A Guide to the Best PC Games for Kids in 2024
By now, we know that playing video games has important benefits for kids. The question is: which games are worth their time?
There are plenty of ways to approach this question. It helps if the game is in the right age range and allows your child to play with friends. Of course, the game must also be good, or they won’t stick with it for too long.
Want to help your child find the perfect game for them? Here are the best PC games for kids they can play today, sorted by age range!
Best PC Games for Kids Aged 3-6
Young children aged 3-6 don’t need too much to be entertained. Anything with a cute art style and simple mechanics may do the trick. Here are three video games for kids they might find particularly engaging.
Peppa Pig: World Adventures
Does your child love watching Peppa Pig? Well, Peppa Pig: World Adventures is an interactive episode of the show! It allows you to create your own character, travel the world, or snoop around Peppa’s house.
If you have a young child, you know most games present a challenge. Thankfully, World Adventures is very easy to play solo. As long as they can follow the story beats, they shouldn’t need much help to beat the game.
Bluey: The Videogame
In her first video game outing, Bluey is unsurprisingly adorable. From colorful art to authentic voices, this is a painstaking recreation of the show. It will only entertain very young kids, but they’ll likely adore it!
Bluey: The Videogame contains four interactive episodes of the show. It allows your child to play classic games like Keepy Uppy while gathering collectibles. That said, the game will only last a few hours at most.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
A former PlayStation exclusive, Sackboy plays great on PC. Plus, the vivid visual style of Craftworld makes it very appealing to kids of all ages. As long as they can handle platforming controls, your kids will have a lot of fun.
It’s worth noting that Sackboy was originally designed as a multiplayer game. On PC, it supports up to four players. All you need to do to join in on the action is to plug another controller into your computer.
Best PC Games for Kids Aged 7-12
At 7-12, your kids should be able to handle using a keyboard and mouse. This is a good time to get them interested in more challenging PC games. Here are some blockbusters this age range is crazy about!
Minecraft
Over the past decade, Minecraft has been the first “proper” game for millions of kids. Even now, it’s a special experience your child can play solo or with friends. Fortunately, the game supports cross-platform multiplayer.
Without installing mods, Minecraft has two main game modes. In Creative, it’s a classic sandbox game where you can build anything. In Survival, you need to build camps and fend off stronger creatures to stay alive.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Over the years, the Lego franchise has given us some of the best video games for kids. The Skywalker Saga may be the best one yet. No other Lego game contains this much content and, ultimately, entertainment.
As the name implies, the game features all nine Star Wars films. You can even buy the DLC that features spinoffs like The Mandalorian! And if the action gameplay is a bit too much for your kid, you can play it in co-op.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
As far as battle royale games go, you won’t see many cuter ones than Fall Guys. In this game, 60 players (known as Beans) play a series of game show-type challenges. At the end of it all, there will only be one winner.
The main reason why Fall Guys is so popular is the physics engine. With so many players crammed into tiny spaces, amusing situations occur all the time. The game also keeps introducing new challenges and cosmetics.
Best PC Games for Kids Aged 13-17
By the time your kids are teens, they’ll be far pickier with games. You’ll need to find something that suits their taste for both gameplay and aesthetics. Here are some popular video games that may fit this bill.
Fortnite
The most beloved game on this list, Fortnite remains a shining example of what multiplayer games should be. With its refined gameplay mechanics and a constant drip of new stuff to unlock, the game is a blast to play.
Although technically a shooter, Fortnite is too cartoony to seem violent. You can also use parental controls to set how long your child can play the game. The only issue with Fortnite is that your child likely already knows about it!
Counter-Strike 2
Despite being aimed at a slightly older crowd, CS2 is very popular with kids. One big reason for that is how rewarding it feels to play. The shooting is fun, the rounds are short, and there’s plenty of strategy involved.
If your child wants to play CS2, you may want to turn off the chat filters. Other than that, the game isn’t too gory or violent. You can also help them keep the game fresh by getting new skins through sites like Clash.gg.
Roblox
Even with so many types of video games out there, Roblox is hard to define. In essence, it’s best to think of it as a platform rather than a game. It allows you to create games, play other people’s creations, and chat online.
With Roblox, it’s all about curation. Though most used-created games are fine for kids, some are a bit too scary for comfort. Try to find out what your kid wants to play and find a list of similar Roblox games online.
Help Your Child Play Responsibly!
At the end of the day, video games can be both a blessing and a curse. As long as your child enjoys them in moderation, though, there’s little to worry about. The games we mentioned above are a good starting point!
Interested in expanding your list of the best PC games for kids? Keep reading our PC games section for more fun suggestions!