Child’s play: Eight friendly video games for the little ones

 Child friendly video games. (Courtesy)

With games becoming ultra-realistic, coupled with gory imagery and violence, some forms of amusement are not for children. In 2017, a 16-year-old boy committed suicide in their house in Kamukunji, Nairobi, after playing an online game. The online game had 50 challenges and the player was considered the winner when they went through the last challenge, which required one to commit suicide. This is not an isolated case and parents should be aware of what their children are doing in the virtual world.

Today we look at some games that are child friendly.

Among Us

This is an online multiplayer suitable for children above seven years. Among Us allows a maximum of 10 players to take on the roles of a ‘Crewmate’ or ‘Imposter’. The aim of the game is for the Crewmates to identify the players, who are the Imposters in the game. The Imposters in the game have to secretly sabotage the tasks on the ship and eliminate the Crewmates, before they finish their tasks.

Super Mario 3D World

This is a platform game where you can play with up to four players. While all Mario games are good for families, this co-operative and competitive play makes it great for families and friends to play together. The game follows Mario and friends attempting to rescue fairy-like creatures called Sprixies from Bowser, who invades the realm known as the Sprixie Kingdom.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

This is and action puzzle video game spinning off of the Super Mario series. In the game, players control Captain Toad, a Toad, and his companion Toadette, attempting to safely navigate through various obstacles and reach a gold star at the end of each level. The game lets players use spatial learning and awareness to manipulate the landscape, gather coins, collect diamonds, defeat (or avoid) enemies and collect the star.

Forza Horizon 4

This is a racing video game set in a fictionalised representation of Great Britain. The game features over 700 cars. Players can buy in-game houses that unlock new items, cars and game-play perks as well as the ability to fast travel anywhere on the map - the actual driving is incredibly fun.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

In this kart racing video game, characters from the Mario Universe race against each other in go-karts, attempting to hinder their opponents or improve their racing performance using various tools in the item boxes. Rated E for Everyone, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a wonderful party game. It supports up to four players on a single switch and one TV, though you will need some extra controllers.

Super Mario Maker 2

Super Mario Maker 2 is a side-scrolling platform game in which players create their own courses using assets from across the Super Mario series. The story mode sees Mario working to rebuild the Mushroom Kingdom’s castle by earning coins.

Peggle 2

This is a casual puzzle video game and the official sequel to Peggle. The goal of Peggle 2 is to clear all 25 orange pegs from the board, with 10 balls to shoot from with cannon at the top of the screen. Seventy two blue pegs, two green pegs and one purple peg, which move on each shot are randomly placed on the board. With the green peg, it enables the “masters” power on next shot or even on current shot.

Minecraft

Minecraft is a sandbox-adventure video game. The style is called “sandbox” because it provides a landscape with no fixed goal and endless possibilities. This game is one of the best-selling video games. It immerses young ones in creative thinking, geometry and even a little geology as they build and explore worlds of imaginative block structures. Its open-ended style allows players to construct anything they want.