Games to play with kids: family-friendly picks for the sofa

Reading a PEGI label before you play

PEGI ratings in the UK run 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18, and every rated game also lists content descriptors such as Violence, Fear or In-game purchases. The descriptors are often more useful than the number: two PEGI 7 games can be very different.

PEGI's website also gives consumer advice for each rated version, explaining in plain English why it got its rating. LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, for example, is PEGI 7 with Violence, Fear and In-game purchases descriptors. Minecraft is PEGI 7 for violence and fear, mostly the monsters that come out at night.

Ratings describe content, not difficulty. A PEGI 3 puzzle game can still be too hard for a young child, and a PEGI 7 platformer can be simple. Our picks note both.

Setting up parental controls before the first session

Every console and phone has free parental controls, and it is easier to set them up before a child starts playing than to add them later. The main ones cover:

• Age limits for which games can be launched.
• Spending limits or approval for purchases.
• Online communication, such as voice and text chat with strangers.
• Play-time limits, on some platforms.

Nintendo has a free Parental Controls smartphone app for Switch and Switch 2; Microsoft has the Xbox Family Settings app; PlayStation uses family management in your account settings. PEGI's website has a parental controls section with links to each platform's official guidance.

Online play, chat and spending in family games

Many family games have online features. Mario Kart World and Super Mario Party Jamboree can be played online, which needs Nintendo Switch Online. Minecraft lets players join servers with strangers. These features can be great fun, but they deserve a conversation first.

Look for the In-game purchases descriptor on the PEGI label. It means a game sells extra items or currency. Even in a game with a low rating, a spending limit or purchase approval is worth setting.

For most of the games here, the best family play is local: everyone on the same sofa, with no online contact at all. Our couch co-op picks focus on that.

Matching games to your child's age and confidence

Very young players often enjoy watching and occasionally taking the controller. Games with a helper role, such as Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Pikmin 4, let them contribute without having to lead.

Around primary-school age, many children are ready for equal roles in forgiving games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, LEGO games and Mario Kart World with its assists switched on. Older children might want to take the lead in Minecraft or Animal Crossing and show you around.

Let your child choose sometimes, even if it is not your favourite. Being shown around their world is part of the fun of playing together.

Keeping family game time a good habit

Shared play tends to work best with a few simple routines: agree how long you will play before you start, end on a natural break such as the end of a race or level, and talk about what happened afterwards.

For broader guidance on screen time and wellbeing, the NHS and organisations such as Internet Matters publish advice for families. If you want ideas for games to play with older children or teenagers, the finder lets you filter by PEGI rating and player count together.

It also helps to play the occasional game your child picks for themselves, even one you would never choose. Asking them to explain the rules or show you their favourite part gives them the expert role for once, and tells you a lot about what they enjoy and why.

Games children grow into as they get older

Children's tastes move quickly, and it helps to know where a favourite game might lead next. A few natural steps:

• From Mario Kart World to Rocket League (PEGI 3): the same love of driving, with a football twist and online teams.
• From Animal Crossing to Stardew Valley (PEGI 12): a deeper daily routine of farming, fishing and town life.
• From Minecraft to Terraria (PEGI 12): more combat and bosses in a 2D world.
• From Kirby or Astro Bot to Pokémon Legends: Z-A (PEGI 7): a bigger adventure with collecting and battles.

A step up in age rating is a good moment to look at the PEGI consumer advice together and talk about what has changed, whether that is more violence, online play or in-game spending. The finder lets you filter by rating to see what else sits at each level.