The gaming community lost one of its most beloved personalities on December 21, 2024, when Agnes, better known as Epic Gamer Grandma, passed away at age 78. The Scottish TikTok star died peacefully holding the hand of her daughter Pauline, surrounded by family who watched her become an unlikely internet sensation by simply doing what she loved – playing video games and making people smile.
Agnes’ grandson Culsans announced her death on December 23 through her social media channels, where she had amassed over 2.4 million TikTok followers, 859,000 Instagram followers, and 117,000 YouTube subscribers. “She left this world the way she lived in it: surrounded by love,” Culsans wrote in a heartfelt tribute that reminded fans his grandmother was more than just an internet personality – she was a mother, neighbor, friend, and the kind of person who made sure everyone else ate before herself.
From Nana to Gaming Icon
Agnes never set out to become internet famous. She was simply a grandmother who enjoyed playing video games, particularly Minecraft and Phasmophobia, two titles that became central to her online presence. Her grandson Culsans began filming her gaming sessions and posting them to TikTok, capturing genuine moments of joy, confusion, laughter, and occasional frustration as Agnes navigated digital worlds.
What made Epic Gamer Grandma special wasn’t technical skill or speedrunning prowess. It was her authenticity. Agnes played games the way most people actually play them – making mistakes, getting lost, laughing at the absurdity of virtual situations, and genuinely enjoying herself without worrying about being perfect. Her videos offered something rare in gaming content: pure, unfiltered fun without performance anxiety or chasing trends.
Viewers responded to that authenticity enthusiastically. Comments sections filled with people calling her their “adopted grandma,” sharing how her videos brightened difficult days, or marveling at how someone her age engaged so enthusiastically with modern gaming. Agnes represented living proof that video games aren’t just for young people, that passion for play doesn’t expire with age, and that joy can be found at any stage of life.
“Before she was an influencer, she was a mum, a nana, a neighbor, a friend,” Culsans wrote in his tribute. “A person who made sure everyone else was fed before herself, who remembered birthdays, who told stories that made you cry with laughter. And then, somehow, in the middle of all that, she became something none of us expected: Scotland’s biggest elderly creator.”
The Health Struggles
Agnes’ decline began in October 2024 when fans noticed she hadn’t posted new content in several weeks. On October 16, Culsans explained that his grandmother’s Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) had worsened significantly, requiring hospitalization. The respiratory disease, which progressively makes breathing more difficult, had been manageable previously but suddenly deteriorated, forcing Agnes to step away from streaming.
Two days later on October 18, Culsans shared devastating news – Agnes had suffered a major stroke and was undergoing heavy treatment. Strokes occur when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to die. Combined with her existing respiratory issues, Agnes faced serious complications that required intensive medical care.
Over the following two months, Culsans provided periodic updates to Agnes’ worried followers. The family watched helplessly as she “slowly lost her words,” a heartbreaking symptom of stroke damage affecting speech and language centers of the brain. Despite medical intervention, Agnes’ condition never significantly improved. She spent her final weeks in the hospital, too ill to game or record videos, gradually declining until she passed away on December 21.
The announcement emphasized that despite her suffering, Agnes died peacefully surrounded by loved ones. Her daughter Pauline held her hand as she passed, providing comfort in those final moments. For someone who brought joy to millions of strangers online, Agnes at least had the blessing of dying with family close, reminding her that she was deeply loved.
Why Epic Gamer Grandma Mattered
Agnes’ impact extended far beyond entertainment metrics. In a gaming culture often defined by toxicity, competitiveness, and gatekeeping, she represented radical inclusivity. Her existence challenged stereotypes about who gamers are and what gaming looks like. Every video demonstrated that you don’t need lightning reflexes, encyclopedic game knowledge, or cutting-edge equipment to be a legitimate gamer – you just need to enjoy playing.
For older adults, Agnes served as inspiration. Retirement doesn’t mean abandoning curiosity or new experiences. Technology and gaming aren’t exclusively for young people. Learning new skills, engaging with modern media, and finding communities online remain possible at any age. Agnes proved that 70-somethings can stream, build followings, and participate fully in digital culture if they choose.
For younger gamers, Agnes offered perspective. The grandmother playing Minecraft represented someone’s actual relative – maybe their own grandmother, aunt, or neighbor. Her videos humanized older adults, showing them as multidimensional people with interests, humor, and capacity for joy. In intergenerational households, Agnes’ content became something families could watch together, bridging age gaps through shared entertainment.
Perhaps most importantly, Agnes demonstrated that doing things badly or imperfectly doesn’t diminish their value. She wasn’t a skilled Minecraft builder. She didn’t master Phasmophobia’s mechanics. She played games the way most people do – slowly, with trial and error, making funny mistakes. That relatability connected with audiences tired of watching perfectly optimized speedruns and professional-grade streams. Agnes reminded everyone that games exist primarily for fun, not performance.
The Power of Intergenerational Gaming
Agnes joined a small but meaningful cohort of elderly gaming personalities who’ve found online success. Shirley Curry, known as “Skyrim Grandma,” gained fame in her 80s playing Elder Scrolls games. At nearly 90, she announced retirement from creating content in 2024, citing exhaustion and declining enjoyment. Her journey illustrated both the opportunities and challenges elderly creators face in demanding digital spaces.
Abbe Drakborg became a CS:GO champion in his late 70s, competing in tournaments and proving elderly players could develop competitive skills. These outliers demonstrate that cognitive decline isn’t inevitable, that older adults can learn complex systems, and that passion transcends physical limitations.
What unites these elderly gaming personalities is authenticity. They didn’t adopt exaggerated personas or chase viral trends. They simply played games they enjoyed while cameras captured their experiences. That genuineness resonated because it contrasted sharply with performative content optimized for algorithms. Watching someone genuinely engage with media for personal satisfaction rather than metrics feels increasingly rare.
Agnes specifically embraced family involvement in her content creation. Culsans didn’t just film his grandmother – he participated in her gaming journey, explaining mechanics, troubleshooting technical issues, and providing companionship. Their videos documented a real intergenerational relationship built around shared interest. That collaborative dynamic modeled how families can connect across age gaps through gaming.
Community Response
News of Agnes’ death generated an outpouring of tributes across social media. Fans shared favorite videos, recalled how her content affected them, and expressed gratitude for the joy she brought to their lives. Many noted they’d been following her journey since her early videos, watching her follower count grow from hundreds to millions without her fundamentally changing her approach.
Comments frequently mentioned how Agnes inspired people to introduce their own grandparents or elderly relatives to gaming. Her example proved that older adults could learn and enjoy video games if given patient support and encouragement. Some fans shared stories of grandparents who’d started gaming after discovering Epic Gamer Grandma, finding new hobbies and connections in their later years.
Others emphasized Agnes’ kindness and positivity. Unlike some content creators who cultivate edgy or controversial personas, Agnes remained consistently warm and good-natured. Her videos never contained mean-spirited humor, anger, or negativity. In a digital landscape increasingly defined by outrage and conflict, her gentle presence offered respite.
The tributes also acknowledged Culsans’ role in Agnes’ success. His patience filming, editing, and managing her online presence enabled her to reach millions. His updates during her illness demonstrated genuine care and respect, treating followers as extended community members deserving honesty about her condition. The love between grandmother and grandson was evident in every video, making her loss feel personal to viewers who’d never met either in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Epic Gamer Grandma?
Epic Gamer Grandma was the online persona of Agnes, a 78-year-old Scottish grandmother who became a TikTok and social media star by streaming video games like Minecraft and Phasmophobia. She had over 3 million followers across platforms before her death on December 21, 2024.
How did Epic Gamer Grandma die?
Agnes died on December 21, 2024, at age 78 after struggling with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and suffering a major stroke in October 2024. She passed away peacefully holding her daughter Pauline’s hand, surrounded by family.
What games did Epic Gamer Grandma play?
Agnes primarily played and streamed Minecraft and Phasmophobia, though she explored other games as well. Her content focused on family-friendly titles that showcased her genuine enjoyment and often humorous approach to gaming.
How many followers did Epic Gamer Grandma have?
At the time of her death, Agnes had over 2.4 million followers on TikTok, 859,000 followers on Instagram, and 117,000 subscribers on YouTube, totaling over 3 million followers across all platforms.
Who announced Epic Gamer Grandma’s death?
Her grandson Culsans announced Agnes’ death on December 23, 2024, through her social media accounts. He regularly appeared in her videos and managed her online presence throughout her streaming career.
Why was Epic Gamer Grandma famous?
Agnes became famous for challenging age stereotypes in gaming by enthusiastically playing video games in her late 70s. Her authentic, joyful approach to gaming and her warm personality resonated with millions who saw her as proof that anyone can be a gamer regardless of age.
When did Epic Gamer Grandma start streaming?
While exact dates aren’t specified, Agnes began creating gaming content with her grandson Culsans several years before her death, gradually building her following to over 3 million across multiple platforms.
What was Epic Gamer Grandma’s real name?
Her real name was Agnes. She was from Scotland and was a mother, grandmother, neighbor, and friend before becoming an internet personality through her gaming videos.
A Legacy of Joy
Agnes won’t be remembered for world records, competitive rankings, or technical mastery. She’ll be remembered for smile-inducing content that proved gaming transcends age. For videos that families watched together. For demonstrating that you’re never too old to try something new, learn unfamiliar skills, or share your passions with the world.
Her grandson’s tribute perfectly captured what made Epic Gamer Grandma special: “People from all over the world started calling her epic gamer grandma, but to us, she was still just nana making us tea, telling us stories, and laughing at the absurdity of it all.” That disconnect between internet fame and personal identity never changed who Agnes was fundamentally – a kind woman who made others feel cared for.
The gaming community is diminished by her loss. But the example she set remains. Thousands of people now understand that gaming doesn’t belong exclusively to any age group. Elderly players who felt unwelcome or incapable have role models proving otherwise. Younger gamers learned to appreciate what older adults bring to gaming spaces – patience, perspective, and pure enjoyment unencumbered by toxic competitiveness.
Agnes played games because they brought her happiness. She shared that happiness because her grandson encouraged it. Millions of people watched because her joy was contagious. In a gaming culture often focused on being the best, Epic Gamer Grandma reminded everyone that being happy matters more.
Rest in peace, Agnes. Thank you for showing the world that grandmas can be epic gamers, that kindness never goes out of style, and that it’s never too late to start something new. Your Minecraft worlds may be abandoned, your Phasmophobia investigations incomplete, but the love you shared through your videos remains. Every elderly person who picks up a controller inspired by your example carries your legacy forward.
Game over, but never forgotten. GG, Epic Gamer Grandma. GG.