Buying a video game for a child can be a tricky proposition. In the modern world, many kids already know about video games, but the most popular titles aren't always the most suitable. So how do you know which games are appropriate for kids?
In this article, we share the 10 best child-friendly games on console and PC available to buy online in the UK on Amazon, Argos and various gaming platforms. So whether you're looking for world-building creativity, a computer-based puzzle game that's suitable for a 7 year old, or the top titles on the Nintendo Switch, in this article we show you how to choose!
Quick List - Top Video Games for Kids
Warner Brother Games
Lego Adventure Game With Their Favourite Marvel Characters
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Consoles are a great way to start playing games. You just plug them into your TV, put the disc in or download the game and away you go. The PlayStation and Xbox series dominate the market right now, and many titles are available for both consoles. It's also worth noting that the new PS5 and Xbox Series X are backwards compatible, meaning that PS4 and Xbox One games work on them.
PC editions of popular titles offer more customisation with extra features like boosted graphics and player-created mods that can change the gaming experience. That said, setting them up on a PC isn't as easy, and a keyboard and mouse isn't as intuitive for some kids to use.
Lastly, we'd be amiss to not shout out handheld consoles such as the Nintendo Switch. This console can be played with or without a TV, and uses a split controller set up to allow up to four players to join in on the fun. Nintendo is also widely known for creating some of the very best child-friendly games out there, with many of the top titles for kids exclusively available on the Switch.
Take a look at some more Nintendo Switch Games for Kids!
When deciding on what genre to pick, consider your child's interests. The best catch-all games for kids, which almost any personality type can enjoy, are usually open-ended world-building games. They pack in all ways sorts of ways to create and move through virtual worlds, without kids feeling restricted or punished for taking the wrong path.
On the other hand, a story-based adventure game can provide a sense of challenge and teach determination, persistence and delayed gratification to kids. Be warned though, repeatedly failing levels in games can be frustrating for some kids. If your child gets angry or gives up easily, a more relaxing adventure title might be the answer.
Some children, especially as they get to their early teens, will love a competitive game that lets them master skills until they're better than their friends or family. A competitive kid-friendly combat, shooter or tournament game might be the one in this case!
There are some great Indie Games on the Switch that are suitable for kids.
Playing a game together is a great cooperative learning experience, especially for younger children under the age of 10. Local co-op games that let you play through the story or multiplayer of a game together while sitting in the same room as the child, are fantastic to get multiple generations involved in a shared goal.
Party games often let you play with four or more people at once, making them great for getting the whole family involved. These usually have a less complex story, focusing instead on creating an experience everyone can enjoy.
Just be aware that finding offline multiplayer games available on a PC can be quite difficult, as they're often designed for online play, so you'll find that most split-screen and local co-op games tend to be on console.
For more family-friendly fun, why not try out a family board game?
It's not always easy to tell whether a game is kid-friendly just by looking at the cover. For example, cartoony graphics are rarely a guarantee of child appropriate game content. Luckily in the UK, we're part of the PEGI or Pan European Game Information system. This lets you know what sort of content to expect within the game before you buy it.
These ratings go from PEGI 3, which are considered suitable for all ages, all the way up to PEGI 18 games that should only be played by adults. When buying for a child, we recommend sticking to PEGI 12 games and below. Although, it's always best to choose a rating closest to your child's actual age.
You should be able to find the rating on the front of the game case. Some older games, or older editions, might not have it on the front case, but an age rating will be present somewhere. So make sure to check to avoid picking a title with graphic or inappropriate content for youngsters.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nintendo Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury | ![]() | Updated Mario Adventure for Nintendo Switch | |
2 | Microsoft Minecraft | ![]() | Create Your Own Virtual Worlds | |
3 | Warner Brother Games Lego Marvel Superheroes 2 | ![]() | Lego Adventure Game With Their Favourite Marvel Characters | |
4 | Nintendo Splatoon 2 | ![]() | Kid-Friendly Paintball Shooter for Co-op or Versus Play | |
5 | Team 17 Overcooked: All You Can Eat | ![]() | Cartoon Restaurant Simulator for Players of All Abilities | |
6 | Look Games Snipper Clips Plus | ![]() | Innovative Cut and Paste Art Puzzle Party Game | |
7 | Sony Journey: Collector's Edition | ![]() | Calming Video Game for Hyperactive Kids | |
8 | Activison Spyro Reignited Trilogy | ![]() | Three Classic 2000s Platform Games Remastered Into One | |
9 | EA The Sims 4 | ![]() | Popular Virtual Life Simulator for Older Kids | |
10 | Atari Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 | ![]() | Build Your-Own Theme Park Game From 2004 |
Super Mario World 3D + Bowser's Fury is a phenomenal mish-mash of basically every other platform classic in existence. It draws on everything from open world-building to kart racing, mini-games, platform racing, battle royale, co-op, multiplayer versus - it's basically a hundred great games rolled into one cohesive package.
Four-player co-op multiplayer is an absolute blast. Add in the typical bouncy child-friendly Mario stylings and a dose of classic nostalgia and you've got one of the best kids' games of the past decade. Maaaaario!
This block-based world-building game with simple textures is designed to be both child-friendly and run on almost any PC - or at least the base game. It proved incredibly popular, prompting Microsoft to purchase the IP for a whopping $2.5 billion.
Setting up a child to build their own house, structure (or anything really) is super easy. But, once they get into it, there's a huge amount of depth to this game. On the PC version, there are loads of mods and servers that recreate the worlds of other popular games and franchises - literally anything you can think of is here. The only limit is the player's imagination!
Name three things kids in the UK love? Lego, Marvel movies and video games! Combining all three was always going to be an easy sell, and as usual, Warner Brother's Games have pulled it off with trademark quality.
This particular Lego title sees Spiderman, Hulk, Captain America, Groot and all your other Marvel favourites jump into block busting action. There's also the renowned Lego game co-op multiplayer, which is fantastic for adults to accompany children as they jump and dive through the Marvel universe.
Splatoon 2 is a shooting game, like Fortnite or Call of Duty, but instead of realistic violence, cutesy characters throw paint at each other. Voila, a kid-friendly shoot 'em up that really is an absolute blast to watch and play.
Available exclusively on the Switch, Splatoon 2 features some of the most fun multiplayer gaming of any kids title. There are dozens of paint based weapons and characters, and the game features nice nods to street art, modern design and various other styles of painting. Competitive, creative fun!
This lovely cartoon management simulator lets you run a variety of restaurants in some beautifully designed worlds. Your kids can play against the computer in a series of single-player challenges, as well as against or alongside each other in the absolutely fantastic multiplayer versus and co-op modes.
The best thing about Overcooked is the accessibility features. If you're playing with young kids, or grandma even, the difficulty can be scaled down - even in multiplayer mode. You can also activate dyslexia-friendly fonts for in-game text, and there's a colour blind mode too!
Snipperclips Plus is a fantastic title for teaching problem solving, geometry, physics, and more. It really does represent one of the most cerebrally involved games on this list, whilst remaining fun - especially in a four-player co-op versus mode.
Players are in charge of a square paper character on a grid-like screen, that you have to cut into shapes in order to complete goals like pulling a lever, moving through obstacles and catching a ball. Except, maybe you don't have it quite cut right...
Journey is an award-winning visual-art experience, and if you haven't played it yet - you should! This is the perfect calming game for hyperactive kids in a modern world of gaming where everything moves at 100 miles an hour.
In Journey, you surf and glide a silent and mysterious character through a beautifully designed world of desert and snow as you head towards a shining beacon in the distance. That's it. But trust us, it's absolutely gorgeous to watch and play. You also get two other previously digital exclusive games in the box too!
If you grew up with gaming, and you want the kids in your life to share your passions and experiences, there's not much better than this series of 90s classics. Spyro the cutesy dragon is a fantastic character, and Activision has done a great job of remastering his gorgeous world with smooth up-to-date graphics.
Be warned though, the later levels of each game can get quite hard. So be prepared to have them ask you for help. There's also the fact that this box set only has one physical game, so you'll need a decent internet connection to download the other two.
The Sims is one of the best selling video game series of all time. It sees players take control of a virtual person, family or entire community, from birth to death and everything in between. The stylised portrayal is very kid-friendly and has great ways of sanitising some of the more adult aspects of life.
However, it's probably not suitable for the youngest kids, as Sims can die, have affairs and other such mishaps. For some though, the house building tool is a game in itself, without anything else getting in the way of architectural creativity!
This game may have come out in 2004, but once it's set up on a PC, children will still have just as much of a riot with it today. Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 lets you create your dream virtual theme park, from crazy custom rollercoasters and incredible scenery, down to food stalls, toilets and cleaners.
There are challenge-based missions that can get quite tricky to pass, but there's also a wonderful free play mode where creating a fantastic park is just a few hours play away. Just keep an eye on the clock otherwise you may find your child still sitting there hours and hours later!
Written and researched by David Weir
No. 1: Nintendo|Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
No. 2: Microsoft|Minecraft
No. 3: Warner Brother Games|Lego Marvel Superheroes 2
No. 4: Nintendo|Splatoon 2
No. 5: Team 17|Overcooked: All You Can Eat
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