Best Video Games for Kids by Age: Family-Friendly Picks
Start with the child's age, then look at pace, controls and content. These picks are grouped by age so you can narrow your options fast.
In this article
Here's how to find the best video games for kids by age: start with the age range your child falls into, then pick from the games listed for that group. This article doesn't use one list for everyone, because a game that suits a six-year-old may bore a teenager. You may also find this useful: A Parent's Guide to Video Games.
Many family favorites fit more than one range, since a game can grow with a child. Mario, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi are suitable for kids [1]. Sharing video games with your kids is good [2], and a game you both enjoy can be an easy place to start.
Before you buy, check the official rating for each game. It is the fastest way to see whether a title fits your child's age and what content it includes.
What works for the youngest players?
Simple platformers are the easiest place to start with the youngest players. These are the run, jump and collect games, and the Mario family is the classic example. Most of them, including Mario, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi, are suitable for kids [1]. Kirby also stands out, and not only for his looks [1].
What to look for
- Bright visuals that make it easy to see where the character is and what to do next.
- Forgiving play, where a missed jump costs a few seconds, not the whole level.
- Short sessions that end at a natural stopping point, so a five-year-old can finish without a meltdown.
- Easy controls with only a few buttons to learn.
Expect to help with the menus
Plan to sit beside your child for the first few sessions. Small kids often get stuck before the game starts, on menus such as picking a save file, choosing a character or changing the difficulty. Once you have set those up, most young players can run and jump on their own.
For example, you might choose the character and start the first level for a four-year-old, then let them play while you watch from the couch. If they can finish one short level and want to stop, that is a good sign the game fits them.
Which games suit early elementary kids?
For kids around six to eight, look for games that are easy to start and fun to share with a parent or sibling. Four picks from a CNET roundup of family games fit that age well [2]. For a closer look, read Co-op Games to Play with Kids.
- Untitled Goose Game and Overcooked are light and funny, so a young child can join in without a long lesson.
- Nintendo Labo mixes building and play, which suits kids who like making things with their hands before they play.
- Rayman Legends works for kids who can handle simple platforming, meaning running and jumping through levels.
Why these picks fit this age
The CNET list names Untitled Goose Game, Nintendo Labo, Overcooked and Rayman Legends alongside other games meant to be played with kids [2]. That makes them a practical starting set rather than a single answer for every child.
The two lighter games are the easiest place to begin. Overcooked works well when you take turns, so your child can cook while you handle the harder orders. Untitled Goose Game gives a child room to explore and laugh without needing fast reactions.
How to play together
Sit beside your child for the first session. Early elementary players often need help with menus and controls, and a few minutes of your company makes the game feel like a shared activity.
Nintendo Labo asks for more patience. Let your child build the cardboard kit first, then play with what they made. Rayman Legends is a better choice once your child can move, jump and recover from a fall on their own.
Keep the first session short. Thirty to forty-five minutes is plenty for a child this age to try a new game and decide whether they want another round.
What do tweens usually enjoy?
Tweens, roughly ages 9 to 12, usually want games with more room to make their own choices than the simpler picks for younger kids. The four titles below fit that need, and they appear together on a family-friendly list of video games for kids [3].
- Minecraft and Splatoon 2 let kids build, explore or compete at their own pace.
- Rocket League suits kids who like fast, team-based matches.
- Portal 2 offers puzzles that reward careful thinking.
Minecraft and Splatoon 2
These two are the most open-ended picks. In Minecraft, your child can build structures, explore a world and set their own goals with no timer. Splatoon 2 is more competitive, but kids can enjoy its paint-and-shoot matches without planning every move.
Rocket League
Rocket League is a good fit for a child who likes quick, team-based play. Matches are short, and your child can join a teammate, friend or parent on the same side. The pace feels fast at first, so a few practice matches help.
Portal 2
Portal 2 is the slower pick. Its puzzles ask your child to test an idea, notice what went wrong and try again. That suits a kid who enjoys figuring things out more than racing.
Which one to start with
Choose Minecraft or Splatoon 2 for a child who likes making things or competing at their own speed. Rocket League suits a social, competitive kid, and Portal 2 suits a patient problem-solver. Many tweens enjoy more than one of these, so start with the one that matches how your child already likes to play.
Are there picks for teenagers?
Teens who are ready for longer goals can try survival games, and two picks from this list are Subnautica and Don't Starve Together [3]. Both are built around planning and long-term projects rather than quick reflexes, so they suit a teen who likes to settle in for a session.
Why these two suit teens
Subnautica, along with its companion title Subnautica: Below Zero, is on this list as a survival pick [3]. Don't Starve Together is the other choice, and it is a multiplayer game, so a teen can share the experience with friends [3]. Both give your teen something to work toward over several evenings instead of finishing a level in minutes.
What to look at before they play
- Survival with longer goals: A teen can build a project across many sessions, which keeps the game interesting as they grow more confident.
- Online chat: Ask whether the game includes online chat before your teen plays, and decide together how chat should work in your home.
- Pick up and put down: Teens often prefer games they can pick up and put down, so a survival game can fit around homework and practice.
Who these picks suit
These games work best for teens who enjoy exploring, planning and solving problems at their own pace. They may be a poor fit for a teen who wants fast, constant action from the start, since survival games usually begin with gathering and building.
If your teen already plays Minecraft, which is also on this list [3], Subnautica and Don't Starve Together may feel like a natural next step. Try one together for a few sessions before deciding whether it fits your family's routine.
How do you pick the right game for your child?
Start with the age rating, then check the game's pace and controls. Those details tell you more about whether a game will work for your child than the cover art or the title does.
Choosing an age-appropriate game is something you can research before you buy. [4]
Who will play it?
The next question is who the game is for in practice. A game can suit your child's age and still be a poor fit if it is built for a different way of playing.
Play setting | What to look for | Example of a good fit |
|---|---|---|
Alone | Clear goals, short levels, and a pause option | A single-player game with one main action |
With you | A shared screen, turns, and tasks you can both follow | A couch game that lets you take turns |
Online | Whether there is voice or text chat, and whether it can be turned off | A game with friends-only play |
The main difference is who your child plays with. A solo game lets them move at their own pace, while a game with you needs a screen you can both see. Online play adds other players and chat, so those settings matter most.
Pace and controls
Pace matters because a fast game with many moving parts can overwhelm a young player. A slower game lets them learn one action at a time.
Controls matter just as much. A game that needs precise button timing can frustrate a child who is still learning to hold a controller. For example, a child who struggles with two-stick movement may do better with a game that uses a single stick.
For ratings and parental controls, see the ESRB rating and parental controls guides on this site.
Where should you start?
Pick the age group that fits your child, then choose one game from that group to try first. You don't need to work through the whole list before starting.
Start with the child's age, then look at the game that matches it best. If your child is very young, a simple platformer is a safe first choice. If they're in early elementary school, a light, funny game they can share with you is a good fit. Tweens and teens can move on to building, competitive or survival games.
One game is enough to start. Play it together for a few sessions and see whether your child keeps asking for more. That tells you more than any list can.
Kids change fast, so the list will age with them. A game that was too fiddly last year may suit them now, and a favorite may lose its appeal. Come back to the age groups every year or so, and pick a new title when your child is ready for something different.