"Children's" video games after 30: maturity, tenderness, and taboo

An adult turns on their console, chooses Animal Crossing , and smiles as their character greets them sweetly. But someone walks into the room and immediately turns down the volume or switches to another game. Why do we still feel embarrassed when we're over 30 when we play "children's" video games?

Far from being a matter of mechanics or industry, this phenomenon reflects how we understand maturity and how adult-centric culture has taught us to abandon tenderness in favor of considering ourselves "serious."

In many societies, growing up means giving up: toys, pink, stories, wonder. Hence, when an adult enjoys Kirby or Pokémon , they often get questions like, "Aren't you too old for that?"

It's not the game's quality that's being questioned, but its tone. Soft colors, cheerful music, and characters who appreciate our help seem incompatible with the ideal of adulthood. Tenderness is mistaken for weakness.

Few companies carry this stigma as much as Nintendo . While other brands embrace the dark and photorealistic, Nintendo maintains its colorful identity. And yet, titles like Breath of the Wild and Majora's Mask display an emotional and philosophical depth that transcends any prejudice.

Aesthetic simplicity does not mean narrative simplicity: behind the tender appearance lie themes of loss, loneliness, community, and resilience.

This taboo isn't limited to video games. It also applies to animated films, illustrated graphic novels, and decorative plush toys. Adult culture rewards the cynical and serious, while scorning the sweet.

But tenderness can be a form of resistance to a hyper-productive society. Playing something "soft" allows us to let our guard down and reconnect with our emotional vulnerability , something many adults feel is forbidden.

Today's adults grew up with consoles at home. They never stopped playing, but they did have to justify their tastes with "serious" titles like The Last of Us or Dark Souls .

The problem isn't enjoying those games, but feeling like others need to be hidden. In reality, "children's" games like Super Mario Odyssey or Pokémon Legends: Arceus address deep emotions with a different aesthetic, less aggressive but equally valid.

Enjoying "kids" games says more about our culture than the titles themselves. A culture that associates productivity with personal value and is suspicious of anything that doesn't seem useful.

Returning to these video games doesn't mean going backwards, but rather reconciling with the child we once were. Being an adult shouldn't mean giving up tenderness, but rather integrating it into our lives. Because being moved by a pixelated puppy who thanks us for our help isn't immaturity: it's true emotional maturity .