Design lessons from mainstream motion-based games for exergames for older adults

Availability of commodity gaming devices for bodily input has sparked new interest in serious games for rehabilitation and the treatment of age-related diseases. This leads to the idea of creating games for the daily use to prevent the age-related loss of certain abilities. In a qualitative in-depth field study, we visited senior participants at their homes over the course of three full days. During this time they played a selection of off-the-shelf games titles that included game controls that can be seen also as physical exercises. We discuss our qualitative findings and formulate design lessons to consider when developing games for older adults: favor progress over challenge, prevent overexertion, prevent health risks, decreased reaction times, design for adaptability, and prefer realistic scenarios and mechanics over fantasy settings.