She loved them, and frankly so do I. Want to spend an evening as a Victorian detective in London, assembling clues, sorry, "clews", running down the villain? Agatha Christie? Her favorite was chasing down Sweeny Todd, the Demon of Fleet Street. It's that sort of thing. Lots of mental stimulation, highly recommended.
Video games can be so engaging, they can also be used therapeutically. For instance, they can be used as a form of physiotherapy as well as in more innovative contexts. A number of studies have shown that when children play video games following chemotherapy they need fewer painkillers than others.
Video games have great educational potential in addition to their entertainment value. Games specifically designed to address a specific problem or teach a specific skill have been very successful, precisely because they are motivating, engaging, interactive, and provide rewards and reinforcement to improve.