Multisensory stimulation promises in improving older adults’ affective experiences, yet its effectiveness depends on seamless affective congruency across sensory cues. This study investigated how visual, auditory, and kinetics correspondence and congruency shape affective experiences through two experiments. Experiment I examined timbre–color associations, showing that affective alignment strengthens perceived correspondence. Experiment II explored auditory–kinetics synchrony in a cross-modal art system, revealing no significant differences across conditions but indicating that older adults with lower cognitive abilities reported higher pleasure than higher-ability peers. Building on these results, an artificial intelligence (Al)-infused mode was integrated to transform strokes into real-time ink-style artworks, reducing cognitive effort, sustaining engagement. Findings demonstrate that AI enhances positive affect (pleasure, surprise, valence, and arousal) and mitigates negative affect (sadness, anger), with effects maximized by high sensory synchrony, providing compensatory support for users with lower cognitive abilities. These findings inform multisensory system design for older adults’ cognitive and affective needs.

Due to dwindling populations, rural communities frequently encounter difficulties in economic growth and conserving their cultural heritage. These challenges are often the result of younger generations moving to urban areas in search of better opportunities, leaving behind an aging population that struggles to maintain traditional practices and stimulate local economies. Innovative entertainment forms such as Immersive XR and theater-style LARPing games are emerging as potential solutions to these challenges. These immersive experiences, particularly appealing to younger demographics, can attract and engage them back in rural revitalization efforts. By integrating modern entertainment with cultural preservation, they present an opportunity to bridge the gap between tradition and innovation, thus injecting life into these communities. This paper carefully evaluates the potential benefits and challenges of integrating these technologies into rural revitalization initiatives, drawing on successful case studies for support. It aims to improve our understanding of the possible impact of immersive XR and theater-style LARPing on rural revitalization efforts. Additionally, the paper strives to provide insightful recommendations to guide future research and development in this increasingly important field.