8 Best Video Games for Kids and Family to Rule Your Gaming Sense

Video games for children is often a very controversial topic. Some parents don’t like the fact that their kids play video games too frequently while others don’t mind it because the games keep their children busy. Either way, there are some excellent games out there which allow children to have fun without all the negative effects.

If you plan to purchase video games for your child, here are 8 best video games for kids and family you may want to consider. The list below is in no particular ranking order.

1) LittleBigPlanet 3

KEY FEATURES

LittleBigPlanet 3 is a puzzle-platform video game in the LittleBigPlanet series. Upon release, this game received positive reviews as it had superior visuals, a clever create mode, and a lot of new elements for gameplay like the addition of a few new characters.

This game came free in 2017 as part of the free games included in PlayStation Plus. It’s also part of the very first PlayStation 4 games which have the game patches preloading feature.

Developer: Sumo Digital

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Release: 18 November 2014 (NA), 26 November 2014 (EU), 26 November 2014 (AU), 28 November 2014 (UK), 4 December 2014 (JP)

Platforms: PlayStation 3 & 4

Design

LittleBigPlanet 3 starts with a white-colored void as the player learns how to control “Sackboy,” the main mascot/character of the game. In the middle of this introduction, the narrator gets interrupted by a character called Newton who creates a wormhole using a device. This is where the adventure begins.

This game includes a lot of gameplay, cutscenes, and characters. It’s voiced by Stephen Fry as the narrator, Hugh Laurie as Newton, and other actors who breathe life into the different characters as the player goes through the different stages of the game.

Why players should play this game

This newest addition to the LittleBigPlanet series includes some cool features for children to enjoy such as:

• New, customizable heroes who have their own special physics and abilities.
• Slackboy, the main character, has some new tricks up his sleeve like the Blaster Handle which allows children to create their own power-ups.
• Deep layers and a dynamic thermometer which allow players to transition instantaneously between several layers.
• The touch create feature that brings a whole new element to the gameplay experience.
• Children can create adventures which are more expansive.
• The Sack Pocket feature which allows the players to quickly equip and use power-ups.
• New tools and enhanced tools from the previous games.

2) Unravel Two

KEY FEATURES

This is another puzzle platform game which came out in 2018 for various platforms. It focuses on two “Yarnys” which are tiny anthropomorphic yarn creatures and it’s the sequel to the Unravel game which came out in 2016.

Developer: Coldwood Interactive

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Release: June 9, 2018 (for PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox One), March 22, 2019 (for Nintendo Switch)

Platforms: Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch

Design

Unravel Two game includes eight different chapters with their own storylines. The setting of Chapter 1 is the Foreign Shores where the story starts. Chapter 2 is the Hideaway where the player searches for companionship and safety. Chapter 3 is all about Little Frogs where right is wrong but the Yarnys refuse to accept this.

Chapter 4 is all about exploration as it’s entitled “Nightswimming.”In Chapter 5, the machine tries to grind down the Yarnies in the chapter entitled ” Is that all there is.” Chapter 6, Ashes to Ashes is where things fall apart while Chapter 7 occurs At the Rapids. Then the game comes to an end.

Why players should play this game

Unravel Two allows the player to create relationships with other Yarnies as a single player or in a local co-op. This fosters support and friendship as Yarnies journey together. Here are some key features of this game:

• The player gets to play with two Yarnies always.
• The inspiration for the game’s location is actual Scandinavian locations from complex urban environments to gorgeous natural landscapes.
• It includes fun problem-solving for children.
• It also includes a heartfelt story filled with friendly characters.

3) Overcooked 2

KEY FEATURES

Overcooked 2 game is a cooperative simulation video game that’s all about cooking. It’s the sequel to Overcooked and it’s even more addictive and enjoyable than the first one!

Developer: Ghost Town Games

Publisher: Team17

Release: August 7, 2018

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Mac, Windows, and Linux

Design

For Overcooked 2 game, teams of players cooperatively play to prep and cook orders in the most absurd types of restaurants. Players chop, wash, combine, and cook ingredients, place the dishes on plates, and serve those dishes to customers.

It’s a cute game with adorable players and restaurants which are both absurd and endearing. It has interactive levels, lovely restaurant themes, various costumes and recipes, and characters who bump into each other as they scramble to complete the orders.

Why players should play this game

If your child has played Overcooked, playing this second version is a lot easier. Of course, the game itself is a lot more challenging. Here are other new features children can expect from Overcooked 2:

• New recipes including steamed dishes, sushi, pasta, cake, pancake, nuggets, and sashimi.
• New ingredients including cheese, cucumber, honey, eggs, and chocolate.
• New designs for the kitchens which include platforms, swamps, and more.
• New chefs including an alien, cow, cat, monkey, and walrus.
• A new ability to throw items from one kitchen or platform to another.
• An online multiplayer feature.

4) Peggle 2

KEY FEATURES

The 4^th game on our list of 8 best video games for kids and family is Peggle 2. This is a casual puzzle game which is the sequel to the first Peggle video game. It includes the return of Bjorn Unicorn, new masters, more features, new options for gameplay, and more. This version came out in 2013 and 2014 on different platforms.

Developer: PopCap Games

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Release: December 9, 2013 (for Xbox One), May 7, 2014 (for Xbox 360), October 14, 2014 (for PlayStation 4)

Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4

Design

The goal of this game is for the player to clear all pegs from the board with balls shooting from a cannon. The player can do this through problem-solving and strategizing. Peggle 2 has two additional modes – the Trial Mode and the Multiplayer Mode.

In the Trial Mode, the player must reach the goals. This mode is almost identical to the normal mode, but the player must meet the requirements to reach the goal. For the Multiplayer Mode, the player can play with other players online in various matches.

Why players should play this game

Peggle 2 brings much of the appeal of the first edition while bringing the game to a whole new level. Here are some features children can look forward to in this game:

• 5 Peggle Masters who each have several costumes.
• 60 new trials and 60 new levels.
• 180 new objectives along with new achievements.
• A new Peg Party mode allowing for multiplayer enjoyment.
• Orchestral Audio and High-Definition Visuals.
• Kinect voice commands and gestures for menu and in-game controls.

5) Lego Jurassic World

KEY FEATURES

Lego Jurassic World is an action-adventure video game with a Lego Jurassic World theme. It offers interactive entertainment which means that your child will experience a lot of action-packed fun inspired by the famous movie series. It’s an exciting game with iconic characters, cool vehicles, incredible structures, and more.

Developer: TT Fusion

Publishers: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Feral Interactive (OS X)

Release: 12 June 2015 and 31 March 2016 (for Android, iOS)

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Android, iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3 & 4, PlayStation Vita, OS X, Wii U, and Xbox 360 & One.

Design

Lego Jurassic World follows the incredible storylines of the Jurassic Park series. It’s the very first video game that allows players to experience and relive all of the Jurassic films but this time, in Lego form. It offers the signature Lego humor as children embark on a thrilling adventure featuring unforgettable action sequences and scenes from the movies.

Why players should play this game

Through this game, children can fully explore the expansive environments of Isla Sorna and Isla Nublar. Here are some cool things children can look forward to while playing Lego Jurassic World:

• Relive the most significant moments from the Jurassic Park films in classic, Lego-style animation.
• Children can choose from 20 different Lego dinosaurs to wreak havoc in Jurassic Park.
• Children can customize their own collection of dinosaurs.
• Children can explore the islands and populate them with their own original dinosaur breeds.
• A drop-in, drop-out gameplay feature allows children to play with friends and family.

6) Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

KEY FEATURES

The game is a third-person shooter game that’s just as fun and exciting as its predecessor – Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare. It came out in 2016 and it includes the same lovable characters from all the other Plants vs. Zombies games plus more cool features.

Developer: PopCap Games

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Release: February 23, 2016 (NA), February 25, 2016 (EU)

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4

Design

The gameplay for Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is very similar to its predecessor with the addition of new classes, a new mode, and other new features. Most of the characters also return for this sequel but some of them come with new abilities.

This new game also offers a split-screen multiplayer game along with additional content you can download free of charge. All in all, the game comes with an improved design and a lot of cool new features.

Why players should play this game

All the versions of this exciting game are highly appealing to children and adults alike. But what makes this one so special? Here are some cool features to expect:

• Play the offensive as plants bring the fight to the zombies in order to protect Zomburbia in the various game modes.
• New skins, characters, and classes to look forward to from the past, present, and future.
• There are different game modes which allow players to play by themselves or to play with others, even with players online.
• Children can play across 12 different maps oozing with humor and personality.

7) Tearaway Unfolded

KEY FEATURES

Tearaway Unfolded is a platform-adventure game offering a robust storybook-type world made completely out of paper. The player must save the world as a messenger trying to deliver a letter. It revolves around the interaction in an environmental platform along with customizability, creativity, and a lot of confrontations.

Developer: Media Molecule and Tarsier Studios

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Release: September 8, 2015 (NA), September 9, 2015 (EU), September 11, 2015 (UK), October 1, 2015 (JP)

Platforms: PlayStation 4

Design

This game is a lot like the original one. It’s a third-person platform video game which emphasizes environmental interaction. It features a quirky kind of creativity where the player would have to navigate through different paper environments while playing side-objectives to help the other characters. The movement controls for the main character include rolling, grabbing, and jumping.

Why players should play this game

This is a fun video game where children play as Atoi the messenger in a daring adventure to deliver a top-secret message. Here are some reasons why this game is on our list of 8 best video games for kids:

• Children can choose their own main character – either Atoi or Iota.
• There’s a flashlight option for children to use in the darker areas of the game.
• Children can control wind and make the character bounce. Children can also let the character throw creatures and objects.
• There is also an option to take photos through Remote Play.

8) Yooka-Laylee

KEY FEATURES

Yooka-Laylee is a platform game serving as the “spiritual successor” to Banjo-Kazooie. It focuses on Yooka the chameleon and Laylee the bat as they embark on a quest to find and retrieve a magic book. It also happens to be a spin-off to the Impossible Lair that’s set to come out this 2019.

Developer: Playtonic Games

Publisher: Team17

Release: 11 April 2017 (for Linux, Windows, macOS, PS4, and Xbox One), 14 December 2017 (for Nintendo Switch)

Platforms: Linux, Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One

Design

Players use a third-party perspective when playing this game. The player would control both characters so they can work together to navigate the environment, solve puzzles, defeat enemies, and collect items. They also have to complete challenges in order to collect “Pagies” of the magical book.

In the game, the characters can learn different abilities like tongue whipping, sky soaring, sonar blasting and more. They can also eat special berries to gain temporary powers. It’s an RPG-style game with lovely sounds and graphics to keep children engaged throughout the different levels.

Why players should play this game

This is an all-new platform game with huge, lovely worlds and an unforgettable, lovable cast of characters who add appeal to the whole game. Here are some new features to look forward to:

• The buddy duo feature providing both characters with abilities for more fun.
• Children can carve their own path as they play through the different parts of the game.
• There are a lot of shiny collectibles which each has its own cool features.
• The memorable characters add humor to the game with a lot of squawks, grunts, and squeaks.
• New boss fights, mine cart challenges, quiz shows, retro Arcade games, and unique multiplayer games too.

Conclusion

There you have it – a list of the 8 best video games for kids and family. As you can see, all these games provide educational benefits while allowing children to have fun. Choosing any of these games for your child enables you to give your child a game which he/she will truly appreciate.

Author Bio:

James Williams is a staff writer at B4gamez.com. His gaming expertise makes him a top-rated blogger with a huge fanbase. His specialization is MMOs and MMORGPs. Covering tournaments and review new releases.