Guide: 10 Games to Play with Your Kids

One of the most important decisions for a video game-loving parent is how and when to introduce their children to this wonderful world. We know that screen time should be monitored for health reasons and that it's ideal to follow your pediatrician's guidelines regarding the appropriate age, but the consensus is that children as young as 5 can begin playing video games.

With that in mind, what are the best games to introduce your little ones to? I've compiled a list of the best options, considering different age groups and gameplay options, to create an enjoyable experience not only for children but also for parents, creating memories and fun family moments.

Party Animals

Starting with a title that's rated G-rated, allowing fun for all ages. Party Animals is a multiplayer game featuring cute fights between a variety of different animals. You can play as a dog, cat, duck, rabbit, shark, dinosaur, and even a unicorn. Each player can use a wide variety of weapons in battles, and the game features a knockout system that allows a knocked-out player to return to combat if they haven't been knocked out of the arena.

The game has 3 modes and more than 23 different maps, with an attractive look for little ones and fun for the whole family.

Rocket League

Rocket League is a game that combines stylized racing cars with soccer, two things that kids usually love and that you, as a parent, will definitely be interested in too.

Rated 13+, the game focuses on tuned cars divided into two teams of up to two players each, where competitors must use and abuse turbocharged car stunts to score against the opposing team. The game received widespread acclaim upon its release and has amassed a solid fan base, being considered an e-sport with its own competitive circuit.

Fall Guys

Fall Guys is another multiplayer game, but this time a platform battle royale where up to 32 players can compete against each other in a series of randomized mini-games, such as obstacle courses and survival challenges.

Matches are divided into rounds, and as the game progresses, players are eliminated until only one champion remains. The game has an attractive visual style that will undoubtedly capture the attention of children, in addition to providing healthy competitive gameplay and encouraging interaction through multiplayer.

Overcooked

The Overcooked series is another multiplayer experience that will undoubtedly provide great moments with little ones, while also incorporating elements of reality. The game focuses on a restaurant kitchen where players take on the role of chefs and must cooperate to serve dishes to their customers on time, all while juggling a variety of different orders and challenging kitchen environments.

Overcooked not only offers a family-friendly video game experience, but can also be a tool to teach children the importance of nutrition, home organization, and perhaps even spark an interest in a future career or hidden talent.

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Now we'll talk about more engaging titles that any gamer parent will surely want to introduce to their children, starting with Insomniac's Marvel's Spider-Man. The Spider-Man trilogy puts you in the shoes of the superhero, having to balance your life as Peter Parker with the crime-fighting Spider-Man.

The game is rated 12 and older and is perfect for younger children, especially superhero fans, bringing all the drama of Spider-Man's adventures with incredible gameplay.

Even though it's a single-player game, who hasn't shared the controller with a friend or sibling as a child, switching controllers whenever the other one ended up dying in a more complex part of the game? It's a perfect game to share this kind of experience with your son or daughter.

Lego Series

Here we have several Lego games featuring various pop culture characters, including Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Indiana Jones, and more. The whole family can have fun while experiencing the nostalgia of seeing these iconic characters again in the Lego world.

These are games that support multiplayer mode and usually require players to cooperate to advance the story.

Pokémon

Among the many important decisions we make throughout life, few are as important as choosing between Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. In the Pokémon series, you play a trainer who travels the world collecting Pokémon, battling other trainers, and earning badges for the chance to become a Pokémon Master, just like in the cartoon.

Imagine how magical it can be to be by your little one's side as they experience the same adventures you experienced so many years ago on the Game Boy.

Mario Kart

Within the Mario universe, it's impossible not to choose the fun family experience that Mario Kart offers. This is one of the most famous titles featuring this iconic character, combining the nostalgia of the Nintendo universe with racing elements in a way that only Mario can deliver. It's undoubtedly a must-have title for any parent looking to introduce their children to the world of gaming.

The Legend of Zelda

Still speaking of Nintendo, there's no denying that what Mario can offer, The Legend of Zelda can too. Link's adventures hold a special place in the memories of any adult and can certainly continue to do the same for current generations.

How could we forget the haunting soundtrack of Ocarina of Time or the dark story of Majora's Mask, not to mention Breath of the Wild, which is one of the best open-world games of recent times? Your son or daughter will be enchanted by the epic world of Zelda, and sharing it while sharing the controller will be magically unforgettable.

Minecraft

Minecraft is a phenomenon for all ages, there's no denying it. Even if you're an adult who's never really been interested in the game's sandbox world, it's undeniable that it has a charm that few other games possess.

The melancholy of Minecraft's solitude combined with its survival-based exploration and building system is unique, creating incredible moments between parents and children. It's a title that couldn't be left off this list because it's open to all ages and offers everything a multiplayer experience should.