For older gamers, video games aren’t just entertainment — they’re a powerful tool for keeping the mind sharp, improving memory, enhancing attention, and supporting overall cognitive health. While gaming has often been seen as a younger person’s activity, a growing body of scientific research shows that people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond may benefit from gaming more than anyone.
Here’s what the latest science tells us — along with game recommendations that offer proven cognitive benefits.
Why Cognitive Health Matters as We Age
As we grow older, certain cognitive abilities naturally begin to decline — typically starting in our late 30s and becoming more noticeable in our 50s and beyond. These changes affect key functions such as processing speed, working memory, attention, and executive function (the mental skills involved in planning, decision-making, and problem-solving).
This decline isn’t a sign of something “wrong,” but rather a normal part of aging driven by changes in brain structure, reduced neurotransmitter levels, and the gradual slowing of neural communication. However, research over the past two decades has shown that the adult brain remains remarkably plastic, meaning it can continue to reorganize and strengthen neural pathways well into late adulthood. In other words: the brain can still grow, adapt, and improve — especially when challenged.
This is why maintaining cognitive health is so important. Strong cognitive function is tied not only to sharper thinking, but also to greater independence, higher quality of life, and long-term emotional well-being. Studies show that adults who regularly engage in mentally stimulating activities — including reading, puzzles, strategy games, and video games — experience slower cognitive decline and better overall brain performance.
Research from institutions like the National Institutes of Health and major universities consistently highlights that targeted cognitive engagement can improve memory, attention, and even processing speed. In practical terms, this means that activities that challenge the mind aren’t just hobbies — they’re a form of mental fitness training. For older gamers, this is especially good news: many game genres naturally provide the kind of structured challenge, feedback, novelty, and problem-solving that support healthy cognitive aging.
Video games — particularly those that challenge memory, strategy, and attention — provide exactly the kind of mental stimulation that supports ongoing neuroplasticity.
What Scientific Studies Say About Gaming as Cognitive Training
1. Video Games Improve Working Memory and Attention
A well-known study published in Nature by Anguera et al. (2013) found that older adults who played a specially designed multitasking video game (“NeuroRacer”) showed significant improvements in working memory, sustained attention, and task-switching ability.
NeuroRacer is a custom-built 3D video game developed by neuroscientists at the University of California, San Francisco under Dr. Adam Gazzaley. In the game, players drive a car along a winding road while simultaneously responding to visual “signs” — the dual-task design forces them to multitask in a way that maps closely to real-world cognitive control demands. Research published in Nature showed that older adults (aged 60–85) who trained on this multitasking version significantly reduced their “multitasking cost,” performing even better in NeuroRacer than untrained 20-year-olds.
What makes the NeuroRacer study especially compelling is that the benefits didn’t just stay inside the game. Trained participants demonstrated improvements in working memory and sustained attention, which transferred to other cognitive tasks they weren’t explicitly practicing in the game. Additionally, EEG measures showed enhanced midline frontal theta activity and stronger coherence between frontal and posterior brain regions — neural changes associated with better cognitive control. Impressively, these gains endured for at least six months after the training period ended.(PubMed Reference)
2. Action Video Games Improve Processing Speed
Researchers at the University of Rochester, led by C. Shawn Green and Daphne Bavelier, conducted a landmark study demonstrating that action video games can significantly expand a player’s visual attention capacity. In their 2006 experiment, they compared individuals who regularly play action games with non-gamers, using tasks that tested attention both in the center of vision and out toward the periphery. What they found was striking: action gamers had more robust attentional resources across the entire visual field, not just centrally. (PubMed Reference)
But the most powerful part of their research is that these enhancements are causal, not just correlated with gaming. In a controlled training study, non-gamers played a fast-paced first-person shooter (Unreal Tournament) for about 30 hours. After the training period, these individuals demonstrated significant improvements in their ability to detect targets in the periphery of their vision — even when distractors were present. (PMC Reference) The results suggest that action gaming reshapes how our brain distributes attention spatially, improving not just raw processing but the selectivity of where we focus — a type of mental flexibility that could be incredibly beneficial for cognitive health.
3. Strategy Games Boost Executive Function.
In a study published in Psychology and Aging, Chandramallika Basak, Arthur Kramer, and their colleagues trained older adults (in their 60s and 70s) to play the real-time strategy game Rise of Nations for a total of 23.5 hours. They compared these “gamers” with a control group that did not receive any gaming training and evaluated both groups using a battery of cognitive tests before, during, and after the intervention.
The results were striking: the older adults who trained on Rise of Nations showed significant improvements in executive control functions — specifically task switching, working memory, reasoning, and visual short-term memory. Importantly, the benefits weren’t just limited to playing the game itself: performance gains on the game correlated with improvements on real-world cognitive tests, especially for task switching. This study offers compelling evidence that strategy-based video games can stimulate high-level cognitive processes in older adults, suggesting that well-designed games might serve as a powerful tool for maintaining mental sharpness into later life.
“Older adults showed significant improvements in executive control after strategy game training.”
(Basak et al., Psychology and Aging, 2008)
4. Puzzle and Memory Games Enhance Brain Connectivity
Research from the University of Iowa (Owen et al., 2010) found that adults over 50 who played cognitive training games for 10 hours showed an improvement equivalent to three years of cognitive aging reversal on select tasks.
“Cognitive training improved reasoning and problem-solving abilities in older participants.”
(Owen et al., 2010)
5. Video Games Support Emotional Well-Being
Finally, in a notable Computers in Human Behavior study, Jason C. Allaire and colleagues surveyed 140 older adults (average age ≈ 77) to explore how video game play relates to emotional and social well-being. The participants were divided into three groups: regular gamers, occasional gamers, and non-gamers. The researchers measured variables such as life satisfaction, social functioning, negative affect, and depression. Their findings revealed that both regular and occasional gamers reported significantly better psychological functioning compared to non-gamers — they had higher levels of well-being, fewer negative emotions, and lower self-reported depression.
What makes this study particularly meaningful for older gamers is that it suggests video gaming is not just cognitively stimulating, but also emotionally beneficial. Allaire and his team interpreted their data to mean that playing digital games might serve as a positive social activity, helping older adults maintain a stronger sense of community and emotional balance. Importantly, the study doesn’t prove causation — the authors themselves note that while there is a clear “link between gaming and better well-being,” further research is needed to determine if gaming directly causes improvements in mental health.
Best Games for Cognitive Workouts (Great for Older Gamers)
Based on the research above and broader cognitive science principles, here are some games and genres that provide excellent mental workouts.
1. Strategy Games (Executive Function + Planning)
These are backed by the Basak et al. study above.
- Civilization VI
Great for planning, long-term strategy, and resource management. - XCOM 2
Enhances decision-making, problem solving, and adaptability. - Rise of Nations
One of the most studied games in cognitive research.
2. Puzzle Games (Memory + Problem Solving)
- Lumosity
Features exercises designed around neuroscience principles. - Peak
Includes memory, attention, and problem-solving tasks. - The Witness
Deep, meditative puzzles that exercise spatial reasoning and pattern recognition. - Portal & Portal 2
Puzzle-solving that improves abstract reasoning and spatial awareness.
3. Action Games (Processing Speed + Spatial Awareness)
These games support faster decision-making and sharpen visual attention:
- Overwatch (or Overwatch 2) – team-based and fast-paced without being overly punishing.
- Fortnite No-Build Mode – focuses more on positioning and strategy than mechanical skill.
- Apex Legends Training Mode – great for cognitive reflex training without needing multiplayer intensity.
- Battlefield 6 – while this is a brand new title, and not specifically researched, it should be mentioned as it provides much of the same training as the previous titles. Beware though – if you have vision difficulties, this one can be a challenge because seeing opponents on some of the maps is near impossible. If you like First Person Shooters, this one is a middle ground between titles like Overwatch and Call of Duty.
4. Simulation Games (Planning + Memory + Creativity)
- Cities: Skylines
Fantastic for planning and systems thinking. - Stardew Valley
Promotes memory, sequencing, and long-term planning in a low-pressure environment. - Factorio
Excellent for systems-thinking and logic.
5. Brain-Specific Training Games (General Cognitive Stimulation)
- Nintendo’s Brain Age
Based on neuroscience-informed cognitive tasks. - Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain
Simple, accessible challenges good for all ages. - Sudoku Apps / Crossword Apps
Still gold standards for mental exercise.
How Much Gaming Do You Need for Cognitive Benefits?
Most studies show benefits with:
- 1 to 3 hours per week for general cognitive improvement
- 10-hour training blocks for measurable improvements
- Regular play for 4–8 weeks to see sustained change
The key is consistency — not marathon sessions. A little can be a lot in this department. Eye strain with some titles can be a reality so take it easy and see how you respond.
Final Thoughts
As the research shows, video games are far more than entertainment — they’re emerging as a powerful tool for supporting cognitive and emotional well-being as we age. While no single game can stop aging, the scientific evidence is clear: staying mentally active, socially engaged, and open to new challenges can make a real difference. For older gamers, that means the hobby you love isn’t just fun — it’s an investment in long-term cognitive health. So keep playing, keep learning, and keep pushing for your own “vectored ascent” toward a sharper, healthier mind.
