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Buying a game for a kid is tough. There's a lot of information out there and even more opinions about what games are appropriate and which ones aren't. The ESRB rating, which indicates a general age range that a particular video game would be appropriate for, is helpful but not flawless. Plenty of gamers - parents and non-parents alike - disagree with its recommendations.

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To help you get the perfect game for the kid in your life, we're detailing some of the best open-world video games for children to play. We've organized them by our age recommendation, but many games in lower categories would be perfectly suited for older kids too. Use your best judgement!

Updated November 3, 2023 by Gabrielle Huston: The wonderful thing about gaming is that new games are coming out all the time, and lots of them will be perfect for all ages. This article has been updated to include some new additions you and the younger people in your life should absolutely check out.

Video Games For Kids Age 2-4+

Untitled Goose Game

Untitled Goose Game - Geese bothering a woman
Untitled Goose Game

Platform(s)
PS4 , Switch , Xbox One , PC
Released
September 20, 2019
Developer(s)
House House
Publisher(s)
Panic
Genre(s)
Puzzle , Stealth
ESRB
E For Everyone

Untitled Goose Game is all about the titular goose who goes around bothering the locals of their small town. Want to steal their phones? Done. Want to just honk at them? Done. Want to waddle through their gardens to look for good food to eat? Done. It's as simple, and adorable, as it sounds!

It's a bit controversial to include this game on a list of open-world titles. Some people consider it one, others don't. Can a game still be open-world if it's divided into chunks, like Dragon Age: Inquisition? How open do the chunks have to be - many people would note that Inquisition's chunks are far larger and more open-ended than the ones in Untitled Goose Game. Regardless, the child in your life won't know the difference.

A Short Hike

a short hike silver feather wristwatch

ESRB Rating

E for Everyone

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Nintendo Switch

In A Short Hike, the player is literally hiking up a mountain. While there is a destination to reach - the summit - it's considered an open world game because you can spend time exploring all the back-country, meeting other hikers, getting in some time for fishing, and more!

The added bonus is that, unlike other open worlds, a kid will only spend a couple of hours in this game. Need to get through a long car ride? Set this up on the Nintendo Switch and drive in silence!

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Video Games For Kids Age 5-7+

Eastshade

Eastshade - gameplay screenshot of painting being made

ESRB Rating

E10+ for Everyone 10 and up

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS

In this game, you'll play as a painter exploring the titular island you've landed on: Eastshade. It's populated by anthropomorphic owls, monkeys, bears, and more! "Painting" is the game is a bit like taking a screenshot; your character recreates whatever is on your screen in an oil-painting style.

There are some mature themes that arise when talking to the characters in-game, hence the higher ESRB rating. It would probably go over the head of most younger kids, but, of course, use your own discretion.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Chicory A Colorful Tale protagonist painting colors on a monochrome landscape

ESRB Rating

E for Everyone

Platforms

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

This visually stunning indie masterpiece is Chicory: A Colorful Tale. You play as a little artist dog who is searching for the titular character, Chicory, who is the best artist in the entire world! Along the way, you hone your own artistic abilities.

Chicory is seriously worth your time, money, and love. We consider it to be one of the most underrated games of 2021 and think the children in your life would adore solving puzzles, unlocking new painting abilities, meeting animal friends, and exploring the Picnic Province.

Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

lego star wars kylo ren and rey fighting
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Franchise
Star Wars
Platform(s)
Switch , PC , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
Released
April 5, 2022
Developer(s)
Traveller's Tales
Genre(s)
Action , Adventure
ESRB
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief

The Skywalker Saga is unlike any past Lego Star Wars game because it is an open-world experience! Like other entries on this list, the open world is broken up into chunks - the various areas that you see in the movies - but it's fantastic all the same!

It includes every single Star Wars trilogy (not to mention some of the television content) for you to explore and play with. As always, the people at Lego give their own goofy takes on the events from the films.

Astroneer

Astroneer Split Image, walking to spacecraft (left) picking up item (right)

ESRB Rating

E for Everyone

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

In Astroneer, the whole universe is your open world! The player controls a planet-hopping astronaut trying to survive with the resources they can find on these unfamiliar worlds.

It's not only an excellent open-world game for kids, it's also a great way to introduce them to the survival horror genre! In the game, you'll use your resources to build machines to help you on your journey and bases to rest your head and leave your loot!

Pokemon Scarlet/Violet

Pokemon Scarlet Violet Teal Mask Bloodmoon Ursaluna perrin
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet

Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch
Released
November 18, 2022
ESRB
E for Everyone - Mild Fantasy Violence
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer , Online Co-Op , Local Multiplayer

There's nothing quite like a good Pokemon game! We can't help but fall in love with these games over and over again. The team at the Pokemon Company put a new twist on this old, familiar series by making 2022's Pokemon Scarlet and Violet the first ever open world Pokemon games!

If you played Pokemon Sword and Shield, the preceding games, you're probably familiar with the Wild Areas. Those were free-roam sections where you can go anywhere you like and walk alongside other players. In Scarlet and Violet, basically everything is a Wild Area! Multiplayer is a blast too, since your friends and you can explore it all together.

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Video Games For Kids Age 8-9+

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey - Mario in a city on left, Mario in a desert on right
Super Mario Odyssey

Franchise
Super Mario Bros.
Platform(s)
Switch
Released
October 27, 2017
ESRB
E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief

Super Mario Odyssey is an open-world sandbox game that's perfect for any kid with a Nintendo Switch. In this 3D Mario game, his hat is actually a creature called Cappy, and the pair must journey to save Cappy's sister and Princess Peach from Bowser!

Like Untitled Goose Game, it's debated about whether Super Mario Odyssey counts as an open-world game. Again, though, a kid won't know or care about the difference. There's lots of potential for freely roaming around the engaging environments, and that's what counts!

Grow: Song Of The Evertree

caring for a creature in grow song of the evertree

ESRB Rating

E for Everyone

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch

Grow: Song Of The Evertree is an adorable indie open-world game that puts the player in the role of an alchemist. Your job is to care for the titular Evertree, an ancient plant that has been dormant for many years. By doing this, you breathe life into the surrounding area!

Song of the Evertree is a cozy title that allows you to work through your various tasks at your own pace. Besides, it has stunning graphics paired with a glorious soundtrack; you'll never want to put it down!

Burnout Paradise Remastered

Screenshot From Burnout Paradise Showing The Paradise City Sign In The Background

ESRB Rating

E10+ for Everyone 10 and up

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

Plenty of gamers have fond memories of playing a Burnout game as a child. For many of them, it was the first time they were every allowed behind the wheel of a car (even if it was a digital one).

Allow the kid in your life to become a part of this legacy with Burnout Paradise Remastered! In Burnout games, you drive a car around a city. As simple as that. The city is populated with all the things you might expect - pedestrians, other drivers, buildings, trash cans... Its up to the kid whether they want to participate in races or just drive around town knocking down streetlights.

Sable

A character in Sable wraring a mask while fishing next to one riding a hoverbike.

ESRB Rating

E10+ for Everyone 10 and up

Platforms

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Microsoft Windows

In Sable, you're playing as the titular character as she undertakes her rite of passage: the Gliding. This takes you exploring a massive world that is just waiting to reveal its secrets to you.

This is an exploration game above all else. You'll be entranced by the stunning vistas and wonderful soundtrack, and carried along by an adventure where you meet other clans, collect unique relics, and solve puzzles.

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Slime Rancher

Slime Rancher - a pink slime outside Beatrice's home
Slime Rancher

Platform(s)
Xbox One , PS4 , Switch
Released
August 1, 2017
Developer(s)
Monomi Park
Publisher(s)
Monomi Park
Genre(s)
Adventure , Simulation

Slime Rancher is an adorable open-world title that allows you to raise a farm full of different types of slimes! Its beloved by kids and adults alike, so you may find yourself borrowing this game from the kid in your life!

The player controls the farmer, Beatrice, as she raises her slimes, helps out the locals, and ventures out into the open world to find new slimes and resources!

Slime Rancher 2

Beatrix LeBeau wielding a Vacpack in front of various slimes in Slime Rancher 2

ESRB Rating

E10+ for Everyone 10 and up

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

If the kid in your life enjoyed the first Slime Rancher, you'll be happy to hear that there's a sequel available for them to enjoy! Slime Rancher 2 improves on the first game in basically ever way; there are updated graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and brand new slime varieties!

It's officially in an early access state now, which means that it's mostly done, but they're looking for feedback from players while they finish it. That generally means you'll get it at a discounted price for getting in early.

Stardew Valley

Featuring An Entirely New Overhauled Game
Via: FlashShifter
Stardew Valley

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , Nintendo Switch , PC , iOS , Android , PS Vita
Released
February 26, 2016
ESRB
E for Everyone - Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer

Stardew Valley is the ultimate cozy game. It's one of the most popular indie games in the world, and it was made by just one person. If you're not already familiar: Stardew Valley casts you in the role of a big-city-office-worker who decides to move out to the country and reopen their grandfather's old farm. Your time is spent raising the crops and animals that keep your farm operational, as well as getting to know the locals in the Valley.

There's some debate about whether we should consider Stardew Valley an open-world game. It is open-world in the sense you can go basically anywhere at any time, barring a few locations that need to be unlocked, it's just relatively small. Some people opt for "open-ended" game instead. If you want a larger open-world experience, try playing it on PC and using the Stardew Valley Expanded mod! It adds a lot of space and brand new NPCs to the game.

Video Games For Kids Age 10-12+

The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

Breath of the Wild - link in a forest on left, link using his glider above a fire on right
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Platform(s)
Wii U , Switch
Released
March 3, 2017
ESRB
E for Everyone: Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol, Mild Suggestive Themes

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is considered by many to be one of the best open-world games. Period. And it's kid friendly! In it, you play as the non-titular hero, Link, exploring the fantasy land of Hyrule.

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

The physics system means that the elements interact with each other. Rain will put out your torch! Fire creates updrafts of wind that you can glide with! You can cut down a tree with your sword and get wood! If you wave a big leaf hard enough, you can put wind in the sails of a little ship!

The mini puzzles take the form of "shrines" - they're hard enough that they'll present a challenge, but not so hard (or so long) that your child will get frustrated. There's also no punishment if you decide to leave and try it again later.

Terraria

A character in Terraria in a cozy kitchen under a lush grassy platform
Terraria

Platform(s)
PC , PS3 , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox 360 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X , Switch , Vita , iOS , Android , macOS , Linux , 3DS , Stadia
Released
May 16, 2011
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood and Gore, Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol

Terraria is a 2D action-adventure game that came out originally in 2011 for Windows. It was compared a lot to Minecraft at the time, because of the timing and the blocky, sandbox nature of both games. They're substantially different, however!

Terraria is, if you go for the built-in goals, about beating a series of progressively tougher bosses. You can build bases, collect NPCs who do particular jobs, and explore the vast open world.

Outer Wilds

Outer Wilds Exploring Giants Deep, Multiple Tornadoes Over An Ocean
Outer Wilds

Platform(s)
PS4 , Xbox One , PC
Released
May 28, 2019
Developer(s)
Mobius Digital
Publisher(s)
Annapurna Interactive
Genre(s)
Adventure
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Alcohol Reference

Outer Wilds isn't just an open world game, it's an open worlds game! You play as an alien flying around in a little spaceship and uncovering secrets about their world.

The varied planets provide lots of room to play and, while the spacecraft controls can be tricky to get the hang of, they're a blast once you do! There's mystery, there's adventure, there's exploration - what more could a kid need?

Raji: An Ancient Epic

Raji And Ancient Epic Raji Running Up The Steps To A Temple
Raji And Ancient Epic Raji Running Up The Steps To A Temple

ESRB Rating

T for Teen

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows

Raji: An Ancient Epic is a stunning action adventure game from Nodding Heads Games. It's set in ancient India, where demons have been invading the human world in an attempt to get their revenge on the gods.

A girl named Raji is humanity's only hope. She's been separated from her brother, Golu, so she must also attempt to track him down. Meanwhile, the gods have singled her out as the only one who can stand between the demons and the total extinction of the human race.

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Dredge

A cutscene of the fisherman selling aberrations in Dredge

ESRB Rating

E10+ for Everyone 10 and up

Platforms

Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS

In Dredge, you explore some remote islands and the murky waters around them. You're a fishing boat captain, who spends their time catching the most incredible fish they can find. You'll spend the money to upgrade your boat and learn new techniques that will help you explore even further.

In addition to the open world, there's a spectacular mystery to be unraveled here, if you're clever enough to find it. Get to know the islands' inhabitants as you travel between them, and keep searching the deeps for whatever you might find.

Minecraft

characters walking with animals in minecraft

ESRB Rating

E10+ for Everyone 10 and up

Platforms

Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Java, Android, iOS, Apple TV, Raspberry Pi

Even if you haven't heard of any of the other video games on this list, we're pretty confident you've heard of Minecraft. It became a western cultural phenomenon years ago and has spiraled into a community of millions of players participating in projects like a huge in-game library!

Whether or not you want to get involved in the larger community and all the mods, shaders, and skins that it has to offer, the base Minecraft game has a ton to offer. In it, players explore an ominously empty open-world environment, scavenging for resources to survive. Once that's done, they can start to investigate larger projects, like making concrete or raising bees!

Grounded

Grounded Willow facing off against soldier ants
Grounded

Platform(s)
PC , Xbox One
Released
September 27, 2022
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence

Grounded brings 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 where you'll face off against the bugs of the world.

At the end of the day, there's just one question to be answered: how did you wind up so small? To figure it out, you need to unwravel a mystery much bigger (pun intended) than yourself! If a few friends join you along the way, all the better.

Sea of Thieves

Sea Of Thieves: A Galleon With Killer Instinct Themed Sales
Sea of Thieves

Released
March 20, 2018
Developer(s)
Rare
Publisher(s)
Microsoft Game Studios
Genre(s)
Adventure
ESRB
T for Teen: Crude Humor, Use of Alcohol, Violence

Sea of Thieves is an exceptional game that allows you to live out your Pirates of the Caribbean dreams! As a pirate, you take to the high seas on your own ship and choose which missions you'll take on to earn sweet, sweet gold.

Sea of Thieves is best enjoyed with a whole pirate crew (friends) manning your ship. However, it is entirely possible (if a little more difficult) to enjoy the game by yourself.

That being said, it does require an internet connection. That's because you're always dropped into a map with other players on it, who might want to team up for treasure, or open fire on you for your loot.

NEXT: The Best Xbox Games For Kids To Play