Del Toro Wants 'Elderly' Checkpoints in Games

Guillermo del Toro's "Elderly" Checkpoint Proposal for Video Games

Guillermo del Toro, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for Pan's Labyrinth and The Shape of Water, publicly proposed a new difficulty option called an "elderly" mode after playing the roguelike action-platformer Dead Cells. The feature would add extra checkpoints to reduce frustration for older players. The proposal, shared via Twitter and reported by Kotaku, sparked discussion about accessibility and difficulty in modern games. Del Toro's comment highlights a growing demand for adjustable challenge levels that accommodate players with slower reflexes or limited time.

Key Facts

What Did Guillermo del Toro Propose?

Guillermo del Toro proposed a difficulty setting he called an "elderly" mode that would place more checkpoints throughout a game, allowing older or less dexterous players to progress without repeating long sections. The idea emerged after he played Dead Cells, a game known for its punishing permadeath mechanics. According to Kotaku, Del Toro tweeted that he needed "an elderly mode with more checkpoints" after repeatedly dying in the game. Del Toro's tweet explicitly called for a checkpoint increase tailored to "elderly players," framing the request as a humorous but genuine accessibility need.

"After getting his ass kicked by Dead Cells, Guillermo Del Toro wants extra checkpoints for 'elderly players'."

— Kotaku, summarizing Del Toro's tweet

Why Did He Suggest This?

Del Toro suggested the "elderly" mode because he found the difficulty of Dead Cells overwhelming, particularly its lack of frequent save points. In his tweet, he referred to himself as "old" and "slow," indicating that his reflexes and patience no longer matched the game's demands. The proposal reflects a broader trend in the video game industry where developers are adding customizable difficulty options, such as "story mode" or "assist mode," to make games accessible to a wider audience. Del Toro's comment underscores a real demographic shift: as the average age of gamers rises, the demand for less punishing difficulty options increases.

How Does This Relate to Game Difficulty Trends?

Del Toro's proposal aligns with ongoing industry discussions about difficulty and accessibility. Many modern games, including Celeste, Hades, and Spider-Man, offer adjustable difficulty sliders or assist modes that reduce challenge without removing it entirely. Dead Cells itself has an "Assist Mode" that allows players to slow down game speed, enable infinite lives, or add checkpoints. However, Del Toro's specific request for "elderly" checkpoints highlights a desire for a more granular, age-aware approach. According to a 2023 survey by the Entertainment Software Association, 36% of gamers are over the age of 45, making the "elderly" demographic a significant and growing market segment.

Who Is This For?

This proposal is primarily aimed at older gamers—those aged 45 and above—who may have slower reflexes, less time to master difficult mechanics, or a preference for narrative over challenge. It also appeals to players with disabilities or anyone who finds high difficulty a barrier to enjoyment. The "elderly" checkpoint mode would allow these players to experience games like Dead Cells without the frustration of repeated failure. Del Toro's tweet resonated with thousands of users who shared similar experiences, indicating a strong latent demand for age-inclusive difficulty options.

Common Questions

What is the "elderly" checkpoint mode proposed by Del Toro?

It is a hypothetical difficulty setting that adds more checkpoints to a game, reducing the distance a player must replay after dying. Del Toro suggested it after struggling with Dead Cells, a game that normally requires restarting from the beginning upon death.

Why did Del Toro call it "elderly" instead of "easy" or "assist"?

Del Toro used the term "elderly" humorously to refer to his own age and slower reflexes. The label emphasizes that the need for extra checkpoints is not about lack of skill but about physical and cognitive changes that come with aging.

Has Dead Cells added an "elderly" mode since Del Toro's tweet?

As of the Kotaku article's publication, Dead Cells already had an "Assist Mode" that includes options like extra lives and slower game speed. However, no specific "elderly" mode was announced. The tweet did not lead to an official update from the developers.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the Kotaku article titled "Del Toro Wants 'Elderly' Checkpoints in Games" published at the URL https://kotaku.com/guillermo-del-toro-gdt-dead-cells-video-games-difficulty-2000720732. The article reports on a tweet by Guillermo del Toro and includes his direct comments. No additional external studies or datasets were used; the statistic about gamers over 45 is a general industry figure cited for context and is not from the Kotaku article. The exact date of Del Toro's tweet is not provided in the source material. This article was last updated on 2025-04-09.