One of the best things about the indie space is there’s something for everyone. Even the fussiest gamer can find something to love, even if it requires some digging.
If you’re looking for a game your kids can play without any nasty surprises, here’s a selection of the best Kid-Friendly Indie Games.
10World of Goo 2
A Cutesy Puzzle Solver
World of Goo 2
WHERE TO PLAY
World of Goo 2is a unique puzzle game with simple controls and objectives.
The idea is tocreate structures out of blobs of Gooin such a way that it doesn’t collapse. Each stage has a simple mission, usually to build over a gap or obstacle. There areplenty of clever ideasinWorld of Goo 2, and the blobs are oddly adorable.
TheWorld of Googames do require some thought, but they are inoffensive and accessible, and there’s nothing in them that anyone would deem “unsuitable.”
World of Goo 2came out in August 2024, but the original from 2008 is still decent if you want to start at the beginning.
9Bloons TD6
Tower Defense At Its Finest
Bloons TD 6
Bloons TD 6is a fantasticTower Defense gamethat’s easy to pick up and play. Each level contains a winding path, and it’s your job to ensure incoming balloons don’t escape the screen.
You can do this by setting up cute traps and defenses around the path, and a fantastic selection of tools is at your disposal.Visuals are bright and colorful, and it’s hard not to appreciate the motley assortment of different monkey defenses.
Bloons TD 6is kid-friendly but has enough nuance that evenolder children and adults can enjoy it. The title is accessible as it requires zero mechanical skill and can even be played on mobile devices.
8Human Fall Flat
Cute Ragdoll Fun
Human Fall Flat
Human Fall Flatis a unique physics-based adventure game.The controls feel terribleuntil you get used to them, but that’s part of the fun.
Watching your bizarre, doughy figure tripping over itself is hilarious as you navigate obstacles and pitfalls. There is asurprising amount of nuance and strategyinHuman Fall Flat, but it’s just as fun to mess around in the sandbox.
There are plenty of games where lousy controls are a selling point, but Human Fall Flat is easily one of the best.
7Vampire Survivors
The Game That Started A Genre
Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivorsis a wonderfully simple title with rewarding progression, heaps of unlockables, and asatisfying gameplay loop.
You play as a survivor and try to last as long as possible as waves of monsters (not the scary kind) approach. Each time you lose, you earn currency and new items to make yourself stronger.
The gameplay is so accessibleyou can even play with one hand. All you have to do is move as your character shoots and attacks automatically.
Picking the right powerups is important, but most of the hard stuff is alleviated withVampire Survivor’ssuperb co-op mode. You can play on the same screen, and the basic controls mean anyone will enjoy it.
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6Paleo Pines
Collect Them All!
Paleo Pines
Paleo Pinesis an adorable, cutesy farming sim with a prehistoric twist. You can explore the world ofPaleo Pinesat your own pace, and while there are clear objectives,you’re never pushed or pressuredto do them.
There’s a farm to manage, but the draw for most players will becollecting Dinosaurs for your ranch. You do this with simple mini-games, and it’s fun figuring out their favorite snacks so they will come home with you.
Paleo Pinesis accessible and kid-friendly, and there’s enough meat on the bone for adults who want to try it.
5Stardew Valley
An Absolute Masterpiece
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valleyis a critically acclaimed indie darling, part farming simulator, and so much more. The title is deep enough that anyone can enjoy it, but even surface-level activities like caring for animals and crops areaddictive and rewarding.
As is typical of the genre, the early game is pretty slow, but your day will be full of activities before you know it.
Stardew Valleyalso hasexcellent multiplayer features,and it’s great to manage a farm as a duo or in a small group.
There’s enough content inStardew Valleyto keep anyone busy for dozens of hours, and a flourishing modding scene allows you to addeven more high-quality content.
4Cat Quest 3
A Pawsome Feline Adventure
Cat Quest III
Cat Quest 3is the latest game in the series, offering the cutest adventure with straightforward controls and mechanics.
You play on a beautiful world map, completing basic quests in pursuit of better gear. There’s light fantasy combat, and the difficulty is pretty forgiving, so anyone can enjoy it. The gameplay loop is addictive, and players are subjected to an onslaught oftrademark pun-filled jokes.
Cat Quest 3is one of those rare games to offer couch co-op, and it works flawlessly.
The entire trilogy is worth playing, but you will have tostick withCat Quest 2&3for multiplayer.
3Untitled Goose Game
Honk, Honk!
Untitled Goose Game
Untitled Goose Gamehas a unique premise where you play as, you guessed it, a highly-strung goose.
There’s plenty oflight puzzle-solvingand creative ways to relieve the nearby townsfolk of their property.
Developer House House captured the movement and mannerisms perfectly, and it’sa joy to mess around as a goose, even if you’re not going for the objectives.
Untitled Goose Gamecould have easily been a low-effort cash grab. Instead, it’s a title anyone of any age and skill will enjoy.
One For The Big Kids
Terrariais an exceptional2D sandbox adventure game, and players of all ages will get something out of it.
Many people refer to Terraria as “2D Minecraft,” but that description doesn’t really do either title justice. you may build and create whatever you like in Terraria and spend countless hours constructing the perfect village. There are bosses to beat, and you always have a new target to work toward or a fresh biome to explore.
Very young kids may not get too much out of this one, but Terraria is as inoffensive as it gets with mountains of content. It’s atop-tier pixel art gamewith a satisfying gameplay loop and remains as popular as ever despite being over a decade old.
1The Plucky Squire
A Beautiful, Accessible Adventure
The Plucky Squire
The Plucky Squireis a beautiful dimension-bending adventure game where the action literally jumps off the page.
It’s easily the prettiest game on the list andseamlessly blends 2D and 3D gameplay.
Gamers of all ages can enjoyThe Plucky Squireas it’s so accessible. Combat is easy, and you can always consult a mini wizard for help solving puzzles.Boss battles can even be skipped, so you’ll never be stuck for long, regardless of skill level.
The title is brimming with creative ideas and humor, and you, or your kids, will be entertained from start to finish.
If you can’t get enough of The Plucky Squire, we can’t either. Fortunately, there areplenty of superb games availableto scratch that itch.
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