Do Older Gamers See Themselves on the Screen?

Today’s gamers aren’t just kids, or 20-somethings holed up in a parent’s basement. Even as players of all ages are maneuvering their avatars through the alluring alternative worlds, the portrayal of older adults in mainstream video games often doesn’t reflect the entertainment’s broad appeal.

Despite representing a significant — and growing — market, gamers age 50-plus rarely see older characters or have options to customize avatars in their likeness, according to a new AARP study. Among the 49 bestselling games of 2023 on the STEAM platform, AARP analysis found that just 7 percent of human and humanlike preset characters are 50-plus, with most (55 percent) human and humanlike characters taking on the likeness of those ages 20–49. The portrayal of older characters also lacks diversity, with most appearing white (67 percent) and male (94 percent).

Limited screen time for aging characters

Age is also an uncommon feature when players are provided the ability to customize their own avatar. Skin color/tone, gender, and body type are all common options, but fewer than half (43 percent) of the most popular games allow users to visibly age their character with facial or skin options (think wrinkles).

Unrealistically perfect, smooth complexions aren’t the only way aging gamers are being snubbed by an industry they helped popularize and validate. These first-generation gamers who grew up with the Atari 2600 and the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System and are now entering middle-age are finding that the industry isn’t keeping up. Not only is the industry failing to capture the aging experience of their original devotees, the study finds, it is also missing out on market expansion — by welcoming more older adults who may be interested in joining the fun of the gaming community.

Older gamers feel they are overlooked, and a majority (69 percent) say video games are not designed with their age group in mind, and they never see older people like themselves reflected in video games (71 percent).

When games do portray older characters, stereotypes are commonplace. Tropes like a wise mentor, elder in distress, silver fox, or vain sorceress reinforce narrow views of aging and frame aging as a decline to be feared, a power to be admired, or a curse to be avoided. That industry status quo both reinforces stereotypes and, given gaming’s strong cultural presence, represents a missed opportunity. Video games, the study notes, have the potential to challenge limitations by offering playful, immersive experiences where individuals can reimagine themselves.

Methodology

Using a content analysis of the 2023 best-selling console and PC games according the Steam Charts, the report uncovers the prevalence of playable 50-plus characters, and aging representation within customizable playable characters. Data was collected between December 9, 2024 and January 31, 2025​.

The authors note that the analysis included only best-selling games of 2023, though the excluded games may be widely played. Additionally, the analysis did not consider gaming story narratives or players’ skins, which are like the costumes an avatar can embody. Instead, the analysis considered the physical features of playable characters as their base models. Finally, an analysis of nonplayable characters (NPCs) was not included in the study.

For more information, please contact Brittne Kakulla at [email protected]. For media inquiries, please contact External Relations at [email protected].