An elderly gentleman. Two bad hips. And a VR headset on his head.
When his daughter wanted to celebrate her birthday with us, one thing was clear: Dad was coming along. What wasn’t so clear – whether that was really a good idea. René is 83 years old, can’t walk far, and virtual reality isn’t exactly known as a sport for the hips.
We did it anyway.
Tikal at night – with a bar stool
The game: Tikal and the Night of the Blood Moon. A non-violent adventure game. Atmosphere, puzzles, teamwork. No weapons, no stress – just right.
As a solution, we brought a bar stool into the game. René could walk a few meters, sit down, rest – and still be right in the middle of it. We held his hand. No risk of falling. No exclusion. Simply part of it.
The result: He put on the headset and after a few seconds said – “Oh wow, I’m not here anymore.”
You really don’t need to say more than that.
The whole family together
What impressed me: His daughter was beaming. Her father got to experience this – you could see it on her face.
VR is often marketed as technology for the young. But who says that? That evening, the participants were around 60 – and could easily have passed as “young,” measured by their engagement and joy.
It’s not about age
We regularly do VR experiences with people in wheelchairs. That’s no longer an issue for us. The bar stool and holding hands was new – and it worked brilliantly.
The conclusion is simple: It’s not about how old someone is. It’s about whether you’re willing to try something new. With the right preparation and good support, VR is possible for almost everyone.
At the end of the evening, René wanted a photo with me. That made me happier than any good Google review.
Plan an experience for the whole family – every generation welcome: https://www.fusionarena.ch
