Games that teach kids how to play games

[PhunkyPhazon]

I've been a gamer for as far back as I can remember. I have a picture of a four year old me playing Street Fighter with my sister. Now 16 years later, it looks like it's up to me to show my four year old nephew how to play games.

Right now, I'm starting with older games. I figure it's easier to begin learning the gaming ropes in 2D before moving on to the big clusterfuck of todays 3D market. So far, Sonic 2 has been working well. All you need is the directional pad and a single button, and to make things easier I have him play as Tails so I can use Sonic as a kind of guide for him. I can show him what to do and let him copy me now that he seems to know what button does what. Only trouble is, he hasn't quite learned his directions yet. (Which way is up, down, left or right)

Now obviously you're going to get better the more you play, but can anyone think of another really simple game that teaches kids the basics? Surely some of you are parents, or have had to teach a kid how to game at some point. And keep in mind, he doesn't know how to read yet.

 

[syndicated44]

Mario is always good. Tetris might be good to teach someone direction. If he is 4 just let him dick around though. I was playing some flash games with my 5 year old cousin once and he was hooked. So flash games on kids sites might do well!

BTW: Your avatar is freaking my right the fuck out...

 

[Aurora219]

I dunno, four years old strikes me as a little young. Perhaps in a few years the going will be easier?

In the meantime, try Doom 3.

 

[Dr Poochenstein]

I'd say Manhunt.

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

I dunno, four years old strikes me as a little young. Perhaps in a few years the going will be easier?

That was the plan originally, but he's already interested in games. Besides, if I did it at his age then he certainly can.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

Oh gotta go with mario. hell even Kirby.

 

[Tasachan]

My son is 4 and he really enjoys the old school Kirby on the NES (SNES?) - he plays an emulator on my brothers computer. (Kirbys dream land... I think? It had the minigame where you time your hits to make the biggest crack in the star?)

He also really enjoys final fantasy 3 on the DS. He can get through the first dungeon on his own... but he gets bored by the cutscene and restarts the whole game XD

 

[HamBro]

Can't beat the Nintendo classic, try playing the original Super Mario Brothers, either on Wii or the NES, same principle as Sonic games, one button and a D-Pad.

And Mario Kart/Sega and Sonic All Stars are simple racing games that are geared mainly towards kids, so controls are fairly simplistic on those

Also, the Pokemon series is one of the best handheld games out there, and its directed towards kids, that was one of the first games I played when I started getting hooked to games, and with SoulSilver/HeartGold just out, now would be a perfect time to introduce it

 

[Urgh76]

Man: "What do you like to play?"

Kid: "Pokemon!!"

Man: " POKEMON?!?!"

catch my drift?

EDIT: OR if ur lucky enough, get him started on Crash Bandicoot (older) One of my first games. Simple yet challenging

 

[Shurikens and Lightning]

God of War 3 teaches him history.

 

[Denamic]

Introducing them into gaming with the ye olde hardcore stuff?
You know, those old games were pretty damn hard.

I have my 6 year old step brother just drive around randomly in Burnout Paradise, and it's working out great.

 

[killaconcarnage]

crash bandicoot games

 

[Generator]

Pokémon is what my cousin is currently playing; it's the first game that she really got into. Other than that, give her any N64 game and just let him play around, as he'll get better with time.

 

[Archereus]

Well I will go with most people. Definitely getting him going in the easier side scrolling stuff is a good start. then after he gets really good at that maybe to start him into 3D maybe bring in some Spyro or Crash Bandicoot or even Mario 64. They are good for a kid's eyes simple enough and most likely fun enough to keep him going.

 

[darth jacen]

Pokemon or Mario that's what I learned on

 

[MissGinaKid]

Kirby would probobly be good. It was made for beginners after all.

 

[PhunkyPhazon]

Just to clarify to those suggesting Pokemon: He can't read. When he's older, certainly. I know he already likes the franchise, but giving him a Pokemon game now would be a dead end.

 

[Souplex]

Kirby was literally designed with the goal of being an easy game for beginners. Not much has changed.

 

[blankedboy]

Sonic the Hedgehog, in particular the Sonic Adventure ones. They were the ones that kick-started me.

 

[Mar451]

If you can beat any boss past the 6th Collosi in SOTC then all other boss fights will present about as much a challenge as explaining why Bush was one of the worst presidents we've ever had