The Best PC Games For Kids

PC gaming for kids isn’t just about fun anymore – it’s become a great way to learn and be creative. Today’s games are designed to help children develop problem-solving skills and explore their imaginations in safe, engaging worlds. This collection features some of the best Windows and macOS games for younger players, covering a range of ages and interests. You’ll find everything from simple building games to challenging puzzles, all offering high-quality, family-friendly entertainment.

‘Minecraft’ (2011)

Minecraft, created by Mojang Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios, is a popular adventure game where players build with blocks in a huge, ever-changing world. You can play in creative mode with unlimited resources, or in survival mode where you need to find materials and defend yourself from monsters at night. The game is all about exploring, figuring things out, and being creative, which is why many teachers use it in schools. Because there’s no set story, players are free to build and play however they want.

‘Roblox’ (2006)

Roblox, created by Roblox Corporation, is a platform where users can both play and create games. It features a huge collection of experiences in all sorts of genres, from racing and role-playing to obstacle courses, all made by other players. While it’s free to play, Roblox uses a virtual currency called Robux to buy items and customize your character. It’s also a place for young game developers to share their creations and connect with others.

‘Stardew Valley’ (2016)

Stardew Valley, created by ConcernedApe and first published by Chucklefish, is a farming game where you take over your grandfather’s run-down farm and bring it back to life. You can grow crops, raise animals, and become friends with the people in the nearby town. With its calming music and charming pixel art style, the game is enjoyable for everyone. It even lets you play with others, so you and your friends or family can build and manage farms together.

‘Fall Guys’ (2020)

Fall Guys, created by Mediatonic and now published by Epic Games, is a fun and chaotic platform battle royale game. Players control colorful, bean-like characters and compete in a series of wacky obstacle courses. The goal is to be the last player remaining to win the crown. It’s known for its bright, playful graphics and silly physics, which make even losing enjoyable. The game stays exciting with regular updates, including new seasonal themes and character costumes.

‘Rocket League’ (2015)

Rocket League, created by Psyonix, is a fast-paced game that mixes soccer with the excitement of rocket-powered cars. Players drive these cars to hit a large ball into the opposing team’s goal. The game’s realistic physics allow for amazing aerial moves and quick action. Players can also personalize their cars with a huge variety of items. A great feature is that it lets people play with friends no matter what gaming system they’re using.

‘The Sims 4’ (2014)

The Sims 4, created by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts, is a life simulation game where players control virtual people. You can build homes, guide your characters’ careers, and navigate their lives and relationships. The game is known for letting players express their creativity through building and character customization, and has been expanded with numerous packs adding features like pets, weather, and new jobs.

‘Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga’ (2022)

As a huge Star Wars and Lego fan, I was so excited for ‘Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga,’ and it didn’t disappoint! Traveller’s Tales and Warner Bros. Games really knocked it out of the park by letting you play through all nine movies with that classic Lego charm. You get to play as tons of different characters, fly famous ships, and explore planets from the films. Plus, it’s awesome that you can team up with a friend to play together, solving puzzles and battling enemies. Everyone’s been saying how much they love the big, open worlds and how accurately it captures the feel of the Star Wars movies, and I totally agree!

‘Terraria’ (2011)

Developed by Re-Logic, ‘Terraria’ is a consistently updated 2D sandbox game where you explore, build, and fight in a world created randomly each time you play. You can mine for valuable materials underground or construct impressive structures to protect yourself from challenging bosses. ‘Terraria’ gives you a lot of freedom – you can focus on peaceful creation or exciting combat, and it’s even better with friends thanks to its large multiplayer support.

‘Overcooked! All You Can Eat’ (2020)

Okay, so I’ve been playing ‘Overcooked! All You Can Eat,’ and it’s seriously a blast! It’s made by Ghost Town Games and published by Team17, and it basically takes everything from the first two ‘Overcooked!’ games and gives it a fresh, updated look. You and your friends – or family – have to work together in these crazy kitchens to get food orders out before time runs out. It’s all about yelling at each other – I mean, communicating – and coordinating because the kitchens are always changing and throwing obstacles at you. Honestly, it’s one of the best games to play with people in the same room, especially if you’re looking for something fun for the whole family.

‘Portal 2’ (2011)

Valve created and released ‘Portal 2’, a puzzle game where you solve challenges by creating connections between spaces using portals. It’s played from a first-person perspective and offers both a highly praised story mode for one player and a separate mode for two players to play together. The game uses realistic physics with elements like lasers and special gels, and it’s known for its funny conversations and smart, well-designed levels that really make you think.

‘Sonic Frontiers’ (2022)

Developed by Sonic Team and published by Sega, ‘Sonic Frontiers’ is a new direction for the series. It features expansive ‘open-zone’ levels where players can freely explore large islands as Sonic. The game combines the fast-paced platforming Sonic is famous for with puzzle-solving, item collecting, and battles against huge robots. Players also unlock new abilities as they progress, similar to RPGs. It’s designed to be an exciting and accessible adventure for Sonic fans of all ages.

‘Untitled Goose Game’ (2019)

House House created the game ‘Untitled Goose Game’, and Panic Inc. published it. Players play as a naughty goose who tries to annoy the people living in a quiet English village. The game gives you a list of things to do, like taking a gardener’s keys or locking someone in a phone booth. It’s funny and easy to play, making it great for kids. Later, they added a mode where two players can work together as geese to create even more trouble!

‘Spyro Reignited Trilogy’ (2018)

The ‘Spyro Reignited Trilogy’, created by Toys for Bob and published by Activision, brings the first three ‘Spyro’ games back to life with completely updated graphics and controls. Players take on the role of Spyro, a small purple dragon, and journey through colorful worlds to save other dragons and gather gems. While the gameplay and level designs remain true to the originals, the trilogy has been modernized for today’s players, making it a great starting point for anyone new to 3D platforming games.

‘Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy’ (2017)

As a huge fan of the original Crash Bandicoot games, I was so excited for the N. Sane Trilogy! Vicarious Visions and Activision really nailed it by completely rebuilding the first three games with amazing, updated graphics. It’s still the same challenging platforming I remember – tons of crates to smash, enemies to avoid, and secrets to find. You really need to time your jumps perfectly, which can be tough but feels so good when you pull it off. Plus, it looks fantastic! The bright colors and how expressive Crash and the other characters are make it feel like you’re actually playing a classic cartoon.

‘A Hat in Time’ (2017)

Developed by Gears for Breakfast and published by Humble Games, ‘A Hat in Time’ is a delightful 3D platformer. You play as a young traveler who’s lost pieces of time and needs to find them. The game is full of colorful worlds, each with its own challenges and memorable characters. You can collect and craft different hats that give you special powers, like running faster or making bombs. It feels like a classic platformer but with a fresh, modern style.

‘Plants vs. Zombies’ (2009)

PopCap Games created ‘Plants vs. Zombies,’ and Electronic Arts published it. It’s a tower defense game where you defend your house from zombies by planting different kinds of plants. Each plant has special abilities – some shoot peas, others explode! The game includes a long story mode, plus lots of mini-games and puzzles. It’s become a classic casual PC game thanks to its easy drag-and-drop gameplay and funny idea.

‘Chicory: A Colorful Tale’ (2021)

Developed by Greg Lobanov and published by Finji, ‘Chicory: A Colorful Tale’ is a charming adventure game where players restore color to a grayscale world using a magical paintbrush. You’ll solve puzzles and help characters by creatively painting the environment. The game thoughtfully explores themes of self-confidence and creativity, making it suitable for younger players, and also features a cooperative mode for playing with a friend.

‘Human: Fall Flat’ (2016)

No Brakes Games created ‘Human: Fall Flat,’ and Curve Games published it. It’s a funny puzzle platformer where you control characters that wobble and stumble through strange, dreamlike worlds. The game is challenging because the controls are deliberately awkward, leading to lots of silly moments. Players need to use grabbing, pulling, and climbing to solve puzzles, and there’s often more than one way to do things. Playing with friends online is especially fun, as it leads to chaotic and hilarious teamwork.

‘Scribblenauts Unlimited’ (2012)

Developed by 5th Cell and published by Warner Bros. Games, ‘Scribblenauts Unlimited’ is a creative puzzle game where players solve challenges by simply typing in the names of objects they want to appear. You can even change how those objects look and act by adding descriptive words. As Maxwell, the main character, players collect ‘Starites’ and help his family. It’s a fun and engaging way to boost vocabulary and encourage imaginative thinking.

‘SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated’ (2020)

Developed by Purple Lamp and published by THQ Nordic, ‘SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated’ is a remake of the popular 2003 game. Players can choose to play as SpongeBob, Patrick, or Sandy and work together to save Bikini Bottom from Plankton’s robot army. This updated version features improved graphics and brings back the multiplayer mode that was missing from the original. Fans appreciate how well it captures the voice acting and funny moments from the show.

‘Planet Coaster’ (2016)

Frontier Developments created and released ‘Planet Coaster’, a game where you build and manage your own theme park. It’s known for letting players customize almost everything – from designing roller coasters one piece at a time to crafting detailed scenery. To succeed, you’ll need to manage your park’s money, employees, and keep your visitors happy. It’s a fun and visually appealing game that encourages creativity and teaches you the basics of park management.

‘Alba: A Wildlife Adventure’ (2020)

‘Alba: A Wildlife Adventure’ is a game created by ustwo games and published by PID Games. It tells the story of a girl who spends her summer with her grandparents on a Mediterranean island and starts a group to help rescue local animals. Players get to explore the island, photograph rare wildlife, and clean up pollution to protect a nature reserve. The game has a heartwarming story and encourages players to care for the environment. With its lovely visuals and calming gameplay, it’s a great choice for younger players.

‘PowerWash Simulator’ (2022)

Developed by FuturLab and published by Square Enix, ‘PowerWash Simulator’ is a surprisingly relaxing game where you use a high-powered water sprayer to clean all sorts of things – from vans to playgrounds. The goal is simple: blast away all the dirt and grime to make everything look brand new. It’s designed to be calming and stress-free, making it perfect for unwinding. You can even team up with friends to tackle bigger cleaning jobs together.

‘Bugsnax’ (2020)

Young Horses created and released the adventure game ‘Bugsnax.’ Players journey to Snaktooth Island, home to unique creatures that are part bug, part snack. The goal is to capture over 100 different ‘Bugsnax’ using traps and tools, then feed them to the island’s inhabitants. As the residents eat the Bugsnax, their bodies hilariously transform into the food! The game offers a surprisingly engaging story and features a cast of interesting and diverse characters.

‘Disney Dreamlight Valley’ (2023)

I’m totally hooked on ‘Disney Dreamlight Valley’! It’s this amazing life-sim game where you get to live in a magical valley with all your favorite Disney and Pixar characters. You can do things like garden, fish, and decorate your house, but the best part is helping those characters remember who they are by completing quests for them. Gameloft is always adding new stuff too – new characters and even whole new worlds based on the movies we all love! Plus, it’s a really friendly place to hang out online with other Disney fans and just enjoy being part of that world.

‘Kerbal Space Program’ (2015)

Kerbal Space Program, created by Squad and published by Private Division, is a flight simulation game where players manage a space program for the Kerbals, a fictional alien race. The game challenges players to design and build rockets and spacecraft, using realistic physics to explore space. Although the underlying science is complex, the game makes learning about rocket science enjoyable through experimentation and problem-solving. Many consider it one of the most educational PC games available.

‘Ori and the Will of the Wisps’ (2020)

Ori and the Will of the Wisps, created by Moon Studios and published by Xbox Game Studios, is a beautiful platform-adventure game. You play as the spirit Ori, who must embark on a journey to save a friend and restore a forest losing its life. The game is known for its smooth controls, tough but fair fights that require good timing, and gorgeous hand-painted artwork. Combined with a beautiful orchestral soundtrack, it feels like watching a movie. Though it can be challenging at times, older kids will find the game’s story and visuals incredibly satisfying.

Please share your thoughts and your favorite childhood PC memories in the comments.

2026-02-12 03:48