You are never too old to play video games! Especially because this kind of entertainment is getting more and more popular. Video games have been a staple for now, and many people who are now having kids, even grandkids, remember the first Pac-Man, Tetris, and many others!

Additionally, gaming went mainstream, and it’s not an activity reserved for “nerds” that grown-ups don’t know anything about. It’s a multi-billion dollar business slowly and steadily catching up with movies and music.

Also, gaming has this additional element of interactive entertainment. We will explain in more detail further in the article why such a thing would be optimal for many seniors, but let’s just say that having to think a little bit and be proactive occasionally is pretty great for our minds.

They may not be your best ally in a multiplayer game, but they will do well with your Nintendo Wii console with that 60 years of experience. Enough with word games; let’s get into some details on some great titles suited best for the seniors!

Well, first of all, in our opinion, as gamers, we think that pretty much everyone should be playing games. Whether it’s a role-playing game where you create your character and become someone else, do some challenging puzzles, or don’t want to use your cognitive abilities and just play tennis on the big screen.

Health Benefits

Contrary to popular belief from a few decades ago, games have many health benefits for people of all ages. First of all – it drastically lowers the risk of dementia as you have to be constantly focused to play some more sophisticated games. Some studies even suggest that playing games can have a positive effect on preventing Alzheimer's disease. And it’s certainly more advanced than doing a crossword puzzle.

Socializing

Additionally, you meet many people during your gaming sessions, and it is not that obvious for seniors. Meeting other people with similar interests instead of only playing Candy Crush on your phone improves your well-being significantly. Especially if you’re engaging in social simulation games, which seem to be a favorite among many senior citizens. The gaming system in those titles feels pretty organic, and it is not complicated to get in front of it.

On the other hand, games like Wii Sports will certainly improve seniors’ mobility for a pretty low cost and low effort. Just putting on Wii Fit is much easier than organizing some advanced tennis court plans that some seniors may or may not be able to attend.

Bonding with Grandkids

Additionally, playing video games can be a great way of connecting with the younger generation. A simple game can cross decades of socialization and different approaches to life. Playing with grandkids is also great fun for them and something they will be looking forward to.

In many articles on senior gaming, you will find suggestions that Nintendo Wii is the single best console for senior citizens, and everything else fades in comparison. Well, there is some truth to that, as you will find many fun games that senior citizens can play, like all the logical and fit games.

On the other hand, you can find a video game for pretty much every platform. Many games with exciting story modes that also increase mental activity or some online Lego building that encourages seniors to socialize will be as good as those Wii games for sure.

• Release Date: November 2011

• Developer: Mojang Studios.

• Meta Score: 98

• Platforms: Windows 10/11, Mac, Linux

Minecraft is one of the more exciting titles on our list. You can play endless games that are full of interesting and exciting possibilities. Build a house – no problem. Create a masterpiece that people will be sharing online forever – some problem. Fight dozens of monsters just to return to your hut at night to feel comfy – that’s the idea!

Minecraft is especially great for seniors as you can just go ahead and roam in the Creative Mode, and you don’t have to create a character or follow any plot. You can just put it on whenever you like, and it will be there waiting for you, just where you leave it. For some casual gaming – there aren’t many better games.

• Release date: 2019

• Developer: Blue Byte

• Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 81

Next up on our list is Anno 1800! Many seniors love going back and thinking about the old days. In this case, they can go back to the industrial revolution and find how to take care of the island full of potential.

Historical games are great among senior citizens. Many are history buffs and love to discuss it among themselves. Nursing homes are full of mind-sharp historians debating the most important issues of the last century and even further.

With Anno 1800, they will be able to not only talk about it but also live it. In this game, you take care of a Western Europe gem with a lot to offer those industrialists worldwide. Trade with other nations, prepare for an attack, and send your ships all over the globe. The world is yours to conquer.

• Release Date: 2014

• Developer: The Sims Studio | EA Salt Lake | Maxis Label

• Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), OS X, PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Meta Score: 70

The second game on our list is The Sims 4 from the old and gold The Sims franchise. It’s one of the most fun games for seniors, as it tends to feel the most similar to the real-life experience. People tend to like the things they have already seen, so it seems like the Sims 4 will be something they may feel at home.

They can live in a completely different and new way. It feels even more interesting when trying to find out just how many other choices you could have made.

In the Sims, you can try and become whatever version of yourself you want and live a hundred lives; try becoming an artist, or a technician, create your imagined home and see a totally different lifestyle from your own. And for that only, it is worth picking up for sure.

• Release date: 2014

• Developer: 3909 LLC

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems, PlayStation Vita, Linux

• Meta Score: 92

Papers, Please is on the other side of the story. Seniors who lived for a few decades now have seen many, now historical, events. With Papers, Please, they’ll experience how it’s like to be a border officer in a fictional country Arsotzka, similar to the Cold War Soviet Union. In this game, all you need to do is keep your motherland safe from those pesky spies and rebels.

The game is mostly an intellectual exercise, both emotional and logical. As a border officer, you need to feel out if something feels fishy about a person trying to come into the country and prevent any potential issues regarding their arrival. Papers, Please is a game that will make even the most anti-gaming seniors look through their friend's shoulder with interest, even up to screaming – He’s a spy! I knew that guy! Great experience all around!

• Release date: 2011

• Developer: Cyan Worlds

• Platforms: Mac OS, Saturn, PlayStation, 3DO, Microsoft Windows, Atari Jaguar CD, CD-i, AmigaOS, Pocket PC, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, Android, Oculus Quest, Oculus Quest 2, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 83

Still in the puzzle-solving territory, we have Myst! It’s an entertaining game that combines puzzle-solving and exploration. The game is peaceful and slow; it gives you the ability to think about what you are trying to do, and overall – it’s a great mental exercise for all ages. Every little thing counts and different decisions will result in different outcomes, so make sure you choose the right path!

Additionally, there is an excellent community of Myst enthusiasts online who discuss different puzzles and elements of the game with each other, which can also count as a social aspect of this game. In all – Myst is a safe choice for most seniors trying to find themselves in gaming.

• Release date: 2009

• Developer: PopCap Games, Inc.

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS/iPadOS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, DSiWare, Android, Windows Phone/Windows 10 Mobile, PlayStation Vita, BlackBerry Tablet OS, BlackBerry 10

• Meta Score: 87

Next up on our list – Plants vs. Zombies! A bit on the wackier side of things, that’s true, but great nevertheless! Plants vs. Zombies is one of the most fun tower defense games you will ever find, with some of the most hilarious ideas ever!

You have your sunflowers spitting seeds at the zombies, unique mini-games throughout the whole game, and just overall – a complete package of fun and engaging content for seniors. Additionally, the game is beautifully animated and does not require a lot of training to get started, so it’s a perfect first game for many older gamers.

• Release date: 2004

• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: 93

And here is something completely different. World of Warcraft took the world by storm and still holds it in its grasp. This tremendous MMORPG changed the gaming world and is still being played today, decades after its release. Why is that? For starters, it’s an incredible fantasy adventure with an extraordinary cast of characters and quests.

It’s deep; it’s big, and – you can spend hundreds of hours playing with your kids or grandkids on a server, helping each other to pass the boss and think about how to go about a raid. World of Warcraft is the perfect introduction to the gaming world for seniors as it has been proven to be an extraordinary entertainment for years now and has millions of players worldwide to vouch for it.

• Release Date: 2016

• Developer: Concerned Ape

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita, iOS, Android

• Meta Score: 81

But if you want something more calm and relaxing – Stardew Valley is the way to go! Many seniors enjoy a peaceful life on a farm, just minding their crops and interacting with the local community. Well, not all of them can afford this kind of lifestyle. Fortunately, they can always check out Stardew Valley for maybe not identical but similar experiences.

Stardew Valley is one of the most fun management games, where you take care of your field and interact with others, and you can even look for some treasures in the dungeons. Additionally, it’s not a strictly single-player experience, so you can go ahead and embark on this journey with your friends and family as well! It’s a perfect relaxing game for any older adults!

• Release Date: 2018

• Developer: InnerSloth

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android

• Meta Score: 85

But the best social game on our list must be Among Us. Initially, the game did not get much recognition, but after some streamers started playing it, it became a phenomenon. Nowadays, it’s one of the most popular social games you can find online, and for a reason. Among Us makes you plot, think fast, solve puzzles, and interact with other participants to find out the Impostor.

You can play it in an online lobby or gather friends to play together. The game is fun and is guaranteed to have lots of laughs during the whole play. Exposing each other, seeing who lies and who is truthful, is something that most people would enjoy, especially when it’s presented so excellently. Worth checking out.

Another hit title on our list – Animal Crossing! It’s one of the most popular games in the sim genre, and there is a reason for that. It’s a town full of animals, and you are one of them. The central concept of this title is pretty simple, you collect money by doing different activities and manage resources that will later help you craft some incredible items you would want to have in your collection.

An exciting element of this one is that it is a real-life simulation played in real time. The game adjusts to the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, depending on the player's real-world location. There are a lot of activities to partake in, like swimming, fishing, creating your place, and growing plants.

The best thing about this game is that it boosts creativity and allows people to combine different resources to create something new. You can also add the social aspect where people can play with each other. You can visit your friends and grandkids and have a lot of fun together in the game.

And lastly, lots of mini-games and challenges sharpen the mind and can benefit the overall cognitive well-being of seniors. The mind works like a muscle; if you keep it awake, it will thank you.

• Release Date: March 23, 2018

• Developer: Hazelight Studios

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One

• Meta Score: 78

But for something completely different – you may want to check out A Way Out. It’s one of the best co-op games ever created, and the whole thing is crafted so that it would feel like a movie. Two inmates are in the high-security prison, both playable in the game. You pick who you want to be at the start and then the plot thickens!

One of the most important elements of A Way Out is the plot. It feels like an old gangster movie from the 80s/90s, where you try to get out of prison and take revenge on the people who did you wrong. There are turns and plot twists like in a Hollywood spectacle. It takes you back to those great pieces of the last century.

Another interesting aspect of A Way Out is how co-op oriented this game is. You really need to work together to get ahead in the game, which is what’s so appealing about this title. You need to cooperate, and it’s a great way of bonding for seniors and their grandkids. Additionally, there are a lot of logical puzzles to solve throughout the game, so it’s also a great mind-exercise. It’s a win-win situation for sure.

• Release date: 2021

• Developer: Sports Interactive

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch

• Meta Score: 85

And finally, something for the football fans – Football Manager 2022! Sports games may be a bit too demanding for some seniors, but many already create their teams and tell the coach how to play, so why not put their skills to the test? Football Manager 2022 is a fantastic game where you take control of a team of football players and try to get the highest honors of all – winning the Champions League.

The game is intense, with dozens of stats and possibilities for training. It probably has all the players worldwide, so you can create your team from Asia, Europe, or the Americas! The best thing about this title is that you can play however long, leave it for a bit, and get right back to the scoreboard.

For seniors who enjoy some sports and always want to see themselves as a coach, it is the closest thing there is. Especially for the football fans, for sure. Worth checking out and testing their couch knowledge in the semi-real environment. Maybe that will let them know that running a sports club is not as easy as it may seem.

Thank you so much for checking out our article on the best games for seniors. We hope we have shown you something you or your grandparents can enjoy. Playing together with the older generation is such a fun thing to do, and it bridges the gap between family members. Social interaction is essential for older people, and with games that can benefit them mentally and physically – it is a no-brainer.

If you want to learn more about some great games to play or software you want to understand better, check out our wide library of articles on various topics. There is a lot of information there, so we are positive that you will find something that will suit your needs. If you have any questions or want us to write something about a specific topic that is bothering you, please let us know. We will be more than happy to give you some hard-earned information.

Anyways, thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you at the next one. Take care!