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I think 4 or 5 is a good age depending on their intellectual/cognitive abilities.

I was pretty terrible at Super Mario Bros and Super Mario 64, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the crap out of them and letting my imagination run wild with awe and inspiration. I still remember playing on the kindergarden playground pretending I was Mario climbing up to the top of the jungle gym to defeat Bowser.

As the parent, you should know what is best for your kid. If you think there are some signs that may make playing video games more of a hassle on the kid's life (addictive behavior, anti-social tendencies, poor sportsmanship, etc), then maybe wait on them. Otherwise, I think it's a great bonding experience to have with your kid.