Henry Cavill, the 42-year-old British actor who brought Geralt of Rivia to life in Netflix’s The Witcher and soared as Superman in the DCEU, is a man of many worlds. Whether he’s slaying monsters in Kaer Morhen or saving Metropolis, Henry’s on-screen presence is larger than life. But as of June 2025, the Hollywood heartthrob has a surprising confession: he’d much rather be at home, controller in hand, battling virtual foes than out on the town partying the night away. For a man whose every public outing risks a paparazzi frenzy, Henry finds his truest joy in the pixelated realms of video games, where he can trade the red carpet for a gaming rig and the spotlight for a screen glow. 🎉🖥️

Henry’s love for gaming isn’t a new development—it’s a lifelong passion that’s been with him since his childhood in Jersey. In a 2019 interview with GQ, just as The Witcher was taking the world by storm, Henry opened up about his preference for staying in over going out. “At home, I get to sit playing games for ridiculous amounts of hours and escape there,” he said, his tone both earnest and relieved. “Because going outside has the opposite effect.” For Henry, stepping out means facing the relentless gaze of fans and photographers, a reality that comes with being one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. But at home, in what he jokingly calls his “treehouse,” he can slip into shorts and a T-shirt, free from the pressures of fame, and lose himself in virtual adventures. 🏡🎮

This gaming obsession dates back to Henry’s early years, when he and his brothers would crowd around their mother’s dining table for makeshift LAN parties. “We’d play games like Delta Force and Half-Life,” Henry recalled, chuckling at the memory of his younger brother using military tactics to “slay” their eldest sibling, a serving member of the armed forces. Those chaotic, laughter-filled sessions sparked a love for gaming that’s only deepened over the years. Fast forward to 2025, and Henry’s gaming habits are as robust as ever. One of his all-time favorites is Total War: Warhammer II, a strategy game he’s played through six times with different races, racking up hundreds of hours. “I love it each time,” he told GQ, his enthusiasm as fresh as if he’d just started playing. With new DLCs keeping the game alive, Henry always has a reason to return to its battlefields, commanding armies of orcs and elves with the same intensity he brings to Geralt. ⚔️🖱️

Henry’s gaming passion also played a pivotal role in his journey to becoming the Witcher. Before landing the role, he was a devoted fan of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the critically acclaimed RPG based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books. “I played it two-and-a-half times to completion,” he shared, admitting he even tackled the hardest difficulty, though it left him “dying at the wrong points” and grumbling about straying from the roads. His love for the game fueled his determination to portray Geralt, leading him to pester his agent daily until Netflix cast him. Henry didn’t just rely on the game—he dove into the books, initially thinking they were based on the game (not the other way around), and worked tirelessly to honor the lore. “I wanted to do it as true to the lore as possible,” he said, even pushing for more of Geralt’s magical signs to be included despite the CGI costs. His dedication paid off, with The Witcher becoming a global hit and earning a 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes during its 2019 debut. 🐺🌟

But even as The Witcher catapulted him to new heights of fame, Henry remained a gamer at heart. In 2020, he delighted fans by posting an Instagram video of himself building a gaming PC, a process he described as meditative. “He’s one of us!” fans cheered, watching him install components with the precision of a Warhammer painter. Henry has always preferred PC gaming over consoles, a habit instilled by his father. “I’ve bought custom-built PCs in the past,” he told NME in 2021, adding that he’d love to build his own “as soon as I find the time and the bravery.” With his packed schedule—starring in The Witcher for three seasons, returning as Superman in Black Adam, and now working on a Warhammer 40,000 project—that time might be elusive, but his passion for gaming remains unshaken. 🖥️💪

Gaming isn’t just a hobby for Henry—it’s a sanctuary. “Every time I step out my front door, I’m hyper-aware,” he admitted to GQ. “There are people taking sneaky photos of you, because that’s what people like to do.” For a man whose fame makes privacy a luxury, gaming offers an escape where he can trade the chaos of Hollywood for the controlled chaos of World of Warcraft or Overwatch. At home, he’s not Superman or Geralt—he’s just Henry, a dad who’d rather strategize in Total War than navigate a crowded club. “Going outside has the opposite effect,” he said, groaning at the thought of paparazzi. At home, he can immerse himself in virtual worlds, where the only battles he fights are the ones he chooses. 🌳🎮

Henry’s gaming passion has also influenced his career choices. His upcoming Warhammer 40,000 project, which he’s starring in and executive producing, is a dream come true. “It’s the greatest privilege of my professional career,” he said in a 2024 interview, his voice brimming with excitement. Henry has painted Warhammer figures for years, a hobby that helped him cope during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now he’s bringing that passion to the screen. Fans can’t wait to see him as a Primarch or another iconic character, knowing his nerdy heart will ensure the adaptation stays true to the lore. 🎨⚔️

In 2025, Henry’s life has evolved beyond his gaming haven. He’s now a devoted husband to Natalie Viscuso and father to their two children—a 4-year-old daughter, Lily, and a 6-month-old son, Theo. Balancing fatherhood with his career, Henry has found new ways to incorporate gaming into family life. On quiet evenings, after Lily and Theo are asleep, he’ll retreat to his office—still his “treehouse”—for a late-night Total War session. But during the day, he’s teaching Lily the basics of strategy games, letting her “command” his armies with her toy dragon in hand. “She’s already better at tactics than I am,” he joked on Instagram, posting a photo of Lily pointing at his screen while he feigns defeat. 🍼👨‍👧

Henry’s gamer lifestyle has endeared him to fans worldwide. “He’s the ultimate nerd hero,” one fan wrote on Reddit, echoing a sentiment shared by many. Whether he’s slaying monsters as Geralt, soaring as Superman, or commanding armies in Total War, Henry Cavill remains a down-to-earth geek at heart—a Hollywood star who’d rather stay home gaming than party the night away. As he balances fatherhood, new projects, and his love for virtual worlds, one thing is clear: Henry’s greatest joy will always be just a click away, in the pixelated battles where he’s not a celebrity, but a player. 🌟🖱️