Gaming is a hobby that can span a lifetime and find a place in the hearts of generations of people. From gentle, peril free adventures to intense battles and complex commentaries on the world, gaming offers us more than just a simple distraction.

However, finding games for the right age group can be a struggle when buying for others, especially if you’re not a gamer yourself or have been out of the loop for a little while. Videogame PEGI ratings (which we’ve written more about here) can help you find what’s appropriate for different audiences, but here we set out a few favourites for varying age groups and explain how and why they are great for those ages.

The Best Videogames for Early Years Gamers (3 – 6 years old)

There isn’t necessarily an ideal age for introducing a child to gaming but children in their early years shouldn’t have too much screentime and, subsequently, there aren’t a great many options out there for videogames for them.

However, media brands already aimed at them will often make themed games for them that parents and guardians can help them play along with. Simple actions often focussed on bright colours and fun sounds are the core of most gameplay mechanics with the occasional simple puzzle.

Paw Patrol World

The pups of Paw Patrol have their own videogame (they also star in a racing game) where you can walk around Adventure Bay and drive each of their unique vehicles in an attempt to stop the mayor’s runaway blimp. A new Paw Patrol story with TV show flashbacks, it’ll be a big hit with little fans.

Care Bears Unlock the Magic

Dozens of unique and magical mini games with hundreds of levels, play alongside your favourite Care Bears characters to unlock stickers and art. A care bear theme on classic arcade games, older gamers will recognise the influences and can play along too.

Gabby’s Dollhouse Ready to Party

Another game based on a hit children’s TV show, Gabby’s Dollhouse plunges you into the world of Gabby and her feline friends. In this game you go about collecting items for the perfect party, baking a cake and making sure everyone has a great time!

Harvest Moon SkyTree Village & The Lost Valley

Two charming farming games in a double pack, explore the quiet valley and shape the land to your perfect farming needs. Charming, colourful, and delightful, these are cosy games about restoring nature’s balance in an idyllic and friendly setting.

Best Videogames for Young Children (7 -11 years old)

Young children are starting to want more from their media than just fun characters. They also want storylines they can follow and puzzles they can achieve. This opens a wider array of games, with many that are great for younger ages and still hold a lot of fun for older players too, making them perfect to share in the joy. If you’re a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 player, then we have a specific blog for the best children’s games here.

Minecraft

Minecraft is the global gaming phenomenon where you’re dropped into randomly generated worlds where you then gather resources and build whatever your imagination allows. With some slight peril when the sun goes down, the first thing you’ll want to build is a base, to hide from the creepers that come out at night.

LEGO Games

LEGO is known as a fantastic building block toy, loved the world over, but they also have a series of themed videogames that are great for children and adults alike. Often taking on already big franchises, they supplant them into a unique world of building blocks so you can create the adventure as you go. This includes the likes of LEGO Batman, LEGO Marvel Superheroes, and even LEGO The Incredibles.

Super Mario Games

Super Mario has been a gaming icon since 1986, and he still goes on ever bigger and shinier adventures. A platformer staple, his worlds are full of colourful characters and exciting puzzles to work out whether he’s going on an epic odyssey or playing tennis with friends and foes.

Sonic the Hedgehog Games

Like his old rival turned pal Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog has been around for quite some time (as our blog here explains) and is now a gaming icon. Popular because of the array of colourful characters, a definitive definition between good and bad, and memorable patterns that you need to achieve success (not to mention some of the best soundtracks in gaming) the Sonic games range from side scrolling classics to action-adventure pieces, and even wild racers.

Best Videogames for Teens (12 – 17 years old)

Teens will often want games that provide hours of entertainment with detailed exploration, crafting and combat involved. With their own unique tastes starting to settle in, being aware of their likes and dislikes can help guide you towards games they may enjoy.

The Legend of Zelda Games

An endless story of heroism, this fantasy world spans centuries and many different kingdoms. The Legend of Zelda has always been about embarking on quests to rescue different places from ancient evils with complex puzzles, resourcefulness, crafting and more. Recent epics include the jaw dropping Breath of the Wild and its even larger sequel Tears of The Kingdom.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Games

Tony Hawk is the best-known name in skateboarding and his video game series brought all the epic flicks and tricks to living rooms all over the world. With recent remasters of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 & 2, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 & 4 you can enjoy all the classic fun but optimised for modern gaming consoles.

Uncharted Legacy of Thieves

Indiana Jones-esque in his swaggering, treasure hunting adventures, Nathan Drake stars in the Uncharted games and this remaster of two of the best storylines brings the perilous world of recovering ancient artifacts to life as you dodge enemies and navigate pitfalls to pick up priceless pieces.

Fortnite

A free to download game, it makes its money through selling loot boxes and skins to gamers. A game where you frantically fight it out with opponents whilst avoiding the incoming storm, it has building elements and an array of characters from pop culture. Is Fortnite ok for my 7-year-old? Probably not given its 12 rating and combat with different weaponry.

Spider-Man 2

Play as either Peter Parker or Miles Morales in this web-slinging adventure where you become the wall-crawling superhero Spider-Man. Swing through the streets of New York city and battle legendary villains as you try to protect the ones you love from danger.

Best Videogames for Adults (18 years old +)

Videogames aren’t just a hobby for children and there’s plenty of them aimed at mature audiences. We’ve detailed the best ones to find on Switch and Switch 2 here but below are some other great options, across all consoles, too.

Call of Duty Games

Starting out as World War 2 games, the Call of Duty (COD) series evolved into modern warfare and then tactical blasting. Now one of the biggest gaming series ever, fight through tense and thrilling single player campaigns or battle alongside and against friends in high stakes challenges. The latest offering is Black Ops 7, with espionage elements also thrown into the mix. Is COD ok for a 12-year-old? No, this one is definitely for the adults due to its 18 PEGI rating and depictions of warfare.

Grand Theft Auto Games

Controversial, satirical, and unbelievably fun, these games plunge you into the criminal underworld and ask you to blast your way to the top through various nefarious means. With a wickedly dark sense of humour running through them, Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 is being eagerly awaited whilst the original three 3D entries in the series have been remastered and packaged together as the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy, for nostalgia lovers to relive or newbies to get to grips with, before the next instalment. GTA 5 is the current core entry and is one of the best-selling games of all time. Is the GTA series ok for teenagers? It may be loved by them but it’s only for adults as its packed full of choice content and themed around criminal activities.

Red Dead Games

Set in the wild West, the Red Dead series started out as a simple Western but Red Dead Redemption saw it become an incredible story of revenge and companionship as it saw you hunt down the men you once ran with in a gang. Sprawling environments and an amazing amount of side quests make this a brilliant game to sink many hours into, and it’s follow up delves further into the storyline.

With so many stunning games out there for different age groups, check out our gaming hub for inspiration on games, accessories, consoles and more.

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