Finding the right PS4 games for kids isn't easy. Most games tend to be fairly violent and are tailored towards older kids, if not teenagers.
Fortunately, there are a lot of great family-friendly games out there. If none of the following games sound appealing to you, there are a few genres that are typically very family-friends. Racing and sports games come to mind, as well as puzzle games.
Don't see the game you're looking for here? Check out our other best games lists here:
- Release Date: May 24, 2016
- Price: $49.99
Growing up, I couldn't get enough of the Ninja Turtles. I watched the movies, played all the video games, had the action figures... you know the drill.
Just like you'd expect, this game will have some PG violence to it. But if your kid is old enough to appreciate the TMNT without being influenced to beat up everyone around them, this is a great option.
- Release Date: August 28, 2015
- Price: $41.78
This one is a mixed bag to be honest. Kids LOVE the Disney Infinite game, which now has 3 different editions. Each edition added new characters and content.
The bad news is that Disney recently announced they won't continue adding content to the game. But you can still buy everything they've already released, and your children will get hours and hours of enjoyment from it.
- Release Date: November 18, 2014
- Price: $17.92
If I had to pick just one PS4 game for kids to recommend, it's Little Big Planet 3. It was clearly designed to be kid-friendly, although adults have loved the game, too.
It's basically an adventure-puzzle game, where you use these stringy little heroes through various levels and obstacles.
The best part is that it can be played co-op. Either you can play with your children, or they can play with each other. Can't beat that for less than $18 bucks!
- Release Date: September 4, 2014
- Price: $18.00
Minecraft was designed almost as a joke, but has taken the world by storm. People of all ages have built all kinds of crazy things, from enormous cities and castles in the sky to deep, dark dungeons.
There are two ways to play -- Survival and Creative. Survival mode has some violence, there's no blood. A few blocks fall apart -- that's about it. If your kids choose to play Creative Mode, there's zero violence because the goal of that mode is to just build whatever you want!
Another good thing about this game is that your kids can play together, which makes building go much faster!
- Release Date: February 7, 2014
- Price: $15.99
The LEGO Movie was a lot funnier than I think most people expected -- myself included.
And even though playing the game isn't quite the same as seeing the movie for the first time, it's still a lot of fun! You play as Emmett, and meet all of his crazy new friends along the way.
This is another co-op game-up to two players can play at once.
- Release Date: October 20, 2015
- Price: $23.75
Somehow this game seemed to skate under the radar. Maybe because the concept isn't exactly revolutionary. This is basically a 4 pack of classic games -- Monopoly, Risk, Trivia Pursuit and Scrabble.
...but don't let the simplicity fool you. This game is actually a lot more fun than just playing the board games, because the PS4 graphics help bring it to life. It's a great PS4 kids game that lets them with friends and family or against people on the PlayStation Network.
And paying less than $24 for all 4 games is a no-brainer.
- Release Date: November 15, 2013
- Price: $18.49
Knack was one of the games that launched with the PS4 a few years ago. You play as a experimental robot that can transform itself to deal with different situations.
It's very kid-friendly, although (going with the trend) there is some violence in this game.
- Release Date: February 18, 2014
- Price: $19.56
Rayman Legends is a fast-paced side scroller. It's a great pick for both kids and adults, as the non-stop action will entertain just about anyone. It's a very kid friendly PlayStation 4 game, although there is some cartoony, non-gory violence.
- Release Date: February 18, 2014
- Price: $19.56
The great thing about Just Dance 2016 versus many of the previous dance games is that it doesn't require PlayStation's camera system (PlayStation Move.) Instead, you download a free app to your smart phone that pairs with the game.
That said, if you don't have a smartphone, you will need the PlayStation Move system to play.
This is a great family or party game- as long as you aren't too afraid to embarrass yourself. (Or, in my case, embarrass everyone else for not having my kinda skillz.)
- Release Date: October 22, 2013
- Price: $18.99
What little boy doesn't love Marvel superheroes? Actually, scratch that -- what person alive doesn't like these guys?
This game's been out for a while and is a blast for everyone. You get to play as a bunch of different characters, each with different powers. Not only the Avengers, but also characters like Spiderman, Wolverine and Mr. Fantastic.
Even though there's cartoon violence, it's not gory at all. It's just LEGOs!
If nothing on this list suited your fancy, maybe action games aren't the way to go. These are the games I tend to play with my nieces and nephews, but there are a few family friendly genres that may work better for you.
For example, there are some good PS4 games for kids in the sports genre. They've got football, baseball, soccer and basketball games.
Do your kids have the need for speed? Maybe you should get them... Need for Speed. See what I did there?
Puzzle games may be another way to go. Brothers -- A Tale of Two Sons, The Road Not Taken or Perfect Universe are other kid-friendly PS4 games to look into.
Good luck, and don't forget to play these games with your kids! I know I always appreciated it when my Dad took time to play with me, and it's some of the only bonding time I really get with my nieces and nephews.
