9 of the best video games for preschool children
Our round-up of the best computer games for children aged 5 and under, including winners of our 2019 Toy Awards
If you’re looking for games to play as a family, or video games suitable for your preschool child to play solo or with their friends, we’ve rounded up some that would suit even the youngest of players.
If you're looking for a break down of how video game ratings work and what games are suitable for ages 3+, check out of list of the best Nintendo Switch games for kids depending on age and suitability.
Here are the best video games for preschoolers, as rated and tested by children...
1. Paw Patrol: On A Roll, £29.99 – best for solo players
Age: 3+
Awards: MadeForMums Toy Awards 2019 Best Video Game – Gold
What it is: Based the TV series PAW Patrol, the game, On a Roll, includes 16 adventures featuring all 8 rescue pups and Ryder. This game is for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS and PC.
Why we love it: This game is like an interactive version of the cartoon, and our child testers love it.
More like this
Jasmine, MFM reviewer and mum to Kaidyn-lee, age 4, says, “My child keeps nagging to play this game all the time and absolutely loves it. The only negative about it is that it is only a 1-player game. It would be much better if it had a 2-player mode. Once he was on the game, though, he didn’t get bored at all.”
Available from: Game, Amazon and Argos
2. Crayola Scoot, £34.99 – best for creativity
Age: 3+
Awards: MadeforMums Toy Awards 2019 Best Video Game – Bronze
What it is: Create a scoot character and perform tricks to splash colour and make it to the championships. This game is for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
Why we love it: We love how many fun colours you can make with this game. Jasmin, mum to Mckenzie, age 9, says, “My boy liked this game and enjoyed that you can customise your character.”
Available from: Amazon, Game and PlayStation
3. Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster, £8.97 – best for teaching kindness
Age: 3+
What it is: Elmo and Cookie Monster go inside their favourite storybook and interact with the monster characters they meet there –including some Sesame Street friends, like Grover and Oscar the Grouch. Each story has 5 or so mini-games that allow kids to take part. They may dress characters in costume, toss garbage in a trash can, flap their arms to fly to the top of a tree, or follow along with a dance (plus lots more). This game is for the Xbox 360.
Why we love it: Young children will love this interactive version of the show, while grown-ups will appreciate that each of the stories has a moral to them, like when Elmo throws a party for a lonely monster, and when Cookie Monster helps another monster fix up her garden.
Available from: Amazon and Game
4. Super Mario 3D World, £19.99 – best for classic games
Age: 3+
What it is: This nostalgic 3D game is full of environments filled with obstacles and contraptions like transparent pipes and vertical conveyor belts, with lots of puzzles to solve. 4 players can play at once. For the Nintendo WII.
Why we love it: In this version of Super Mario, you can choose to be Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad. You can play as a family, and it has lots of fun features, like the ‘cat transformation ability’, which means you can climb walls and attack with claws. It’s super-visual and looks really appealing for all ages.
Available from: Amazon and Nintendo
5. Rush: A Disney Pixar Adventure, £14.99 – best for multiple players
Age: 3+
What it is: A game for Pixar fans to get into the world of the characters. You can team up with characters from The Incredibles, Up, Cars, Toy Story and Finding Dory to solve puzzles. For the Xbox One.
Why we love it: The characters from the Pixar movies are so well-loved, and this game really engages younger children and brings them back into the Pixar world. It has dual game-play, so grown-ups can play with their little ones, too.
Available from: Amazon, Smyths Toys and Argos
6. Disneyland Adventures, £15 – best for Disney fans
Age: 3+
What it is: Choose your character, and walk around the Disneyland resort. Complete tasks in character – fly like Peter Pan, or ski the slopes of the Matterhorn, and dance with the Mad Hatter. For the Xbox One.
Why we love it: Kids who love Disney will really enjoy this game – you can really explore the park with it, and get to know the characters from Disney movies better. If you’re planning a visit to Disneyland, it’s a fun game to play beforehand.
Available from: Amazon and Game
7. Nickelodeon Kart Racers, £29.99 – best for healthy competition
Age: 3+
What it is: Race along slime-filled tracks. Choose from 12 iconic Nickelodeon characters, including SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Hey Arnold!, or the Rugrats. There are 24 different tracks to choose from – Bikini Bottom, Tommy Pickle’s house, Arnold’s school, and lots more. For the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.
Why we love it: It’s a pre-school version of Mario Kart. If your little one likes playing car games, they will really enjoy this entry-level game.
Available from: Amazon, Argos and Game
8. Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection, £11.99 – best for animal lovers
Age: 3+
What it is: You can get up close to over 200 species of animals in 4K Ultra HD and HDR with this game. Create, manage and maintain your dream zoo alone or with up to 4 players. For the Xbox One.
Why we love it: It’s a great world-building game, with really detailed animals and lots of accurate information about them. If you love the zoo, you’ll love this game.
Available from: Amazon, Game and Argos
9. Hasbro Family Fun Pack, £16.99 – best for family fun
Age: 3+
What it is: The Hasbro Family Fun Pack is for all ages, with video-game versions of Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Risk. This game is for PlayStation 4.
Why we love it: Some of the games are too complex for pre-schoolers, but – with help – Monopoly is a great one to play as a family.
Available from: Game, Amazon and PlayStation
Read more...
Authors
How NatPat's wellness patches may help your family
NatPat's range of wellness patches and stickers aim to tackle everything from allergies to lack of focus. We take a closer look at the range.