7mo ago

What are some good PS5 games for kids?

Title, basically. Three Boys, aged 9, 10, and 13, are getting a PS5 for Christmas, and I want to expand their horizon beyond roblox and minecraft.

They're gett8ng one controller each, so bonus points for something they can play together.

PS: I'm not too strict about age restrictions. They know we'll what they are and aren't allowed to say and do, so I'm not very concerned about VoIlEnT videO gAmEs to a reasonable extent.

They do enjoy builders and open world stuff, by the way.

15 comments

My kids like:
Astro Bot (& Astro's Playroom)
Crash Bandicoot
Sackboy
Spyro
Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart
Overcooked
Lego Star Wars
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
Lego Hobbit
Lego Masters of Spinjitzu

Astro's playroom comes with it, but there's also a full game.
The plucky squire is a really cool concept of a game that I enjoyed as an adult, but is written and presented like a story book (you literally jump out of the book and manipulate pages for some stuff), and it's definitely appropriate for kids both in terms of complexity and the writing.

Minecraft Dungeons is great for 3 player coop, and so is Teen-age Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredders Revenge. My kids and I have played a ton of those two in particular.

A couple that come to mind:
Crash Team Racing (basically Playstation Mario kart)
It Takes Two (Fun co-op game, although maybe targeted towards older players based on themes)
Boderlands (all support two players)
Rayman games (should play up to four, basically Ubisofts Mariolike)
Also a great website for these things https://www.co-optimus.com/

As a gamer dad, there are sadly very few couch coop games that make the third controller worth it. It's good for them each to have one, though, so they can each be responsible for keeping it charged.
Sports games, whichever sports they play. Spider-Man was a big hit, if they can manage to take turns. I've heard good things about It Takes Two, but I haven't bought that one yet.
- It Takes Two is a great game, but I would not recommend it for children. The story is about a married couple in the middle of a breakup. Also there is a pretty gruesome scene you can't avoid. (Just look up "It Takes Two Cutie Scene". Obvious spoiler alert though.)
  
  Oh good to know. It's been recommended to me for couch coop, but nobody ever mentioned that it was that heavy. My kids would definitely not enjoy that.
- The controller responsibility was the ma8n reason for getting three. Plus, they each have a design that I'm sure each kid will like.

Stardew Valley! At least on PC it has local split-screen co-op

Building/designing and open world - Terraria is well worth the money. Couch (split screen) co-op, and people can do their own things and team up to take down the bosses.

Broforce. Stick Fight. Party Golf. Worms WMD.
Plants Vs Zombies Garden Warfare (local 2 player split screen). I think all 3 of them.
- Stick fight is great, especially for three young boys.

They just added phogg on ps plus its a fun co-op game where you control a 2 headed dog.

While this isn't a specific game recommendation, I highly recommend getting a dekudeals account and adding the games you are interested in to your wishlist.
You will get alerts when the games go on sale. It has saved us a bunch of money with PS5 games.

Moving Out and Overcooked (1 and 2) will with teach them to be be the most co-operative siblings in the world... Or have you rushing to the ER.
I mostly kid about the last part. There will be frustrations but if your kiddos manage their emotions okay then these will be great games for them.

15 comments