The best open world games for kids (2023)

Buying a game for a child is difficult.There is a lot of information and even more opinions about which games are suitable and which are not. The ESRB rating, which provides a general age range for which a particular video game would be appropriate, is useful but not without flaws. Many players - both parents and non-parents - disagree with the recommendations.

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To help you find the perfect game for the kid in your life, we've rounded up some of the best open-world video gamesfor children to play. We've ranked them based on our age recommendation, but many games in lower categories would also be perfect for older kids. Use your common sense!

Updated May 15, 2023 by Gabrielle Huston:The great thing about gaming is that new games are coming out all the time and many of them are suitable for all ages. This article has been updated with some new additions that you and the younger people in your life should definitely try.

Video games for children aged 2-4

Geese board without title

Geese board without titleIsIt's all about the eponymous goose running around and annoying the locals of her small town.Do you want to steal their phones? Completed. Do you just want to honk at them? Completed. Want to waddle through their gardens in search of good food? Completed. It's as simple and cute as it sounds!

It is somewhat controversial to include this game in a list of open world titles. Some people consider it one, others don't. CIs a game still an open world if it's broken into parts, like Dragon Age: Inquisition?How open should the pieces be? Many people will find that Inquisition's pieces are much larger and more open than those in Untitled Goose Game. Either way, the child in your life won't notice the difference.

A short walk

InA short walk, the player literally hikes up a mountain. While there is one goal to achieve - the climax - it is considered an open world game because you canSpend time exploring the entire backcountry, meet other hikers, make time to fish and more!

The added bonus is that unlike other open worlds, a child only spends a few hours in this game. Need to survive a long car ride? Put it on the Nintendo Switch and drive in complete silence!

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Video games for children aged 5-7

eastern shadow

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In this game you willPlay as a painter and explore the titular island you've landed on: Eastshade.It is populated by anthropomorphic owls, monkeys, bears and more!"Drawing" in the game is a bit like taking a screenshot;Your character recreates everything that appears on your screen in the style of an oil painting.

There are some mature topics that come up when talking to the characters in the game, hence the higher ESRB rating. It would probably be too much for most younger children, but of course you should use your own discretion.

Chicory: A colorful story

This visually stunning indie masterpiece isChicory: A colorful story.You take on the role of a small artist dog who is looking for the title character Chicory, the best artist in the world! You also refine your own artistic skills.

Chicory is truly worth your time, money and love.We consider it one of the most underrated games of 2021and think the kids in your life would love itSolve puzzles, unlock new painting skills, meet animal friends and explore Picnic Province.

Lego Star Wars: Die Skywalker-Saga

The Skywalker Saga is unlike any previous Lego Star Wars gamebecause it's an open world experience! Like other entries on this list, the open world is broken up into parts - the different areas you see in the movies - but it's still awesome!

It has every Star Wars trilogy (not to mention some TV content) for you to explore and play with. As usual,The people at Lego give their own crazy take on the events of the movies.

Astroner

Inastronomer,The whole universe is your open world! The player controlsAn astronaut who jumps from one planet to another, trying to survive with the resources he can find on these unknown worlds.

Not only is it an excellent open-world game for kids, it's also oneA great way to introduce them to the survival horror genre! In the game, you use your resources to build machines that help you on your journey and bases to rest on and leave your loot behind!

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Video games for children aged 8-9

Super Mario Odyssee

Super Mario Odysseeis an open-world sandbox game perfect for any child with a Nintendo Switch. In this 3D Mario gameHis hat is actually a creature named Cappy, and the pair must set out to save Cappy's sister and Princess Peach from Bowser!

As with Untitled Goose Game, there is debate over whether Super Mario Odyssey qualifies as an open-world game. But again, a child will not know the difference or care. There's a lot of potential for thatmove freely in the fascinating environment,and that's what counts!

Cultivating: Song of Evertree

Grow: Song Of The Evertree istan enchanting indie open world gamethis puts the player in the role of an alchemist.Your job is to take care of the eponymous Evertree, an ancient plant that was dormantfor many years. With this you breathe life into the environment!

Song of the Evertree is a relaxed title that allows you to complete your various tasks at your own pace. Next,it features stunning graphics combined with a beautiful soundtrack;You'll never want to put it down!

Burnout Paradise geremasterd

Many players have fond memories of playing a Burnout game as a child. For many of them it was the first time to get behind the wheel of a car (even if it was a digital one).

Let the child in your life be part of that legacyBurn-outparadijzenGeremasterd! In burnout-gamesYou drive through a city. It's that simple.The city has everything you would expect - pedestrians, other drivers, buildings, garbage cans... It's up to the child whether they want to participate in races or just drive through the city turning off the streetlights.

Zobel

InZobel, you play the title character asShe undertakes her rite of passage: gliding.You will explore a vast world waiting to reveal its secrets to you.

This is primarily an exploration game. You will be mesmerized by the breathtaking views and beautiful soundtrack, and you will be drawn into an adventure where you will meet other clans, collect unique relics and solve puzzles.

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Slime Rancher

Slime Rancheris a cute open world title that lets you build a farm full of different types of slime! It's popular with kids and adults alike, so you might find yourself borrowing this game from the kid in your life!

the player cControl farmer Beatrice as she grows her slime, helps the locals, and ventures into the open world to find new slimes and resources!

Slime Rancher 2

If the kid in your life enjoyed the first Slime Rancher, you'll be happy to know there's a sequel for them to enjoy!Slime Rancher 2is basically better than the first game in every way;There are updated graphics, new game mechanics and brand new slime variants!

It's official in oneEarly accessStatus now, meaning it's mostly complete, but they're looking for player feedback as they complete it. That generally means you get it at a discounted price if you get in early.

Video games for children aged 10-12

The Legend of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildis considered by many to be one of the best open world games. Period of time. And it's kid-friendly! In it, you take on the role of the non-title hero Link and explore the fantasy land of Hyrule.

This game is an incredible learning tool for kids wrapped in a deceptively fun video game.That's because it contains so many mini puzzles and a complete physics system.

The physical system means thatThe elements interact with each other.Rain will put out your torch! Fire creates thermals that can be used for sliding! You can cut down a tree with your sword and win wood! If you move a large blade hard enough, you can put wind in the sails of a small ship!

The mini puzzles are shaped like "sanctuaries" - they arehard enough to be challenging, but not so hard (or long) that your child gets frustrated.There is also no penalty if you decide to leave and try again later.

terraria

terrariais a 2DAction Adventure Gameoriginally released for Windows in 2011. It was often compared to Minecraft at the time due to the timing and blocky sandbox nature of both games. However, they differ significantly!

Terraria, if you go for the built-in targets, will ringdefeat a series of increasingly difficult bosses.You can build bases, collect NPCs that perform specific tasks, and explore the vast open world.

Outside Wilds

Outside Wildsis not just an open world game,It's openworld'sGame!You take on the role of an alien who flies around in a small spaceship and discovers mysteries about his world.

The varied planets provide plenty of room to playAnd while mastering the controls of the spacecraft can be tricky, once you get the hang of it, it's a lot of fun! There's mystery, there's adventure, there's exploration - what more could a child want?

Raji: Ein antikes Epos

Raji and Ancient Epic Raji walk up the stairs to a temple

Raji: An Ancient Epic is a breathtaking action-adventure game from Nodding Heads Games. It isis set in ancient India, where demons invaded the human worldin an attempt to take revenge on the gods.

A girl named Raji is the only hope of mankind. She is separated from her brother Golu and must therefore also try to track him down. Meanwhile, the gods have chosen her as the only one who can stand between the demons and the utter destruction of mankind.

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Bagger

InBagger, VanExplore some remote islands and the murky waters around them.You are the captain of a fishing boat who spends his time catching the most incredible fish he can find. You spend the money to upgrade your boat and learn new techniques that will allow you to explore even further.

In addition to the open world there isa spectacular mystery to be solved here,if you are smart enough to find it. Learn about the inhabitants of the islands as you travel between them and keep searching the depths for anything you might find.

Minecraft

Even if you've never heard of the other video games on this list, we're pretty sure you've heard of themMinecraft. It has become a Western cultural phenomenonyears ago and has grown into a community of millions of participating playersProjects such as a huge in-game library!

Whether or not you want to get involved with the larger community and all the mods, shaders, and skins it has to offer, the base Minecraft game has a lot going for it. inside,Players explore a menacingly empty open world in search of means of survival.Once this is done, they can start researching larger projects, for examplemake concreteofbreed bees!

grounded

groundedbrings a classic childhood fantasy to life:What if you could be as small as an ant? What would life be like? Well, pretty intense as it turns out. Grounded is an action survival game that pits you against the insects of the world.

In the end, there is only one question left to answer: how did you become so small? To find out, you'll need to solve a puzzle much bigger (pun intended) than yourself! If you have some friends with you along the way, even better.

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