Game Recommendations

Games that pit players against one another, whether in racing, battle royale, or other game types.

• • • Fortnite by Epic Games (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iPhone; Rated T; Free-to-Play; Internet required)

    • Splatoon 2 by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E+10; Internet required)

    • Rocket League by Psyonix (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E; Internet required)

    • PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds by PUBG Corporation (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Android, iOS; Rated T; Internet required)

    • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E)

Games that focus on gathering and collecting materials with which to build structures, tools, weapons, and other items.

• • • Stardew Valley by Concerned Ape, Chucklefish (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E+10)

    • Starbound by Chucklefish (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated E+10)

    • Animal Crossing: New Horizons by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E)

    • Minecraft by Mojang (Windows, Xbox One, Playstation 4, Nintendo Switch; Rated E+10; Internet required)

Games where players can combat with physical means against other players or computer opponents.

• • • Super Smash Bros. Ultimate by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E+10)

    • Street Fighter 5 by Capcom (Steam, PlayStation 4; Rated T)

    • Mortal Kombat 11 by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated M)

    • Soul Calibur 6 by Bandai Namco Entertainment (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated T)

    • Tekken 7 by Bandai Namco Entertainment (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated T)

Games focused on attacking with firearms from a first-person perspective.

• • • Team Fortress 2 by Valve (Steam; Rated M; Free-to-Play; Internet required)

    • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare by Activision (Battle.net, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated M; Internet required)

    • Counter-Strike: Global Offensive by Valve (Steam; Rated M; Free-to-Play; Internet required)

    • Overwatch by Blizzard (Battle.net, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Rated T; Internet required)

    • Doom Eternal by Bethesda Softworks (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated M)

    • Battlefield V by EA (Origin, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated M; Internet required)

Games that require players to reach objectives through a series of platforms, obstacles, and hazards via movement and quick reaction time.

• • • Ultimate Chicken Horse by Clever Endeavour Games (Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One; Rated E+10; Internet required)

    • Celeste by Matt Makes Games (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E+10)

    • Cuphead by StudioMDHR (Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E+10)

    • Hollow Knight by Team Cherry (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch; Rated E+10)

    • Super Mario Odyssey by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E+10)

Games that require problem solving and critical thinking skills.

• • • Return of the Obra Dinn by 3909 (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated M)

    • Portal 2 by Valve (Steam; Rated E+10)

    • Untitled Goose Game by Panic (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E)

    • Tetris 99 by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E; Free-to-Play with Nintendo Online subscription)

    • LittleBigPlanet 3 by Sony (PlayStation 4; Rated E)

Games where the player controls one or more characters, assuming specific roles to progress through the game world.

• • • Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield by The Pokemon Company, Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E)

    • Final Fantasy XIV by Square Enix (Steam, PlayStation 4; Rated T)

    • The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E+10)

    • World of Warcraft by Blizzard (Battle.net; Rated T; Paid subscription required; Internet required)

    • The Sims 4 by EA (Origin, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated T)

Expansive games that emphasize discovery and encourage exploration.

• • • Garry’s Mod by Valve (Steam; Rated M; Internet required)

    • Terraria by 505 Games (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated T)

    • Roblox by Roblox Corporation (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Xbox One; Rated E+10; Internet required)

    • Grand Theft Auto V by Rockstar Games (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated M)

    • Red Dead Redemption 2 by Rockstar Games (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated M)

Games that emphasize or require player interaction in order to work. Great for groups like families and friends.

• • • Super Mario Party by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E)

    • JackBox Party Pack by Jackbox Games (Windows, macOS, Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, Apple TV; Rated T; Free-to-Play if one person owns a copy; Internet required)

    • Bloop Go! by Bloop Games (Android, iOS, Rated E; Free-to-Play)

    • Pokemon GO by Nintendo (Android, iOS; Rated E; Internet required)

    • Castle Crashers by The Behemoth (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated T)

Games that usually strive to replicate the real life sports they’re based on.

• • • FIFA 20 by EA (Origin, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E)

    • Mario Tennis Aces by Nintendo (Nintendo Switch; Rated E)

    • NBA 2K20 by 2K (Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One; Rated E)

    • Madden NFL 20 by EA (Origin, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated E)

    • NHL 20 by EA (PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated E+10)

Immersive games that beg the player to play more to see where the narrative goes.

• • • Half-Life 2 by Valve (Steam; Rated M)

    • God of War by Sony (PlayStation 4; Rated M)

    • Uncharted 4: A Thief's End by Sony (PlayStation 4; Rated M)

    • Dark Souls: Remastered by Namco Bandai Games (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch; Rated M)

    • Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain by Konami (Steam, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated M)

Games that focus on the decision-making process of the player.

• • • Sanctum 2 by Coffee Stain Studios (Steam, Rated T; Internet required)

    • Starcraft 2 by Blizzard (Battle.net; Rated T; Internet required)

    • Tropico 6 by Kalypso Media (Steam, Origin, PlayStation 4, Xbox One; Rated T)

    • Dota 2 by Valve (Steam; No rating; Free-to-Play; Internet required)

    • League of Legends by Riot Games (Windows, macOS; Rated T; Internet required)