You’ll Never Guess Which Video Games Baby Boomers Can’t Stop Playing

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• Video game use in the Baby Boomer generation has significantly risen over the years and now sits at 53%.
• 45% of baby boomers had a favorable opinion of the top video game on our list. 
• Some surprising inclusions on our list include Marvel’s Avengers and Bejeweled — can you guess why?
• Also: Discover the “Next NVIDIA”

In the past, baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) were not always interested in video games. The onset of new technology increased suspicions. After all, the media claimed that video games could cause increased aggression or violence, and many people viewed video games as unproductive compared to other activities such as reading or playing outside. However, video games have become adopted by all generations, who now see these games as fun, exciting, thought-provoking, and connective; in games like Animal Crossing, you can even play with friends! A recent survey found that 53% of baby boomers now engage with video games. (Check out the 19 best-selling video games of all time.)

The video game landscape has undeniably changed over time, but some titles are too good to quit. Super Mario Bros., for example, is part of the cultural zeitgeist — and has been since the release of the Nintendo Entertainment System. Mario and Luigi helped introduce millions of people in the Baby Boomer generation to the art of video games — and had an equal impact on Gen X, millennials, Gen Z, and the burgeoning Gen Alpha. In fact, for many people (myself included), Super Mario Bros. is the quintessential example of video game supremacy. Of course, we also remember games such as Sonic the Hedgehog and The Legend of Zelda. (But if you’re looking for more video game options, here are the 20 best RPG video games ever made.)

But as video games have changed, and systems have improved, different generations are seeking out different games to spark their fancy. What are the baby boomers playing? Here, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the newest study (as of Q2 2024) from YouGov, an international online research data and analytics company, to identify the video games that baby boomers love. We ranked, in descending order, the most popular video games from anyone born between 1946 and 1964. And while you might not be surprised by every video game on this list, there are some unexpected offerings that show that fun transcends age. 

Why Is This Important? 

It’s hard to ignore just how large the video game world is: the industry is expected to bring in north of $280 billion in revenue in 2024. While Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft continue to battle for console superiority, portable handhelds are becoming the next big thing. As many companies responsible for this revenue are widely covered on this site, any list of the most popular video games is very topical to our coverage. 

15. Grand Theft Auto

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 26%

Released on every gaming platform available, Grand Theft Auto is one of the most successful video game franchises ever. It’s safe to say that Grand Theft Auto truly popularized the open-world genre where players can play a game out of order, completing side missions before focusing on the main storyline. With over 425 million units sold since 1997, the GTA world shows no sign of slowing down. 

14. Mario Kart 8

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 26%

After its original 2014 release, Mario Kart 8 quickly became the most popular game in the long-standing franchise. Originally published for the Nintendo Wii U, players control a character from the Mario franchise and race around unique tracks over three laps to defeat other racers. As successful as the game was on the Wii U, selling 8.46 million units, re-releasing the game on the Nintendo Switch has sold an additional 62 million copies. 

13. Call of Duty

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 26%

The most successful first-person shooter game in history, Call of Duty is an iconic video game. Its popularity spans from baby boomers to pretty much every other generation. The Modern Warfare sub-series is one of the most popular, with games set between World War II and modern times — and even into the future. With over 425 million copies sold and millions of active players online every month, Call of Duty is a moneymaker. 

12. The Legend of Zelda

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 26%

While Mario might be Nintendo’s most popular character, Zelda would arguably be the second most popular. The Legend of Zelda video game series has 20 entries, including the wildly popular Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom on the Nintendo Switch, two of the best-selling games on the console. For boomers who are used to 2D Zelda titles of old, the newest 3D games are a breath of fresh air. 

11. Words With Friends

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

Everyone’s favorite Scrabble clone feels like it was made with the baby boomer generation in mind. Originally released in July 2009, two players alternate turns as they play a crossword-style game that is very similar to Scrabble. Boomers can play up to 40 games simultaneously, choosing opponents from family, friends, and even strangers randomly assigned as a “Smart Match.” 

10. Super Mario Run

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

Originally released by Nintendo in 2016 for iPhone and Android smartphones, the game was Nintendo’s first true mobile effort and earned over 300 million downloads in just two years. In the game, the player controls Mario as he automatically runs on the screen, jumping over hazards and enemies, all while collecting coins. The game features the titular character Mario and Princess Peach, whom Bowser has once again captured. 

9. Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

The combination of the hugely popular Super Mario 3D World and Bowser’s Fury in 2021 has quickly become one of the most successful games on the Nintendo Switch. Of all the current-generation consoles, the Nintendo Switch has quickly become a boomer favorite because of its ease of play. This is why it’s no surprise to learn that over 13.47 million copies of this title have been sold as of March 2024. 

8. Candy Crush Saga

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

If you’ve ever played Candy Crush Saga, you know how fun (and addictive) it can be. Your goal — to crush candies and solve puzzles, with increasing difficulty. As one of the most popular mobile games ever, Candy Crush Saga feels like a natural video game fit for boomers. Candy Crush is easy to play while on the go, making it great to pick up while waiting for an appointment or standing in line to check out somewhere. Originally launched in April 2012, more than 2.7 billion copies have been downloaded, grossing over $20 billion in revenue. 

7. Marvel’s Spider-Man

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

The Marvel’s Spider-Man game, released in 2018, was one of the best action-adventure games ever released. Drawing heavily from comic book mythology, the game features the ability to swing around Manhattan in a way few games have ever accomplished. After four years in development, the game received huge praise for its graphics, narrative storyline, and web-swinging mechanics. 

6. Madden NFL

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 27%

Our society loves sports, so it’s no surprise that Madden NFL speaks to people of all generations. The Madden NFL series is iconic and one of the best-known football games over the last 40 years. The franchise’s first release came on June 1, 1988, and was the first football game to have true licensing with the NFL using original players and team names. There is little doubt that Madden NFL is the best-selling sports video game franchise of all time, with over 130 million copies sold. 

5. Bejeweled

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 29%

Originally launched in 2001 for play in a web browser, Bejeweled quickly took the world by storm. Selling over 10 million copies and downloaded over 150 million times, Bejeweled is one of the original titles that asks you to organize gems by color to clear rows. It’s safe to say that Bewjeweled’s success opened the door for games like Candy Crush Saga to become successful. 

4. Angry Birds

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 30%

As a global sensation that has even been turned into a movie, it’s not surprising that Angry Birds is ranked as the fifth most popular game with baby boomers. The game has received widespread praise for its comical art style, low price, and unique gameplay. After its initial release in 2009 on iOS, the popularity of Angry Birds took off, achieving over 3 billion downloads by 2015. It’s considered one of the most successful freemium games of all time. 

3. Marvel’s Avengers

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 31%

Something of a surprising entry on this list: Marvel’s Avengers is the third most popular game. A September 2020 release, this action-adventure game features the most popular characters from the Marvel universe based on the Avengers storyline. Originally released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, the game was updated for play on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S one year later in March 2021. While this could be from baby boomers watching Marvel with their families, and subsequently being drawn to the video game, we’d like to think that the Marvel universe offers something for all ages.

2. Solitaire Mobile 

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 37%

If you want a simple, fun, and easy-to-play game, Solitaire Mobile immediately comes to mind. There is no shortage of games that fit the Solitaire criteria available on smartphones worldwide, courtesy of Android and iOS. There are even different games based on the various versions of Solitaire, such as Klondike, Batsford, Whitehead, and more. This appeals to baby boomers’ problem-solving nature. 

1. Super Mario Bros. 

• Percentage of baby boomers with a favorable opinion: 45%

It is no surprise that Super Mario Bros. is the most popular video game according to baby boomers. As the original home video game in the 1980s, Mario’s popularity has withstood the test of time. So much so that the Super Mario Bros. franchise has sold over 380 million titles, including the original game on the NES, which has sold over 58 million copies worldwide.  

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