Best video games for seniors and older adults
The best video games for seniors and older adults to start with are Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Monument Valley. All are level 1 or 2 on our beginner scale, which means few demands on the controls, the camera and quick reactions.
These suit older adults who are new to gaming, or coming back after years. They are the highest rated of our easier games (level 1 and 2). Games are listed easiest first.
| Game | Level | Plays on | Why try it? | Reviews and popularity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 1 · Gentle | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 | Good if you enjoy: Gardening, fishing, decorating | 95 · Hall of Fame |
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 1 · Gentle | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 | Good if you enjoy: Driving, racing, family game nights | 93 · Proven favorite |
| Monument Valley | 1 · Gentle | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Phone and tablet | Good if you enjoy: Art, architecture, Escher drawings | 99 · Hall of Fame |
| Townscaper | 1 · Gentle | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, Xbox, PC, Phone and tablet | Good if you enjoy: Building, seaside towns, doodling | 95 · Hall of Fame |
| Dorfromantik | 1 · Gentle | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC | Good if you enjoy: Jigsaws, Carcassonne, gardening | 89 · Proven favorite |
| Stardew Valley | 2 · Easy | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Phone and tablet | Good if you enjoy: Gardening, farming, fishing | 95 · Hall of Fame |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 2 · Easy | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 | Good if you enjoy: Classic Mario, playing with grandkids | 90 · Proven favorite |
| Tetris Effect | 2 · Easy | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC | Good if you enjoy: Jigsaws, music | 92 · Proven favorite |
| Journey | 2 · Easy | PlayStation, PC, Phone and tablet | Good if you enjoy: Art, music, travel | 97 · Hall of Fame |
| Balatro | 2 · Easy | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Phone and tablet | Good if you enjoy: Poker, solitaire, card games | 97 · Hall of Fame |
| Minecraft | 2 · Easy | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Phone and tablet | Good if you enjoy: Building, Lego, model-making | 93 · Proven favorite |
| A Short Hike | 2 · Easy | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, PC | Good if you enjoy: Hiking, nature, the outdoors | 92 · Proven favorite |
About each game
Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Build a cozy life on your own island, decorating and chatting with animal neighbors at whatever pace you like. The game runs on real time, so a quick visit each day keeps your island growing.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Turn on Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate and the game helps you stay on the track and moving forward. It's a favorite for family game nights.
Monument Valley. This beautiful puzzle game uses optical illusions where you twist buildings to find hidden paths. It is calm, forgiving, and perfect for a relaxing afternoon.
Townscaper. Townscaper is more of a toy than a game. You place blocks to grow pretty seaside towns, with no goals and no way to fail.
Dorfromantik. You place hexagon tiles to grow peaceful little villages, forests, and lakes. It is calm, there is no time limit, and you play alone at your own pace.
Stardew Valley. Restore a run-down farm and get to know your new neighbors in town. Take your time learning the ropes, playing alone or teaming up with others online.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Pick Yoshi or Nabbit as your character and enemies cannot hurt you, which makes this the best starting point for classic side-scrolling Mario. Up to four people can play together on one TV.
Tetris Effect. This is classic Tetris with gorgeous music and visuals, plus relaxed chill modes if you just want to unwind. You can also play short online matches with others if you want.
Journey. This wordless adventure sends you walking and gliding across a desert toward a distant mountain. You cannot fail, and you may meet a silent stranger online to walk with you.
Balatro. Balatro mixes poker hands with magical joker cards for scoring. There's no real money involved, just playful casino style artwork.
Minecraft. Build or play however you like in Creative mode, or turn off monsters completely in Peaceful mode. It's a great way to play together with grandkids.
A Short Hike. Climb a small mountain island, running, climbing, and gliding along the way. The simple controls make this a gentle first step into 3D movement games.
Comfort tips
- Make the text bigger. On Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox, text size, zoom and captions are in the console's Accessibility settings. Our guide to making games easier shows where to look.
- Play on the TV for a bigger picture. The Nintendo Switch 2 can sit in its dock and play on the TV, or come out and be played in your hands.
- Start at level 1. Level 1 games have simple controls and little time pressure. Step up to level 2 when you want a little more.
- Check the game page first. Each game page shows how hard it is on controls, camera, fast reactions, mistakes and reading, plus where it plays.
How to make games easier · Best game console for seniors
Common questions
What is the easiest video game for a senior to start with?
On our beginner scale, level 1 games are the easiest. Good places to start are Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Monument Valley. Which one suits you depends on what you already enjoy, so try our Find my first game quiz.
Do I need a games console to play?
No. A phone or tablet is the cheapest way to start, and several games here also play there. If you want a console, our console chooser asks a few quick questions and names one.
How do I make the text easier to read?
On Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox, look in the console's Accessibility settings for text size, zoom and captions.
Which games can I play with my grandchildren?
See our list of easy games to play with kids and grandkids. They can all be played together in the same room.
Not sure which one? Answer seven questions and we will match games to you.