Traditional Filipino games in a digital world: Cultural shifts and engagement trends

This study investigates the shift in recreational preferences among Filipino youth, highlighting the decline of traditional games such as patintero, luksong tinik, and tumbang preso in favor of digital entertainment. These traditional games, once central to childhood experiences, promoted social interaction, community bonding, and physical activity. However, digital entertainment now dominates, offering individual engagement and global connectivity. Using a descriptive research design, the study analyzes secondary sources and online data to identify key factors influencing this shift. Results indicate that social media usage, immersive video games, and technological advancements significantly drive the preference for digital play, with 43.34% of respondents favoring digital entertainment. The study concludes that integrating traditional games with digital features, such as augmented reality and community leaderboards, could help revive interest among tech-oriented youth while promoting cultural preservation, physical engagement, and social cohesion.