You’ve got yourself a kid (good job btw, you da man) a PS4 and now he’s been goating you to get more games. PS4 has a vast library and is the most successful console in this generation with 6 years of games under its belt. There’s plenty of games that not only your kids will enjoy but you too. I’ve handpicked the best games for kids that are easy to understand, appealing in terms of graphics, gameplay mechanics and overall fun factor. If you’d rather have your kids solve puzzles and explore gorgeous worlds check out best PS4 Puzzle Games.
Best PS4 Games for Kids
1. Ratchet and Clank
Age: 10+
Insomniac Games made the recent Spider-Man and Sunset Overdrive for the PS4. After which they worked on a remake of Ratchet and Clank. You play as Ratchet and sometimes as Clank during the puzzle sections. Funny writing and fun mechanics like grinding on rails are just some of its best parts. You gain more weapons as you progress from planet to planet. Its quite whimsical and has art that’s rather appealing to kids than adults. I would say it has a certain charm to it.
Also Read: Best PS4 Games for Beginners
Young ones are probably not going to stop playing this as it’s addictive and can cause sleepless nights. Hence, Insomniac games.
Check out Ratchet and Clank ($19.99)
2. Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Age: 10+
A remaster of the collection of games made by the Naughty Dog for Playstation. All three games Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped wrapped in one package. Like the old school platformers, you get spinning and jumping attacks to defeat enemies and traverse the level to save the universe. It brought some new features like a save system, checkpoints, pause menus, etc. It captured the essence of the original games which you could pass on for the generations to come. You would be insane not to buy this classic platformer, it’s like Mario but with a fox.
Check out Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy ($39.99)
3. Just Dance 2018
Age: Everyone
Ubisoft Developed this Dance game where you use your motion controller or an app on your smartphone to mimic the player on screen. It’s got a dedicated “Kids mode” with tailored dance moves and gameplay mechanics for kids. It’s got a library of hits like Queen, Bruno Mars, Dua lipa, Selena Gomez, etc. It would be a fun party game or a family night game with the wee ones. It’s targeted demographic is pretty much everyone who likes to groove so it’s worth buying on a sale.
Check out Just Dance 2018 ($39.99 or $19.99 for PS Plus)
4. Grow Home
Age: Everyone
An Original game from Ubisoft that pushed the boundaries of platforming genre where you play as a robot named B.U.D in a gorgeous open world. The reason it feels special is because of the climbing mechanics of the character as it’s tactile and requires skill to climb with buttons for each hand assigned separately. Procedural animation and Ragdoll physics really immerse the player into the game. Kids will love this game as they are Grow themselves. It is quite short in length so your wrists won’t fall off.
Check out Grow Home ($7.99)
5. Donut County
Age: Everyone
Made By an Indie developer, yet the execution feels like its a AAA game. The innovative mechanic of just playing as a sinkhole seems rather fresh and it is. Not only is it Incredibly satisfying to eat things up like a sinkhole, but it’s also weirdly soothing. Some puzzle aspects come into play as well as you drain water and pour it back to swallow things. Just like Grow Home, it’s also based on physics and interacting with the environments. It is wacky and fun that even the adults can enjoy.
Check out Donut County ($12.99)
6. Yooka-Laylee
Age: 10+
It’s a spiritual successor to Banjo Kazooie in the sense that it’s a third person action platformer which is a dead genre at this point. It certainly is no Ratchet and Clank or Banjo Kazooie but it does a great job with smart level design. My only gripe was its controls that I had to wrestle with sometimes. Each explorable world is massive and has tons of collectibles that will double your playtime. The writing and self-awareness are on point. Its better than buying a real ukelele, which is just a midget guitar.
Check out Yooka Laylee ($39.99)
7. Snake pass
Age: Everyone
Probably the most inventive platformer in recent times where you play as noodle, a snake with a sidekick exploring scrumptious levels collecting coins with the amazing music, of course. It is a platforming game where you don’t jump but use momentum and the snake physics to move noodle around the level. Using maneuvers like zigzagging to gain speed and tying the tail to an end to reach tough spots .learning how to climb like a snake is fun in itself. This snake is the one that you shouldn’t pass on.
Check out Snake Pass (19.99)
8. Rayman Legends
Age: 10+
Ubisoft’s only platformer that can rival Mario and other Nintendo games. You can also play this game in Co-op, it introduces new mechanics in each level and Ramps up the challenges as you reach the end of the level with a gauntlet that’s timed to a song. Every world has its own set of theme and mechanics that differs vastly. Like from stealthy bond like underwater levels to firey cake digging ones. Be a ledge and buy this one for your wee one. It’s almost always on sale.
Check out Rayman Legends ($39.99)
9. Overcooked! 2
Age: Everyone
A cooking simulation game that does co-op in a unique way where you really have to communicate with your players in person as each character has to cook different ingredients for a recipe like sushi or salad. The thrilling bit though is that there’s always an element of danger like earthquakes, crash that’ll up the challenge. Its a ton of fun especially for kids as they’ll learn to do chores in a fun way. Ingredient tossing mechanic lets you toss stuff to the chef from far away. You probably don’t wanna cook or learn how to but this game will get you overcooked in a good way.
Check out Overcooked! 2 ($24.99 or $17.49 for PS Plus)
10. Toki Tori 2
Age: Everyone
A Metroidvania action platformer where all you do is whistle and stomp. These two actions are used in so many ways with the levels and environments, it’s ridiculous. It lets you sequence break as you figure out how to do certain activities like luring a bird. Getting wet lets you walk through cut grass. Most games hold your hand and don’t trust the player to do enough. It didn’t gain much attention because of aesthetics but it’s by far one of the most daring and innovative Metroidvania games of all time. This could teach your kid how to solve puzzles on their own term as it treats you with intelligence.
Check out Toki Tori 2 ($14.99)
11. Rocket League
Age: Everyone
You play football with Rocket-powered cars which is as insane as it sounds. You can jump kick and speed boost mid game, all of that as you play with a giant football. Mostly based on physics and dodge moves, it stands out from other sports games like your FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer. There are regular updates like ‘snow day’ for free. There are rules and mechanics of the game that quite similar to Ice Hockey and Basketball. You know you wanna play this just for the novelty of it.
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Check out Rocket League ($19.99)
12. Minecraft
Age: 10+
Made by Mojang, a one-hit wonder as they made Minecraft and it became one of the highest selling game of all time. It’s a sandbox game where you can literally build anything with other players or by yourself. It’s like Lego but the modern digital version. There’s also a story mode but it’s mostly played like Lego. Its bring out your creativity and makes you think in many different ways.
It’s available on pretty much all platforms but I’d recommend the PS4 version as it’s well optimized with better controls.
Check out Minecraft ($19.99)
13. Stardew Valley
Age: 10+
A farming simulator game that can last for ages like literally. You play a man who’s frustrated with the city and inherits a farm from his grandpa so he moves to the small town and starts farming. You can explore mines, build houses, go fishing, engage in social activities, read books, make friends and paddocks. Pretty much anything you can think of in a simulator. It is a grind and embraces itself as one. It’s not your average action adventure game, it feels like you really live a farm life.
You’re probably sick of city life too if that’s the case you know you’ll feed that escapism.
Check out Stardew Valley ($14.99)
14. Hollow Knight
Age: 10+
Made by Team cherry, a duo out of Australia who used Kickstarter to create this Metroidvania masterpiece. You are a hollow knight that explores the lost city underground. It’s aesthetically very pleasing with a unique art style. You gain awesome abilities as you explore and progress the story. Multiple paths and abilities drive you to get lost in the world. Every boss fight is unique and has different move sets and charm(no pun intended) A sequel is on the way where you play as an NPC from the first game. Your kids will bug you to get this game if they see the trailer. It’s a fantastic game to play for something that’s priced at 15$.
check out Hollow Knight ($14.99)
15. Shovel Knight
Age: Everyone
Also, a project from Kickstarter but this game is for you daddio as it evokes a sense of nostalgia like no other. Shovel Knight, the titular character has a swipe like a Ninja Gaiden and jump like DuckTales and explore like Zelda. It takes the best pieces of NES era games and makes a medley of it with its own identity. It has an array of colors unlike most pixel art games with the corpse run system from dark souls. Its very original with its narrative and is quite progressive. Shovel this game on to your library, I apologize for that terrible pun.
Check out Shovel Knight ($9.99)
16. Celeste
Age: 10+
Made by Matt Thorson, it was an idea from a game jam that became a reality. Celeste is about climbing both narratively and mechanically. You play as Celeste who’s a bit depressed and climbs a mountain. It has an assist mode that lets you tweak the game as much as you want. With a stand out mechanic like dash that lets you dash forward, Matt made a classic for the ages. Each level introduces a new idea and adds old mechanics from the previous level. You explore every possibility of the level in multiple ways. It incredibly satisfying to the platform and pulls off long stretches of climbing. It was nominated for game of the year. which should tell you something about its quality.
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Check out Celeste ($19.99)
17. Unravel Two
Age: Everyone
Released and announced on the same day, it was a surprising sequel that no one expected. You play as yarn and co-op if you want to in a gorgeous world to solve puzzles and take on challenges that are really fun. Probably the most underrated game in the list as it didn’t garner much attention. You can swing across help you, partner. Communication plays a big role when playing with others. Puzzles are far more creative and give you a sense of achievement. Its games like this that kids love. You’d be amazed by what you’d unravel in this game.
Check out Unravel Two ($19.99)
18. Lara Croft Go
Age: 10+
A turn-based puzzler about the classic tomb raider franchise. It retains the themes and feel of Tomb Raider but turns them into puzzles with real-time animations. Puzzles here get more challenging but what’s a puzzle if it’s not puzzling. You’d need to think laterally to really get some puzzles. It was the last of the Go series from Square Enix. It has the old school Lara rather than the rebooted version. There are collectibles on every level and you can lose yourself solving this an entire day. If your kid loves puzzles or if you are a kid and reading this (how did you find me ?). It worth every coin.
Check out Lara Croft Go ($9.99)
19. The Last Guardian
Age: Teen
Team ICO know for a shadow of the Colossus and Ico made this for a nearly a decade. You play as a boy and interact with Trico an animal like a pet. You have worked together with Trico and build a relationship to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. People might say the controls are clunky and unwieldy but it fits the game’s purpose and language. An emotionally driven game that’ll stick with you for ages. If you have a pet or a dog you would really want to play this one. Team ICO hardly makes any game so you better guarding this one till it lasts. Terrible puns for the win.
Check out The Last Guardian ($19.99)
20. LEGO City Undercover
Age: 10+
A Lego game (hits you right in the nostalgia feels) where you play as Chase McCain.Its the opposite of GTA as you take control as a law officer and stop crimes in an open world. With Cute 3D graphics that have a broad appeal from kids to teenagers to adults, Lego lets you go undercover with disguises and do wall jumps maybe they should let you do it at the same time (I’m a game design genius). It makes smart use of occupations and puzzles in the open world. Probably one of the funniest games on the list. You want your kids to laugh, don’t you? You monster, just buy it for them already.
Check out LEGO City Undercover ($29.99)
Wrapping Up
These game are not just for kids below 14 or 16, they’re mostly enjoyable by everyone as they have mass appeal and stand out from the rest. If you liked this check out our PS4 games for beginners that can shepherd you back into gaming .we chose these games based on quality, appeal and skill level all of which that anyone of any age can dive in and have a good time. Not all games can please everyone. Is there a mature game that’s suitable for kids and has no blood like spider-man? if so will you let them play? let me know in the comment or hit me up on twitter.
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