Video Games for Grown Ups

They're not just for kids anymore

Video games are a billion-dollar industry that has reached its saturation point. In order to find new markets, video games have had to change their way of thinking about interactive entertainment. Video games for grownups, which focus less on reflexes and button-mashing, have recently emerged in great numbers on multiple platforms.

These video games for seniors instead rely on aspects that either grow sharper over time or allow for people over the age of 50 to compete with the younger generation, such as memory games. This new market can be hidden, especially since video games for adults are often jammed onto the shelf with the more youth-oriented titles. With the information covered in this guide, you can soon be playing these video games for seniors alongside younger family members and friends – and winning.

Brain Age

Brain Age, published by Nintendo, has brought memory games into the spotlight. The premise behind these games is to sharpen the player’s focus and keep the brain nimble and flexible. There are two versions of Brain Age available for Nintendo’s DS handheld game platform. The DS is also unique in itself because it uses a pen-like stylus to interact with the game, leading many to consider this platform the best one for video games for adults.

Flash Focus

Flash Focus is another DS platform game that is considered a video game for adults. Like Brain Age, it relies on a person’s memory and visual acuity rather than on reflexes.

Nintendo Wii

Nintendo continues to dominate the market for video games for adults with its Wii console. In addition to regular video games to keep younger audiences interested, the Wii also supports numerous fitness and memory games, as well as sports games, which are geared toward the video games for seniors market. A classic example is the Wii Play, a collection of games such as bowling, boxing and golf, which appeal to adults and younger players alike.

PC Games

The personal computer (PC) has long been a haven for video games for adults. The PC (both Windows and Macintosh) has numerous video games for seniors, from world-domination games like Civilization to more traditional memory games like Mahjong. In addition to these memory games and strategy games, puzzle games, card games and other video games for seniors are available, often for as little as $10 dollars or less.