Good Kid-Friendly Games

[Quaidis]

I know; terrifying! =O

(If you don't like reading, then here's a summery: Post some suggestions of games that are kid-friendly.)

Everyone rattles on about how much fun it is to blow heads off in gory mass confusion with guns taken straight from World War II on FPS games designed in malls full of zombies to kill psychotic cannibalistic dinosaur robot chefs and their children. So much so that all I can really picture these days as a 'good game' to the larger audience is a generic brown shooter starring a gritty marine asshole with nothing to lose but his own ego.

Sorry, I forgot where I - Oh yeah. Kid games.

Recommend me some Kid or Early Teen-rated games for PS2, PS3, Xbox, Wii, DS, PSP, PC, and any revives from older consoles that you can now play on current ones. They must be good. They must leave out gushing blood, gore, real world violence (like games based around that one war in the MiddleEast, or games about stealing cars while mass shooting a city populace, or even games about bagging puppies and throwing them off bridges), nudity, and excessive swearing.

Tell me why they're good, or, if they're in a series, which one in the series is the best.

They can be any genre.




If you would like some further topic to entertain yourself with, we can talk about how funny certain people are for thinking that the only good games out there are mature ones. They truly are something else. Yes, it's nice to sit down after a long day of work to rip the spines from defenseless harpies or color the walls of a building with the torturous slaughter of gang-affiliates. But when you get right down to it, those aren't always the best games. And the same gore, the same blood, the same violence gets kind of old.

 

[Eumersian]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

 

[Nostalgia Ripoff]

If you ask me, the best kid friendly games are the classics. If you can't get ye olden time consoles, then might I suggest the Sly Cooper series? It is a fun action/stealth(?) game. The second one was the best, though. It's getting an HD Remake on the PS3 in an entire collection. (Jesus, I have been talking about this series a lot lately, haven't I?)

 

[Quaidis]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

Pocket Tanks sounds a lot like Scorched Earth (which I played a ton of way back when. Game was funner when the sides of the screen were made of rubber). Are they the same thing? Or is Pocket Tanks something completely different?

 

[Veylon]

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.

 

[Eumersian]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

Pocket Tanks sounds a lot like Scorched Earth (which I played a ton of way back when. Game was funner when the sides of the screen were made of rubber). Are they the same thing? Or is Pocket Tanks something completely different?

I don't know, I never played Scorched Earth. If it's a game with two tanks and you fire back and forth, then yes, Pocket Tanks was modeled off of Scorched Earth. But for me, that doesn't make it any less fun. Also, sadly no rubber screen sides

 

[Quaidis]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

Pocket Tanks sounds a lot like Scorched Earth (which I played a ton of way back when. Game was funner when the sides of the screen were made of rubber). Are they the same thing? Or is Pocket Tanks something completely different?

I don't know, I never played Scorched Earth. If it's a game with two tanks and you fire back and forth, then yes, Pocket Tanks was modeled off of Scorched Earth. But for me, that doesn't make it any less fun. Also, sadly no rubber screen sides

Looking at screenshots on google, Pocket Tanks Does look like it was modeled off Scorched Earth. You can never have too much of a good thing.

=O What? No rubber sides? Do the bullets at least recycle? I mean, if you shoot off the right side of the screen, does the shot suddenly appear on the left side?

 

[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...<.<

 

[Phlakes]

Get the Banjo-Kazooie games on XBLA, then all the first-party N64 games on the Virtual Console.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

So you're telling me you don't like to play games in which you throw bags of puppies off bridges? Jeeze, what do you like?

Professor Layton and the Curious Village is a fantastic DS game that I would recommend to kids and adults alike, though some of the puzzles might be too difficult for young children (some of them even stumped me!) but otherwise it's truly a fantastic game. There's also Pokemon for the DS.

And as an added bonus, I happen to have a secret love affair with World of Goo. I can't think of a single flaw other than the fact that there is no widescreen option and I use a widescreen monitor.

EDIT: Is it sad that I actually had to look through my collection to find kid friendly games? I think that says a lot about my character...

 

[Cogwheel]

Minecraft, Pokemon, quite a few JRPGs, Ratchet and Clank, platformers in general.

Now to specific examples. But first, by kid-friendly, do you just mean lacking in content that most would consider harmful (gore etc.) or plot-light too? What sort of age are we talking here?

 

[Romidude]

Viva Pinata: Party Animals, That game is actually really good .-.

 

[Eumersian]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

Pocket Tanks sounds a lot like Scorched Earth (which I played a ton of way back when. Game was funner when the sides of the screen were made of rubber). Are they the same thing? Or is Pocket Tanks something completely different?

I don't know, I never played Scorched Earth. If it's a game with two tanks and you fire back and forth, then yes, Pocket Tanks was modeled off of Scorched Earth. But for me, that doesn't make it any less fun. Also, sadly no rubber screen sides

Looking at screenshots on google, Pocket Tanks Does look like it was modeled off Scorched Earth. You can never have too much of a good thing.

=O What? No rubber sides? Do the bullets at least recycle? I mean, if you shoot off the right side of the screen, does the shot suddenly appear on the left side?

Alright, I get it. Pocket Tanks isn't as fun as Scorched Earth. How many weapons did Scorched Earth have?

 

[Quaidis]

Now to specific examples. But first, by kid-friendly, do you just mean lacking in content that most would consider harmful (gore etc.) or plot-light too? What sort of age are we talking here?

No real major age set. Just what You would consider 'Kid-friendly'. Perhaps early teen and younger. For example: there's a major difference between Aladdin for the Genesis and God of War. It can have action, you can even beat up enemies. But chopping heads off with a meat clever while saying the word Fuck every other syllable is a little too much. Plot is up to your own personal taste on the matter. If you think the plot is questionable, you can always bring up what sort of questionabilities are in there.

 

[MrPatience]

Get the Banjo-Kazooie games on XBLA, then all the first-party N64 games on the Virtual Console.

Seconded. Almost anything from the 64 is kid friendly. Just keep away from Turok, anything based on a movie and anything running the Goldeneye engine and your child probably won't laugh during the 6 o-clock news.

 

[BenzSmoke]

I always think of Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts as being kid friendly.
The originals would be better choices and they're on XBLA and the Wii's Virtual Console.

 

[Quaidis]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

Pocket Tanks sounds a lot like Scorched Earth (which I played a ton of way back when. Game was funner when the sides of the screen were made of rubber). Are they the same thing? Or is Pocket Tanks something completely different?

I don't know, I never played Scorched Earth. If it's a game with two tanks and you fire back and forth, then yes, Pocket Tanks was modeled off of Scorched Earth. But for me, that doesn't make it any less fun. Also, sadly no rubber screen sides

Looking at screenshots on google, Pocket Tanks Does look like it was modeled off Scorched Earth. You can never have too much of a good thing.

=O What? No rubber sides? Do the bullets at least recycle? I mean, if you shoot off the right side of the screen, does the shot suddenly appear on the left side?

Alright, I get it. Pocket Tanks isn't as fun as Scorched Earth. How many weapons did Scorched Earth have?

I, er, don't remember. Just that Napalm was the most awesome of the group. And Pocket Tanks may be better than Scorched Earth. I'm just wondering what the differences are.

 

[Eumersian]

Pocket Tanks, from Blitwise.

Even the free version with 30 weapons is pretty fun. I have the full version with all downloaded weapon packs now, a total of 250 weapons.

It's this game where there are two tanks on the screen, placed differently on the terrain. You each have ten weapons in your stock. You fire in volleys back and forth. It sounds boring, but I've been playing it for years (five or six at this point) and it hasn't gotten truly old or stagnant. I honestly love that game, and there is no realism or gore or honest-to-God human violence involved.

Really look it up. Free version has 30 weapons, paid version (<$20) has 60 weapons, plus access to the downloadable packs, some of which are free and some of which are paid.

Pocket Tanks sounds a lot like Scorched Earth (which I played a ton of way back when. Game was funner when the sides of the screen were made of rubber). Are they the same thing? Or is Pocket Tanks something completely different?

I don't know, I never played Scorched Earth. If it's a game with two tanks and you fire back and forth, then yes, Pocket Tanks was modeled off of Scorched Earth. But for me, that doesn't make it any less fun. Also, sadly no rubber screen sides

Looking at screenshots on google, Pocket Tanks Does look like it was modeled off Scorched Earth. You can never have too much of a good thing.

=O What? No rubber sides? Do the bullets at least recycle? I mean, if you shoot off the right side of the screen, does the shot suddenly appear on the left side?

Alright, I get it. Pocket Tanks isn't as fun as Scorched Earth. How many weapons did Scorched Earth have?

I, er, don't remember. Just that Napalm was the most awesome of the group. And Pocket Tanks may be better than Scorched Earth. I'm just wondering what the differences are.

There is a napalm, but also some way awesomer ones ones like the one makes meteors fall onto the point of bullet impact, the one that makes one enormous meteor crash onto the field wherever it damn well pleases, the one that covers the other guy in so much dirt they may have to use a hugely damaging explosive just to get out. I could go on, but this isn't a thread about Pocket Tanks. I think the only difference is that there are a shit-ton of weapons, but other than that it's really very simplistic. See what I mean? Simplistic=kid friendly.

 

[Quaidis]

So you're telling me you don't like to play games in which you throw bags of puppies off bridges? Jeeze, what do you like?

Now now, I didn't say I didn't like playing games about throwing bags of puppies off bridges. I'm just saying that you can only bridge-toss so many bagged puppies.

Minecraft, Pokemon, quite a few JRPGs, Ratchet and Clank, platformers in general.

I feel like quoting you again. You say quite a few jrpgs. Are there any specific Jrpg's I should avoid or get a heads up on?

Oh, and adding to the last time I quoted you, I find the Zelda series to be great kid-friendly games.