to include this on our list of geeky hobbies, because geeks and beer go together like Rick and Morty, Sysadminotaur and laughter, or weeping and the end of LOTR: ROTK (no, you aren’t the only one).

Is home brewing still popular in 2025? Yes, it certainly still has a large following around the world. However, unlike the other hobbies that we’ve looked at, some observers are saying that the popularity of home brewing is waning rather than surging. What’s behind the decline? The folks at home brewing enthusiast blog BiralleeBrewing.com have a theory: “While potentially cost-saving in the long run, homebrewing requires an initial investment in equipment and ingredients that can be a barrier to entry for some. Additionally, the rising cost of raw materials, such as hops, malt and yeast, has made homebrewing more expensive.”

Comic books

Some of the non-geeks among us think that comic books are for kids, and hardly something that grown-ups would buy, trade, and invest in. Well, not for the first time, those people are totally wrong! Comic books are a really big deal, and cater to everyone from those who enjoy the artwork, stories, and medium, to serious collectors who keep their treasures in bank vaults. We certainly had to include this on our list in 2017, even if some non-geeks thought we were a bit odd for doing so (just imagine if they accidentally wandered into Comic-Con!).

Are comic books still popular in 2025? Love for all kinds of comic books has surged over the last eight years, and there is no slowdown in sight. The global comic book market size was valued at $7.14 billion USD in 2021, and is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 10.5 % from 2022 to 2030. Much of this growth is happening in the Asia-Pacific region, which is the fastest-growing market worldwide. So go ahead non-geeks, snicker and sneer all you want — us geeks are perfectly happy turning the pages (paper and digital) of our favorite comic books!

Board games

Board games were a big hit back in 2017, as families and friends gathered around to roll dice, flip cards, and argue about rules (like in Monopoly whether you can or can’t collect rent while stuck in jail, and we won’t even dive into Scrabble-related disagreements because we don’t want to trigger anyone). Then the pandemic hit, and board game popularity surged even more (and so did the arguments).

Are board games still popular in 2025? They are indeed! The global board games market is estimated to grow by $5.17 USD billion from 2025-2029. A few years ago, we also suggested 7 must-have board games for the workplace — check it out here and see what you think!

TV shows

Rounding up our list back in 2017 was that ol’ standard: TV shows. With so much uncertainty and change in the world, it’s nice to know that we can still lose ourselves for a little while in a gripping drama, or laugh at a brilliant comedy. In reflecting on the list from 2017, it’s also interesting to note that we included Game of Thrones as a top show to watch. Little did we or anyone else know how disappointing the final season would be (alas like being marked by a White Walker, it never heals).

Are TV shows still popular in 2025? Although the way in which people are watching shows is changing with more people using streams vs. conventional cable, TV is more popular now than ever before. In fact, viewership has increased each year over the last decades, and by 2029 an estimated record 5.5 billion people around the world will tune in. And by the way, if you’ve been busy at work and aren’t familiar with some of the year’s most anticipated shows, check out this article (and yes of course, Andor S2 is on the list!).

Geek hobbies in 2025: New additions

So, what are geeks doing in 2025 to have fun and spark their creativity? Here are some popular pastimes, including a few that may come as a surprise:

• Knitting and crochet. Yes, you read that correctly! These days, people of all ages are falling in love with knitting and crochet— not just because they’re enjoyable and relaxing, but because you end up with something cool like a scarf, blanket, or sweater. By the way, if you’re not sure of the differences: knitting and crochet are both yarn crafts that create fabric, but they differ in their tools and stitch construction. Knitting uses two needles to form loops, while crochet uses a single hook to create knots. If you’re brand new to knitting then check out this great site that features advice, tutorials, and patterns for beginners. And if you’re new to crochet, get hooked (sorry…) at this helpful site.

• Origami. Yet again: yes, you read that correctly! Origami is the Japanese art of paper folding, and involves transforming a flat sheet of paper into a sculptural form — ultimately creating things like animals, plants, or other familiar objects. Visit this site to learn more about this ancient artform, as well as get step-by-step instructions on creating mini-masterpieces (and being the coolest person at any party you go to!).

• 3D printing. A great thing about 3D printing as a hobby, is that you can keep things as simple and easy to start. And then over time, you can dial up the complexity and difficulty to create things that will amaze you. It’s also wonderful that 3D printers are much more affordable now than they were several years ago, with new hobby-level models going for around $500-$1500 USD. TechRadar researched dozens of 3D printers and listed its top 10 — see the rankings. And if you’re looking for some cool 3D prints to try, watch this video.

• Rock climbing. Sometimes, geeks need to “get out of their heads” and experience the joy (and alas, the strain) of putting their body to work. Rock climbing is exciting, challenging, and requires an intense amount of both concentration and agility. You need to know exactly what you’re doing now and what you’ll do next, and at the same time you must be prepared to abandon that plan if gravity decides to get in on the action. It requires both logic and spontaneity. And don’t worry if you’ve never even thought of rock climbing before. Contact or visit an indoor rock climbing gym in your area, and they’ll take care of you.

What are your geeky hobbies?

Do you participate in any of these hobbies? If so, then please share your opinions and experiences. When did you get started? Are you a casual hobbyist or a deeply devoted practitioner?

Please also share some of your other hobbies that aren’t described above, but are an important part of your life. What do you love the most? What advice do you have for beginners?