How to Start Video Gaming as an Older Person

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Today I have a guest post for you by a fellow money blogger who goes by the name of The Reverend.

I’ve wanted to publish a post about video gaming for older people for a while but faced the obstacle of knowing very little about it (my experience of video games doesn’t go much beyond Space Invaders). Still, I know a growing number of older people are interested in this subject, and there are undoubted benefits, not least in terms of sharpening (or preserving) your wits and reflexes.

Anyway, that explains why I was delighted when The Reverend – a London-based video gaming enthusiast (and talented writer and blogger) – volunteered to write an introduction to the subject for Pounds and Sense. Without further ado, here it is…

I turn 40 this year and am not sure if I’m classed as an ‘older’ gamer or not, but one thing is sure, I can see myself gaming forever, regardless of whether I’m ‘too old’ or not. Its important that you do the things you want to, whether it is writing a book, going to the cinema or even playing video games.

The World of Video Game Consoles

SEGA logo

When you think of Video Games, what companies do you think of? The gamers of today will be playing on a Switch, or a Samsung, maybe a Steambox. When I grew up there was Atari, Spectrum or Commodore. This then moved onto NES and Master Systems before going to SuperNES and Megadrive. Everyone remembers Sega and Sonic the Hedgehog. Sega no longer make games consoles, but Nintendo have had recent successes with the DS (in various versions) and the more recent Switch.

One thing you might be surprised by is that many people nowadays are also playing video games on mobile phones and tablets.

Games for Older Gamers

I’d like to start by saying that games are for everyone – your age doesn’t stop you from enjoying the latest titles. We are also at a point where the block-buster video games are making more money than the block-buster movies! It is worth thinking about what you’d like from a game.

Gaming Hardware

To play games you have a few options, but the main choices are:

Most people do have a mobile phone, so this is a good way to start gaming. The Apple App Store and Google Play Store have hundreds of ‘free’ games you can download and try out. It’s a good way to judge whether you’d like a particular type of game – and if the game isn’t for you, you can delete the app and you’ve spent no money.

If you are looking to get a games console it’s best to go to a shop and try one out. Although the controllers all look fairly similar, you might find that the grip to ‘hold’ the controller isn’t comfortable or (for example) you aren’t able to see the smaller screens of the Nintendo 2DS. Most game stores will be happy to talk through the options with you, let you try things out, and maybe even suggest some games based on your interests. These people know their games inside out, so do ask for help!

A gaming home computer can set you back thousands if you want to play the latest games in the highest image quality. If you already have a home computer then a chat with your local game store will help identify which game you’ll be able to play without having to spend any more money.

Gaming Options

What do you like to do to relax? Do you enjoy reading books, watching movies, or sitting down with the Sudoku page of the newspaper? No matter what you enjoy doing, there is a game to suit you.

Love A Good Story?

If you enjoy in-depth story-lines in books, TV or film, then you may enjoy an RPG (or Role-Playing Game). Like books, there are plenty of genres for RPG games. I enjoy the Post-Nuclear-Alternative-Timeline story of the Fallout series of games. These are set in a future where technology didn’t move to the microprocessor and stayed with transistor valves. Imagine 1950s Americana with lasers! Death, destruction, cannibalism, nuclear bombs and drugs – not something you’ll be able to share with younger family members! The Fallout series of games are available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the PC.

At the other end of the spectrum there is Cat Quest. Of course, not every game has to be about lasers and robots. Imagine a medieval adventure game but feline themed! It is also a PEGI 3 rated game and this means it is suitable for all ages – no swearing or nudity in your cat-adventure – so you can play along with nieces/nephews or grandchildren. Cat Quest is available on the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch.

Catquest

Enjoy Exploring the Real World?

Perhaps you aren’t an actual gamer and you just want something to make your Real World exploration a bit more interactive. Although released three years ago, Pokémon Go remains a popular game. You may have heard of Pokémon and even the phenomenon that is Pokémon Go. The BBC News has even covered a guy who has 11 phones on his bike so that he can catch more Pokémon.

The premise is that you collect Pokémon. You do this by exploring the real world and when you are notified a Pokémon is in the area, you throw a Poké-ball at it to try to catch it. To make the game more interesting you have Points-Of-Interest called ‘Poké-Stops’ and ‘Poké-Gym’. The Poké-Stops help you lure special Pokémon for you to catch, and the Poké-Gym allow you to battle other players to take control of the ‘Gym’.

Part of the success of Pokémon Go is that it is a ‘Freemium’ game available on both iOS and Android, so most smart mobile phones will be able to play it. The fact it is Freemium means that the game is free to download; however, there are In-App Purchases (IAPs) that will allow you to progress faster.

Pokemon Go

LIKE Life Simulations?

The big name in this genre is The Sims. This is a game where you control a person and all aspects of their life. Imagine the board-game The Game of Life but with interactive graphics and almost infinite possibilities. You can choose the life you want, build the house you want, get the job you want, have children, get married, cook dinner and live out all sorts of dreams that perhaps you didn’t manage in your real life! The Sims is available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. There is a basic version also available for the Nintendo DS.

Two Point Hospital

If you want to try running a hospital then there is Two Point Hospital for the PC (pictured above), with console versions appearing in time for Christmas. Maybe you want to become your own dictator – Tropico 5 is on the PlayStation 4 and XBox. Has your life-long dream been to drive a big rig? Then check out Truck Driver, also for the Xbox and PlayStation 4. You can even be a goat in the obviously named Goat Simulator!

There are a number of farming-simulations which don’t focus on the farming and do have a story-line. Available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox and Switch is Stardew Valley. You can also get this on the various App Stores as well as for the PC. There are quests in the game and these are designed to help you get more money so you can develop your farm. [Nick writes: My teenage nephews are keen Stardew Valley players – my brother-in-law once told me he wished they were half as keen on helping with the real garden as opposed to tending their virtual ones!].

ENJOY Building?

The classic building game is Minecraft. It’s available across pretty much any platform or device you can imagine. There is a ‘story mode’ for Minecraft but it also gives you a complete open-world building experience for you to create anything you want. The graphics may remind you of a much earlier generation of gaming, but don’t be fooled – this is a serious game that has a massive number of followers.

Minecraft

More serious is that people do stream their gaming and some of these streamers earn millions of pounds just streaming their games while they play. I bet you didn’t realise that playing video games can actually give you a source of income!

KEEN TO TRAIN YOUR Brain?

If you enjoy solving the Sudoku in the paper every day, did you know you can play these for free on your mobile phone? Go to your App Store and search for ‘Free Sudoku’. There are plenty of versions out there for you to choose from. Just make sure you don’t need to share your camera/photos/contact list/etc with the app – they don’t need this data.

Another well-known series of brain training games is from Dr Kawashima. These games are designed to challenge your brain and keep you thinking. They are only available for the Nintendo 3DS, but the series has been running for over 10 years.

Recommendations

Think about what you want from your gaming. If you want to play with family members then get whatever console they have. There is no point having a PlayStation if the people you want to play with have xBoxes.

If you want to just play something quickly while you have a spare five minutes then check out the free games on the app stores for your mobile phone – there are plenty of games like Candy Crush which you can start/stop with no impact to the game-play. If you want to do some more serious gaming on the move then the Nintendo Switch has a large portable display AND can connect to your TV at home.

Remember you don’t have to buy your games machine brand new. The current RRP of the Nintendo Switch is £279.99; however, you can find it much cheaper if you are willing to buy second hand. You could buy from eBay or Facebook selling groups. Another option is to buy it 2nd hand from CEX, where you will get 12 months’ warranty but you will probably pay more than the eBay price.

I have a PlayStation 4 and an iPhone. The iPhone covers my ‘casual’ gaming when I have a spare 5-10 minutes while I’m out and about. On my phone I have Tetris, Countdown, Scrabble, and Candy Crush. My PlayStation has first-person shooters like Call of Duty, RPGs from the Fallout Series, historical stealth exploration from the Assassin’s Creed series, and various games I can play with my nieces and nephews. They enjoy playing Lego Avengers with me, but I must say I’m much better than they are! (well, that’s what they tell me, but they might just be saving my feelings!)

Final Thoughts

Gaming is for everyone. Whatever you are interested in, there will be a video game for you. Don’t be ashamed if you want to go on a Cat Quest, or you are interested in running your own farm. You might even want to build in the Minecraft world and see where your creativity takes you.

If you have friends/family who play video games then ask them for advice. Most gamers are happy to talk games, explain what they are playing and make suggestions of what you may want to play. It doesn’t have to be only Fortnite and flossing!

Many video games have online/social components and this means you should be careful with any personal information and not give away too much. Treat these networks/messages/etc the same you would with any other online activity. Microsoft has some good advice that is worth following. Stay safe, as you would with any online activity.

Video games can help keep you active, keep your brain engaged, make new friends and keep you connected with your family, especially the younger generation. With all this available to you, why wouldn’t you want to get into gaming?

 

Many thanks to The Reverend for an eye-opening article. If you’ve been considering trying video gaming – or even if you haven’t – I hope this article might inspire you to get started.

As The Reverend says, gaming can be great for keeping mentally and physically sharp, and engaging with friends and family. You could start with games on your mobile or your computer, and maybe move on to consoles if you really get the bug.

As for me, I’ve decided to make a start in video gaming and have downloaded a couple of games to my smartphone. I’m already looking forward to planting, tending and expanding my first farm 🙂

  • Do check out The Reverend’s excellent blog at https://thereverend.co.uk. As well as some great posts about saving money and making money, there are enjoyable and informative posts about travel, food and entertainment as well.

As always, if you have any comments or questions about this article, for me or The Reverend, please do post them below. And if you are an older video gamer yourself, I’d love to hear any advice, tips or recommendations you may have!

Disclosure: This post includes Amazon affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I will receive a modest commission. This will not affect the price you pay or the product/service you receive.

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