Video games don’t have to be isolating. These kid-friendly games are perfect for multiplayer fun or simply hanging out watching your kid solve puzzles and complete adventures. From racing games to dance competitions, here are six fun video games you can enjoy with your kids.
Max and the Magic Marker
This indie title took the gaming world by storm, offering kids a unique way to interact with a traditional puzzle game. While it’s a single player game, it’s a great way for parents and older siblings to share the fun. Help your child use the Wii controller to draw doodles that interact with the elements of the game. Max and the Magic Marker is available for Nintendo Wii and other platforms, including Windows phones.
Worms: Revolution
Old-school gamers in your family may be familiar with the Worms franchise. This cartoonish war game pits mouthy earthworms against each other on an illustrated landscape. It’s a classic multiplayer game that teaches strategy and a little physics as you take turns chucking various missiles and explosives at enemy worms. Appropriate for ages 10 and up, the Worms: Revolution XBox Live download is a reasonably priced group game you may end up addicted to.
Mario Kart 7
Nintendo’s classic racing game continues to be the best in its class. When it comes to family-friendly racing, it doesn’t get any better than favorites Mario and Luigi battling it out on playfully illustrated race tracks. The 3DS handheld game console lets kids take Mario Kart 7 on the road, and also allows you and other kids to join in. Up to eight racers can play together whether you’re in person or connected via wireless internet.
Phineas and Ferb
Available on Wii and Playstation 3, Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension is an interactive version of the popular film based on The Disney Channel’s hit animated series. With drop in drop out co-op mode, this game allows parents or older siblings to join in a challenging adventure game. If you’re new to gaming, let your little one show you the ropes as you experience the mystery together.
Just Dance Kids 2
The beauty of Just Dance Kids 2 is that it features a huge variety of songs. From Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes to Whip My Hair, the game allows players from young kids to adults to join in the fun. The dances are age-appropriate for little ones, without the sexy moves seen in the grownup versions of the game. Just Dance Kids 2 is a multiplayer game that lets you dance alongside your kids, and probably learn a move or two in the process.
Lego Batman 2
You don’t need to know much about comic books to appreciate this co-op mode adventure game that combines superheroes and Lego bricks. The Lego aspect of Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes makes it easy for parents to pick up on gameplay, while the violence remains cartoonish enough to stay kid-friendly. If you’ve seen any DC comics movies, you know all you need to know to follow along with the storyline. This latest in the popular Lego franchise is the first game to include dialogue.
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