Point-and-click graphic adventure games are the stuff of legends in the gaming world and practically spearheaded the growth of the adventure game genre. Let's take a look at why today's Boomer gamers love to play these kind of grandma games.

The world of Point-And-Click

When we think of point-and-click games, we think of games that require us to move the mouse (or any other pointing interface) around the screen and point to objects either to interact with or collect them. Adventure games, on the other hand, are games that require exploration of an environment, location, or an entire game world, either to solve something or complete a quest.

Many adventure games are also action games but these are more of either the arcade-like, or action-based video game titles that require quick thinking and fast reflexes like the things Lara Croft does. However, not all adventures are physical by nature because there is always the wonder of the mind to search, discover, think deeply, and solve.

Such is the premise of the legendary Point-And-Click adventure games genre. These are games that rely on storytelling, plots, intrigues, mysteries, puzzle-solving, character-building and interaction, and the ever-immersive activity of searching for clues and solutions by pointing and clicking at almost anything and everything around you.

Also, a distinct feature of Point-And-Click Adventures is the awesome and beautiful virtual environments that they present. Ever since the birth of the genre in the late 1980s to 90s, game developers have strived to create such graphically attractive worlds (despite the limitations of the computer gaming hardware of those times) and have pulled gamers into immersive mind-boggling experiences for hours on end in front of their personal computers (PC, Mac, Amiga, Apple//gs, etc.) and at times gaming consoles.

The gaming era of Point-And-Click

Point-And-Click Adventure games grew in popularity and quality from the 1990s to around the mid 2000s, and continue to provide their trademark immersive quality till today. However, it was during those times that the genre made its mark in the world of gaming as it capitalized on the evolving and growing computing capabilities then which were quite conducive to the rich visual presentations and audio enhancements of these story-driven games enjoyed by gamers of all ages and skill levels.

It was in this era of gaming that the popular and legendary Point-And-Click Adventure game titles gained such prominence ensuring their developing studios the success and fame in video gaming history. Titles like Jane Jensen's "Gabriel Knight" horror series from Sierra Online (aside from the bunch of titles Roberta Williams created and released), the usually hilarious and entertaining adventures from Lucas Arts like "LooM" and "Maniac Mansion" to the still very much popular and immersive "Broken Sword" mystery series from Revolution Software.

There are so many point-and-click classic and legendary adventures that were released during the time which blended both the narrative, the game mechanics, and the challenges which provided a solid cohesion of an immersive and curiosity-satisfying mind-exploration experience that was practically easily available to the gaming public at large.

Finally, and lastly not to mention, these were the years that game developers had to rely on their creativity, be it graphics, storytelling, or sound, as the hardware at the time was still very much in the process of evolving (the introduction of the CD-ROM optical drive was already something we (gamers of the era so much cheered upon) and had to rely on new developments and current limitations.

Boomers today love to Point-And-Click

When we say that Boomers today love to point-and-click, we don't mean pointing the remote at the TV and selecting something nice to watch. Boomer Gamers love to play Point-And-Click Adventure games.

To many seniors today, reliving the past (especially if it's a wonderful past) brings a lot of joy and warmth to the heart. The senior generation of today found themselves right smack in the middle of the boom of Point-And-Click Adventure games back then, and many got to play them, as to why these games have a special nostalgic place in their hearts. Re-playing "Loom" today not only brings back old gaming habits but also fond memories of playing such games in the past.

Another factor is the gameplay. Point-and-click adventures are perfect Video Games for Boomers as they can be played at the gamer's pace and it doesn't require such complicated (at least to a senior) requirements like problematic installation issues and settings, fast reflex hand-eye coordination, stressful time limits, and a lot of things seniors don't want to be bogged down with just to play a game. P-A-C adventures have easy game mechanics, are accessible and immersive, and all you really need to do is to think.

We mentioned thinking, and Boomers love to stimulate their minds as well as practice their mental and visual acuities. Seniors have to remain sharp in thinking and searching for clues, items, and solutions through game interaction with an intriguing and immersive storyline, at the same time being fully entertained through both beautiful graphics and sound, is one package deal that most Boomer gamers would definitely go for.

Many Boomers are not as action-oriented as they used to be in their younger years. Seniors generally want to relax and enjoy quieter and stress-free environments and when it comes to gaming, Point-And-Click Adventure games offer the kind of deep and contemplative gaming experience where one can enjoy clicking through an alternate reality one moment at a time.