Imagine a group of gamers, eyes locked on their screens, fingers flying across clacky keyboards with LED-lit mice flashing as they bark out commands into their headsets.
If you’re picturing a group of teenagers in a cyber cafe, think again.
Meet Singapore’s SQUAD2X2, a silver squad of gamers aged 63 to 75, who are defying the stereotype that gaming is a young person’s domain.
(Left to right) Maisie Lim, Philip Tang, Jimmy Tang, Evelyn Thio
Image courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information
Twice a week, this lively quartet logs into ‘Counter-Strike 2’ (‘CS 2’), a tactical first-person shooter game, to pit their skills against players of all ages.
Their journey into the virtual battlefield began with a 14-week esports training programme for seniors in July 2023, but what started as a casual curiosity has blossomed into a full-blown passion.
More than a year later, they’re still at it — racking up headshots, refining strategies, and proving that age is just a number, even in the fast-paced world of gaming.
But for SQUAD2X2, it’s about more than just winning matches. ‘CS 2’ has been their gateway to new connections and shared experiences, especially with younger family members, bridging generational gaps one game at a time.
SQUAD2X2 leader Jimmy “Alfa” Tang, a 75-year-old retired army officer, told MS News that he first learned about the esports training programme — organised by non-profit organisation Lien Foundation as part of its ‘Seniors Go!’ initiative — through a notice at the Bishan Gym Tonic centre.
Already a regular at Gym Tonic, a strength training programme for seniors run by Bishan Community Club (CC), Jimmy was no stranger to staying active. So, when the chance to dive into the world of gaming popped up, he decided to give it a shot.
Initially, about 10 participants showed up for weekly three-hour sessions, eager to learn the ropes of ‘CS 2’.
Source: Lien Foundation on Facebook
But by the end, only four remained standing: Jimmy, along with 63-year-old Evelyn “eT” Thio, 69-year-old Philip “Tango” Tang, and 75-year-old Maisie “Steady” Lim.
Together, they formed SQUAD2X2, a tight-knit group that continues to keep in touch and game together.
Image courtesy of Evelyn Thio
Their gaming sessions are typically held at 8pm every Monday and Thursday. When they can meet in person at a cyber cafe, they often follow it up with a meal, keeping their camaraderie strong even off-screen.
“The beauty of ‘CS 2’ is that it’s team-based,” Jimmy said. “You can play as the bad guys (terrorists) or the good guys (counter-terrorists). The terrorists plant bombs, and the counter-terrorists have to prevent or defuse them.”
It might sound straightforward, but Jimmy was quick to clarify that while the gameplay is easy to grasp, mastering it is a different story.
Image courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information
“There’s a lot of teamwork involved because you need to strategise your attacks and defence. You can’t just charge in — it requires coordination and constant interaction,” he explained.
Through ‘CS 2’, the team also discovered new ways of staying connected using technology, such as the messaging platform Discord.
“The ladies weren’t very tech-savvy at first, but they picked things up quickly,” Jimmy said. “As we play, we’re all learning together, helping each other along the way.”
Most tech-related interactions between seniors and their younger family members usually involve the kids showing their elders how to navigate a smartphone or connect to Wi-Fi.
But SQUAD2X2 has ascended to a whole new level. Jimmy, for instance, proudly recalled the look of surprise on his grandchildren’s faces when they discovered he’d bought ‘Black Myth: Wukong’, the viral RPG that dropped in August.
Gaming has also given them fresh common ground, melting away any awkwardness.
For example, when Jimmy’s laggy old laptop struggled to keep up with ‘CS 2’, his 20-year-old grandson, Ignatius, stepped in. After some research, the two headed to Sim Lim Square to build a powerful new gaming PC.
Now, Jimmy’s setup can handle even the most demanding games, including ‘Wukong’.
Image courtesy of Jimmy Tang
It’s not just about hardware upgrades, though. Another of his grandsons, 14-year-old Linus, shared how their bond has deepened, thanks to gaming.
“When I was younger, we didn’t really talk much,” Linus admitted. “But now, whenever we bring over the Nintendo Switch or Xbox, he wants to play with us. It makes it easier for us to chat — not just about games, but about life and to check in with each other.”
Jimmy has also noticed how his grandkids light up when he asks them for gaming tips.
Linus added: “Sometimes, we play ‘Wukong’ together, and it’s quite a challenging game, so we always try to solve problems together. Whenever Grandpa gets stuck, he’ll ask us, and we’re happy to help him through it.”
Image courtesy of Jimmy Tang
Similarly, Evelyn shared that ever since she took up gaming at her son’s suggestion (“He was worried I might get dementia”), she feels like her two kids — one of whom is doing his National Service (NS) and the other, in university — see her in a whole new light.
“Of course, they’re not going to say, ‘Hey Mum, you’re cool!’ but you can tell by the way they act that the generational gap has shrunk a bit,” she beamed.
Sometimes, they even carve out time to game together, which Evelyn finds especially touching, given how busy their schedules are.
Image courtesy of Evelyn Thio
SQUAD2X2’s families are clearly proud of their gaming journey.
Maisie recounted an aww-worthy moment when her little grandson spotted her on an MRT poster for the ‘Break the Silver Ceiling’ campaign, featuring SQUAD2X2.
Image courtesy of Maisie Lim
He couldn’t stop pointing and touching the image, delighted to see his grandma up there.
Now, SQUAD2X2 is on a real-life mission to recruit more members — but it’s proven harder than any of their ‘CS 2’ tasks.
Image courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information
“Many seniors are not exposed to computers, so there’s a fear of stepping out of their comfort zone and trying new things,” said Philip. “They must be willing to try and experience it so that they can overcome their fear of playing computer games.”
To bridge this divide, Jimmy and Philip have started holding informal coaching sessions with five seniors in a study room at Bishan Wellness Hub.
“We teach them what we’ve learnt about ‘Counter-Strike 2’, very basic stuff like the controls and movements,” Jimmy shared. “Once they get the hang of those, then we’ll move on to talk about strategy.”
His ultimate goal is to build a community of seniors who are not only familiar with gaming but have reflexes sharp enough to match younger players.
Image courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information
However, there’s the hurdle of convincing the older generation of the benefits of gaming — especially when many have spent years telling their children and grandchildren to step away from screens.
“Many people think playing games is just about staring at a computer, but with games like ‘CS 2’, there’s so much more,” Jimmy explained. “It’s about social bonding — you interact, strategise, and communicate. You’re learning new skills while having fun.”
There’s also, as he mentioned earlier, the opportunity to train one’s coordination and reflexes.
“Gaming helps both your body and mind. Often, we focus on keeping the body fit but forget the importance of keeping the mind sharp. Games keep you alert because you need quick reflexes,” he added.
For seniors who might be hesitant but are curious, Jimmy has simple advice:
Just try it. You’ll never know until you do.
Maisie concurs. “We had no prior knowledge about gaming. But if you have the interest, you’ll start to learn more, and it becomes interesting once you get involved.
“It’s all about having the right mindset — don’t think of gaming as something just for the young; it can be for seniors, too.”
In a world where technology often gets a bad rap for being isolating, SQUAD2X2 shows that tech not only enriches our lives, but brings people together too.
They’ve shown that age is no barrier to embracing technology. It’s not just about seniors getting involved — it’s also about the younger generation stepping up to help their older family members integrate digital skills into everyday life.
Whether it’s building a PC with your grandson or joining a gaming session with your kids, technology bridges the gap between generations.
This is what the Smart Nation initiative, a whole-of-nation movement led by the Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), is about: building a digital future where everyone, regardless of age and background, can thrive together.
For more information on the Smart Nation movement, visit the official website and follow its Facebook and Instagram pages for all the latest updates.
Also read: Taiwanese Seniors Battle In League Of Legends Tournament, Say Gaming Is Good For The Brain
This article was brought to you in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
Featured image courtesy of the Ministry of Digital Development and Information.
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