As video games continue to evolve and mature, it can sometimes be difficult to find a fun, family-friendly PC game. The best FPS games on PC and best MMORPGs on PC are easy to find and have dominated the spotlight as of late, but that doesn’t mean lighthearted adventures have completely vanished from the marketplace. In fact, there are hundreds of highly rated, family-friendly titles that everyone can enjoy.
It is much easier to find the best PS5 games for kids or the best Switch games for kids, which is why we took the liberty of providing you with the definitive list of the best PC games for kids.
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Minecraft
79%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Amazon Fire TV
Genre
Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Mojang Studios
Publisher
Mojang Studios
Release
September 20, 2017
Mojang’s masterpiece isn’t just incredibly popular — it’s also one of the best games for players of all ages. Diving into cave systems and encountering skeletons is a bit spooky, but its blocky graphics and lighthearted demeanor allow it always to remain kid-friendly. When you’re not exploring its vast, procedurally generated world, you can build your own house, farm, castle, or whatever else your heart desires. A robust crafting system lets you turn natural resources into various weapons and gear to help you on your adventures.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale
82%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
Wishes Ultd.
Publisher
Finji
Release
June 10, 2021
For all those artistic kids out there who want to let their creativity shine, Chicory: A Colorful Tale is the perfect game to explore. This little indie game got a lot of attention when it came out, and for all the best reasons. It’s a very chilled-out experience with a soothing soundtrack, creative puzzles, and an art style that is both adorable and interactive. The player takes on the role of a puppy who wields a magical paintbrush that they will use to decorate the land, solve puzzles, and do some light combat. Your goal is to bring color back to Picnic Province while helping the other animal inhabitants along the way. Giving players the freedom to express themselves is at the heart of Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Painting is the solution to everything in this game, from the puzzles to the bits of combat, encouraging creativity at every turn. Even if you don’t want to engage with the story or puzzles, hours could be spent on each screen just bringing the world to life with your brush. They all start out as essentially blank coloring books just begging to be filled in.
Stardew Valley
87%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, Wii U, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Indie
Developer
ConcernedApe
Publisher
ConcernedApe, Chucklefish Games
Release
February 26, 2016
With adorable graphics, a free-form storyline, and heaps of content, Stardew Valley continues to stand as one of the best indie games around, and years’ worth of updates have only made it better with time. Tasked with restoring an old farmhouse, you’ll spend your first few hours performing menial tasks such as clearing debris from your fields and collecting various resources for cash. Later, however, you’ll be participating in town festivals, delving deep into dungeons in search of treasures, and getting to know your fellow townsfolk.
Rayman Legends
85%
Platforms
Google Stadia, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, Xbox One
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher
Ubisoft Entertainment
Release
August 30, 2013
No arms, no legs, no problem. Ubisoft’s limb-impoverished hero, Rayman, has starred in a series of great platforming games, both 2D and 3D, but Rayman Legends is the hero’s absolute best outing. This 2D sidescroller is colorful, inventive, expertly designed, and brimming with excellent content. It’s perfect for fans of Mario. Rayman Legends is especially good for a family game night, as it features drop-in, drop-out cooperative play for up to four players. This is the type of multiplayer experience that can be enjoyed by young kids, teenagers, and parents all at the same time.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
84%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Toys for Bob
Publisher
Activision
Release
November 13, 2018
Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a remaster of the iconic games from decades ago. The first three installments are included in the Reignited Trilogy, which offers bold new graphics and plenty of quality-of-life improvements. Some of its side quests are a bit challenging, but the main story should be approachable enough for the entire family. And despite launching years ago, the 3D platform has held up surprisingly well and is a must-play for fans of the genre.
Sea of Thieves
72%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
Genre
Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Rare
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release
March 20, 2018
Sea of Thieves is rated Teen by the ESRB, but is totally acceptable for kids as young as 8 or so. If Pirates of the Caribbean is OK, though, Sea of Thieves should be, too. It’s an open-world pirate game that, above all else, emphasizes teamwork. Piloting a ship takes multiple sailors, each manning different stations to keep the vessel on its path and free of danger. It’s a social game, one that’s perfect for kids and their friends to team up to take on the high seas. There is combat, but it is framed in a very cartoonish and slapstick style. Plus, there’s nearly an endless stream of content, offering dozens of hours of pirate-themed gameplay.
Fortnite
68%
4/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy
Developer
Epic Games
Publisher
Epic Games
Release
July 25, 2017
Easy to learn, but hard to master, Fortnite is one of the most approachable games around. From Marvel and DC to Marshmello and the NFL, Fortnite has seen a wild number of collaborations that give it wide appeal. It’s easy for everyone to learn the basics too, and you can quickly climb into the top 25 players of each round just by biding time and hiding. But if the battle royale mode is too violent, the Lego Fortnite game within Fortnite itself is a joyful little survival game featuring the titular toys similar to Minecraft.
Slime Rancher
76%
Platforms
Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Genre
Shooter, Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Monomi Games
Publisher
Monomi Games, Skybound Games
Release
January 14, 2016
Set in a bright and cheerful world, Slime Rancher is an adorable adventure where you use a vacuum to collect and take care of as many little slimes as you can get your hands on. They come in dozens of colors, types, and personalities, all contributing to upgrading your farm and letting you explore the world even more. There’s always something new to see, a building to buy, or a tool to upgrade. Its cheery, fun, and addicting gameplay loop is easy to understand and perfect for kids. There’s a lot of content here, too, with well over 20 hours if they want to do and see everything the game offers.
Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package
Platforms
PlayStation 4
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure
Developer
Square Enix Business Division 3
Publisher
Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios
Release
January 29, 2019
Kingdom Hearts is the perfect franchise for a 10-year-old. What the series does so effectively for kids is bridge the gap between childhood and the pre-teen years. By mashing together popular Disney franchises with an over-the-top action RPG, Kingdom Hearts is familiar without blatantly catering to younger children. This collection brings the entire franchise into one convenient package so kids can follow Sora’s journey through all the Disney worlds, thwarting darkness from start to finish. With so much content here, this is a great collection kids can grow with. It tackles serious themes, but is never gory, vulgar, or disturbing.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
90%
3/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Puzzle, Adventure
Developer
Traveller's Tales
Publisher
WB Games
Release
April 05, 2022
The Skywalker Saga has quickly become a must-play Lego experience. It features the usual 3D platforming and litany of hidden collectibles, and the game allows you to play through all nine films as you see fit. It also boasts a roster of several hundred playable characters — meaning your fan-favorite character is probably up for grabs. While most games in the Lego franchise are worth a play, The Skywalker Saga is certainly a great place to start.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
77%
4.5/5
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S
Genre
Platform, Sport, Adventure, Indie
Developer
Mediatonic
Publisher
Devolver Digital, Epic Games
Release
August 03, 2020
The battle royale marketplace has quickly become saturated with great games, but Fall Guys stands apart thanks to its unique, combat-free gameplay. You’ll drop into an obstacle course with dozens of other players, each vying to cross the finish line before time runs out. Fall Guys spices things up with a few team-based activities and other events, and regardless of what you’re doing, the action looks great, thanks to adorable graphics and quirky bean-shaped protagonists. It’s not quite as popular as it was when it launched, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had in its colorful world.
Roblox
71%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Android, iOS, Xbox One
Genre
Platform, Simulator, Adventure
Developer
Roblox Corporation
Publisher
Roblox Corporation
Release
September 01, 2006
Roblox isn’t just a game — it’s also game-creation software. You’re free to roam worlds created by other players or build your own, giving it any theme you’d like. Want to build skyscrapers and a dense urban playground? Or would you rather build a sprawling farm, floating islands, or an underwater paradise? The only limit to Roblox is your imagination. Once you’ve built your game, you can jump online to play with friends. You can also visit their own creations, giving Roblox a nearly endless supply of content and infinite replayability.
Sonic X Shadow Generations
80%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Platform, Adventure
Developer
Sonic Team
Publisher
Sega
Release
October 25, 2024
Sonic has been around for decades, and Sonic Generations was launched to commemorate the franchise’s 20th anniversary. And by combining old-school 2D gameplay with modern 3D platforming, it served as a great reminder of Sonic’s heritage along with a look at where his future is headed. With approachable gameplay and eye-catching graphics, Sonic Generations is an easy recommendation for players of all ages. The newest version, Sonic X Shadow Generations, remasters all the content from the original game but adds an entirely new Shadow campaign. Considering Shadow’s popularity, especially after the movies, this alone might be worth the purchase for your kid.
game
Planet Zoo
78%
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Genre
Simulator, Strategy
Developer
Frontier Developments
Publisher
Frontier Developments
Release
November 05, 2019
Beyond being a great simulation game, Planet Zoo is surprisingly educational. You’ll slowly piece together an award-winning zoo as you build enclosures for polar bears, tigers, snakes, elephants, and everything in between. Along the way, you’ll also learn a ton of information about zoology and conservation. Piecing together a successful habitat involves learning about each animal’s wants and needs, so it should come as no surprise that you’ll walk away from the game with a greater understanding of the natural world and what it takes to care for these impressive creatures.
Cat Quest III
77%
Platforms
Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Genre
Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Developer
The Gentlebros
Publisher
Kepler Interactive
Release
August 08, 2024
With a name like Cat Quest 3, you know this is going to be an adorable and friendly adventure. Set in the Purribean, Cat Quest 3 is a pirate-themed action RPG where you play as a young cat exploring the world by boat and land to take on quests. Every character and every adventure is lighthearted and filled with cat puns. The combat is also very tame and no worse than a cartoon as your little cat smacks other pirate-themed animals with a few weapons and spells before poofing into a cloud of dust. This game does have some RPG elements, so reading and navigating menus is a big component. Whether played alone or together, though, Cat Quest 3 is a blast.
