by in Video games hold a special place in my heart.
Memories of rushing home from school to turn on my console to play Cooking Mama and crowding around the TV to watch my cousin play GTA: San Andreas exposed me to many different realities, from cultural to fictional.
With that being said, video games are a different kind of education that every child should experience for themselves.
We’re here to help to guide any parent or child who doesn’t know where to begin. We handpicked 8 of the best Xbox One games for your kids and reviewed them below, in alphabetical order.
Cities: Skylines (2015)
In Cities: Skylines, players build their own cities from scratch. It’s an urban planning simulation without the paperwork. Players are also in charge of managing their cities’ public services, budget, and pollution levels.
It’s the kind of world-building game that doesn’t sound very exciting at first, but do not be fooled. Managing a city from top to bottom is no joke. It will leave you staring dumbly at your screen at 4 am because the city water has been contaminated and now people are dying.
There are also numerous expansion packs available, which add layers of complexity and fun to the game.
Cities: Skyline is the perfect game for anyone who wants to nurture their creativity and critical thinking skills.
Perfect for: Kids age 10+, contains mild adult content
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (2017)
The game follows Crash Bandicoot, the eponymous marsupial, who must stop Doctor Neo Cortex from destroying the world. In order to do so, he has to smash crates and collect Wumpa Fruits across a series of levels.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a remake of the first three Crash Bandicoot games: Crash Bandicoot, Cortex Strikes Back, and Warped. These three games have been polished and updated for a new generation of young gamers.
Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy is a classic platform game with a lot of history and heart.
Perfect for: Kids of all ages, does not contain violent language or content
Fortnite (2017)
In the three years since it was released, Fortnite has transcended the video game realm and evolved into a cultural phenomenon, launching dances and single-handedly sustaining thousands of Twitch careers.
Fortnite is a fantasy-action game with three modes: “Save the World”, “Battle Royale”, and “Creative”. “Save the World” is a multiplayer mode wherein four players have to work together to complete missions. In “Battle Royale”, up to 100 players are dropped into an arena and must scavenge for weapons and resources, with the last man (or men, since players can form squads of up to four people) standing declared the winner. Lastly, “Creative” mode gives players more creative freedom, as players who choose “Creative” mode can build race courses and battle arenas on an island.
Players can customize their characters with skins, which can either be purchased with V-Bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency) or unlocked by winning competitions.
Fortnite is a stylish, addictive game set in a candy-colored world that is fun to play with friends.
Perfect for: Kids age 13+, contains violence and foul language
Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2 (2017)
The Lego video game franchise has many titles under their belt, so picking just one to put on this list was tough, but we ultimately went with Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2. It’s perhaps the most extensive Lego game there is, due to the wide selection of playable characters and open-world sandbox format.
In Lego Marvel Super Heroes 2, players alternate between light combat and puzzle-solving. Yes, it follows the formula of previous Lego games, but it still manages to feel fresh thanks to good writing and zingers that are expected of both Marvel and Lego. It’s a game that manages to appeal to both children and adults.
Perfect for: Kids age 7+, contains light violence
Minecraft (2009)
The mechanics of Minecraft are simple: players explore a blocky, 3D world, where they can procure raw materials and build whatever they like out of said materials. There are no instructions given and players are given total creative freedom. There’s something simultaneously satisfying and overwhelming about being in control of every single detail of your build, but you will learn to love it.
With over 180 million copies sold, Minecraft is perhaps one of the most influential video games of all time. It’s easy to see why. It’s simple but the opportunities the game presents are endless. You can build anything from a theme park to your dream house. And there are plenty of mods available as well to enhance the gameplay.
Minecraft is a game with amazing replay value.
Perfect for: Kids age 7+, does not contain violence or foul language
Overcooked! 2 (2018)
Overcooked! 2 stands out from other cooking simulators for several reasons: it’s a chaotic multiplayer cooking game that encourages teamwork, much like a real-life commercial kitchen would. The game also presents wacky obstacles that make the game even more challenging, from portals to moving platforms.
The developers have also added some nifty new features, such as the ability to throw food into the hands of teammates or on the cooking vessel directly and improved solo play.
Overcooked! 2 a fun, quirky indie game that is not one to be overlooked.
Perfect for: Kids of all ages, does not contain violence or foul language
Rayman Legends (2013)
Each one of the 120+ levels in Rayman Legends, the fifth installment in the Rayman series, gives players something new to do, whether it’s a speed run or a stealth test. It maximizes every aspect of gameplay without feeling gimmicky or overwhelming.
Rayman Legends is overall a huge improvement to its critically-acclaimed predecessor, Rayman Origins, which is saying a lot. The graphics are better, the controls are smoother, and the boss fights are more challenging.
Rayman Legends is a well-designed platform game that is worth playing.
Perfect for: Kids age 10+, contains some violence but no foul language
Rocket League (2015)
Essentially, Rocket League is just soccer with cars. But it’s almost so much more than that, thanks to the updates by developer Psyonix and cross-platform support. It’s a game with flashy graphics and many options for vehicle customization.
There are other modes other than soccer too, with some taking inspiration from existing sports like hockey (“Snow Day”) and basketball (“Hoops”) and others being completely original modes (“Dropshot”).
Needless to say, Rocket League is an addicting multiplayer game. It’s repetitive but it manages to keep feeling new and exciting each time. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself logging hundreds of hours into the game without realizing it.
Perfect for: Kids of all ages, does not contain violent language or content
Playing video games can be mindless fun, but it can also feel gratifying and tug at my heartstrings in a way that no other form of entertainment can replicate. Video games also get me to think and strategize and force me to be inventive and resourceful. These games will do that and more for your kids.
Let us know which game was your favorite in the comments below!
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