What the DAG?

When it comes to design games for aging players, most conversations about games start and stop with health. Cognitive training. Fall prevention. Brain games. And while those things have value, we argue that they barely scratch the surface of what games are truly capable of.

Games are not just tools. Reducing them to health outcomes misses the point entirely. It strips away what makes games so incredibly powerful: their ability to immerse, to connect, to surprise, to matter. Even worse, it often leads to designs that are patronizing, marginalizing, demotivating, and—let’s be honest—not very fun.

At DAGS, we see health benefits as byproducts of our games. They emerge organically—from great mechanics, meaningful choices, emotional depth, and joyful play. Our goal isn’t just to improve lives. It’s also to respect them. Our players are not problems to be solved. They need games that speak to them, challenge them, and treat them like the full human beings they are.

By creating experiences that people choose to play because they enjoy them, we unlock a wide range of positive outcomes. Every game offers something: a skill to practice, an emotion to feel, or a bit of wisdom to learn. These benefits don’t come from turning games into medicine. They come from play itself.

That is why we are changing this conversation. Not from health to entertainment, but toward something deeply human. Because great game design isn’t about metrics or prescriptions.

It’s about creating meaningful play—at every age.