What Counts as a Video Game?

Video Games Come in Many Shapes and Forms. We Aren’t Just Talking About Those That Need an Expensive Console You Plug into Your Tv. Those Are Video Games, but So Are the Free Puzzle Games You Play on Your Cell Phone While You Wait in Line at the Dmv, and So Is the Solitaire You Play on Your Computer to Pass the Time. the Realm of Video Games Is So Vast That People of All Experience Levels and Ages Can Enjoy Them, Regardless of the Equipment They Do or Don’t Have. in Fact, 2021 Research Shows That 42 Percent of People Aged 56-65 Had Played Video Games in the Previous Six Months, and More Than Half of That Number — 53 Percent — Were Women. Overall, the Study Determined 10 Percent of the Group’s Leisure Time Was Spent on Gaming. So If You’re Wondering What a Gamer Looks Like, You May Just Need to Look in the Mirror.

Studies on Video Games and Brain Health

You May Have Heard About Video Games’ Ability to Improve Hand-Eye Coordination. but an Even More Compelling Reason to Play Video Games Is Their Potential for Improving Cognitive Health. Researchers Conducting a Study in 2020 Recruited Individuals Between the Ages of 60 and 80 to Play Super Mario (A Three-Dimensional Game Played on a Gaming Console), and Angry Birds, (A Two-Dimensional Mobile Game). Participants Played These Games for 30-45 Minutes a Day for Four Weeks; at the Two-Week Mark, Researchers Found That Their Recognition Memory — Memory That Involves Recall of Previously Observed Events, People, and Situations — Had Improved Dramatically. During the Next Two Weeks, Super Mario Players’ Memories Improved Even More. (Given Both Types of Gameplay Had a Positive Effect on Adult Memory, You’ve No Need to Feel Guilty About Gaming on Your Phone.)

What Video Games Should I Try?

There Are a Host of Video Games Available on the Market, and They Range in Price from Free to Expensive. Some of Them Require Video Game Consoles, Like the Playstation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch to Play, While Others Require Nothing but an Internet Connection and a Computer or a Cell Phone. They Also Range in Difficulty/Excitement Levels — So If You Prefer Tending Virtual Gardens in Colorful Villages over Gunning Down Opponents in a High-Stakes Scenario, There Are Still Plenty of Games for You to Enjoy. Because Console Games Differ in Availability, I’m Going to Recommend Some Options for Mobile and Computer Gaming.

Crossy Road: with Colorful Graphics, Fun Characters, and Simple Gameplay, Crossy Road Is a Frogger-Style Game in Which You Try to Help Your Character —a Chicken — Cross a Busy Road. We Still Don’t Know Why the Chicken Crossed the Road, but We Can at Least Establish How. This Game Is Free to Download on the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.

You Can Download Steam, a Platform That Allows You Access Just About Any Computer Game That’s Been Released Lately, Including Free Independent Games and More Costly Mainstream Games. but There Are Also Several Websites out There That Allow You to Play Games Online at No Cost.

Video Games Are Good for Your Brain

By Sophia Al-Mansoor

• Oct 9, 2026 • 6 min read

Direct Answer • Key Takeaway

Pressing Buttons to Collect Coins, Defeat Invading Space Aliens, or Save a Pixelated Princess from an Evil Castle Probably Isn’t on Your to-Do List for Today. Video Games Are Often Considered Frivolous: They’re Fun, Yes — but Spending Your Time This Way Isn’t Exactly Productive, Right? Actually, as It Turns Out, Playing Video Games in Your Adult Life Can Be Good for Your Brain, Contributing to Improved Memory and Slowed Cognitive Decline. Here’s Why You Should Pick up a Controller and Claim a Real-Life Win.

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Global Business & E-Commerce Reporter

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.

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