Good Kid-Friendly Games

[Cogwheel]

Didn't Kirby's epic yarn come out. It looks awesome!

This. A thousand times this. Can't believe I forgot, being a fan of the series and all. I've yet to play Epic Yarn, but the Kirby games are great. Easy, too.

And, admittedly, somewhat unsettling once you get to the end of the game and find that you're supposed to fight Cthulhu's nightmares.

 

[blxtnsq]

Croc 1 and 2. Old but very very fun for kids.
Rayman 2 and 3 were fun too (imo) and kid-friendly of course.

 

[CrankyStorming]

I hear Sonic Colours is coming out for the Wii soon and I must say the the power-up mechanic certainly looks promising.

 

[Sorafrosty]

Croc 1 and 2, as well as the three first Spyro games. What kid wouldn't like playing as purple dragon? I remember I had so much fun with the Spyro series...

 

[DJDarque]

If your kids like Legos at all, give Minecraft a try. It's cheap, simple, and encourages creativity and exploration. It may well be something you can enjoy playing with them.

I second this mostly because I can think of very few game I own that are rated below Mature...<.<
Unless you wanna give Gungrave: Overdose a try...<.<

Gungrave: Overdose is rated Mature. Although I have to admit that firing bullets in a nonstop, over the top manner that makes the guy pretty much dance is really fun.

That game is under rated.

 

[Mr. Cheezy]

I bet every of my top choices have already been covered in this thread, but in case not:
Psychonauts (PS2, PC, Xbox and Xbox Originals (On the 360))

Original platformer with great humour. Deeply varied level design. I had an extremely good time with this game. You should check this game out.

Mario platformers (Wii and Wii Virtual Console)

That's a no-brainer. A series of great platformers. Appeals a lot to kids. Provides a lot of challenges.

Pokemon P/D/Pl/HG/SS (DS)

Fun series to play because of the monsters around the world. It is also a nice challenge to catch them. Might get complicated at times for the youngest. I think Platinum (Pl) is the best.

Banjo Kazooie & Banjo Tooie (Xbox Live Arcade)

Very polished platforming experience. Banjo Tooie is more complicated so I prefer Banjo Kazooie the most.

That's the ones from the top of my head.

 

[Jamieson 90]

Machinarium is a great visual and puzzle game. You can play the demo here
http://machinarium.net/demo/

The puzzles are quite hard even for an adult so parental supervision may be required for younger kids.

 

[Quaidis]

I run off for a few hours and the thread gets so many more suggestions. Here I was worried that people were only going to recommend Banjo Kazooee, Ratchet & Clank, and Jak&Daxter. It's good to see that Mario was finally recommended as well.

Klonoa 2
Simple platformer with puzzle elements, great music to boot.


Klonoa - The GBA Games
While like the console games, these are a bit harder...actually, a LOT harder.
But as lucky would have it, the games aren't broken so much as they require players to think a little.

Klonoa Wiimake:
Simple platformer with puzzle elements, great music to boot.
Remake of the PS1 game, just don't chose the English dub...god it sucks.

I can say for certainty that I have never picked up a Klonoa game. Is there a specific one I should start with? How many GBA games?


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Gah, there are too many other people to quote from. I'll have to come back.

On the by, Minecraft does look like a good game and I may pick it up. Has the DDOS issue been fixed yet?

 

[Antari]

For alternate game types Osmos, Portal, SimCity 4 Deluxe, Moonbase Alpha, Locomotion, MSFS X, and Civilization 4 or 5 (Yes there are wars and fighting but its a good educational tool none the less, and no gore.), and nearly any sports game. Or you can destroy your child's brain with a long line of puzzle and card games.

 

[Tanis]

Klonoa 2 Simple platformer with puzzle elements, great music to boot.
Klonoa - The GBA Games While like the console games, these are a bit harder...actually, a LOT harder. But as lucky would have it, the games aren't broken so much as they require players to think a little.

Klonoa Wiimake: Simple platformer with puzzle elements, great music to boot. Remake of the PS1 game, just don't chose the English dub...god it sucks.

I can say for certainty that I have never picked up a Klonoa game. Is there a specific one I should start with? How many GBA games?

There's two GBA games:
Klonoa: Empire of Dreams
&
Klonoa 2: Dream Champ Tournament
///////////////////////////////////////
KEoD is a LOT easier than K2DCT.

I forgot to mention there's also a sports game called 'Klonoa Beach Volleyball', but it's only for Europe & Japan. It's a decent game but not part of the main series.

---------------------------------------
I'd suggest trying out Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil (PS2) first, it's rather easy compared to some of the other games and if you have a kid you can pop in another controller to help them out.
Klonoa: Door to Phantomile (Wii Remake) would be next.

The GBA games are both, I think, harder than the console games.

 

[Sacman]

If your kids like Legos at all, give Minecraft a try. It's cheap, simple, and encourages creativity and exploration. It may well be something you can enjoy playing with them.

I second this mostly because I can think of very few game I own that are rated below Mature...<.<
Unless you wanna give Gungrave: Overdose a try...<.<

Gungrave: Overdose is rated Mature. Although I have to admit that firing bullets in a nonstop, over the top manner that makes the guy pretty much dance is really fun.

That game is under rated.

yeah and if you mash the fire button and quick turn button you can turn him into a spinning cyclone of death...

 

[Sn1P3r M98]

If your kids like Legos at all, give Minecraft a try. It's cheap, simple, and encourages creativity and exploration. It may well be something you can enjoy playing with them.

I second this mostly because I can think of very few game I own that are rated below Mature

I third this. Ironically enough, I just got off Minecraft!

 

[MechaBlue]

Monkey Island games are great and usually pretty kidfriendly. (There are a few minor sexual things here and there, but nothing Disney wouldn't do.)

Most Sierra games are also extremely kid friendly, but I wouldn't give them to kids unless you want a controller through your wall in frustration.

Also I HIGHLY recommend Costume Quest. It may be short, but it's only 15$ and has much less filler than most RPGs.

Phoenix Wright games are good for slightly older audiences (teenagers.)

 

[aLivingPheonix]

Spyro: Year of the Dragon. It's the first game I remember owning, second I remember playing, and best platformer I've played. If you can get hold if it, and a PS1 memory card, you should. It's got a colorful art style, and the old graphics enhance the charm of it (For me, anyway). You can pretty much count on the other two to be pretty much the same, but YotD is my favorite. It's playable on the PS2, with a PS1 memory card, which you can snag off'a Ebay for about $5.

Another series I liked when I was younger (And would still play, if I could find my copies of them) are the first two, or three Harry Potter games, specifically for the PC. Their not really deep, or even exceptionally good games, but when I was younger, I absoloutely loved them.

And, the final game from my early childhood: Commander Keen. It's an old platformer series from the early 90's, and is probably my favorite 2D sidescroller. I'm pretty sure their free, if you just google them.

EDIT: I just saw @RaphaelsRedemption post, and was reminded of Hocus Pocus. I can't believe I forgot about it. That game was awesome.

Got really hard towards the end though, if I remember correctly.

 

[CrazyMedic]

I am wondering why you want non mature games but, there is this rts game for the ds where you control tanks plans and troops and it is like a little game of rock paper scissors I forgot the name.

 

[Zhukov]

Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Buy this and your children will love you forever.

...

I kid.

Probably LittleBigPlanet. Also, car racing games.

 

[cooluc]

Anything Lego.

 

[Sinspiration]

Anything with the word Kirby in it.

 

[ccentral]

The Monkey Island games, Little Big Adventure, Age of Empires, Need for Speed, The Sims, World of Goo.

Or you could make them go outside and play.