Video games arenât just for kids but didnât most of us grow up becoming fond of them as kids? Today, there are many video games with mature content, violence, and serious themes that prove that their real audience is adults. However, we must not forget that kids are a crucial part of the video game community and it’s important to highlight great games for them to experience the best of what this medium offers.
Here are some of the most epic video games for kids:
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Rated PEGI 3
Developed and published by Nintendo, âAnimal Crossing: New Horizonsâ is a 2020 life simulation game that lets you enjoy peaceful island living full of charming animal neighbors to befriend and home dĂ©cor to craft. This fifth main game in the Animal Crossing series might actually be quite calming for kids.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild
Rated E10+
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a fantastic action-adventure game set at the end of the Zelda timeline. Breath of the Wild is part of The Legend of Zelda franchise and it has been developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch and Wii U consoles.
âStep into a world of discovery and exploration, travel across vast fields, through forests, and to mountain peaks as you discover what has become of the kingdom of Hyruleâ in this stunning Open-Air Adventure wherein your journey is freer and more open than ever!
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville
Rated PEGI 7
Developed by PopCap Games, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville is a third-person shooter game where players take control of the Plants or the Zombies in either a cooperative or competitive multiplayer environment. It is the third installment in the âPlants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfareâ spin-off series of âPlants vs. Zombiesâ and has been published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Cuphead
Rated PEGI 7
Cuphead is a 2017 run and gun video game inspired by the rubber hose style of animation used in cartoons such as the works of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Fleischer Studios. It sought to emulate their subversive and surrealist qualities and features one or two players taking control of its titular protagonist and his brother Mugman. They fight through several levels that culminate in boss fights, in order to repay their debt to the devil.
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Forza Horizon 4
Rated PEGI 3
Forza Horizon 4 is a 2018 racing video game set in a fictionalized representation of areas of Scotland that features a route creator which enables players to create races using completely customized routes. Developed by Playground Games, Forza Horizon 4 is also playable in offline mode.
It is noted for its introduction of changing seasons to the series. For example, Derwentwater would freeze over in winter. This allows players the ability to drive on the ice to reach areas of the game world that would be inaccessible during all the other seasons. Forza Horizon 4 also features several content-expanding updates which have included new game modes.
Super Mario Odyssey
Rated E10+
Developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch video game console, Super Mario Odyssey is a 2017 platform game that follows Mario and his new ally Cappy – a sentient hat that allows Mario to control other characters and objects. They travel across various kingdoms to save Princess Peach from his nemesis Bowser and his plans of forced marriage.
In this game, Mario explores various kingdoms and collects âPower Moonsâ hidden inside them. These âPower Moonsâ are used as a source of fuel to power “The Odyssey”, an airship, to travel to new locations.
Rocket League
Rated PEGI 3
Image via Rocket League
Rocket League is a high-powered hybrid of an arcade-style vehicular soccer video game developed and published by Psyonix that lets you customize your car and compete in one of the most critically acclaimed sports games of all time. It was first released for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 in July 2015. Later on, ports for Xbox One and Nintendo Switch were released too.
Roblox
Rated ESRB 10+
Developed by Roblox Corporation, Roblox is a global online game platform that connects people through play and enables anyone to imagine, create, and have fun with friends as they explore millions of immersive 3D experiences, all built by a global community of developers.
Released in 2006, Roblox is available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Xbox One and it began to grow rapidly in the second half of the 2010s. The Covid-19 pandemic accelerated its growth as many people rushed to play the game.
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Overcooked
Rated ESRB E
Overcooked is a cooking simulation game where players control a number of chefs in kitchens filled with various obstacles and hazards to rapidly prepare meals to specific orders under a time limit. This game requires local cooperative experience and has been developed by Ghost Town Games and published by Team17.
Overcooked was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch has won two for Best British Game and Best Family Game. It was nominated for four awards at the 13th British Academy Games Awards.
Splatoon 2
Rated ESRB E10+
Splatoon 2 is a 2017 third-person shooter game that is a direct sequel to Splatoon. Developed and Published by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch, it includes a new story-driven single-player mode and various online multiplayer modes.
Just like the original, in this game players control characters, known as Inklings and Octolings, and use colored ink as ammunition wherein Inklings and Octolings can morph between humanoid, or kid forms. They switch from walking and shooting, into squid form where they can quickly swim through ink of their own color, and replenish their ink supply, as well as return to full health.
Splatoon 2 adds new standard, sub, and special weapons. It includes dual-wield pistols called Dualies, shotgun-like weapons called Brellas, and jetpacks known as Inkjets. The Dualies allow the player to perform dodge rolls and Brellas enable defensive maneuvers with folding shields.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Rated PEGI 7
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a game in which the player controls the titular Ori, a white guardian spirit. As Ori, you must jump, climb, glide, and swim between various platforms to solve intricate puzzles.It is a platform adventure developed by Moon Studios that unfolds in the form of a Metroidvania. It has an emphasis on exploration, collecting items, with new abilities and upgrades allowing players to unlock previously inaccessible areas of the map.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Rated PEGI 12
Image via The Guardian
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the fifth installment in the Super Smash Bros. series. It is a 2018 crossover fighting game developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd that follows the series’ traditional style of gameplay – controlling one of the various characters, players must use differing attacks to weaken their opponents, and knock them out of an arena.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features over eighty playable fighters, including everyone from all previous Super Smash Bros. games alongside several newcomers, a wide variety of game modes, including a campaign for single-player and multiplayer versus modes.
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Portal 2
Rated ESRB E10+
Portal 2 is a 2011 puzzle-platform video game developed by Valve that received critical acclaim for its gameplay, balanced learning curve, pacing, dark humor, writing, and acting. It has been described as one of the greatest video games ever made by numerous publications and critics just like the original Portal (2007), wherein players solve puzzles by placing portals and teleporting between them.
Portal 2 adds features, including tractor beams, lasers, light bridges, and paint-like gels that alter player movement or allow portals to be placed on any surface. The digital PC version is distributed online by Valve’s Steam service and is available for Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Meanwhile, all retail editions were distributed by Electronic Arts.
Minecraft
Rated ESRB 10+
Minecraft is a sandbox video game developed by the Swedish video game developer Mojang Studios players explore a blocky, procedurally-generated 3D world with virtually infinite terrain. They may discover and extract raw materials, craft tools, and items and build structures or earthworks in this critically acclaimed video game. It has won several awards and has been cited as one of the greatest video games of all time.
Game modes include a survival mode and a creative mode. Players can modify the game to create new gameplay mechanics, items, and assets. In the first, players must acquire resources to build the world and maintain health, and in the latter – players have unlimited resources and access to flight.
Rayman Legends
Rated PEGI 7
Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, Rayman Legends is the fifth main title in the âRaymanâ series and the direct sequel to the 2011 game âRayman Originsâ. The overall gameplay is amazing with a large amount of content. It has great visuals, level design, controls as well as a wonderful soundtrack.
Carrying on the gameplay of its original âRayman Originsâ four players (depending on the format) simultaneously make their way through various levels – collecting âLumsâ by touching them, defeating enemies, or freeing captured Teensies. New worlds are unlocked by collecting Teensies. These can be played in any order once they are available.
In âRayman Legendsâ, players can now control the new female character Barbara the Barbarian Princess. Players may control the Princess and her sisters once they are rescued from certain stages as not just Rayman, but Globox, and the Teensies returning as playable characters too!
Fortnite
Rated PEGI 12
Image via Epic Games Store
Fortnite is an online video game developed by Epic Games, available in three distinct game mode versions that otherwise share the same general gameplay and game engine called, âFortnite: Save the Worldâ, âFortnite Battle Royaleâ and âFortnite Creativeâ. The first is a cooperative hybrid-tower defense-shooter-survival game for up to four players.
The players fight off zombie-like creatures and defend objects with traps and fortifications they can build. âFortnite Battle Royaleâ is a free-to-play battle royale game. In this game, up to a hundred players fight to be the last person standing, and players are given complete freedom to create worlds and battle arenas in âFortnite Creativeâ.
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Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Rated PEGI 7
Developed by Ubisoft Milan, Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a tactical strategy game. It is a crossover between Nintendo’s Mario and Ubisoft’s Raving Rabbids franchises wherein Mario teams up with his friends; Luigi, Princess Peach, and Yoshi, along with four Rabbids dressed up like them with exaggerated personalities. They battle against enemy Rabbids that hinder their progress.
In Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, the main single-player campaign has players control a robot named “Beep-0” that can learn new abilities as the player progresses through the game. These include pushing or breaking blocks to access previously inaccessible areas, and the player can examine nearby objects should a magnifying glass appear above the robot.
The player must also lead a team of three heroes, including Mario, through four worlds split into multiple chapters. Each chapter is composed of one or more battles, and furthermore, along the way, the player can find alternate paths. On these alternate paths, they must solve puzzles on the game’s overworld to locate hidden chests containing new weapons or bonus material such as 3D model figurines.
Minecraft Dungeons
Rated ESRB E10+
Minecraft Dungeons is a spin-off of the sandbox video game Minecraft. It is a dungeon crawler video game developed by Mojang Studios and Double Eleven and was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. It does not feature an open world nor mining or building, but it is a point-and-click hack and slash-styled dungeon crawler.
In Minecraft Dungeons, there is no class system and players explore procedurally generated and handcrafted dungeons. These dungeons are filled with randomly generated monsters and also deal with traps, puzzles, bosses, and finding treasure. Players can use any weapon or armor they wish.
Overwatch
Rated PEGI 12
Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment, Overwatch assigns players into two teams of six, with each player selecting from a large roster of characters, known as “heroes”, with unique abilities. It is a 2016 team-based multiplayer first-person shooter game in which teams work to complete map-specific objectives within a limited period of time.
