How Video Games Represent Age—and Where They Fall Short
Video games have evolved in countless ways, but one aspect remains largely overlooked: age representation. Despite a diverse player base that includes millions of older adults, age in video games remains a blind spot. A new study by AARP and the Geena Davis Institute finds that while nearly half (45%) of adults 50 and older play video games, yet characters over 50 are rarely represented.
From the lack of older playable characters to stereotypical portrayals of aging, the study highlights a gap between the real-world gaming audience and how age in video games is depicted.
📖 Read the full report: Aging in Play: Representations of Age in Video Games
The Growing Presence of Older Gamers
Gaming is no longer just for the young. AARP’s research shows that:
- 45% of adults aged 50+ play video games at least once a month.
- 69% of older gamers feel video games are not designed with them in mind.
- 71% report never seeing people like themselves reflected in video games.
As the gaming audience ages, game design and character representation have an opportunity to evolve. Yet, age in video games is still largely an afterthought.
🔗 Related Research:
How Age in Video Games Is Represented—Or Not
A detailed analysis of the 49 best-selling PC and console games of 2023 shows a stark reality:
- Only 7% of human playable preset characters are aged 50-plus.
- 55% of characters fall between ages 20-49, while 37% are immortal or fantasy-based beings that don’t visibly age.
- Among the few older characters, 94% are men, and 67% are white.
This mirrors a larger trend in media, where age representation skews male and lacks diversity. Older women, in particular, are significantly underrepresented.
🎮 Further Reading from the Report:
📚 Geena Davis Institute Resource:
Character Customization: A Missed Opportunity
Many modern games allow customization, but age representation remains limited.
Among games with character customization:
- 100% allow race/skin tone changes.
- 96% allow gender customization allowing users to specify their gender identity beyond the traditional binary of male and female, enabling them to choose how they want to be publicly referred to.
- 52% allow some form of body size adjustments.
- Only 43% allow players to make their character visibly older such as with wrinkles or hair color.
While players can shape their avatars in many ways, the ability to visibly age characters is often missing. This means age in video games is still treated as an exception rather than a standard customization option.
🎭 More from the Report:
Why Age Representation in Gaming Matters
Ignoring age in video games isn’t just an oversight—it’s a missed opportunity. Older gamers are:
✅ Engaged and loyal players.
✅ A growing audience with spending power.
✅ Seeking more inclusive gaming experiences.
To embrace age diversity, game developers should:
🎮 Expand character customization to include realistic aging features.
📖 Develop richer narratives that reflect intergenerational experiences.
🔄 Avoid outdated stereotypes and showcase older characters as dynamic and capable.
🔗 For Developers from the Report: AARP’s Age Representation Guide
Final Thoughts: It’s Time to Level Up Age Representation
Gaming is for all ages, but age in video games has yet to reflect that reality. As the industry evolves, it has the chance to redefine how aging is portrayed—not just for older players, but for all gamers who will eventually see themselves in these stories.
For more insights, read the full Gaming Representation Report here.
