It’s never too late to start playing video games. When younger people have to work hard to have a little time a day for their favorite video game, seniors can spend as much time as they want!
There’s nothing like being old! You don’t have to work, juggle a million urgent matters, and worry about raising grown-up kids. But there is plenty of time to enjoy your freedom or have fun with grandkids. Sometimes too much – but video games for seniors are the answer! Although often associated with the younger generation, they have attracted an increasing number of older folks eager for new entertainment in recent years.
Moreover, digital fun brings precious benefits like better health and overall well-being. Are you looking for the ultimate video game for your mom or granny? Or maybe are already a granddad dreaming of electronic games for elderly folks and their grandchildren?
| Game | Release | Genre | YT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo Switch) | 2020-03-20 | Simulation | |
 | Flower | 2019-02-14 | Adventure | |
 | Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury (Nintendo Switch) (US) | 2021-02-12 | Platform | |
 | Peggle Deluxe | 2007-02-27 | Puzzle | |
 | Peggle 2 (Xbox) | 2013-12-09 | Puzzle | |
 | Papers, Please | 2013-08-08 | Puzzle | |
 | Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition | 2012-07-18 | Adventure | |
 | The Sims 4 Horse Ranch Expansion Pack | 2023-07-20 | ||
 | Myst: Masterpiece Edition | 2011-02-02 | Adventure | |
 | PGA TOUR 2k21 | 2020-08-21 | Sports | |
 | Ultimate Fishing Simulator 2 | 2022-08-22 | Sports | |
 | Regency Solitaire | 2015-05-18 | Puzzle | |
 | Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville | 2019-10-18 | Action | |
 | Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 | 2016-02-25 | Action & Shooter | |
 | Minecraft Java Edition | 2013-11-19 | Action | |
 | World of Warcraft Time Card Prepaid 60 Days (NA) | - | ||
 | Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training (Switch) | 2020-01-03 | Educational | |
 | Stardew Valley | 2016-02-26 | Adventure | |
| | Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch) | 2020-03-20 | Social | |
| | Flower | 2019-02-14 | Adventure |
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
| Release date: | 2020-03-20 |
| Genre: | Adventure game |
| Developer: | Nintendo EPD |
One of the greatest of the relaxing games on the market, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is perfect for those seniors who just want to sit down and work on their own little island in peace.
That’s right: Tom Nook, a Japanese raccoon dog and a businessman gives you an island and a tent. Your task is to make the said island your new home and pay off the mortgage along the way. The game proceeds in a non-linear fashion and you spend the time exploring, collecting resources, crafting stuff, and building relationships with other villagers.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons looks and plays great. It’s been hailed as the best installment in the series. If you’re looking for a great social sim, you can’t go wrong with this one.
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Flower
| Release date: | 2019-02-14 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | thatgamecompany |
If you loved exploring your neighborhood, but for whatever reason you’re unable to do so anymore, you can retain your hobby thanks to Flower, a game where you fly around as a petal.
And it’s essentially a feel-good game where you simply blow the said petal through the air using your controller. There’s no narrative in here per se; it’s all handled through visuals and the emotions Flower triggers.
As you can see, games don’t have to be challenging; they can be just pleasant, positive experiences. If that’s what you expect from them, Flower is one of the greatest picks you might want to consider.
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Super Mario 3D World
| Release date: | 2021-02-12 |
| Genre: | Platform game |
| Developer: | Nintendo EAD Tokyo Software Development Group No.1 |
However, if you’re looking for some challenges, be sure to give Super Mario 3D World a shot. It’s a platform game that pretty much anyone can enjoy, regardless of their age.
A blend of the free-roaming, 3D-based installments of the Super Mario series and the traditional 2D side-scrollers, Super Mario 3D World lets you play as one of the five available characters (one unlockable), each with special abilities and different controls. The expansion, Bowser’s Fury, also adds a new campaign and is primarily an open-world game.
Super Mario 3D World is said to have a stimulating effect on the hippocampus, improving your memory and staving off various illnesses, and a positive impact on your balance, coordination, and reflexes. And since up to four players can play it together, your grandkids can join you for some quality family time and to help you with some of the more challenging sections or levels.
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Peggle
| Release date: | 2007-02-27 |
| Genre: | Arcade & Platform |
| Developer: | PopCap Games |
One of the greatest casual puzzle games on the market, Peggle Deluxe is a perfect game for those who seek to be challenged, but not in a punishing way.
Peggle is a puzzle game inspired by bagatelle and pachinko. Each level (there are fifty five of them available) features colorful pegs which you need to take out with a limited number of balls once they turn orange. However, you can earn balls of them through high scores or landing the ball in the ball catcher. It’s of course a little bit more complicated than that, with each level offering you unique challenges and peg layouts.
What else can we say? With simple, but reasonably challenging gameplay and the availability of the game on many platforms, Peggle Deluxe is one of the best picks for seniors. You can also check out Peggle Nights and Peggle 2. Heck, there’s even a version of Peggle available in World of Warcraft!
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Papers, Please
| Release date: | 2013-08-08 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | 3909 |
And now for something completely different: a puzzle-based immigration officer sim set in a fictional and properly grim Eastern Bloc country of Arstotzka. Get ready for a healthy dose of dystopia!
Your task is to review the documents of the people trying to pass through the migration checkpoint where you work. You need to review them carefully according to the rules which become more complex as the story progresses. You also need to balance your personal finances in order to support your family.
Each playthrough is different thanks to some randomization and there are twenty possible endings, which of course depend on your actions. Will you stick to formalism or will you let your empathy decide? It’s all up to you.
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Candy Crush Saga
| Release date: | 2012-04-12 |
| Genre: | Puzzle Video Game |
| Developer: | King |
It’s one of the video games with the most positive reviews ever. Equipped with simple gameplay rules, endless levels, and colorful graphics, it became one of the most popular games for seniors.
Candy Crush Saga is a free-to-play puzzle game to play online or on your smartphone. Its goal is simple – complete the levels by matching candies into groups. Such a move leads to spectacular explosions, removing spare elements from the screen. Each level is a bit more challenging, but the gameplay progression often comes with various bonuses and rewards – so it’s very addictive!
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Minecraft
| Release date: | 2009-05-17 |
| Genre: | Sandbox |
| Developer: | Mojang |
This sandbox production is one of the most popular video games ever. And it’s excellent for people of all ages! Enter a world made entirely of cubes, build, explore, and do whatever you desire.
The best thing about Minecraft is you don’t have to do anything. You can’t win, but you can play forever. Create a hero, choose one of the game modes, and set off on your dream journey! Fancy building and fighting the night monsters? Choose survival or hardcore mode. Or maybe you prefer to build and explore the area? Play Creative Mode. Collect resources, dig in the ground, explore the mysteries of the mountains, and construct a base. Create a farm and raise animals or build an impressive castle. This game is made to do whatever you want – and you can also play it with others in multiplayer. There’s nothing like shared fun when building in Minecraft!
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The Sims 4
| Release date: | 2014-09-02 |
| Genre: | Life simulation game |
| Developer: | Maxis |
It is one of the PC and PS4 games often played by older adults who want to enjoy building, managing, and watching the consequences of their choices in an alternative life. Plus, it’s a lot of fun!
The Sims 4 is the fourth installment in the life simulation series from Maxis, where you create a family of Sims to accompany them throughout their lives. You can build a home, embark on adventures, encounter other characters, develop your career, and implement the craziest scenarios you can think of! And it’s great for exchanging experiences with younger players, also enjoying The Sims.
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Myst
| Release date: | 2004-09-10 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Ubisoft Montreal |
Enter the world of one of the favorite PC games of older players on Reddit. If you are a fan of puzzles and quiet exploration, Myst will meet all your expectations!
Myst is a first-person point-and-click game where patience and thoughtful exploration are vital. Travel to a mysterious island and discover its secrets! Solve puzzles, collect clues, and examine each adventure to make decisions determining the ending of your story. It’s a challenging game, unleashing the power of the mind.
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Professor Layton series
| Release date: | 2007-02-15 |
| Genre: | Puzzle |
| Developer: | Level-5 |
It’s another recommendation for fans of puzzles and adventures! Join Professor Layton and solve hundreds of complex puzzles to unveil the following chapters of this captivating story.
Lose yourself in a series of fascinating journeys involving Professor Layton, his assistant Luke, and later his daughter Katrielle. The main character is an extraordinarily brilliant archaeologist whose life goal is to solve the most challenging puzzles in the world. Explore locations, search for clues, and solve dozens of addictive mysteries! This game is an ideal choice for puzzle enthusiasts of all ages.
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Plants vs. Zombies
| Release date: | 2009-05-05 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | PopCap Games, Inc. |
Get ready for tons of action in one of the most hilarious games ever. Have you ever fought zombies using garden plants? Not yet? It’s high time to try!
Grow your most beautiful flowers to create the ultimate army and fight the undead. Hordes of zombies are coming from all sides, so you must use attacking and exploding plants to get rid of the invaders! Plant sunflowers, enjoy mini-games, and lose yourself in endlessly fun situations. It’s a game with simple gameplay mechanics, delighting with joyful visuals and hilarious animations.
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World of Warcraft
| Release date: | 2004-11-23 |
| Genre: | MMORPG |
| Developer: | Blizzard |
Embark on the adventure of your life in the World of Warcraft! Decide your side and race, select your class, and join the legendary battles for the land of Azeroth.
WoW is an MMORPG where hundreds of players explore a rich fantasy world, discovering its secrets and battling a hostile faction. Create your perfect hero and enter this extraordinary world to fulfill all your dreams of an epic adventure! Travel, develop skills, complete quests, and gain experience. Level up and unlock access to the most challenging lands, hiding unimaginable treasures. WoW is a game often chosen by older players, where you can find many seniors guilds. It’s also the perfect choice for playing with your kids, grandchildren, or completely random people from all over the world!
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Wii Sports
| Release date: | 2006-11-19 |
| Genre: | Sports game |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
You don’t have to leave the house to have fun with sports! Wii Sports is a bundle of exciting sports games for the Wii console – perfect for the whole family.
Play tennis, golf, baseball, boxing, or bowling – at your home. Wii Sports is a game that works through sensors you direct while holding them in your hands. This way, the game records your movements and measures their accuracy. Get ready for realistic sports challenges! This title features several game modes in each of the sports where you can achieve your intended goals. It’s an excellent video game for seniors who prefer to stay active in the comfort of their own homes. Of course, there is also a multiplayer mode where you will face challenges with your loved ones!
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Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training
| Release date: | 2019-12-27 |
| Genre: | Puzzle game |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
It’s a puzzle video game created by a Japanese neurobiologist, supporting brain activity and developing intelligence. Want to stay in intellectual shape? With this game, you will become even better than ever!
Play solo or in multiplayer and start a series of logical challenges to feed your mind. Solve mathematical problems, count birds, have fun with sudoku, or crack numerous puzzles. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training is a set of tasks for everyone to exercise daily or spend time with loved ones. Curious about your results? You can measure your brain’s age and track your everyday progress.
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Stardew Valley
| Release date: | 2016-02-26 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | ConcernedApe |
Play as a man leaving his sad existence in the city to start a new life in the countryside. Fancy a farming adventure? You will find it in Stardew Valley!
This game is pure relaxation. As with Minecraft, there is no specific plot or goal here. Travel to the country and renovate your farm! Create your new home, plant a field, raise animals, and enjoy nature. Travel to a nearby town and meet the locals to trade and fall in love. Or embark on an epic adventure to collect fantastic treasures in mysterious dungeons. Or enjoy your time fishing! Stardew Valley is a charming game where you can do whatever you want – solo or in multiplayer.
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Journey
| Release date: | 2020-06-11 |
| Genre: | Indie game |
| Developer: | thatgamecompany |
Journey is an intriguing, wordless story that takes its players to a minimalist world where their goal is to reach a faraway mountain. The only question is, what awaits them at the end of this adventure?
Embark on a journey across the sandy desert to discover the long-forgotten secrets of this gorgeous place. Journey lets you peacefully explore its minimalist world, occasionally confronting your playable character with various challenges. It’s a truly breathtaking experience involving occasional silent encounters with other players.
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Firewatch
| Release date: | 2016-02-09 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | Campo Santo |
Play as Henry, a man who abandoned his previous life to work as a fire lookout in the Shoshone National Forest.
Firewatch is a unique adventure game following Henry as he explores the woodlands of the National Forest. While chatting via a walkie-talkie with his superior, Delilah, the man stumbles upon a trail of rather mysterious phenomena that may lead him to an unexpected discovery. With straightforward mechanics, this game delivers approximately 4 hours of truly immersive experience!
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Unpacking
| Release date: | 2021-11-02 |
| Genre: | Casual |
| Developer: | Witch Beam |
Available on PC, consoles, and mobile devices, Unpacking is a highly relaxing game revolving around setting up the playable protagonist’s stuff in her new home.
Unpacking is a minimalist game about arranging the possessions of a mysterious heroine in new locations. The title includes eight such moves, each revealing more about her nature. Take items out of boxes and lose yourself in arranging them however you want. Once you’ve got everything ready, you can take a photo of the apartment and adorn it with extra decorations!
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Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection
| Release date: | 2018-09-14 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | Asobo Studio |
Love animals and nature? This game lets you design the zoo of your dreams – with the well-being of the animals being the top priority!
Play solo or in multiplayer to choose from almost 200 visually accurate animals and create the best zoo. As the manager, you’ll be responsible for finances, road design, decorations, and, most importantly – your animals’ well-being. Plus, multiple game modes guarantee endless replayability. It’s the perfect game for creative solo fun or an exciting experience with your grandkids!
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Bejeweled 3
| Release date: | 2010-12-07 |
| Genre: | Strategy |
| Developer: | PopCap Games, Inc. |
Like Candy Crush, Bejeweled 3 is a classic match-3 game where your goal is to match identical gems to clear them off the board.
It’s the best video game for seniors who aren’t fond of the flashy and fast-paced Candy Crush style. Choose from 8 game modes, like Zen, Classic, Quest, and Lightning, to instantly customize your experience and enjoy it however you want. The mechanics of this game are easy, but every challenge feels incredibly rewarding!
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Conclusion
Playing computer games brings many health benefits – especially for seniors. It’s easier for older folks to get used to the daily routine and forget about diversifying their lives with new activities. And this can dramatically translate into problems with memory or making new friends.
Video games for older adults are the answer to all of these issues and more! Titles like Minecraft or The Sims support creativity and good mood and provide satisfaction from a well-done job. Myst and other logic games encourage faster memorization and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. And Wii Sports will take care of mobility and a healthier life.
Many older people live quite lonely and have nothing to do with themselves. As it turns out, playing video games makes it easier to process loneliness, death, or unexpected events like the pandemic.
Random quests in a farm game, lovely animals, a sense of purpose, and other players’ company in MMORPGs – all encourage understanding and expressing complex emotions. And above all, it makes us all noticeably younger, more energetic, and happier – regardless of age.