Hello and welcome to the first installment of Digital Mom’s Really Good Gift Guide. I have combed through the latest reviews of video games for young people, made a giant spread sheet of 62 games and will attempt to summarize the highlights for you with some color commentary. Today’s guide is for the 10+ set. I will publish additional video game buying guides for Teens and one for younger kids in the coming days.
My sources were:
“The Best Video Games for Kids” from PC Magazine (article here)
Common Sense Media’s searchable database (I refer them as CSM throughout this post) *
The results of an AI prompt (I used Bard) . The prompt was: “what are the best video games for tweens, include name, content rating, what year it was released, what platforms they are available on, price, what parent will like about them and what parents should be aware of.”
“Kids I Know” Nominated Games - These are recommendations from kids I interviewed this past year + my own kids’ Christmas Lists.
* If you want to do more research, I strongly recommend the CSM Tool here. You can limit by child’s age, platform & more. I find CSM’s reviews are pretty spot on. In fact, I trust them over the official content rating.
Let’s get started.
Best 10+ Games
SuperMario Odyssey
The only game that PC Mag and CSM both gave a 5 out 5. Gen X’s old friend from childhood, Super Mario, travels across fun and foreign lands. (There are ALOT of Mario Games out there, who knew?). Reviews use words like instant classic, great fun and joyous. List Price $59.99 and its available for Nintendo Switch only. Purchase here.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
4.5 from PC Mag and 5 from CSM. CSM describes it as “beautiful run-and-jump adventure with environmental themes.” This one is supposedly available on Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox Cloud Gaming but I could only find it for Switch. List Price $29.99. Purchase here.
Forza Horizon 4
4.5 from PC Mag and 4 out of 5 from CSM. Gameplay includes driving across huge, beautiful maps, competing in various racing events. Available on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Windows 10. List Price $59.99. Purchase here.
Stardew Valley
4 out of 5 from CSM and a THE top pick from one of my tween interviewees earlier this year and a Top Pick from Bard. Bard told me this one "encourages responsibility and resourcefulness, promotes a sense of accomplishment and offers a peaceful and relaxing gaming experience but doesn’t really offer any real challenges or goals.” Its available on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android and is listed at $14.99. Purchase here.
These next 3 games all got 5 out 5 ratings from CSM
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
CSM says it “encourages creativity and imagination.” PC Mag says “its the perfect entrypoint into the franchise.” Zelda is one of the few games I actually played and liked as a kid- so there’s that fun, probably irrelevant fact. Its only available on Switch. List Price: $59.99. Purchase here.
Scribblenauts Mega Pack
Available for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows 10. I think these are puzzle games? (Sorry I’m getting tired and this is getting pretty long!) CSM calls it “loads of fun.” List Price: $29.99. Purchase here.
Pikmin 3 Deluxe
Apparently Pimkin started as a Wii Game. CSM says it promotes teamwork. Bard think its offers “adorable and memorable characters.” Available on Switch only. List Price: $59.99. Purchase here.
These 3 got 4 out of 5 from PC Mag and CSM.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
Mario again. This time in outer space. CSM says “cult classic crossover gets a (inter)stellar sequel.” Bard thinks its for Teens only but everyone else says its fine for 10+. Only on Switch. $59.99. Buy it here.
Splatoon 3
Sounds like Spitoon to me. Gross. But putting that aside, CSM says “Cartoonish shooter encourages teamwork and competition.” Doesn’t seem to be about spitting so thats a relief. I personally don’t love shooters in principle but that’s my personal bias and I haven’t actually played this game. Switch only. Listed at $59.99. Purchase here.
Cuphead
Sounds like an insult a 4 year old would make up. Which is to say kinda charming and fairly harmless. CSM says it “presents a maddening challenge” that also sounds like a 4 y/o to me. Available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Windows 10. List price: $19.99. Purchase here.
BONUS GAME: NBA 2K24
This received 4 out of 5 from CSM and is the game my 10 y/o is most excited about. Available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Switch it costs $69.99 - the most expensive game on the list. CSM says its a ‘fun but flawed new edition of NBA game” and warns parents of in-game purchases. Purchase here.
Buying Guides for Teens and Family Video Games coming over the next two days. If you want to see my giant spreadsheet, I plan to email it to all subscribers THIS Friday. If you are interested in getting it, make sure you subscribe before then! You can do that here.
If you are interested in purchasing any of the games, please consider using the links on this page— it will help support this newsletter!
If you’re contemplating purchasing a console and don’t know which one to get—check out my primer on console’s here.
Later this week, Paid Subscribers will get an exclusive post with the games we are planning to buy with more of my color commentary. If you know me or my kid personally please do NOT spill the beans!