Epic Gamer Grandma, viral TikTok creator, dies aged 78

Agnes, the Scottish social media creator known worldwide as “Epic Gamer Grandma,” has died at the age of 78, her family said, months after she suffered a major stroke. Her late-life rise as a gaming influencer drew millions of followers and challenged assumptions about age, technology, and online culture.

Agnes died peacefully on December 21 with her daughter, Pauline, holding her hand, according to a statement released on Tuesday by her grandson, who is known online as Culsans. He announced her death in a post shared on Instagram, where the family had previously updated followers about her health.

“She left this world the way she lived in it: surrounded by love,” Culsans wrote. He described watching his grandmother gradually lose her ability to speak following her illness, adding that the family was left with words they never had the chance to say.

The statement balanced grief with pride, reflecting on a life defined by family and care long before Agnes became an online figure. Culsans said she was a central presence in their household, someone who held the family together and approached life with resilience and generosity.

Health struggles before her death

The family had disclosed Agnes’ declining health two months earlier, after followers noticed her absence from social media. In an October update posted to her Instagram account, Culsans said her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had worsened significantly, prompting the family to call an ambulance.

Two days later, he shared that she had suffered a major stroke and was undergoing intensive treatment. From that point, her online activity stopped, though messages of support from followers continued to arrive across platforms.

In his later statement announcing her death, Culsans said Agnes’ final months were marked by pain and uncertainty, but that she never lost her sense of self. Even when she could no longer speak, he wrote, her eyes still conveyed the kindness and quiet strength that had defined her character.

A late-life rise to online fame

Under the name “Epic Gamer Grandma,” Agnes became one of the most recognisable elderly creators on TikTok, where she had more than 2.4 million followers. Her audience extended well beyond one platform, with approximately 858,000 followers on Instagram and about 117,000 subscribers on YouTube.

Her videos often showed her playing popular games such as Minecraft and Phasmophobia, sometimes reacting with humour, sometimes offering candid observations that resonated with viewers across generations. The appeal lay not only in the novelty of an older gamer, but in her warmth and authenticity.

Before her unexpected online success, Agnes lived a largely private life. In his tribute, Culsans described her as a devoted mother, grandmother, neighbour, and friend. He said she was the kind of person who made sure everyone else was fed before herself and who never forgot a birthday.

“And then, somehow, in the middle of all that, she became something none of us expected: Scotland’s biggest elderly creator,” he wrote. While millions came to know her as Epic Gamer Grandma, her family continued to see her simply as “nana,” making tea, telling stories, and laughing at the sudden attention.

Challenging age stereotypes online

Agnes’ influence extended beyond entertainment. Through her presence in online gaming spaces, she became an example of how older people can find community and creative expression on platforms often associated with younger users.

Culsans said his grandmother showed that it was possible to discover new friendships and forms of self-expression well into one’s seventies. He added that she helped remind audiences that older people are not invisible, and that they carry stories, humour, and opinions that still matter.

That message resonated with many followers, who credited her with changing their perceptions of age and technology. Tributes following her death reflected a sense of connection, with many users describing her as a source of comfort or inspiration during difficult periods of their own lives.

An enduring digital legacy

In thanking fans for their support, Culsans said that even when Agnes could no longer respond to messages, she was aware of the affection being sent her way. He wrote that knowing she was loved by people around the world brought her comfort during her final months.

“Her story does not end here,” he wrote, adding that her presence would continue online through the videos and memories she left behind. In a final message addressed directly to his grandmother, he described her life as a game completed with a “perfect score,” reunited in spirit with her late husband, George.

Agnes’ death closes a chapter on a life that unexpectedly intersected with global digital culture. Her legacy remains in the communities she built and the boundaries she quietly helped dismantle, simply by showing up as herself.