November 18th 2024
By Jordan McElwain
Who doesn’t love to play games? We find ourselves with more time in retirement to play these different types of games for seniors (or anyone, really)!
Retirement can open up more time for activities you enjoy. While changing circumstances—like friends moving away or shifts in your living situation—might affect your usual routines, games can be an engaging way to stay active and connected.
Playing games isn't just fun, it's good for you—especially when sharing the experience with others. Games offer a great way to stay socially connected while supporting your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Games can help maintain your physical health in several ways. Regular play helps keep your coordination sharp and supports hand dexterity. Some more active games even improve balance and build stamina.
Playing games is a great workout for your mind. Whether you're solving puzzles, playing word games, learning new rules, or developing strategies, you're keeping your brain active and engaged. These mental challenges help to test and improve memory skills that can also help you keep up with daily activities.
Multiplayer games bring people together, creating natural opportunities for connection and conversation. Whether you're teaming up or enjoying some friendly competition, playing with others adds fun and meaning to your day. Many people find that regular game sessions help them build and maintain friendships.
The simple act of playing can lift your mood and reduce daily stress. Many people find that having regular game time helps them feel more relaxed and positive, contributing to better emotional well-being.
Whether you're spending more time at home, visiting your local community center, or living in a retirement community, there are plenty of games that can match your interests and abilities. You can choose activities that work best for your schedule, energy level, and preferred way to play.
You might enjoy gathering around a table for card games with friends, or maybe you prefer the quiet focus of solving a word puzzle or playing solitaire—either with traditional cards or on your computer. Jigsaw puzzles offer flexibility too. They're great for solo time or as a shared activity with others.
If you enjoy using your phone or tablet, games like Candy Crush or online multiplayer games can add fun to your day. These digital options are a wonderful way to stay connected, keep your mind sharp, and turn quiet moments into engaging experiences. Many digital games are also free applications, so you don’t have to worry about your budget.
If you enjoy staying active, you can continue many physical activities you love. Whether you enjoy basketball, playing tennis, or a round of golf, there's no need to stop. And if you're looking to try something new, you have plenty of engaging options to choose from:
Croquet
Pickleball
Bocce ball
Bowling
Shuffleboard
Cornhole
Many of these well-known outdoor games require a low level of exertion while providing exercise and social interaction.
Games are a great way to keep your mind active. Research shows that many types of games can support brain health – whether you enjoy word puzzles like Wordle and crosswords or number challenges like Sudoku. While games can't reverse conditions like dementia, regular play may help maintain mental focus and memory while reducing stress.
Remember, many types of games–not just those labeled as "memory games"–can help you stay sharp and engaged.
Many kinds of games are fun and interesting to play, but many also allow you to use a wide range of skills. Playing them is a great way to do some brain training while you're enjoying yourself.
Do you love Rummy, Bridge, Hearts, Crazy Eights, and Uno? Playing card games like these calls for many skills that keep the brain sharp, such as pattern recognition, memory skills, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking. All you need is a deck or two of cards and a pen or paper for keeping score and you have the makings of a great way to spend an afternoon or evening in the company of friends.
Many great games use just dice and a pencil and paper to keep score. Games like Yahtzee, Bunco, Mexico, and Liar's Dice test your hand dexterity, fine and gross motor skills, counting skills, memory, and more. Dice games are even used to teach kids math, so they are helpful memory games for seniors too. Larger-size dice help some seniors see the numbers more easily. There are even giant foam and inflatable dice that make for fun group games. And of course, rolling the dice moves things along in many board games like Monopoly and Sorry!
Math and language skills are an important part of communication, so playing games that keep these skills fresh helps older adults stay engaged! Many games like Scrabble, Boggle, Scategories, Balderdash, and Sudoku test your ability to form words, categorize ideas, and recognize number patterns. They depend on creativity and strategic thinking while being a lot of fun. Playing games like this with friends or acquaintances helps you maintain social connections that are sometimes hard to keep in the older years.
Seniors who like to play games in their spare time often turn to word scrambles, crossword puzzles, word search, and games like Wordle to maintain cognitive function. Many games like this come with large print options. Some games can be played online on any device you have—like a computer, laptop, tablet, or phone. Some are multi-player games like Words with Friends.
These games work on improving different skills that can even help Alzheimer's patients. Crossword puzzles, for example, improve cognitive skills like verbal learning, speed, and memory.
Bingo is another great option. While winning depends on luck, following the numbers and letters as they're called out keeps your mind active. Many people enjoy the energy of a busy bingo hall, where you can challenge yourself while enjoying friendly competition and making social connections.
Board games like chess, checkers, Clue, Life, and Trouble are always popular. Trivia games like Trivial Pursuit, Wheel of Fortune, and Boom Again are also common choices among seniors. Whether the category is old movies. current events. or name that tune, these games challenge the mind to remember.
Aside from the opportunities to socialize, board games require skills, like decision making, higher level strategic thinking, and problem solving.
Jigsaw puzzles are another interesting way to pass the time. While working together with others or challenging yourself with a puzzle game, you rely on visual-spatial reasoning, short-term memory, and problem-solving skills. Some elderly people enjoy working on difficult 1,000-piece puzzles, but there are plenty of options for those who want an easier activity, need to redevelop skills, or display dementia symptoms.
You may think of video games as something your grandkids play, but many seniors love them too! Some games are computerized versions of word games and puzzle games with graphics, but there are dozens of sports games, virtual reality (VR), and strategy and action games too.
Whether you want to play Dungeons and Dragons, Minecraft, or a football game, you can jump into a world of excitement and entertainment that also benefits your brain. Video games engage your senses and help boost cognitive and emotional skills too.
If you enjoy using your phone or tablet, games like Candy Crush or online multiplayer games can add excitement to your day and help you stay connected.
Many people find themselves with significantly more free time when they retire. Games are a common hobby among seniors, but there are several others you can enjoy. If you’re looking for inspiration, explore our list of 45 hobbies for seniors.
