As I write this, those of us in the US have 4 shopping days until Christmas. So I wanted to share a few tips on both games to consider but also how to connect with the gamer in your life during this time of year:
1. Play with your child. If it is a multiplayer game, join in. If it is a single-player, ask to take a turn.
2. Sit and watch your child play, and ask them to teach you how to play a game.
3. For adolescents, don’t take no for an answer. If they don’t want to show you how to play at that time, make an “appointment” with them for later.
4. Encourage boys and girls equally. A recent study showed that girls who play video games with their fathers endorse fewer symptoms of depression. Ask your children if there are different games they like.
5. Remember that multiplayer games are forms of social media and community. Your child may be having a chat while they are playing without you even knowing it. Be patient with them and ask if you are interrupting something. This is good training for when they are interrupting you. Remember social skills are a two-way street, and just because you don’t think something is important doesn’t mean they feel the same way.
6. Pay attention to ESRB ratings. They aren’t perfect, but they can give you a good idea of what ages and levels of maturity are the best fit for your child.
7. Vet the online community. If they want to join a server for Minecraft, search together for one that requires children apply and requires parental approval. Ask the adult moderators questions about what kind of activities and conversations happen in-world. Discuss how privacy is handled.
8. Sit with your child as they sign up for a game. Discuss whether they should answer questions about where they live and their age. If these are required, email the moderator if you don’t feel comfortable with that. Your child’s digital footprint starts here, and will last for decades to come, so be careful and thoughtful about it.
9. That said, don’t evoke a sense of anxiety and paranoia with your children. There are plenty of normal or healthy people online, and they may be making lifelong friends. If they want to chat or Skype with peers, don’t forbid it, but ask to have a brief introductory call with their parent, and have a week probationary period where all chat is audible before the headphones go on.
10. Have fun! Video games can improve your mood, sharpen your wits and fine motor skills, and even give you exercise. But the most benefit for you and your child will occur if you take an interest and try to play yourself.
Ok, so now for some suggestions. This is by no means exhaustive, and if you want to recommend others please comment below!
Multiplayer Games
These can often have a subscription, but sometimes they are free. A good family game for younger children is Wizard101, which takes place in a world of wizard schools and magic duels. Combat is turn-based card game style. If your children like Magic: The Gathering, chances are they’ll love this.
Another great one is Minecraft, which costs a one-time price of $26.99. The game allows no end of possibilities, from mining to building to exploring to killing monsters. If you join a multiplayer, the whole family can play together.
World of Warcraft is a perennial favorite of mine. In addition to buying the software, this game has a monthly subscription, and there are lots of servers to choose from. Try searching for child-friendly servers and guilds, there are plenty of them out there.
Eve Online is a MMO that takes place in outer space. If your family is more interested in building and flying spaceships than fighting dragons this may be the game for them. Like WoW there is a monthly subscription in addition to the software purchase.
Console Games
For your older gamers I recommend Dark Souls. This is a very challenging game, which players can expect to last for hours. There will be lots of dying and starting over, and lots of fun failure. This game also has a strong RPG element and a dark mood.
Not quite as dark, but very challenging, is the new Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. This game puts you in a Nordic-type environment as a “Dragonborn,” and the main quest has you fighting dragons and absorbing their powers. But the fun thing about this game is that you don’t have to do any one quest if you don’t want to. Players can focus on exploring, crafting, learning marriage or picking locks! The graphics are beautiful, and the music is fun too.
If you are more interested in a game with a puzzle-solving element, check out Portal 2. You wake up in an abandoned lab with only a wormhole gun to your name. In order to escape players will need to strategize and learn a lot about physics on the way. There’s a lot of fun humor in the game as well.
All of the above games are available for Xbox, PS3 and the PC.
For Xbox, you can also bring a bit of meditation to the family with Deepak Chopra’s Leela. This game uses the Kinnect, and you’ll your whole body playing games to both actively exercise and stimulate the chakras or energy centers in the body; or meditate and keep an eye on your posture. The game is easy to learn and very colorful, and you can even design your own mandala.
Also for the Kinnect and PS3 is Child of Eden. This full body game has you trying to same the AI Lumi from a computer virus. It’s a fast-moving game with some rocking music from the virtual band Genki Rockets.
As far as the Wii goes, there’s only one I want to recommend at the moment, and that’s Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. This latest addition to the classic Zelda series will take you back to history before the Ocarina of Time, and up into the clouds of Skyloft, as you help Link take wing to save his kidnapped friend Zelda.
iPad
Last but not least I want to direct your attention to a couple of games on the iPad. Infinity Blade II. This game is not for the faint of heart, there is a lot of melee combat, and a lot of dying. If you like swordplay and battling monsters this is the game for you. The world is 3D and dynamic, and there are lots of different weapons and armors to try. Be warned, there is an option to “buy” more gold, so have a talk with your child about whether and how to do that.
A more playful game for all ages is Windosill from Vectorpark. This is a short game, but the dreamlike quality and graphics make it feel more like having fallen into a picture book than playing a video game. Get your whimsy on with this one.
These are only some suggestions, and are based on games I have test-driven. For example, I haven’t recommended any Nintendo DS games because I haven’t played any lately. I’m not affiliated with any of the above companies. Have some other game suggestions? Let us know below. Have a great holiday!
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Another nice post for a lot of parents who may not be as video savvy as their kids. I appreciate the time you took to review several games and I especially like the straight forward understanding of the value in games that contain violence. I’ve been teaching parents, teachers and other therapists for many years that virtual violence is not the same as RT violence, but too often mainstream hype tends to crowd out common sense. Keep up the good work,
E. Coyle, Ph.D. http://panyrgy.com
The best part about reviewing video games, Ed, is that I get to play ’em. 😉 In fact, I just hit level 2 in Star Wars: The Old Republic, so it’s only a matter of time before it appears in a post!