Video games aren’t made exclusively for teenagers and grown-ups – there are a lot of titles that are suitable for kids.
Some games bring not only fun and excitement to the table but also some educational value, which makes them a good addition to your kid’s schedule.
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild (Switch) (US) | 2017-03-03 | Adventure | Nintendo EPD Production Group No. 3 |
 | Minecraft Java Edition | 2013-11-19 | Action | Mojang Studios |
 | Minecraft Windows 10 Edition | 2015-07-29 | Adventure | Mojang Studios |
 | Super Mario Party | 2018-10-05 | Racing | NDCube |
 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes | 2017-11-14 | Adventure | Traveller's Tales |
 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 | 2017-11-14 | Action | Traveller's Tales |
 | Yooka Laylee | 2017-04-11 | Adventure | Playtonic |
 | Sackboy A Big Adventure | 2022-10-27 | Adventure | Sumo Digital |
 | Lego Harry Potter Years 1-7 | 2010-06-29 | Adventure | TT Games |
 | Lego City Undercover | 2017-04-04 | Adventure | TT Fusion |
 | Lego The Hobbit | 2014-04-10 | Adventure | Traveller's Tales |
 | Unbox | 2016-09-05 | Adventure | Prospect Games |
 | Lego Worlds | 2017-03-07 | Adventure | Traveller's Tales |
 | Sonic Forces | 2017-11-07 | Platform | Sonic Team |
 | Overcooked All You Can Eat | 2021-03-23 | Local co-op | Ghost Town Games |
 | Overcooked | 2016-08-03 | Action & Shooter | Ghost Town Games |
 | Overcooked 2 | 2018-08-07 | Indie | Ghost Town Games |
 | Cat Quest | 2017-08-08 | Adventure | The Gentlebros |
 | Cat Quest II | 2019-09-24 | Adventure | The Gentlebros |
 | Rayman Legends | 2013-08-29 | Adventure | Ubisoft |
 | Planet Zoo | 2019-11-05 | Simulation | Frontier Developments |
Untitled Goose Game
| Release date: | 2020-09-23 |
| Genre: | Indie |
| Developer: | House House |
A great way to start the list would be to give Untitled Goose Game a round of applause.
Untitled Goose Game is a fun puzzle game where you will be playing as a domestic goose. You will have to explore the village and complete a variety of tasks while you’re there. A good number of tasks require coming up with creative solutions and thinking out of the box which makes the game a good title to train a child’s brain.
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Minecraft
| Release date: | 2013-11-19 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Mojang Studios |
Minecraft is an extremely popular game that probably doesn’t need an introduction but here’s one anyway.
Minecraft is an open-world sandbox game where your main objective is to just survive and make the voxel-based world your own. You can shape the environment the way you want, you can mine and place blocks to build anything, and you can even learn basic electronics, although the last part may still appear to be a bit confusing to a kid.
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Planet Zoo
| Release date: | 2019-11-05 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | Frontier Developments |
Planet Zoo may teach your child the importance of preserving rare species and taking care of animals in general.
Planet Zoo focuses on taking care of all kinds of animals. To become successful, you’ll have to meet all the requirements to satisfy the needs of your pupils and prepare appropriate habitats for them to live in. The game requires a bit of strategy – you need to make money to expand and maintain your zoo, so it may be a good idea to play the game together with your child and help him or her out.
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Rayman Legends
| Release date: | 2013-08-29 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Ubisoft Montpellier |
Platform games also make a great choice for kids, thanks to the rules that are simple and easy to follow.
Rayman Legends is a platform game where players are tasked with completing increasingly difficult 2D platform levels while collecting points, defeating enemies, and avoiding traps. Thanks to its casual atmosphere, joyful music, and colorful visuals combined with relatively simple gameplay, Rayman Legends will surely keep your child entertained for some time.
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Super Mario 3D
| Release date: | 2021-02-12 |
| Genre: | Platformer |
| Developer: | Nintendo |
Who doesn’t love this reliable Italian plumber? Meet Mario and his friends in a fun platformer game from 2013.
Super Mario 3D World was an incredibly successful Mario game and not without a reason. It revolves around completing a variety of platform levels with minigames that reward players with good hand-eye coordination – easy to learn but still provides some challenge with gameplay that will keep your child engaged.
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Dragons: Dawn of New Riders
| Release date: | 2019-02-15 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | Climax Studios |
If you’re wondering what to buy for your child, this one is also an option worth considering.
Dragons: Dawn of New Riders is a part of the How to Train the Dragon franchise and focuses on the adventures of Scribbler and his dragon pupil, Patch, as they’re trying to thwart the plans of Eir – a villain who captures dragons in order to use them to wreak havoc. Prepare for an epic journey and save the world from evil.
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Animal Crossing: New Horizons
| Release date: | 2020-03-20 |
| Genre: | Social simulation |
| Developer: | Nintendo EPD |
For those who own Nintendo Switch, Animal Crossing is a must-play handheld title for kids.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a life simulation game that is played in real-time. It features open-ended gameplay that gives players a lot of freedom – you are given an island of your own and it’s up to you to decorate it and make it your home. Progressing further will unlock new pieces of furniture and new activities – there’s always something fun waiting for being discovered for your enjoyment.
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Human: Fall Flat
| Release date: | 2016-07-22 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | No Brakes Games |
On a more ridiculous side of games for kids, we’ve got a title that makes extensive use of goofy physics.
Human: Fall Flat is a puzzle-platform game where you will be tasked with solving a variety of puzzles in a low-poly 3D environment. The point of the game is to navigate through the levels in order to reach the exit. What makes the title special is its focus on wacky physics which may sometimes lead to hilarious situations.
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Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
| Release date: | 2022-04-05 |
| Genre: | Action |
| Developer: | Traveller's Tales |
Among other family-friendly games, one can’t forget about all the LEGO titles.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is another great entry in the LEGO franchise, this time focusing on the popular sci-fi series. As with most of the other Lego games, you can expect to see a proper Star Wars story, but shown in a much more light-hearted way with an emphasis being put on humor.
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Rocket League
| Release date: | 2015-07-07 |
| Genre: | Race |
| Developer: | Psyonix |
Finally, there’s also something from the sports genre – a soccer game with cars.
Rocket League is a game where players control rocket-powered cars while trying to score goals with a huge ball for their team. The game takes place on large pitch arenas and is often taken from ground to the air – your car has a limited supply of fuel that can be used to perform various aerial maneuvers and mastering it is the key to success. It’s a pretty competitive online game but it can still be fun when played against offline bots.
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The Best Games for 8-Year-Olds
There’s a wide selection of video games on the market so it shouldn’t be surprising that there are numerous games that would make a perfect choice for kids. No matter if you’re looking for something on the Steam or Epic platforms or somewhere else – you’ll surely find a game that your child will enjoy.
Take a moment to browse through our recommended titles of video games for kids and choose the ones you like.