The best PlayStation 5 games for children

When buying video games for children, regardless of their age, it can be difficult to determine what is appropriate. You not only need to consider which themes are suitable (for example, is it okay for the game to contain violence?), but also what gameplay style the child can handle (for example, do they have the necessary skills to master a platform game?).

Today, we are introducing a range of children's games available on PlayStation. For easier navigation, we have divided them into age groups, but don't hesitate to deviate from our categories if it seems appropriate for the child in question. Most games have been released for PlayStation 4 but are also available on PlayStation 5. If you wish to try the game on a different console, we have also listed the other platforms where it can be found! Lastly, to ease your mind, we have included the official ESRB rating for each game.

Updated by Gabrielle Huston on September 25, 2023: The game cycle never ends! Just as soon as you finish one game, the next one appears for you to enjoy. To keep you up to date, we have updated this article with new games that children in your life might enjoy.

Video Games For Kids Age 2-4+

My Friend Peppa Pig

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

My Friend Peppa Pig is a bit like an interactive adventure book. Every time you start the game, you experience a completely new adventure with a new story featuring Peppa Pig and the other characters from her TV show.

As the show and this game are marketed towards children, there are parental controls in the settings that allow an adult to set the amount of time the game can be played.

Hot Wheels Unleashed

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna, Microsoft Windows

Hot Wheels Unleashed is a racing game that utilizes everyone's favorite toy cars to create incredible tracks and action-packed gameplay! The toys exist in your home, so the races in the game also take place there; you drive in ordinary locations like your kitchen, garage, or bedroom.

It received great reviews from both critics and players. In fact, it was even nominated for Best Sports/Racing Game at the Game Awards 2021 and Racing Game of the Year at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.

Untitled Goose Game

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, macOS

In "Untitled Goose Game" (yes, that's its actual name), the player controls a mischievous goose that waddles through town and harasses the residents in every conceivable way. It's perfect for younger children because while there are puzzles to solve and active gameplay, it's also completely okay to just wander around and have fun.

What does one do as a local goose? Well, it's best to start by honking loudly. You can also steal people's hats. Or stroll through local gardens. Or steal things when people aren't looking (or even when they are). You'll always find something to do!

Gran Turismo 7

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Gran Turismo games are racing simulators that have been on the market since 1997. The latest installment, Gran Turismo 7, is one of the best games in the series. On a PlayStation 5, it offers an impressive 60 frames per second and a 4K resolution as you race through breathtaking landscapes.

The game includes a single-player campaign as well as an arcade mode, so you can simply choose a goal and enjoy the ride or fight your way to becoming the best racer the world has ever seen! If you get the PlayStation VR2 when it launches in February 2023, you'll also be glad to know that Gran Turismo 7 will be offered as a free update to the game, allowing you to experience it in virtual reality (VR).

Video Games For Kids Age 5-7+

We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

Katamari games involve rolling up large balls made of objects; the bigger your ball gets, the more items stick to it! The first installment, Katamari Damacy, was released in 2005, and we've been having a lot of fun with it ever since!

In the year 2023, we were treated to a remastered version of the second Katamari game, We Love Katamari, and we also received additional content called Royal Reverie, which allows you to play as the young king of the series.

Disney Dreamlight Valley

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid of life simulation and adventure game being developed by Gameloft Montreal. It is currently in early access, which means it is not officially completed yet, but players can already enjoy it while the team iron out the final details.

You play as a human who has entered Dreamlight Valley, where Disney and Pixar characters live in peaceful harmony! Or at least they did until the Forgetfulness set in (which is as bad as it sounds). You must help the residents, but you can also enjoy the peaceful adaptation and activities that life in the valley offers.

Donut County

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Android, iOS

The basic idea behind Donut County - dropping objects into an ever-growing hole in the ground - is constantly misused in ad-laden mobile games. However, here it is fully developed and supported by a quirky story.

You play as a raccoon who actually controls the holes from his own phone to win silly prizes. However, when his friends in town ask him why he threw all their houses underground, he must confess his crimes and set things right.

Planet Coaster

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, macOS

Planet Coaster is exactly what it sounds like: a game where you create and manage your own roller coaster park! If you're a fan of the old Roller Coaster Tycoon games, you might enjoy introducing something similar but modernized to the kids in your life.

Simulation and management games are not usually the genres that come to mind when thinking about content for kids, but you might be surprised at how well they can grasp it when presented in an entertaining and creative way! If the child in your life falls in love with this game, you could even surprise them with a few expansions (like one in the style of Ghostbusters)!

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Luna

Bug Fables is an adorable video game that was compared to Paper Mario in its review by Jamie Latour for TheGamer. In it, you play as three insects - a beetle named Kabbu, a bee named Vi, and a moth named Leif - who are on a quest to find a sapling that is said to grant eternal life.

It is simple enough that even young children can play it, but still includes some challenges in the form of platforming, puzzle-solving, and combat sections. Additionally, at TheGamer, we provide comprehensive guides if you or the child in your life needs assistance!

Cooking Mama: Cookstar

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch

Cooking Mama is a beloved franchise, and this installment will not disappoint. For those who are not familiar, Cooking Mama allows the player to prepare meals by guiding them step-by-step through each process and evaluating how well they execute them. At the end of the cooking process, the dish the player has prepared can turn out either very good or very bad, depending on how well they performed during the cooking phase.

There are two major additions that this game brings to the usual formula: PETA-approved vegetarian dishes and the ability to take pictures of your creations.

Minecraft

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Java, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi

Minecraft is a sandbox survival adventure game that is likely to continue existing longer than all of us at this rate. First released in 2011, it has gained immense popularity and is enjoyed by countless children and adults around the world.

Many people say that about many games, but we truly mean it when we say that there is something for everyone here. If you prefer to cultivate a garden and build a beautiful home around it, you can do that. If you want to defeat the biggest and most dangerous monsters, it's possible. If you're interested in adventures and want to explore the world around you, from the smallest caves to the highest peaks, you just have to set off.

Video Games For Kids Age 8-9+

Sonic Frontiers

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

If the child in your life is a fan of open-world games, why not try out the very first open-world Sonic game? Sonic Frontiers is the latest entry in the franchise, and while it has remained true to its platforming roots, it has also brought many new ideas.

Eggman is, of course, the antagonist who has unleashed a new threat upon the world. He - along with Sonic's friends - is trapped in an alternate dimension called Cyber Space. Sonic must traverse a series of islands and defeat robot titans to rescue his buddies.

Astroneer

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

Astroneer is a sandbox game, which means that the player can do whatever they want with the resources provided by the game developers. It also incorporates elements of survival games, but it is a great way to introduce beginners to this challenging genre as it doesn't take that aspect too seriously.

As the name suggests, in this game, players control an astronaut and travel through a series of fantastic planets while collecting resources, building space bases, or creating moon vehicles.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows

Crash Bandicoot is a popular franchise that began in 1996 with the first game of the same name. The main character, Crash, is a genetically altered bandicoot, and his main antagonist is the scientist who enhanced him: Doctor Neo Cortex. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is the fittingly titled and long-awaited latest installment in the series! It was released in 2020.

The game is essentially a platformer where Crash and his sister Coco must prevent Doctor Neo Cortex and Doctor Nefarious Tropy from carrying out their evil plans. It offers everything you would expect from a typical platformer - double jumps, crates to break open, secret areas to discover - but it does everything very well.

Portal 2

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360 Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

Portal 2 is the sequel to Portal; both are puzzle-adventure games where you use a special futuristic technology called "portals" to transport yourself from one place to another. You don't have to have played Portal to enjoy Portal 2, but we recommend it simply because it's so much fun!

Both games are widely loved in the gaming community for their creative game design, excellent physics engine, and witty humor. There is never a dull moment!

Dreams

ESRB Rating	T for Teen
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	N/A

Dreams is a truly exceptional game because it actually allows you to create your own games! This idea has been experimented with in various ways over the years, but Dreams surpasses them all due to its comprehensive nature, beauty, and accessibility.

In Dreams, the fun basically never ends. Just when you start to get bored with one creation, you can transition to a new one! Although it is rated "T" for Teenagers due to the abundance of options, it can truly be fantastic for people of all ages.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

ESRB Rating	E for Everyone
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	N/A

Sackboy and the Little Big Planet games have been a popular exclusive PlayStation series for quite some time. In this title, Sackboy makes a return to save the so-called "Craftworld" and become the legendary "Knitted Knight." It has been received so well that it won the BAFTA for Best Family Game!

Since "Sackboy: A Big Adventure" is primarily a platformer, we recommend it more for slightly older children. However, if you are purchasing the game for younger children who are particularly patient or have good gaming experience, they will likely enjoy it as well!

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, Windows PC

If you have introduced children in your life to other nerdy pastimes besides video games, they have probably already seen Star Wars. If that's the case, they will absolutely love the latest Lego Star Wars game: The Skywalker Saga!

This is an entertaining action-adventure game that takes you through all the storylines of the Star Wars films as you play the main characters. It is unique in that it provides an open world that allows you to embark on adventures through every environment you have seen in the movies.

Video Games For Kids Age 10-12+

Child of Light

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Windows, Stadia

Child of Light is a lesser-known game by Ubisoft, first released in 2014. It is perfect for the child in your life because it actually aims to emulate a fairy tale! In it, a young girl named Aurora must save the sun, the moon, and the stars, all of which are held captive by the Queen of the Night.

The developers spent a lot of time crafting the art style to resemble a watercolor painting, and that, along with the game's soundtrack and story, received much critical acclaim.

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands

ESRB Rating	T for Teen
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft Windows

Tiny Tina's Wonderlands is a first-person shooter (FPS) game, so it is somewhat more violent and rough compared to some of the other options on this list. Everyone has a different notion of what is appropriate for children, but if you are open-minded, we believe this is a great choice.

It is a spin-off of the popular Borderlands series and takes place in a fantastical world called Wonderlands, where you strive to defeat the villain who has caused chaos. In her review for TheGamer, editor-in-chief Stacey Henley noted that the humor is somewhat childish (including lots of fart jokes and the like), making it ideal for preschoolers and young adults.

Goat Simulator 3

ESRB Rating	T for Teen
Generations	PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Xbox Series X|S, Microsoft Windows

If you're in the mood for a laugh, you can't go wrong with Goat Simulator 3, the second Goat Simulator game (yes, really). The original gained online fame and allowed the developers to create another game! The objective is simple: wreak havoc as much as possible while controlling a simple goat from a third-person perspective.

Goat Simulator 3 brings numerous improvements over its predecessor! For instance, you can now play with up to 4 friends, and the developers have stated that this world is 18 times larger than the original. Players have praised the humor, excellent physics, and hidden Easter eggs!

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

ESRB Rating	E10+ for Everyone 10 and up
Generations	PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	N/A

The Ratchet & Clank series has a long history dating back to 2002, and it remains strong with the 2021 title, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart. While the game includes elements that entertain longtime fans of the series, such as parallel universe versions of planets they have previously visited, a child has no trouble immersing themselves directly into this installment, even without having played the other games.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is partially a platformer and partially a shooter. The player controls Ratchet, a cat-like alien creature who travels through space with a self-built spaceship. Ratchet must defeat an evil emperor from another dimension and save the universe!

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

ESRB Rating	T for Teen
Generations	PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Other Platforms	Microsoft Windows

In this beautiful game, the player controls the titular character Kena, who is a spirit guide. She helps the souls of deceased people transition from the physical world to the spirit world. The player must face Kena's biggest challenge yet: a spirit that refuses to move on to the next world, causing the forest to decay and die.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an exclusive game for PlayStation (although it can also be played on a Windows PC). While it was released in 2021 for the PlayStation 5, it is also available on the PlayStation 4. It features a variety of tools and abilities, and players must engage in fairly challenging combat and puzzle encounters. Therefore, we recommend it for older children.