What to Play with Your Child? A List of the Best Video Games

Choosing games for children is no easy task. Modern projects offer a wide variety of options to suit any taste. They can be not only entertaining but also beneficial for developing reflexes, logic, and imagination.

Our new list has games for every occasion: from popular hits of recent years to competitive disciplines.

Untitled Goose Game

Age: 6+
Genre: Stealth, Puzzle
Features:

• A humorous game where players control a mischievous goose causing chaos in a quiet village.
• Simple controls and fun challenges make it a great choice for children.
• Includes a co-op mode for two players.

Your goal is to annoy the villagers in the most creative ways possible. Each area has a task list, and completing them unlocks new locations.

This game is perfect for children and families since it contains no violence. There are no dialogues or text—interactions are conveyed through gestures, and characters’ thoughts appear as picture bubbles. This makes the game intuitive and easy to grasp, even for the youngest players.

If you have a controller in addition to a keyboard and mouse, you can play together. One goose is fun, but two are even better!

Spiritfarer

Age: 12+
Genre: Simulator, Adventure
Features:

• A touching story about life, friendship, and farewells.
• Relaxing gameplay involving building, crafting, and caring for spirits.
• Unique art style and soothing atmosphere.

Spiritfarer is a game about life, death, and farewells, exploring loss in a way few others do. It doesn’t just tell a story; it makes you feel every moment. At first glance, it’s a cozy boat management simulator, but over time, it unfolds into a deep emotional journey that touches the soul.

The story gradually develops as you meet spirits, fulfill their final wishes, and inevitably say goodbye. Sometimes, it feels like you’re just enjoying a peaceful boat ride with charming characters, but at certain moments, the game unexpectedly hits you with emotions, reminding you of real-life experiences and losses.

Spiritfarer captivates with its atmosphere: soft, watercolor-style graphics, a heartfelt soundtrack, and well-crafted dialogues create a unique harmony. Everything in this game—from the smallest details to the grand finale—is filled with warmth and care.

There are many dialogues, so a child should be able to read, but it’s not a strict requirement. And if the child can’t read, it will be a motivation to learn. The dialogues are short and use simple words. The age rating is slightly high, unlike the next game on our list.

It Takes Two

Age: 12+
Genre: Co-op Adventure, Platformer
Features:

• A game designed specifically for two players, requiring teamwork to solve puzzles and overcome challenges.
• The story emphasizes the importance of cooperation and understanding.
• A colorful world and varied gameplay make it engaging for the whole family.

Here, the age rating should be questioned, as it leans more toward 18+. The game includes not just scenes of violence but some particularly brutal moments, such as vacuuming out a character’s eyes.

However, overall, it’s decent. If you cover your child’s eyes at the right moments, you can have a great time together. The biggest strength of It Takes Two is its incredible variety of gameplay mechanics. Every new location introduces fresh ideas: platforming, puzzles, and action elements that seamlessly complement each other.

The story follows a married couple, May and Cody, who are suddenly shrunk to tiny sizes. Their journey is not just about returning home but symbolically about repairing their relationship.

The game cannot be played solo; it’s a two-player experience only. You’ll need at least one controller and a keyboard with a mouse.

Unravel & Unravel Two

Age: 7+
Genre: Platformer, Puzzle
Features:

• A cozy story about two tiny yarn creatures bound by friendship.
• Co-op mode with puzzle and platforming elements.
• Beautiful visual style and heartfelt atmosphere.

Unravel Two is an example of a game with a great concept but less-than-perfect execution. A controller is required for local co-op play.

If you’re looking for a cozy game and can overlook some technical flaws, one playthrough might be enjoyable. There aren’t many two-player games, so it’s worth trying.

Just a heads-up: some mechanics, such as using a rope for movement, don’t always work as expected, especially with a keyboard, making a 100% completion quite a challenge.

A Short Hike

Age: 6+
Genre: Adventure, Exploration
Features:

• Explore a scenic island by climbing, swimming, and chatting with locals.
• Relaxing atmosphere and stress-free gameplay.
• Perfect for short gaming sessions.

A Short Hike is a charming indie adventure that feels like a blend of Celeste, Animal Crossing, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but with a unique style and a more relaxed approach. The game invites players to explore a lovely pixel-art island, capturing the carefree feeling of a summer getaway.

Super Mario Odyssey

Age: 6+
Genre: Platformer, Adventure
Features:

• A classic Mario game with tons of fun levels.
• Simple and engaging gameplay suitable for kids.
• Co-op mode where a second player assists with character control.

Most people mention The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild from Nintendo’s library, which is an obvious choice. But don’t overlook Super Mario Odyssey—it’s a fantastic adventure that brings back the spirit of classic 3D platformers with a modern twist and fresh ideas.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Age: 7+
Genre: Platformer, Adventure
Features:

• The classic Spyro trilogy with updated graphics.
• Explore colorful worlds, collect treasures, and battle enemies.
• Intuitive controls and a friendly game design.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a beautiful and nostalgic collection that appeals to both new players and longtime fans of the series. Despite some technical issues, it offers fun exploration and the thrill of discovery, reminiscent of late ’90s games.

Minecraft

Age: 6+
Genre: Sandbox, Survival
Features:

• Unlimited creative possibilities: build, explore, and survive.
• Multiple game modes: survival, creative, multiplayer.
• Simple controls and online play with friends.

Since its release in 2009, Minecraft has become a cultural phenomenon, attracting millions of players of all ages.

The multiplayer mode includes thousands of servers, so parents should be cautious. There’s a big difference between playing in creative mode and venturing into the online world, which is filled with people of varying temperaments.

Terraria

Age: 7+
Genre: Sandbox, Action, Adventure
Features:

• Explore 2D worlds with digging, building, and combat.
• Tons of items, bosses, and adventures.
• Co-op mode for playing with friends.

Terraria combine sandbox creativity with action-packed exploration, making it an excellent choice for young adventurers.

Build – Create houses, bases, and even entire cities for NPCs who provide useful items.

Craft – Turn gathered materials into weapons, potions, armor, and many other useful items.

Fight – Engage in epic battles against bosses and waves of enemies.

Explore – Dive into diverse biomes, including dungeons, jungles, oceans, and even alien worlds.

Rocket League

Age: 8+
Genre: Sports Arcade
Features:

• A unique mix of soccer and car racing.
• Simple rules but deep gameplay with plenty of tactics.
• Great for playing with friends online or locally.

In this game, you control cars that can jump, boost, and perform acrobatic tricks to hit a giant ball into the opponent’s goal. Rocket League has one of the most active and stable esports scenes and could be a great first competitive game for kids.

Fortnite

Age: 12+
Genre: Battle Royale, Sandbox
Features:

• Exciting multiplayer gameplay with building mechanics.
• Various game modes.
• Regular updates, new seasons, and in-game events.

Counter-Strike might not be the best choice for a young gamer due to its realism. Yes, kids may learn accurate shooting and teamwork tactics, but it’s not the best fit.

In Fortnite, the goal is more about gathering resources, building structures, and engaging in fun competition. Battles feel like friendly contests rather than intense military operations.

Fortnite also includes multiple built-in systems to control toxic behavior, such as chat filtering and the option to disable voice chat.