Yes I'm not kidding.
My grandpa has asked me a suggestion for his first videogame. After years of telling me to quit it because they are for children haha
One thing to keep in mind. He's damn sharp, mentally he's like a 30yo. I'm not sure what he can like. Definitely not something long and dispersive like open worlds, violent or too complicated to learn. He's going to have to learn to hold a controller, after all.
My grandpa loved Tetris.
Unironically could be great
And Tetris Effect is very pretty.
Yeah +1 on this, Tetris effect is amazing.
It might actually kill him though
I feel bad for laughing at this.
So... not the VR version?
Tetris is one of the best games of all time so its a good option for sure.
What could be ironic about it?
Tetris is perfect, yes!
Am old. Last played Tetris on a computer 30 years ago. My brain sometimes still makes me play mind-Tetris while groggy
Keeps the mind sharp too!
What are his interests? Best to align his first video game with something he likes
Wine.
Because "water causes rust" :)
terrior - game about running a wine company
No way grandpa can deduce the mechanics of that game at 90, tho. He also won’t enjoy them.
apparently gramps is pretty sharp, so...
yea but no need to take it to the limits on the first go
It's actually "Terroir" - Looks interesting 🤔
https://store.steampowered.com/app/559910/Terroir/
Hundred Days. You manage a vineyard and make wine. Its not super complex, but deep enough.
Joke answer: Expedition 33 has a supporting character that is a giant friendly sentient bag of wine.
Wait… Mon Amie is a cask of wine…….????
He's more like a big happy wine cellar.
Hundred days - winemaking simulator is a game about running a winery, I haven’t played it myself though
Medal of Honor.
Let the man relive D-Day.
Give that man Hell Let Loose and he'll be cowering under his desk from one near artillery shell
My mom is almost 90. She would have been 9 on D-Day.
My late nan was 89, She passed in October and was the youngest child to be evacuated from Chatham in Kent, United Kingdom to Wales. Unfortauntely her surrogate family wasn't very nice so her family took her back in. During one of the raids that happened her family all huddeled under the dinner table while a doodle bug hummed over the house. the hum wasn't the problem it was the silence that came when the engine cut out. they waited.. the sound suddenly stopped and their mother said "this is it." then they heard a BANG and it was a neighbour's house that got hit. They made it to another day... Her send off was on the 2nd of December 2025. It was incredibly emotional and felt like we was sending a museum piece off to rest. She was a compassionate, kind and very lovely Nan and I miss her every single day. Not a day goes by that I don't think about what Nan would do, or what Nan did. She ended up getting Dementia and watching her memories being eraised one by one is more scary than any game could offer, We did whatever we could to keep her comfortable including introducing her to a robotic cat that she used for comfort that was always avaialble for her to cuddle and pet. I just wanted to share a bit of history so my Nan's legacy isn't lost. Her memories of world war 2 was aboslutely fasinating and anytime we took her to a war museum and she heard an air raid sound her eyes would light up in a panic. At the Science Museum in London she got to see a Doodle Bug up close for the first time since the war, she told me how horrid they was. Nan Joyce was a legend, Here's to her.
Sounds like an amazing woman. I’m sorry for your loss.
Let me have my fun :(
No, no, I'm pretty sure that D-Day was 50 years ago.
Nothing invigorates a man like killing Nazis.
Hey quick question: Can you identify what made him change his opinion about games? Is it possible he is only trying to spend time with you by showing interest in your hobbies?
Try a simple couch co-op game with your Gramps :)
He has been mocking me and my brother ever since we started to have this passion. When we were kids he'd also take gameboys away from us hahah but we always loved him
What made him change his mind? I think he has read some news, plus I never stopped playing games, so it's not just "that youth phase"
My dude. He’s old and wants to spend time with you before he’s gone physically or too far mentally. That’s literally it. You’ll appreciate it too when he’s gone.
We've been close for 30 years, gone on vacation, concerts, movies, museums, historical cities, restaurants, distilleries (yeah more than once) and more.
Whether he'll eventually enjoy games or not, I've been more than lucky that we enjoyed far more than the average person usually can
It's awesome you have that relationship with him.
There's some really sweet collaborative coops that have great storylines and really simple mechanics. Essentially side scrollers with a couple of buttons press requirements
This. OP should pick something with some multiplayer
Does he like westerns, fishing or hunting?I know you said no open worlds, but red dead redemption 2 is a game older people tend to enjoy. There is some shooting and stuff, but honestly an hour of game play (that ypu could help with) and once your into chapter 2 you can just do your own thing. It would be a lot initially but if he's as sharp as you say and enjoys any of those things its the best game for them.
On paper, there is no valid reason he's not gonna like RDR2. I just think that it'll be better to finish a shorter game first so that he learns controls and, mostly, he is gratified by the experience of gaming. Then I think it'll be easier to start a longer, more complex game
"read some news" is not something that would change a 90 year old's mind.
My dad is around that age and a couple years back he read in the paper that some university had studies showing video games improved problem solving skills, creative thinking and hand-eye coordination which really turned his opinion around on them being a "total waste of time and barely a hobby".
If this is the study he is thinking about, I would recommend platformers.
Well, believe it or not, not every 90yo is stubborn and incapable of learning new things
Portal.
O used to play SNES coops with my folks, I loved the goofy troop game
Absolutely this. Play something with him! My other comment says Mario Wonder, and I still think that's a real good pick for you both. Or show him what originally got YOU into gaming.
How about something like split fiction or it takes two?
I once tried to get my mother to play Uncharted 4. She was around 60 at the time and never played a video game in her life. She couldn't grasp the concept of controlling a character and a camera at the same time. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for a 90yo.
I feel like Split Fiction or It Takes Two would be especially difficult because the mechanics are constantly changing. For an elderly person who never played a video game before, it's going to be overwhelming.
That was my thought too- if it's a way for him to spend time with you, maybe try something like Stardew Valley co-op. It's low stakes, can be slow-paced, and will give him plenty of time to get familiar with whatever device you're on.
Dark souls
Kidding !
How about start simple like a classic Tetris or Mario ?
Mario’s a great suggestion
I second Mario. It’s people’s first game for a reason. One of the side-scrolling ones.
Mario is honestly pretty hard as a first game, but the developers do an amazing job of discreetly training you to play it. There is a lone goomba on flat ground so you learn to jump over them. Next maybe there's 3. Next maybe there's a platform in the way blocking your jump so you need to time it, etc.
Nintendo designers preach teaching in stages of 3, after the third encounter you should know how to deal with them in more difficult scenarios, but the first 3 are for teaching.
And the player is left thinking they figured it out themselves, suckers.
Nowadays you have shit like FFXVI which holds your hand and barely even let's you play and over explains everything ffs.
Imagine gramps doing a no hit one shot run at some point
There actually is a video on some YouTube guy that got his dad to play dark souls. Never watched any of his other vids but found this one interesting
Legend of Dad souls
He's doing an Elden Ring playthrought and he beat Starscourge Radahn with no summons with fewer tries than I did on my second run (1st was with summons, 2nd one without).
I was going to post about Giga dad! That was a fun watch.
You guys think Mario is simple? o.O
Holy shit can you imagine gramps grinding souls, epic.
Balatro?
My mom (82) is a solitaire addict. Truly, she's played a minimum of 4 hours a day since 1989 when we got our first computer. Biggest gamer you'll ever hear about. More hours than most professional streamers have been alive. She taught me how to play video poker as a child with those little handheld pocket poker games. I would kill to get her on Balatro. I think it would be the most fun she's ever had with these types of games.
Any reason why you cant get her to play ? Genuinely curious
Oh we live on opposite ends of the country, and I know she won't even try if I'm not right there to do it for her. We just don't see each other often.
If you can't be there, try calling her and having her play a game with you while you're on the phone together. Also keep stressing that it's a fun way you can hang out without having to call or be near each other.
Yeah it was released for phones. That's how I got a friend of mine to check it out. Such a banger game.
You ever try to get grams out of the casino?
No but I’ve brought a few in
Maybe fear? Lmao
This got me curious! I did the math:
January 1, 1989 to December 8, 2025 is 13,490 days. At four hours a day that's 53,960 hours. Divided by 24 to get days (2,248.3) and 365 for years is 6.16.
Your mom played the equivalent of 6 continuous years.
Of all worries I might have with other games, I'm just worried he might become better than me at Balatro
Then you can spend quality time with your grandpa learning his tricks.
Curious to know what 'non-computer' games he has played in his life.
Has he been into many card games before? How about chess, checkers, backgammon or scrabble? What about physical games too like lawn bowls, shuffle board or pool? Is he into puzzles and brainteasers? Does he read a lot or like stories?
Thinking about each of these things and asking some questions here might help you to narrow down what he enjoys most.
Broadly you may find there is a style of play that will suit him. I'm thinking along the lines of categories like skill based competition, logical and problem solving, story focused experiences, or adventure driven exploration. Narrow that down be genres, style of challenge, etc
balatro
I hear the sound of the cards being dealt in my dreams.
Definitely Balatro. My dad at 90 was still playing all kinds of card games on PC. Balatro has that plus, well, Balatro.
This is absolutely the best idea imo
Wii Sports
This is a great suggestion! Very intuitive, low impact. You can cheat the movement on most of them by just twitching the controller. Fosters that hand eye coordination of control. Easy to play with others so he can share with his friends.
Make sure you secure that nunchuk well.
This was going to be my suggestion. My elderly parents both dislike video games but we were able to all play Wii sports together. The bowling especially was a huge hit.
Journey. Excellent first game for anyone.
With so few moves this is actually a great choice
100%. A beautiful looking game with a transcendent soundtrack, doesn’t require any reading or memorisation of complex control schemes either. Great example of gaming as an art form.
Dude's 90. I can't recommend a game about the inevitable path towards death.
If anything, that's the absolute perfect time to play it.
He's probably figured that part out by now.
I don't think this is a good recommendation, he's going to have a VERY bad time learning how to move in a 3D environment. It's better to start with a 2D game.
Indeed, people often underestimate how difficult it is to use two sticks at the same time (although Journey is a great choice to learn).
I would recommend Untitled Goose Game.
love this choice
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Firewatch was amazing
I was going to suggest Firewatch!
It was the game that got me back into gaming, after my post-Portal slump. The storyline is superb and the immersion is just lovely. I wanted to live in that game.
Great suggestion! I never made it through Firewatch, but the beginning had a nice pace and it has not-too-difficult puzzles.
This one might sound really stupid, but I'm actually serious:
Goat Simulator
If he's just learning how to use a controller, just boot it up and let him mash buttons. You can't die or anything, and you'll both have a laugh at it.
Resident Evil 7 on VR
speedrunning the inheritance
Holy crap the flat out cackle that just escaped my mouth at this 🤣🤣
Get ready to dive the fuck in gramps
Yeah, free cpr training
Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball
That one brings back memories. I remember working at blockbuster when that came out, me and my roommates played it a lot. Great times!
I love the only thing that changes when you adjust the age slider, was the size of boobs. All the way to 99!
Elden Ring
Sink or swim gramps
Nah. Sekiro.
Swim or fucking drown
ARE YOU READY TO FACE YOUR ANNIHILATION OLD MAN!!!!!
No souls likes. Too complicated, considering he's gonna need to learn controls first, games second
Sounds like a skill diff.
He should git gud
Tell him there’s no room for scrubs around here.
I don't recommend it but is has been done. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t76sOtfvgNk
Git gud
Agree with Balatro if he likes cards at all. Simple to get into, no reflexes required.
I really want to say stardew valley. Or maybe animal crossing. They start simply but ramp up
I can second Stardew Valley. Probably not as the first game, as it'd be easy to dismiss because of the deliberately cutesy/cozy approach. Very much comes across as a game for kids at first brush.
But once there's a bit of actual respect for the craft? (not just a possibly grudging admission...) Absolutely.
I mean, Stardew Valley can cause stress from subconsciously knowing you're not optimizing your day well, so might not be as cozy.
My mom always wanted me to quit gaming until she tried Animal Crossing on the GameCube. She still plays it 20+ years later. Can't beat Animal Crossing for a first game.
The Witness or Myst, for sure. Grim Fandango is a great one, as is Broken Age. Monkey Island games. Portal doesn’t require reflexes either. Basically anything that is about solving problems rather than reflex based. Highly recommend Civilization, as well. The Final Fantasy Tactics remake that just came out would be great, along with any Final Fantasy from 1-10
Seconding puzzle adventure games, they often have decent lore and are mentally simulation while not requiring fast reflexes. Definitely a solid choice for dipping toes.
Seconding the Monkey Island games, also because the references were really set by his generation. "It belongs in a museum!"
grim fandango is genius
Untitled Goose Game
Oh, this one's a great suggestion. Light on mechanics and its humor is certainly not age dependent.
It's definitely great for a first timer. Easy to figure out controls, a clear checklist of what to do, and the graphics aren't overwhelming. Plus you get to run around the English countryside being a jerk goose and honk at people.
honestly a great one
It has co-op too
Old people and gooses are both full of rage (especially the Canadian kind)...
Farming Simulator or Civilisation
Let him give Portal or Portal 2 a whirl.
Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past
I was wondering why no one had suggested a Legend of Zelda game.
Can he use a mouse?
Do you have touchscreen options available?
I'd recommend something turn based to start with, so reaction speed isn't necessary.
Slay the Spire, Balatro, Intro the Breach etc.
You could go for ASync multiplayer games.
Backpack battles, Super auto pets, The Bazaar etc
He can both. No trouble in that.
He has a better phone than me...
But your suggestion is actually spot on: turn based. I'll think of a good one. Many people are suggesting Balatro but what if he really gets better than me? :)
Im doubling down on Slay the Spire. Its an incredible game. If he really likes strategizing, he will absolutely love it. Its the best turn based strategy game, imo.
It's also the best rogue like
It's really just the best game if we're being honest here.
You should want him to get better than you.
Katamari Damacy.
Roll ball, ball gets bigger.
Now I have the theme running through my head 😂 na na na na na na
Power washer simulator? Might be an idea.
Puzzle games not requiring fast movement and reflexes.
Return of the Obra Dinn maybe
edit: Also, not super complex strategy stuff, like Heroes of Might and Magic 3 :)
Nice pick. My Mom really liked the Monument Valley series. No APM needed.
3D games, first or third person, are REALLY hard to learn. My wife has played games for years but just can’t cope with twin analogue sticks. So I’d suggest something 2D, probably a Mario or SNES Zelda.
Or how about a point and click? Monkey Island 1+2 are two of the best games of all time and are also a fantastic introduction to games in general - they’re slow-paced, they’re hilarious, they’re engaging. Then you can move onto Day of the Tentacle, Sam and Max Hit The Road. They’re all videogames but they don’t feel like videogames.
Balatro
Red Dead Redemption 2 will keep him busy for the rest of his life.
Slay the Spire
A great game, but might be too involved for a first game.
But from a playing point of view... No Timer. No fast decisions. No complex controls. Players can take their time.
"Super Mario Bros." may be a boring answer compared to the AAA titles of today but the series is a reliable entry into video games if your old man has access to any Nintendo console. Non-violent, easy controls, simple story (if any), I'd go with that and take it from there if he continues to show interest.
I love Peggle.
Civilization 4 or newer
Farming Simulator. Not even kidding. Thank me later.
Portal, pontifex, Minecraft, simcity, teampark :)
Portal is what got my dad into gaming when he was in his 60s.
Have you considered point and click adventure games? Some of them have pretty decent stories and puzzles + they don't require fast reflexes/good aim
Agreed. Made me think of the Lucasfilm games from the 90’s. Monkey Island series, The Dig, Full Throttle, etc.
Skyrim? Shirley curry retired so....
Hahah yeah taht falls in the category of "i would like him to try" but for sure he's going to have issues with commands and bugs and... Yeah, I got confused many times my first time, I can't imagine him
By the way, if you miss Grandma, search Clivical on Youtube. An absolutely brilliant elderly gentleman with a great sense of humor and razor-sharp attention to detail. His thoughtful ongoing playthrough of Cyberpunk is one of the best things I watched in a long long time. He reads this game like an open book, If you missed something about Cyberpunk plot, he will explain it in detail, even implicit parts. He sees connections you totally missed even if you are an attentive player. Do you remember NCPD encounters? Random thug fights with "evidence", in the form of archived conversations? He reads each one of them and deducts what happened like a Sherlock Holmes. He expresses so much genuine joy when he finds each new readable shard that adds to lore and worldbuilding. He made a full psychological analysis of Judy by examining her bathroom for 20 minutes. He says he is really bad at combat, but he is a formidable silent assassin. He was close to level 30 the first time he died.
Omg hes gonna love rdr2
My 93 year old grandfather enjoyed watching me play this one.
I think too. But it's the length of the game that worries me a bit. I would like him to feel gratified of having completed a short one, so that the boost might encourage him to start new ones
The controls are really complex; especially if he's never used a modern controller.
You could perhaps play something together like It Takes Two? Could be a wholesome bonding experience :)
I think 3d platformers are probably out for their first game.
I think that would be too much for literally your first video game
Maybe. But at this point seeing all suggestions, I think I'll hand him a short, simple and quick game (like Balatro as most are suggesting) then try to offer him an adventure
Why the hell did I not think of this, I have it on my damn shelf
Stardew Valley?
90? I feel like he can relate to Spore, since he'll personally remember the first 80% of that game as his real life.
Ayooo lol
Minecraft
Minecraft peaceful mode is the correct answer as far as I am concerned. They can play it together, it's simple to understand but can slowly become complicated. Most people I have met who don't actually know what Minecraft is are actually blown away by it.
LIMBO
Simplistic yet dark n beautiful with some cool puzzles. Plus he may appreciate the black n white setting.
That's true, everything was in black and white when he was a kid.
roller coaster tycoon 2
Civilization or Age of Empires would be my suggestion for Gramps.
Bejeweled.
EVE Online.
I think 90 is the average age of the playerbase.
All of them retired accountants.
Ask him what his interests are. If he's into cars, get him a car game, etc.
Otherwise, Stardew Valley is kind of easy and cozy.
how are his hands/fingers? controllers may not be the most ergonomical for him ,thought about that?
something not real time might be best. what does he like, or what hobbies he had? anything he cannot do anymore? sports, hunting, fishing, farming, cooking, playing cards etc
or what was his profession? maybe architecture, city planning, truck driving?
Tiny book shop. Great relaxing game, especially if he likes books.
I think Portal 1 is the perfect first game for him. Puzzle based, methodical, non violent and compelling story
What board games does he like? A good intro to video games can be something he is familiar with like risk. But honestly something like skyrum may actually draw him in, turn him loose in the world with a mission just to collect flowers and next thing you know he may be building his own armor lol.
Age of empires 2 or a civilization game. Old men love historical titles typically and both have difficulty sliders to make it as easy or hard as he’d like.they both also have multiplayer so you can play with him, which I think is ultimately what he wants
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The thing is, violence is where I expect him to grunt a bit. Not because old fashioned "vIdEoGaMeS cAuSe vIoLeNcE" but because he'll think it's childish and a waste of time.
That's one of the few things I'm almost sure of.
I echo what others say, Balatro is a great place to start
I just got my GF (who has never played a game before), to try Stray. Very simple, not a lot of systems, short and easy to play in small bursts.
A good introduction and example that games aren't just shooters or puzzles.
not a joke, but tetris. or, theres this old pair of computer games called hoyles car/board games. its exactly what you think, playing various card and board games, against npc personalities.
Animal crossing
Just for fun, have him play the Classic Crash Bandicoot titles!
Maybe a puzzle game? At 90 I'm not sure how much he'd enjoy action / fast reaction time games.
Return of the Obra Dinner maybe? Or perhaps The Witness?
I'd generally recommend some classic strategy titles.
They all have a bunch of plug and play knowledge from other parts of living. Crusader Kings, Hearts of Iron, and other Paradox Grand Strategy games probably have the most overall mechanics to learn just to moderately succeed, so more for folks already with their head deep in that setting. Most give plenty of planning time and don't rely too much on manual dexterity for success. Focused on planning and reacting to events.
Astrobot if you have a ps5
Skyrim, bro
Outer Wilds.
Not very dexterity heavy but could be a great intro to first person games and since he's as sharp as a 30yr old, he might get hooked on the mystery.