Good thoughts. And let's not forget older folks like us have the ability to spend on a good game.
Though I also think making a good game for a more seasoned person is a lot harder. For example, simple plot/characters/gameplay aren't as satisying since we have probably played/lived through more complex experiences in real life.
Time commitment is another problem, as most games designed to be "addictive" are harder to fit in the life of a busy adults.
In some regard, I find interactive fiction a pretty good middleground. I get complex stories with a little time investment.
Please do share with us more if you find good games ;)
Thank you! 😊 I think the time commitment point is a really interesting one. I definitely have less patience now for games that seem determined to keep me playing just for the sake of it, but I do tend to have more time for gaming and hobbies now in my 40s than I ever have before.
Interactive fiction is a really good shout too, I'm playing Beacon Pines at the moment which is absolutely brilliant. I will absolutely keep sharing the good ones when I find them! I'm determined to prove there are more of us out there 😂 Thanks again for reading 😊
Firstly, thank you for such a thoughtful, well-written and well-researched post! I've also been gaming since the 90s, so I've been playing certain types of video game characters/protagonists for so long that I no longer question it. From mustached Italian-American plumbers to various young men in many JRPGs, and as you said, characters/protagonists were and still are predominantly male or could be mistaken as male (I was surprised when I found out about Samus in Super Metroid!)
As women gamers, I think we spend a lot of time playing as male protagonists that it no longer fazes us. It's sadly a treat when we do get to play as a proper female protagonist, and not just a... co-protagonist? Side-protagonist? (Like Yuna from FFX, whom I thought I would play a lot more of since she's literally on the logo.) Older women are definitely harder to find in games, so thank you for the list. I am not sure if it will count as a cozy game, but have you tried To the Moon by Freebird Games? Although her age is not explicitly stated, Dr. Eva Rosalene is quite mature, especially when compared to her partner. 😅 Nevertheless, such a wonderful story to experience blind if possible. The music still tugs at my heartstrings.
Thank you so much! 😊 And yes, I think that's exactly it, we've spent so long playing as male protagonists that I barely even think about it anymore. But then when you actually stop and look at how few women there are, and particularly how few *older* women, it's quite startling!
You've reminded me that To the Moon has been sitting in my Steam wishlist for far too long! I've heard so many lovely things about it, so I really need to finally play it. Dr Rosalene sounds like another one to add to my growing list 😊 Thank you for the recommendation, and for such a lovely comment!
Indeed! It's like trying to find a “strong female character" in books or other media but at the same time, “Not like that!" to many examples unfortunately.
Hope you enjoy the story! I played it over 10 years ago and still think about it from time to time. I believe they updated the graphics, so hopefully it's still a cozy, pixel-y point-and-click game that I remember. 💜
I think part of the issue is that gaming in general is concerned with adventure and excitement, and Western culture doesn't see people in their 40s+ doing much of that. We're assumed to be running to soccer practice, paying our bills, and trying to figure out what to cook for dinner. And if we do look for adventure, game companies seem to think, we look back to our 20s when we weren't as tied down. The age-range of game characters really is the assumed golden age of excitement and freedom.
Personally, I'm pretty happy being in my 40s. I feel like I'm less of an idiot who took way too many chances. I'm also not ready to "pass the torch" to my kids. I'd like to adventure WITH my children, personally, or find some other ways to explore mystery in my life. But, again, that's not how our culture (or, well, at least my culture. I'm from the US) thinks of people in their mid-age.
Yes, this is such a good point!! There does seem to be this idea that adventure belongs to younger people, and that once you reach your 40s your life becomes work, bills and deciding what to have for tea 😂 I don’t feel like I’m done having adventures or discovering new things at all. If anything, I feel much more comfortable with myself now than I did in my 20s. I’d love to see games reflect that more... not necessarily stories *about* being middle-aged, just middle-aged people getting to have adventures too!
Damn…and here I was all ready to swoop in with a “but there’s always Mass Effect and Fallout. You can slap on grey and platinum color tones for the hair, and voilá! Representation! We did it guys. High-fives all around!”
But then I got to the part where you accounted for character creation templates and yeah…they don’t really bridge that representation gap. To be honest, I’m not sure I ever considered this topic at all.
However, I’d love to see better representation of middle aged women as protagonists in games. I guess Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn technically counts. But only technically.
Why should us dudes get the monopoly on sad dad adventures?
Hahaha, exactly! 😂 Just slap some grey hair on a 25-year-old face and our work here is done!
I hadn't really thought about it properly either until I came across the research, and then suddenly I couldn't stop noticing it. And YES to the sad dad adventures! Gaming has absolutely perfected the grizzled middle-aged man with a complicated past, so I feel like it's only fair we get some middle-aged women making decisions and going on adventures too!
You just KNOW I love every game recommended here! I was thinking, mayyyybe Valen the Dr in Fields of Mistria? But I always love some Meredith appreciation and a sassy playthrough of her in Lake! Thank you!
Amazinggggg! I mean, I have other reasons I look forward to the Christmas season, of course, BUT NOW I HAVE THIS!!! And best of all, it will be hot as balls while I play and the air con will be cranked up 🤣
I have not really... considered this. I mean even in the new Kingdom Hearts trailer -- Sora clearly has aged but Kairi? I can't decide if she has or hasn't. There isn't very many older women in games unless they're like grandma old... now I can't un-consider this lol!!
What a fantastic article! I wholeheartedly agree and I want to see more older women in games. There is just a lot of untapped potential, I hope we get more!
Very nice piece. It’s not just a question of audience. I just don’t think games are meant to appeal to older people at all, outside of nostalgia. They are designed to stimulate one’s senses when young, with the idea that once older and given access to other art forms and the ability to make their own art, they will move on. That’s why it feels games are stuck in a loop: they continually need to appeal to new younger players
Fully agree with you. To go on a slight tangent to show how males are certainly catered for... When I watched Spiderman Into the Spiderverse, I found the older Peter Parker relatable to me. Same when I watched the TV show Superman and Lois, where Clark Kent has two teenage boys. It wasn't so much their age, but the fact they had life experiences which I could totally understand - parenthood, difficulties in life, understanding that happy endings don't always happen, so on.
Back to your topic, why can't we have that for female representation? Especially as females go through some very different life experiences. Why can't Lara Croft still be adventuring into her 40's, where her life and choices have shaped her a lot more? I think we all know the answer to that one...
It's one reason why I'm looking forward to God of War Laufey. Motherhood is not the only defining trait for females, but it's a lot more than what video game characters are usually allowed to be.
What a great post Ellie, and I hope many read and think about it.
Good thoughts. And let's not forget older folks like us have the ability to spend on a good game.
Though I also think making a good game for a more seasoned person is a lot harder. For example, simple plot/characters/gameplay aren't as satisying since we have probably played/lived through more complex experiences in real life.
Time commitment is another problem, as most games designed to be "addictive" are harder to fit in the life of a busy adults.
In some regard, I find interactive fiction a pretty good middleground. I get complex stories with a little time investment.
Please do share with us more if you find good games ;)
Thank you! 😊 I think the time commitment point is a really interesting one. I definitely have less patience now for games that seem determined to keep me playing just for the sake of it, but I do tend to have more time for gaming and hobbies now in my 40s than I ever have before.
Interactive fiction is a really good shout too, I'm playing Beacon Pines at the moment which is absolutely brilliant. I will absolutely keep sharing the good ones when I find them! I'm determined to prove there are more of us out there 😂 Thanks again for reading 😊
Firstly, thank you for such a thoughtful, well-written and well-researched post! I've also been gaming since the 90s, so I've been playing certain types of video game characters/protagonists for so long that I no longer question it. From mustached Italian-American plumbers to various young men in many JRPGs, and as you said, characters/protagonists were and still are predominantly male or could be mistaken as male (I was surprised when I found out about Samus in Super Metroid!)
As women gamers, I think we spend a lot of time playing as male protagonists that it no longer fazes us. It's sadly a treat when we do get to play as a proper female protagonist, and not just a... co-protagonist? Side-protagonist? (Like Yuna from FFX, whom I thought I would play a lot more of since she's literally on the logo.) Older women are definitely harder to find in games, so thank you for the list. I am not sure if it will count as a cozy game, but have you tried To the Moon by Freebird Games? Although her age is not explicitly stated, Dr. Eva Rosalene is quite mature, especially when compared to her partner. 😅 Nevertheless, such a wonderful story to experience blind if possible. The music still tugs at my heartstrings.
Thank you again for the post. Great read!
Thank you so much! 😊 And yes, I think that's exactly it, we've spent so long playing as male protagonists that I barely even think about it anymore. But then when you actually stop and look at how few women there are, and particularly how few *older* women, it's quite startling!
You've reminded me that To the Moon has been sitting in my Steam wishlist for far too long! I've heard so many lovely things about it, so I really need to finally play it. Dr Rosalene sounds like another one to add to my growing list 😊 Thank you for the recommendation, and for such a lovely comment!
Indeed! It's like trying to find a “strong female character" in books or other media but at the same time, “Not like that!" to many examples unfortunately.
Hope you enjoy the story! I played it over 10 years ago and still think about it from time to time. I believe they updated the graphics, so hopefully it's still a cozy, pixel-y point-and-click game that I remember. 💜
I think part of the issue is that gaming in general is concerned with adventure and excitement, and Western culture doesn't see people in their 40s+ doing much of that. We're assumed to be running to soccer practice, paying our bills, and trying to figure out what to cook for dinner. And if we do look for adventure, game companies seem to think, we look back to our 20s when we weren't as tied down. The age-range of game characters really is the assumed golden age of excitement and freedom.
Personally, I'm pretty happy being in my 40s. I feel like I'm less of an idiot who took way too many chances. I'm also not ready to "pass the torch" to my kids. I'd like to adventure WITH my children, personally, or find some other ways to explore mystery in my life. But, again, that's not how our culture (or, well, at least my culture. I'm from the US) thinks of people in their mid-age.
Yes, this is such a good point!! There does seem to be this idea that adventure belongs to younger people, and that once you reach your 40s your life becomes work, bills and deciding what to have for tea 😂 I don’t feel like I’m done having adventures or discovering new things at all. If anything, I feel much more comfortable with myself now than I did in my 20s. I’d love to see games reflect that more... not necessarily stories *about* being middle-aged, just middle-aged people getting to have adventures too!
Damn…and here I was all ready to swoop in with a “but there’s always Mass Effect and Fallout. You can slap on grey and platinum color tones for the hair, and voilá! Representation! We did it guys. High-fives all around!”
But then I got to the part where you accounted for character creation templates and yeah…they don’t really bridge that representation gap. To be honest, I’m not sure I ever considered this topic at all.
However, I’d love to see better representation of middle aged women as protagonists in games. I guess Aloy from Horizon Zero Dawn technically counts. But only technically.
Why should us dudes get the monopoly on sad dad adventures?
Hahaha, exactly! 😂 Just slap some grey hair on a 25-year-old face and our work here is done!
I hadn't really thought about it properly either until I came across the research, and then suddenly I couldn't stop noticing it. And YES to the sad dad adventures! Gaming has absolutely perfected the grizzled middle-aged man with a complicated past, so I feel like it's only fair we get some middle-aged women making decisions and going on adventures too!
You just KNOW I love every game recommended here! I was thinking, mayyyybe Valen the Dr in Fields of Mistria? But I always love some Meredith appreciation and a sassy playthrough of her in Lake! Thank you!
Valen is such a good one! If only we could play as her... but at least we can romance her?!
I love Lake, I bring it up a lot on this blog 😂 I've got the Christmas DLC to play this year!
Is this the year I finally get the DLC so we can gab about Lake content?!
YES! Yes it is!!!! I'm waiting!
Amazinggggg! I mean, I have other reasons I look forward to the Christmas season, of course, BUT NOW I HAVE THIS!!! And best of all, it will be hot as balls while I play and the air con will be cranked up 🤣
Oh, I hope it's getting cooler there. Absolutely monstrous to go through such heat with no proper building and cooling considerations!
It is FINALLY cooler here and I am loving it! Today it actually feels like the beginning of Autumn… I’m so excited!
So when you play Lake DLC you need to crank air con, close all curtains/blinds, and pretend you are in a winter wonderland with me 🤣
I have not really... considered this. I mean even in the new Kingdom Hearts trailer -- Sora clearly has aged but Kairi? I can't decide if she has or hasn't. There isn't very many older women in games unless they're like grandma old... now I can't un-consider this lol!!
Hahaha I know!! Once you see it you can't unsee! I couldn't believe the stats I found on it... it was shocking (but also not shocking... 😂)
What a fantastic article! I wholeheartedly agree and I want to see more older women in games. There is just a lot of untapped potential, I hope we get more!
Thank you Oya! Yes, I'm hoping things start going in the right direction...!!
lovely and well researched and written post! Thanks Ellie!
Thank you so much Margot (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
This was a really good topic to touch on.
I know that when Leon Kennedy appeared in "Resident Evil 9: Requiem," it seemed to be 50/50 between acceptance and questioning online.
I think it's good for fans of a franchise to age WITH them, instead of being the same age throughout the entire series.
Thank you for this! :)
Very nice piece. It’s not just a question of audience. I just don’t think games are meant to appeal to older people at all, outside of nostalgia. They are designed to stimulate one’s senses when young, with the idea that once older and given access to other art forms and the ability to make their own art, they will move on. That’s why it feels games are stuck in a loop: they continually need to appeal to new younger players
I played Lake! I really liked it. It's a bit rough though and could use a lot more love in the polishing.
the women you want are a majority in match 3 and hidden object games though.
Fully agree with you. To go on a slight tangent to show how males are certainly catered for... When I watched Spiderman Into the Spiderverse, I found the older Peter Parker relatable to me. Same when I watched the TV show Superman and Lois, where Clark Kent has two teenage boys. It wasn't so much their age, but the fact they had life experiences which I could totally understand - parenthood, difficulties in life, understanding that happy endings don't always happen, so on.
Back to your topic, why can't we have that for female representation? Especially as females go through some very different life experiences. Why can't Lara Croft still be adventuring into her 40's, where her life and choices have shaped her a lot more? I think we all know the answer to that one...
It's one reason why I'm looking forward to God of War Laufey. Motherhood is not the only defining trait for females, but it's a lot more than what video game characters are usually allowed to be.
What a great post Ellie, and I hope many read and think about it.
Beautifully articulated! Great article :)