When Zhou Zhihong's 14-year-old granddaughter asks, 'Grandma, wanna play?' after finishing her homework, the 67-year-old is ready to jump into action. The two spend time together inside Naraka: Bladepoint, a fast-paced multiplayer combat game. Zhou has become so skilled that she now leads a senior esports team. This personal connection between grandmother and granddaughter is part of a wider movement in China. Gaming is being used to bring generations together and help older people feel more comfortable with digital life. In cities like Hangzhou, esports has begun to make its way into community education and senior care programs. Older adults are offered an engaging way to connect with their families. They can explore the digital world they might otherwise feel left behind in.
The initiative in Hangzhou started with a bold step: in November 2024, Binjiang community college introduced the city's first esports class aimed at people aged 55 and above. The response was overwhelming. Within just three days, nearly 150 older adults applied for the course, and over 60 attended, including one remarkable 82-year-old participant. Many of them were curious about the games their children and grandchildren play, especially the action-packed, martial arts-themed titles that draw in younger audiences. Others joined to gain a better understanding of digital culture or simply to find a new shared interest that could spark conversations with their families.
Intergenerational Gaming Bond
Li Aixia, 57, and her husband Li Zhongli, 62, decided to take the class after years of hearing their son explain gaming concepts to them. Now, they play under the nicknames 'Mad Swordsman' and 'Enchantress.' Each limits themselves to three rounds per day due to physical fatigue from their older bodies. Gaming has changed how the family interacts. They now discuss game strategies and share stories of memorable battles with their son. This creates a more meaningful connection. During a recent family gathering, Li Aixia wore her reading glasses. She turned her phone sideways to better see the screen and joined her husband in a match. The rest of the older relatives were stunned by her enthusiasm and skill.
The Hangzhou esports class was designed with older adults in mind, especially those with little or no prior gaming experience. The first five sessions focused on the basics: downloading the game, navigating the interface, and learning simple controls. Technical terms that might be familiar to younger players were rewritten in plain language, and visual tools like arrows were used to guide movement around the game. Still, the learning curve was steep, and only 30 to 40 people completed the five-session course. However, some of those who did finish the course went on to become instructors themselves. Their real-world experience made them ideal mentors for newer players in local pilot communities, expanding the program’s reach and influence.
Gao Liying, 63, and her teammates used their personal gameplay experiences and notes to create a detailed manual. With the help of an artificial intelligence tool, she organized the information into a 17-chapter guide. She typed the guide into her phone over a period of more than 20 days. Her work has now been used to teach others. Retired photojournalist Pan Lianggan, 68, also started with no gaming background. He has since taught in community classrooms across seven districts and counties in Hangzhou. He knows exactly what older learners struggle with. 'You have to repeat the information and let them practice again and again,' he explains. He emphasizes the importance of repetition and hands-on practice in teaching gaming to older adults.
Gaming as a Bridge Between Generations
Seniors Form Competitive Teams
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China, has taken a different approach. A senior-care service provider there has formed a seven-member esports team. The team has an average age of 65 and the oldest member is 77. The team competes in League of Legends and is coached by students and faculty. They come from Sichuan Film and Television University’s esports management program. While Hangzhou has focused on community-based classes, Chengdu has combined gaming with senior-care services and team competitions. This shows the growing interest in digital entertainment among older people. These efforts highlight a shift in how some older adults view technology. They see it not just as a tool for daily tasks like scanning QR codes or using mobile apps. They see it as a platform for fun, connection, and even competition.
Hangzhou’s esports classes include important lessons on digital safety. Participants are taught to recognize scams, avoid in-game purchases, and be cautious of suspicious payment requests or fake rewards. College-provided equipment is used in class to reduce the financial risks associated with personal devices, and families are encouraged to help older players manage their gaming time and control in-game spending at home. These measures are critical in ensuring that participants enjoy the benefits of gaming without falling into common online traps or overindulging in digital activities.
Digital Safety and Inclusion
By December 2025, more than 323 million people in China were 60 years of age or older, representing 23 percent of the total population. Internet usage among this group had reached 53.7 percent, reflecting a sharp increase in digital engagement among the elderly. According to mobile analytics firm QuestMobile, by November 2025, around 351 million people over the age of 50 were active on China's mobile internet, marking a 5.8 percent increase from the previous year. With such a large and growing number of older individuals online, programs like those in Hangzhou and Chengdu offer a promising way to help older people not only stay connected but also feel more confident in the digital world.
The Binjiang community college has now run seven cohorts for over 300 participants and has trained eight local instructors. Graduates from the first class have since taken the lessons to three pilot communities, expanding the program's impact. While these efforts remain relatively small in scale, they are part of a broader movement that seeks to embrace the digital future of aging in China. By helping older adults learn how to play, compete, and connect through video games, these programs are helping to redefine what it means to be part of a digitally connected and intergenerationally engaged society.