Finding the best video games for kids is no easy task. Most of the best PS5 games, best Xbox Series X games, and best PC games are aimed at an older audience, but there are a lot of video games geared toward children if you know where to look.
Thankfully, you don’t have to go through the process. Not only do we have specific guides for the best PS5 games for kids, best Xbox Series X games for kids, and best Switch games for kids, but we have also created this master list for all systems. We’ve roughly divided them based on what age they are appropriate for so you can quickly get an idea of what game might be right to play with your specific youngster.
The best video games for ages 3+
Super Mario Maker 2
82%
4.5/5
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
77%
4.5/5
Princess Peach: Showtime!
65%This isn’t the first game Peach has starred in, but it is certainly the best. Princess Peach: Showtime! is a delightful game that gives young gamers a ton of variety without being too challenging. Peach is on a mission to save the Sparkle Theater from the evil Grape and the Sour Bunch. The theater setting allows for a ton of different environments through various backdrops, but also the key mechanic of Peach swapping costumes to access new powers. Each one changes up the gameplay and will keep kids anticipating what new and exciting costumes will come next.
Nintendo Switch Sports
72%Nintendo Switch Sports wasn’t quite the cultural phenomenon that Wii Sports was, but it is still just as great a game for the entire family to gather around. This title comes packed with six fun sports, ranging from bowling to volleyball, tennis, and even chambara. All the games utilize motion controls, just like the Wii game, meaning even gamers too young to learn complex button commands or who are still a little hesitant to grab a controller can easily strap on a Joy-Con and understand how to play. Every game works as you would expect, and it’s very satisfying to move your arm and see your character reflect that action. Kids can play alone or go head-to-head with friends and family. It’s a great and safe introduction to sports that may lead to a desire to go out and try the real thing.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
84%
4/5
LEGO Marvel Collection
Mario Golf: Super Rush
70%
3/5
Astro's Playroom
85%The PS5 comes with Astro’s Playroom already installed and ready to play right out of the box. No extra purchase necessary! Some people call Astro’s Playroom a tech demo of sorts, and to some extent it is, but that would be selling this game short on just how much fun it is. In fact, the bite-sized nature makes it even more appealing to younger kids. You take control of the cute little robot Astro as he explores various worlds that are all themed around the different components of the PS5. While that may sound like a boring setting for a platformer, the team behind the game put fun first with levels like the GPU Jungle and SSD Speedway. In all honesty, Astro’s Playroom nearly reaches the heights of a Mario game. The controls are tight, the platforming satisfying and creative, the levels lovingly crafted, and nothing is ever too frustrating or difficult. What really sells this game is how it shows off the new functions of the DualSense controller. Kids will be amazed at how it actually feels different to walk Astro on different surfaces or how the triggers resist at different levels, depending on what you’re doing on screen.
Rayman Legends
86%
4.75/5
Untitled Goose Game
79%
New Pokémon Snap
73%While they are simple by RPG standards, traditional Pokémon games can be a little too complex for some kids. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t interact and live in the world of these cute creatures. New Pokémon Snap is like a little safari tour where you ride along set paths and use your Switch to look around and snap the best pictures you can of Pokémon in their natural habitats. There’s no intense battling or catching to be done, except for catching them all on film. There are plenty of secrets and different ways to approach each stage that keep it exciting.
Peggle 2
76%
Paw Patrol: World
Paw Patrol isn’t a hit with every kid, but those who love it love it hard. There are a handful of games based on the hit property, but the latest and greatest is Paw Patrol: World. This entry lets kids explore an open-world version of Adventure Bay, Jake’s Mountain, and more on a quest to stop Mayor Humdinger. All the pups are here and playable, as well as customizable with different outfits. It is also a fantastic co-op game to be shared with friends and family.
The best video games for ages 5+
Mario Party Superstars
80%
4/5
Super Mario Odyssey
90%
4/5
Astro Bot
92%If your kid fell in love with the adorable Astro after Astro’s Playroom like we did and wants more, thankfully, we got a full-sized adventure in Astro Bot that expands on everything we saw in Playroom. The game is divided up into over a dozen worlds to platform through and rescue hundreds of bots, but not all are just generic robots. This game pays tribute to nearly every major video game franchise, not just PlayStation ones, by including themed bots from various games. Kids might not recognize all of them, but that doesn’t make the game itself any less fun. Astro Bot is on the same level as the best 3D Mario games in every way. It feels great to move and jump, the levels are bright and creative, and you get fun new powers all the time.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
74%
Minecraft
84%
Rocket League
83%
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
84%
Luigi's Mansion 3
83%
Unravel Two
79%
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
81%
Pokémon Legends: Arceus
87%
3.5/5
Pokémon RPGs have been going strong since 1996, and there really isn’t a better RPG for kids to start with than one of the many iterations available across Nintendo handhelds. These turn-based RPGs follow a young kid on a quest to become the very best Pokémon trainer in the world. Along the way, you capture Pokémon to train and use in battle against other trainers. On Nintendo 3DS, there are three sets of excellent Pokémon adventures to choose from: Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and Pokémon Sun and Moon. If you have two 3DS (or 2DS) handhelds, you can battle against each other to see who’s the best of the household (your kid will probably win). Arceus is a great choice. It’s a brand new experience that changes up the world and mechanics for Nintendo Switch.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
84%
4/5
Terraria
81%
Star Wars: Episode I - Racer
73%
Kirby Fighters 2
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
86%
The best games for ages 10+
Super Mario RPG
76%RPGs tend to be a bit too much for younger gamers, but the remake of Super Mario RPG is the perfect entry point to the genre for kids. This adorable game combines some light platforming Mario is known for with a turn-based combat system using hammers, shells, and other classic Mario powerups. The story is charming, easy to follow, and not terribly long. Nothing is meant to be overly difficult, and there’s always a new place to visit, character to meet, or enemy to jump on. If you want to test the waters to see if a younger gamer in your life might be interested in RPGs, this is the best way to get them started.
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time
82%
Kingdom Hearts All-In-One Package
Kingdom Hearts is a perfect game for a 10-year-old. What the series does so effectively for kids is bridge the gap between childhood and the pre-teen years, which is where this collection of all the mainline games comes in handy. By mashing together popular Disney franchises with an over-the-top action RPG, Kingdom Hearts is familiar without blatantly catering to younger children. With so many games in one package, kids can follow Sora and the crew and grow along with them. The overarching story deals with a lot of serious themes but is always framed in the fight of good and evil, light and dark.
Overcooked! 2
82%
Sea of Thieves
68%
4/5
Fortnite
68%
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
79%If this game looks like a Pixar movie and not a game, we don’t blame you. Kena: Bridge of Spirits might as well be a fully animated feature brought to life as a game. Players control Kena on a quest to free adorable spirits and reach the Mountain Shrine in a 3D action platformer. Kids will love exploring the lush world, but it is all the little Rot companions that give the game personality. As you collect more, you can fully customize them with cute little outfits. Gameplay is a classic platformer, but the normal combat is a bit on the challenging side. If you have a younger player who has trouble getting the timing down, you can always lower the difficulty so they can enjoy the story and visuals more.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
90%
4/5
Splatoon 3
82%Stardew Valley
87%
Stardew Valley is a delightful farming and management simulation with lots of heart and care. It’s a successor in the Harvest Moon franchise. At the very beginning, your character moves to their grandfather’s farm in Pelican Town in an effort to get away from some of the noise and fast-paced living in the big city. Similar to Animal Crossing, your character collects resources and interacts with people in the town. That said, don’t expect the monotony tied to Animal Cross; Stardew Valley is deeper and more complicated, and it features a bit of combat as well. If your child is a comfortable reader and is interested in management sims, Stardew Valley is one of the best independent games in recent years.
