[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"sanity-nRkE1XWINIZmbvfNZKHMnlxyoGkZ1ONYhM_gtm6Cslo":3,"sanity-0jDnn0aHC3aSnmwtki5hLM6l715xkhVNQ7DaX3bU0JU":16,"sanity-882LpdiDkph7u_vXcre944S1Z8OQ5C5RGTSLQtdsBGY":18,"sanity-Otw8QAEBScC8blg5swz00gISdsNuPXwO5jsAQvk7cgY":737},{"data":4,"sourceMap":-1},{"commentsEditWindowMinutes":5,"commentsGloballyEnabled":6,"cursorMode":7,"defaultOgImageUrl":7,"footerText":7,"interactionMode":7,"missionPrompt":7,"navLinks":7,"organizationName":8,"personAuthorSlug":9,"personName":10,"reviewFaqIntro":7,"reviewUpdateLogIntro":7,"siteDescription":11,"siteTagline":12,"siteTitle":8,"socialHandles":13},10,true,null,"Mom Player Character","shannon-mpc","Shannon","Game reviews, parent guides, and notes from the desk on the digital world your kid already lives in.","For parents in the digital deep end",{"instagram":14,"twitch":15},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.instagram.com\u002Fmomplayercharacter","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.twitch.tv\u002Fmomplayercharacter",{"data":17,"sourceMap":-1},[],{"data":19,"sourceMap":-1},{"_id":20,"facts":21,"guide":7,"name":23,"noIndex":7,"pageCount":60,"review":61,"sectionReviewedAt":7,"seo":734,"slug":28},"21e5d368-ebb7-401e-a906-d43478150866",{"developers":7,"esrbRating":22,"franchise":7,"gameName":23,"gameSameAs":24,"gameScope":27,"gameSlug":28,"gameTypes":29,"multiplayerOptions":33,"parentSafetyFacts":36,"pegiDescriptors":7,"pegiRating":50,"platforms":51,"playStyle":56,"popularityTier":7,"publishers":57,"releaseDate":59},"e","Sesame Street: Friends & Fun",[25,26],"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nintendo.com\u002Fen-ca\u002Fstore\u002Fproducts\u002Fsesame-street-friends-and-fun-switch\u002F","https:\u002F\u002Foutrightgames.com\u002Fgame\u002Fsesame-street-friends-and-fun\u002F","single","sesame-street-friends-and-fun",[30,31,32],"adventure","puzzle","educational",[34,35],"solo","couch-coop",{"_type":37,"canPause":38,"checkedAt":39,"inAppPurchases":40,"lootBoxes":40,"readingLoad":41,"recurringPass":40,"saveFriction":42,"spendModel":43,"strangerContact":44,"textChat":44,"textPace":45,"typicalSessionMinutes":46,"userGeneratedContent":44,"voiceChat":44,"voiceover":49},"parentSafetyFacts","yes","2026-10-13","no","low","anytime","one-time","none","mixed",{"max":47,"min":48},30,15,"full","3",[52,53,54,55],"nintendo-switch","playstation","xbox","pc-mac","offline",[58],"Outright Games","2026-10-09",0,{"affiliateLinks":7,"ageBands":62,"ageGuidance":67,"alternatives":7,"authorName":68,"authorSlug":9,"bestFor":69,"commentsEnabled":7,"contentWarnings":7,"excerpt":73,"excerptFallback":74,"faqItems":7,"featured":7,"featuredImageAlt":75,"featuredImageUrl":76,"finalRecommendation":77,"gameplayObservations":78,"heroNotice":7,"lastReviewedAt":7,"learningDifficulty":251,"maximumAge":7,"mediaSources":7,"minimumAge":252,"notFor":7,"partnerLinks":7,"publishedAt":253,"quickVerdict":254,"ratingGap":7,"readAloudLoad":255,"readToPlay":256,"readingNote":257,"reviewContext":258,"riskAddictiveMechanics":259,"riskAssessments":279,"riskChat":291,"riskContentExposure":317,"riskMonetization":336,"riskStrangers":365,"settingsChecklist":384,"sources":388,"title":23,"updateNotes":7,"updatedAt":7,"verdictHistory":7,"verdictReasons":430,"versions":7,"versionsNote":7,"watchFor":436,"whatParentsShouldKnow":440,"whyKidsPlayIt":611},[63],{"band":64,"fit":65,"note":66},"4-5","on-their-own","May need the occasional assistance","A good first-game choice for young children, based on playing with my four-year-old. He solved the opening puzzle himself and has needed very little help across a few sessions. Stay nearby for the occasional task to read or unfamiliar control, then give them room to have a go.","Shannon @ MPC",[70,71,72],"Young children trying their first video game, with a grown-up nearby for occasional help.","Children who adore Sesame Street and want to explore alongside familiar characters.","Kids who enjoy matching, sorting and finding little puzzles as they wander.","A lovely first game for young children and Sesame Street fans. My four-year-old loved Tango's guidance and Grover's puzzles, with very little help from me.","MPC received a review code from the game's PR team, with no additional compensation. This review is based on my first playthrough and our family sessions over launch weekend, playing on Nintendo Switch 2. The screenshots and GIFs are from my recorded playthrough. The embedded Let's Play is from Sesame Street's official channel.\n\nWhat will your child do in the game?","A pink player character stands beside Tango on Sesame Street, with Find the Keys displayed at the top right.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F77886956181c808c0ff65ac2b7f710a99a78b62a-2560x1440.png","green-light",[79,90,108,116,132,143,159,167,183,211,227,243],{"_key":80,"_type":81,"children":82,"markDefs":88,"style":89},"f17586d45c2c46c5","block",[83],{"_key":84,"_type":85,"marks":86,"text":87},"oct1300000006","span",[],"Tango does a lot of the guiding",[],"h3",{"_key":91,"_type":81,"children":92,"markDefs":106,"style":107},"2c26d3b113b64a3d",[93,97,102],{"_key":94,"_type":85,"marks":95,"text":96},"oct1300000007",[],"The spoken dialogue was one of the first things I appreciated. ",{"_key":98,"_type":85,"marks":99,"text":101},"scan_20261013_8",[100],"strong","Characters explained the tasks I encountered aloud",{"_key":103,"_type":85,"marks":104,"text":105},"scan_20261013_9",[],", which gives children who aren't reading yet a way to follow along. It also means a parent can enjoy sitting beside them without having to read every instruction.",[],"normal",{"_key":109,"_type":81,"children":110,"markDefs":115,"style":107},"f980234a8aaf43f1",[111],{"_key":112,"_type":85,"marks":113,"text":114},"oct1300000008",[],"Of course, my four-year-old wasn't always quite as keen to hear the whole conversation. He sometimes wanted to skip the longer bits while I encouraged a little patience and listening. Happily, skipping ahead didn't leave him stranded. He understood almost immediately that Tango, Elmo's dog, would show him where to go next.",[],{"_key":117,"_type":81,"children":118,"markDefs":131,"style":107},"38aa645a002641c3",[119,123,127],{"_key":120,"_type":85,"marks":121,"text":122},"oct1300000009",[],"Tango turned out to be a very useful little tour guide. ",{"_key":124,"_type":85,"marks":125,"text":126},"scan_20261013_10",[100],"Following her gives him a clear next step",{"_key":128,"_type":85,"marks":129,"text":130},"scan_20261013_11",[]," without having to remember every spoken instruction. Arrows and trails of footprints help in parts of the opening too. For a first game, that visible guidance matters: it lets him get his bearings and carry on without waiting for me to direct every move.",[],{"_key":133,"_type":134,"alt":135,"caption":136,"children":7,"image":137,"imageUrl":142,"markDefs":7},"85e0087369e44bc8","figure","The player runs from the garden onto Sesame Street along a trail of footprints, while the current task remains visible.","A footprint trail provides another visible route to follow. The task label remains in the top-right corner.",{"_type":138,"alt":135,"asset":139},"image",{"_ref":140,"_type":141},"image-7923794c64c2f1b34d38734cb65ee8b4c10ed515-640x360-gif","reference","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F7923794c64c2f1b34d38734cb65ee8b4c10ed515-640x360.gif",{"_key":144,"_type":81,"children":145,"markDefs":158,"style":107},"9b49de29bd1a41f3",[146,150,154],{"_key":147,"_type":85,"marks":148,"text":149},"oct130000000a",[],"Across our weekend sessions, ",{"_key":151,"_type":85,"marks":152,"text":153},"scan_20261013_12",[100],"I only occasionally needed to read the current task",{"_key":155,"_type":85,"marks":156,"text":157},"scan_20261013_13",[]," in the top-right corner. He didn't need to read it himself to enjoy playing. I'd still settle in nearby for a young child's first session, ready to help with that task or an unfamiliar button. For us, those small bits of help have been enough to let him get on with much of the adventure himself.",[],{"_key":160,"_type":81,"children":161,"markDefs":166,"style":89},"0c53fcc59c9f4cc3",[162],{"_key":163,"_type":85,"marks":164,"text":165},"oct130000000b",[],"Learning the controls, one puzzle piece at a time",[],{"_key":168,"_type":81,"children":169,"markDefs":182,"style":107},"b7893713272b4d3a",[170,174,178],{"_key":171,"_type":85,"marks":172,"text":173},"oct130000000c",[],"During my playthrough, ",{"_key":175,"_type":85,"marks":176,"text":177},"scan_20261013_14",[100],"I didn't have to turn the camera separately",{"_key":179,"_type":85,"marks":180,"text":181},"scan_20261013_15",[]," while moving around. In other games I've taught my children, one stick moves the character and the other turns the view, which is quite a bit to coordinate when you're starting out. Here, having one less thing to manage leaves more attention for where to walk and what to do when you get there.",[],{"_key":184,"_type":81,"children":185,"markDefs":207,"style":107},"77f58837db0a406b",[186,190,194,198,203],{"_key":187,"_type":85,"marks":188,"text":189},"oct130000000d",[],"My son has been playing on the console's built-in screen. If he's unsure which button to press, ",{"_key":191,"_type":85,"marks":192,"text":193},"scan_20261013_16",[100],"he can use touch in the activities he's been playing",{"_key":195,"_type":85,"marks":196,"text":197},"scan_20261013_17",[],". That's a helpful way around a small stumbling block: he can tap or drag what he wants to use and keep going while the buttons become familiar. Nintendo also lists touchscreen support on its ",{"_key":199,"_type":85,"marks":200,"text":202},"oct130000000f",[201],"oct130000000e","official store page",{"_key":204,"_type":85,"marks":205,"text":206},"oct1300000010",[],".",[208],{"_key":201,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":25,"target":7},"link",false,{"_key":212,"_type":81,"children":213,"markDefs":226,"style":107},"976a9b22946f4f16",[214,218,222],{"_key":215,"_type":85,"marks":216,"text":217},"oct1300000011",[],"I also liked watching the careful movements involved in dragging puzzle pieces into place. He has to look at where a piece belongs, guide it over and line it up. It's a playful opportunity to ",{"_key":219,"_type":85,"marks":220,"text":221},"scan_20261013_18",[100],"practise controlled hand movements",{"_key":223,"_type":85,"marks":224,"text":225},"scan_20261013_19",[]," and matching what he sees with what his hands do, with a clear purpose for each movement.",[],{"_key":228,"_type":81,"children":229,"markDefs":242,"style":107},"185ff85e16154fe9",[230,234,238],{"_key":231,"_type":85,"marks":232,"text":233},"oct1300000012",[],"Abby's shape-tracing activity put my own controller skills to work. She asks you to draw shapes around seeds, and my square took a few attempts. ",{"_key":235,"_type":85,"marks":236,"text":237},"scan_20261013_20",[100],"This is one spot where a child might appreciate a hand.",{"_key":239,"_type":85,"marks":240,"text":241},"scan_20261013_21",[]," I still want to compare how he gets on with that particular activity, especially with touch available.",[],{"_key":244,"_type":134,"alt":245,"caption":246,"children":7,"image":247,"imageUrl":250,"markDefs":7},"2c2a4b884cfa433a","A wand traces an uneven square around a seed in Abby’s activity.","My controller attempt at Abby's shape-tracing activity. This clip shows me playing, not my son.",{"_type":138,"alt":245,"asset":248},{"_ref":249,"_type":141},"image-f73cf96281bc95f866a336c6212a18e78f670cf0-640x360-gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Ff73cf96281bc95f866a336c6212a18e78f670cf0-640x360.gif","easy",4,"2026-10-13T18:55:11Z","I recommend Sesame Street: Friends & Fun as a first video game for young children, especially kids who adore Sesame Street. They create a character, explore the neighbourhood with Tango and help familiar friends get ready for a big block party through little jobs and puzzles. My four-year-old got going with very little help. A half-hour session has felt worthwhile, with enough little things to do and solve for him to feel accomplished. It's a lovely fit when you want a satisfying bit of play in a shorter window.","barely","no-reading","Spoken dialogue and Tango helped him follow along. I occasionally read the current task in the top-right corner.","Played on Nintendo Switch 2: my recorded first playthrough and family sessions with my four-year-old over launch weekend. The screenshots and GIFs show my playthrough. Review code provided by the game's PR team, no additional compensation.",[260],{"_key":261,"_type":81,"children":262,"markDefs":276,"style":107},"oct1300000038",[263,267,272],{"_key":264,"_type":85,"marks":265,"text":266},"oct1300000034",[],"My son enjoyed finding Grover's challenges and has loved playing across a few sessions. The appeal I've seen is having another little thing to discover or solve. The ",{"_key":268,"_type":85,"marks":269,"text":271},"oct1300000036",[270],"oct1300000035","store page describes progression rewards",{"_key":273,"_type":85,"marks":274,"text":275},"oct1300000037",[]," such as decorations and new activities. I haven't seen a reason in the play covered here to flag this as a concern. A half-hour session has felt satisfying for my son, with small achievements along the way. I still want to check exactly how saving and resuming work.",[277],{"_key":270,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nintendo.com\u002Fus\u002Fstore\u002Fproducts\u002Fsesame-street-friends-and-fun-switch\u002F",{"addictiveMechanics":280,"chat":283,"contentExposure":285,"monetization":287,"strangers":289},{"pullquote":281,"severity":41,"tag":282},"Low concern in our sessions: the draw was exploring and finding another puzzle.","Low",{"pullquote":284,"severity":41,"tag":282},"No online player chat is listed for this solo or same-console game.",{"pullquote":286,"severity":41,"tag":282},"Gentle neighbourhood tasks; rated E for Everyone with no content warnings.",{"pullquote":288,"severity":41,"tag":282},"A paid game, with no in-game purchases flagged in the current ESRB listing.",{"pullquote":290,"severity":41,"tag":282},"Play stays solo or beside someone on the same console; no pairing with strangers is listed.",[292],{"_key":293,"_type":81,"children":294,"markDefs":313,"style":107},"oct1300000026",[295,300,304,309],{"_key":296,"_type":85,"marks":297,"text":299},"oct1300000021",[298],"oct1300000020","Nintendo lists one or two players on a single console",{"_key":301,"_type":85,"marks":302,"text":303},"oct1300000022",[],", and the ",{"_key":305,"_type":85,"marks":306,"text":308},"oct1300000024",[307],"oct1300000023","ESRB lists no interactive elements",{"_key":310,"_type":85,"marks":311,"text":312},"oct1300000025",[],". The conversations in the sessions covered here are with Sesame Street characters. Online player chat is not a concern for this way of playing.",[314,315],{"_key":298,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},{"_key":307,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":316,"target":7},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.esrb.org\u002Fratings\u002F41290\u002Fsesame-street-friends-fun\u002F",[318],{"_key":319,"_type":81,"children":320,"markDefs":334,"style":107},"oct130000003d",[321,325,330],{"_key":322,"_type":85,"marks":323,"text":324},"oct1300000039",[],"The ",{"_key":326,"_type":85,"marks":327,"text":329},"oct130000003b",[328],"oct130000003a","ESRB rates the game E for Everyone with no content descriptors",{"_key":331,"_type":85,"marks":332,"text":333},"oct130000003c",[],". The opening I played focused on helping neighbours, gardening, sorting and matching. Those observations and the rating support a low content concern for the play covered here.",[335],{"_key":328,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":316,"target":7},[337],{"_key":338,"_type":81,"children":339,"markDefs":362,"style":107},"oct1300000033",[340,344,349,353,358],{"_key":341,"_type":85,"marks":342,"text":343},"oct130000002c",[],"You buy the game up front. The ",{"_key":345,"_type":85,"marks":346,"text":348},"oct130000002e",[347],"oct130000002d","ESRB listing",{"_key":350,"_type":85,"marks":351,"text":352},"oct130000002f",[]," does not flag in-game purchases, and the ",{"_key":354,"_type":85,"marks":355,"text":357},"oct1300000031",[356],"oct1300000030","store listing",{"_key":359,"_type":85,"marks":360,"text":361},"oct1300000032",[]," describes rewards earned through play. I rate spending pressure as low on that basis. Check the price of the version you're buying; this assessment reflects the current release.",[363,364],{"_key":347,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":316,"target":7},{"_key":356,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},[366],{"_key":367,"_type":81,"children":368,"markDefs":382,"style":107},"oct130000002b",[369,373,378],{"_key":370,"_type":85,"marks":371,"text":372},"oct1300000027",[],"The listed two-player option is for ",{"_key":374,"_type":85,"marks":375,"text":377},"oct1300000029",[376],"oct1300000028","someone playing alongside your child on one console",{"_key":379,"_type":85,"marks":380,"text":381},"oct130000002a",[],". The game does not list a mode that pairs them with strangers online. You choose who joins them, which makes contact with unknown players a low concern.",[383],{"_key":376,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},[385,386,387],"Check voice volume against music and sound effects so spoken instructions are easy to hear.","Review the text language, audio language and subtitle options before starting.","For handheld play, show your child the touchscreen option in supported activities.",[389,396,401,406,411,415,418,421,425],{"accessedAt":7,"kind":390,"note":391,"observedAt":59,"publisher":7,"supports":392,"testedPlatform":52,"title":395,"url":7},"first-hand","Shannon's 29-minute opening playthrough, recorded October 9, 2026. Screenshots and GIFs come from this adult session; later family observations were reported separately.",[393,394],"readingLoad","verdict","Recorded first playthrough on Nintendo Switch 2",{"accessedAt":7,"kind":390,"note":397,"observedAt":398,"publisher":7,"supports":399,"testedPlatform":52,"title":400,"url":7},"Parent report of a few launch-weekend sessions with a four-year-old: independent opening puzzle, enjoyment of Grover's challenges, Tango guidance and occasional help reading the task. Date is the report date.","2026-10-12",[393,394],"Family play observations reported October 12, 2026",{"accessedAt":398,"kind":402,"note":403,"observedAt":7,"publisher":404,"supports":7,"testedPlatform":7,"title":405,"url":25},"official-docs","Switch release, Switch 2 compatibility, touchscreen support and one or two players. Canadian price should be checked directly at the store.","Nintendo","Nintendo Canada: Sesame Street: Friends & Fun",{"accessedAt":39,"kind":407,"note":408,"observedAt":7,"publisher":409,"supports":7,"testedPlatform":7,"title":410,"url":316},"rating-board","E for Everyone; no content descriptors or interactive elements listed. Used alongside store information and observed play to assess content, contact and spending concerns.","ESRB","ESRB rating: Sesame Street: Friends & Fun",{"accessedAt":398,"kind":402,"note":412,"observedAt":7,"publisher":58,"supports":7,"testedPlatform":7,"title":413,"url":414},"October 9, 2026 release; PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S and PC versions. Our hands-on control observations cover the Nintendo version only.","Outright Games launch announcement","https:\u002F\u002Foutrightgames.com\u002Flaunches\u002Fsesame-street-friends-fun-launch\u002F",{"accessedAt":398,"kind":402,"note":416,"observedAt":7,"publisher":58,"supports":7,"testedPlatform":7,"title":417,"url":26},"Official product and retailer links for the available versions.","Outright Games product page",{"accessedAt":39,"kind":402,"note":419,"observedAt":7,"publisher":404,"supports":7,"testedPlatform":7,"title":420,"url":278},"Official overview of the block-party adventure, character activities, local two-player play, touchscreen support and rewards that unlock activities and decorations. Supports the game overview and contact and progression assessments.","Nintendo US: official game summary, activities and play modes",{"accessedAt":7,"kind":390,"note":422,"observedAt":39,"publisher":7,"supports":423,"testedPlatform":52,"title":424,"url":7},"Shannon reports that a half-hour session feels worthwhile and leaves her child feeling accomplished. A parent observation, not a measured completion time or a save-and-resume test. Date is the report date.",[394],"Family observation: satisfying half-hour play sessions",{"accessedAt":39,"kind":402,"note":426,"observedAt":7,"publisher":427,"supports":7,"testedPlatform":7,"title":428,"url":429},"Official video linked by the reviewer, included as a demonstration. Parent observations and captured screenshots\u002FGIFs are reported separately.","Sesame Street","Official Sesame Street Let's Play: Friends & Fun","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=aVbmOHHHlC8",[431,432,433,434,435],"Tango and visible directions helped my four-year-old find his own way, even when he skipped a conversation.","Short matching puzzles gave him manageable problems to solve, with room to explore between tasks.","Simple movement and a touchscreen option let him get on with playing while he learned the controls.","Familiar Sesame Street characters make this an especially inviting first game for children who already love them.","A half-hour session felt worthwhile, with small achievements that helped my son feel accomplished.",[437,438,439],"Longer conversations may lose a little one's attention; Tango helped my son find his way even when he skipped ahead.","The task in the top-right corner may occasionally need reading aloud.","Some controller activities can be fiddly, including the shape tracing I tried with Abby.",[441,449,457,465,483,505,513,541,579,587],{"_key":442,"_type":81,"children":443,"markDefs":448,"style":89},"212d8827a00642f6",[444],{"_key":445,"_type":85,"marks":446,"text":447},"oct1300000013",[],"A quick setup before play",[],{"_key":450,"_type":81,"children":451,"markDefs":456,"style":107},"7520aecbca5c4cde",[452],{"_key":453,"_type":85,"marks":454,"text":455},"oct1300000014",[],"I started with the settings menu. You can adjust voices, music and sound effects separately, which is handy if you want those spoken instructions to come through clearly. There are also other audio controls and vibration settings. Text and audio languages have separate choices, and subtitles are available. A quick look here helps you set things up for the child beside you.",[],{"_key":458,"_type":134,"alt":459,"caption":460,"children":7,"image":461,"imageUrl":464,"markDefs":7},"2d22ac2ce2ad467b","The audio settings menu shows separate Master, Music, SFX, Voice and UI volume sliders, with vibration switched on.","Voice volume can be adjusted separately from the music and sound effects.",{"_type":138,"alt":459,"asset":462},{"_ref":463,"_type":141},"image-bcf3085a4ea7e12596258e69ce3ab8be867140c5-2560x1440-png","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fbcf3085a4ea7e12596258e69ce3ab8be867140c5-2560x1440.png",{"_key":466,"_type":81,"children":467,"markDefs":481,"style":107},"f7c3ca43a3d540dc",[468,472,477],{"_key":469,"_type":85,"marks":470,"text":471},"oct1300000015",[],"This has felt like a gentle, welcoming game in our sessions. The ",{"_key":473,"_type":85,"marks":474,"text":476},"oct1300000017",[475,100],"oct1300000016","ESRB rates it E for Everyone",{"_key":478,"_type":85,"marks":479,"text":480},"oct1300000018",[],", with no content warnings or interactive features flagged. My opening session was full of helping neighbours and solving little puzzles. The practical help my son needed was the occasional task to read or control to work out.",[482],{"_key":475,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":316,"target":7},{"_key":484,"_type":81,"children":485,"markDefs":503,"style":107},"27010a61b1144a3a",[486,490,494,499],{"_key":487,"_type":85,"marks":488,"text":489},"oct1300000019",[100],"Two people can also play together on one console",{"_key":491,"_type":85,"marks":492,"text":493},"scan_20261013_22",[],", often called local co-op. ",{"_key":495,"_type":85,"marks":496,"text":498},"oct130000001b",[497],"oct130000001a","Nintendo lists one or two players",{"_key":500,"_type":85,"marks":501,"text":502},"oct130000001c",[],". For these sessions, my son was playing and I was sitting beside him. I haven't yet tried playing together to see how the two roles work.",[504],{"_key":497,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},{"_key":506,"_type":81,"children":507,"markDefs":512,"style":89},"81922d8f36ae482e",[508],{"_key":509,"_type":85,"marks":510,"text":511},"oct130000001d",[],"Which version, and would I recommend it?",[],{"_key":514,"_type":81,"children":515,"markDefs":538,"style":107},"62333e3781014b07",[516,520,525,529,534],{"_key":517,"_type":85,"marks":518,"text":519},"3ee79303ad414a68",[],"The Nintendo release is a Switch game, with ",{"_key":521,"_type":85,"marks":522,"text":524},"38c7934132af4918",[523],"7cd79a4ed5dc4e18","Switch 2 compatibility confirmed by Nintendo",{"_key":526,"_type":85,"marks":527,"text":528},"0c9417377d004c75",[],". Switch 2 is the hardware we used for these sessions. Outright Games also lists ",{"_key":530,"_type":85,"marks":531,"text":533},"8eff49b562d24860",[532],"ed530969c8ed4f88","PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC versions",{"_key":535,"_type":85,"marks":536,"text":537},"290954014aa040a1",[],"; our control observations come from the Nintendo experience.",[539,540],{"_key":523,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":25,"target":7},{"_key":532,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":414,"target":7},{"_key":542,"_type":81,"children":543,"markDefs":575,"style":107},"c1161d459d80401e",[544,548,553,557,562,566,571],{"_key":545,"_type":85,"marks":546,"text":547},"c3ca3d31ef49438d",[],"For the current Nintendo price, use the ",{"_key":549,"_type":85,"marks":550,"text":552},"e23dd7dfc1b64d1e",[551],"f6bf0371b8974c02","Canadian store",{"_key":554,"_type":85,"marks":555,"text":556},"471ae901f7434e5a",[]," or ",{"_key":558,"_type":85,"marks":559,"text":561},"72e191fc9e454f18",[560],"4d1efa9729fd4733","US store",{"_key":563,"_type":85,"marks":564,"text":565},"09b3997e79e64016",[],". The ",{"_key":567,"_type":85,"marks":568,"text":570},"6d3cc52e63204495",[569],"5e43edebd2a44251","publisher's game page",{"_key":572,"_type":85,"marks":573,"text":574},"f484d0636c0e4d3a",[]," links to the other versions and retailers.",[576,577,578],{"_key":551,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":25,"target":7},{"_key":560,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},{"_key":569,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":26,"target":7},{"_key":580,"_type":81,"children":581,"markDefs":586,"style":107},"5269bc2f17a64b10",[582],{"_key":583,"_type":85,"marks":584,"text":585},"oct130000001e",[],"I still want to try playing together and take a closer look at how saving works when it's time to stop. We'll also find out how long it holds his interest as we spend more time with it. Those are useful follow-ups, but I already have enough from our sessions to recommend it as a welcoming first game.",[],{"_key":588,"_type":81,"children":589,"markDefs":610,"style":107},"377d391ffbfa4ac1",[590,594,598,602,606],{"_key":591,"_type":85,"marks":592,"text":593},"oct130000001f",[],"If you're looking for a first video game for your child, ",{"_key":595,"_type":85,"marks":596,"text":597},"scan_20261013_23",[100],"Sesame Street: Friends & Fun gets my recommendation.",{"_key":599,"_type":85,"marks":600,"text":601},"scan_20261013_24",[]," It's an especially lovely fit for ",{"_key":603,"_type":85,"marks":604,"text":605},"scan_20261013_25",[100],"kids who adore Sesame Street",{"_key":607,"_type":85,"marks":608,"text":609},"scan_20261013_26",[],": they can spend time with familiar characters while learning to move around, follow a task and solve small puzzles for themselves. Sit beside them for the opening, show them Tango and let them have a go. Keep an eye on the task in the corner in case they need a little help reading it.",[],[612,620,628,636,661,666,674,686,694,702,710],{"_key":613,"_type":81,"children":614,"markDefs":619,"style":107},"e5562f9c29c5446b",[615],{"_key":616,"_type":85,"marks":617,"text":618},"oct1300000001",[],"MPC received a review code from the game's PR team, with no additional compensation. This review is based on my first playthrough and our family sessions over launch weekend, playing on Nintendo Switch 2. The screenshots and GIFs are from my recorded playthrough. The embedded Let's Play is from Sesame Street's official channel.",[],{"_key":621,"_type":81,"children":622,"markDefs":627,"style":89},"0c2bead497944170",[623],{"_key":624,"_type":85,"marks":625,"text":626},"oct1300000002",[],"What will your child do in the game?",[],{"_key":629,"_type":81,"children":630,"markDefs":635,"style":107},"e55323df6c7a416c",[631],{"_key":632,"_type":85,"marks":633,"text":634},"e55323df6c7a416c_text",[],"Your child makes a character and moves into Sesame Street, where everyone is getting ready for a big block party. With Tango, Elmo's dog, to help show the way, they explore the neighbourhood, visit familiar friends and lend a hand with little jobs.",[],{"_key":637,"_type":81,"children":638,"markDefs":659,"style":107},"oct13_overview_activities",[639,642,647,651,655],{"_key":640,"_type":85,"marks":641,"text":324},"oct13_activity_start",[],{"_key":643,"_type":85,"marks":644,"text":646},"oct13_activity_link",[645],"oct13_summary_link","official game summary",{"_key":648,"_type":85,"marks":649,"text":650},"oct13_activity_end",[]," gives parents a good picture of what's on offer: gardening with Abby and Bert and Ernie, number puzzles with the Count, cooking at Cookie Monster's Foodie Truck and decorating a home of their own. In everyday terms, expect your kiddo to ",{"_key":652,"_type":85,"marks":653,"text":654},"scan_20261013_1",[100],"walk around, find things, match and sort, and try short activities",{"_key":656,"_type":85,"marks":657,"text":658},"scan_20261013_2",[]," with a friendly face waiting to help. Playing unlocks more activities, places to explore and decorations.",[660],{"_key":645,"_type":209,"blank":210,"href":278,"target":7},{"_key":662,"_type":663,"caption":664,"children":7,"credit":427,"markDefs":7,"title":665,"url":429},"yt_aVbmOHHHlC8","youtubeVideo","An official look at the game from the Sesame Street YouTube channel. Our family's experience continues below.","Sesame Street: Friends & Fun | Official Let's Play",{"_key":667,"_type":81,"children":668,"markDefs":673,"style":107},"oct13_overview_ourplay",[669],{"_key":670,"_type":85,"marks":671,"text":672},"oct13_overview_ourplay_text",[],"In my opening session, I picked up scattered belongings, found gardening tools and planted an apple tree. For a child who already loves these characters, being able to wander over and help them is an inviting reason to pick up the controls.",[],{"_key":675,"_type":81,"children":676,"markDefs":685,"style":107},"4ba4d8e1642f4065",[677,681],{"_key":678,"_type":85,"marks":679,"text":680},"oct1300000004",[100],"My son tackled the first puzzle by himself",{"_key":682,"_type":85,"marks":683,"text":684},"scan_20261013_3",[]," and had some laughs along the way. That's a lovely start for a new player: a problem they can understand, have a go at and solve. He particularly loved finding Grover's challenges around the neighbourhood. These short activities ask children to match, sort and put pieces in the right place. In my recording, I arranged hats by height and matched shapes to their number of sides. Those tasks give a child something specific to look for and compare as they work out an answer.",[],{"_key":687,"_type":81,"children":688,"markDefs":693,"style":107},"539783257cf74979",[689],{"_key":690,"_type":85,"marks":691,"text":692},"oct1300000005",[],"Grover's puzzles also made welcome little detours. My son could stop for one while working through the main task, so there was room to follow whatever caught his eye. That freedom helped him dive in quickly. He could make small choices about where to go and what to try, while the story still gave him somewhere to head next.",[],{"_key":695,"_type":134,"alt":696,"caption":697,"children":7,"image":698,"imageUrl":701,"markDefs":7},"0c13ae4e5d9e4139","Shapes are dragged into place beneath the numbers three, four and five in one of Grover’s challenges.","One of Grover's challenges, from my playthrough: matching shapes to their number of sides.",{"_type":138,"alt":696,"asset":699},{"_ref":700,"_type":141},"image-82bad141456938a8fece9b9a89ac6cda69aa10d2-640x360-gif","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F82bad141456938a8fece9b9a89ac6cda69aa10d2-640x360.gif",{"_key":703,"_type":81,"children":704,"markDefs":709,"style":89},"oct13_halfhour_heading",[705],{"_key":706,"_type":85,"marks":707,"text":708},"oct13_halfhour_heading_text",[],"A satisfying little adventure in half an hour",[],{"_key":711,"_type":81,"children":712,"markDefs":733,"style":107},"oct13_halfhour_body",[713,717,721,725,729],{"_key":714,"_type":85,"marks":715,"text":716},"oct13_halfhour_body_text",[],"One thing I really appreciate is that ",{"_key":718,"_type":85,"marks":719,"text":720},"scan_20261013_4",[100],"30 minutes of play feels like 30 minutes well spent",{"_key":722,"_type":85,"marks":723,"text":724},"scan_20261013_5",[],". My kiddo can explore, have a go at some puzzles and come away ",{"_key":726,"_type":85,"marks":727,"text":728},"scan_20261013_6",[100],"feeling accomplished within that shorter window",{"_key":730,"_type":85,"marks":731,"text":732},"scan_20261013_7",[],". There are enough small things to do and finish for it to feel like a proper little play session. For a family fitting a game into half an hour, those little \"I did it!\" moments are a lovely part of the appeal.",[],{"canonicalUrl":7,"metaDescription":735,"metaTitle":736,"metaTitlePrefix":7,"noIndex":7,"ogDescription":7,"ogImageUrl":7,"ogTitle":7},"How Sesame Street: Friends & Fun worked for my four-year-old: Tango's guidance, simple puzzles, touchscreen play and occasional reading help.","Sesame Street: Friends & Fun review for parents",{"data":738,"sourceMap":-1},{"articles":739,"authors":818,"games":823,"lists":1009},[740,750,758,767,775,781,787,793,800,806,811],{"_id":741,"excerpt":742,"gameSlug":743,"hasPrimaryGame":6,"imageAlt":744,"imageUrl":745,"kind":746,"publishedAt":747,"slug":748,"title":749,"updatedAt":7},"8aI8S9xlkRICgxHcEveTRz","Most Minecraft setup advice for parents is a long checklist. The patterns underneath the checklist matter more: which edition, which mode, when to add monsters, when to add a Realm.","minecraft","Kids playing avatars going to school in minecraft","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fe1f0ba2a99d23b6d768e73832bc0b55058858d79-866x487.png","guide","2026-05-26T00:00:00.000Z","setting-up-minecraft-for-young-kids","How to actually set up Minecraft for a young kid",{"_id":751,"excerpt":752,"gameSlug":7,"hasPrimaryGame":210,"imageAlt":753,"imageUrl":754,"kind":746,"publishedAt":755,"slug":756,"title":757,"updatedAt":7},"8aI8S9xlkRICgxHcEveXqz","Yes. Star Fox now supports four-player split-screen Battle Mode on one Switch 2. Here is what to update, which controllers work, and how it differs from campaign co-op.","Four split-screen views of Star Fox Battle Mode above a sunlit ocean and rocky islands.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fb89976e552bfa85a239d489774f0be8b31588e43-1080x603.webp","2026-10-10T18:31:00.000Z","star-fox-four-player-split-screen","Can four people play Star Fox on one Switch 2?",{"_id":759,"excerpt":760,"gameSlug":743,"hasPrimaryGame":6,"imageAlt":761,"imageUrl":762,"kind":763,"publishedAt":764,"slug":765,"title":766,"updatedAt":7},"BM1x6eCNlY51NBLMjhD1xB","Already own Minecraft digitally on Switch? Check the limited-time Switch 2 upgrade before paying again, and know what it means for split-screen play.","Two black original Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers resting on a pale surface.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fef6192d51a34051774d15252bfdf7b16627c5c35-1600x1067.jpg","explainer","2026-10-10T15:34:00.000Z","minecraft-switch-2-free-upgrade","Do you need to buy Minecraft again for Switch 2?",{"_id":768,"excerpt":769,"gameSlug":770,"hasPrimaryGame":6,"imageAlt":7,"imageUrl":7,"kind":771,"publishedAt":772,"slug":773,"title":774,"updatedAt":7},"BM1x6eCNlY51NBLMjhD281","The hard part of keeping a kid off Roblox was never the blocking. It's the conversation, because saying no to the game is also saying no to where a chunk of their friendships currently live.","roblox","essay","2026-06-02T12:00:00Z","saying-no-to-roblox","Saying No to Roblox When Everyone Else Says Yes",{"_id":776,"excerpt":777,"gameSlug":7,"hasPrimaryGame":210,"imageAlt":7,"imageUrl":7,"kind":746,"publishedAt":778,"slug":779,"title":780,"updatedAt":7},"BM1x6eCNlY51NBLMjhD3JB","Instagram changed substantially: under-18s now default into Teen Accounts (PG-13, private for under-16) they can't opt out of, and under-16s need permission to loosen them. The feed's pull stays a conversation.","2026-06-08T09:00:00Z","is-instagram-safe-for-kids","Is Instagram safe for kids?",{"_id":782,"excerpt":783,"gameSlug":7,"hasPrimaryGame":210,"imageAlt":7,"imageUrl":7,"kind":746,"publishedAt":784,"slug":785,"title":786,"updatedAt":7},"BM1x6eCNlY51NBLMjhDChl","The idea is older than it sounds and the setup takes about ten minutes. The hard part is keeping the account alive long enough for it to matter, and not overthinking what to put in it.","2026-05-25T12:00:00.000Z","email-address-for-your-newborn","Why I made an email address for each of my kids when they were born",{"_id":788,"excerpt":789,"gameSlug":7,"hasPrimaryGame":210,"imageAlt":7,"imageUrl":7,"kind":746,"publishedAt":790,"slug":791,"title":792,"updatedAt":7},"RT5gHQWRhYDhfTp0YGrgbo","Most screen-time advice is written for parents preventing a problem. This is for the rest of us. The families already in it, who need a real plan for walking it back without burning the house down.","2026-05-13T16:53:00.000Z","climbing-down-from-a-lot-of-screen-time","Climbing Down From a Lot of Screen Time",{"_id":794,"excerpt":795,"gameSlug":743,"hasPrimaryGame":6,"imageAlt":796,"imageUrl":797,"kind":746,"publishedAt":747,"slug":798,"title":799,"updatedAt":7},"pzsG0jkw9smmfHT1ez0Ds0","Most Minecraft advice for parents jumps to settings and editions. The thing that actually matters comes earlier: this is one of the few games where you should plan to be in there with them too.","An official image of Minecraft Characters from Mojang","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Ff941b86023dd1a1402681aa4295baea2ff310763-1024x500.png","introducing-your-kids-to-minecraft","Introducing your kids to Minecraft (hint: you'll play too)",{"_id":801,"excerpt":802,"gameSlug":7,"hasPrimaryGame":210,"imageAlt":803,"imageUrl":7,"kind":746,"publishedAt":7,"slug":804,"title":805,"updatedAt":7},"pzsG0jkw9smmfHT1ez0HFg","Typing in a fake birthday isn't age verification — it's just a question. Here’s what real, working age-gating would need to look like, and what parents can do right now.","Illustration of a sign-up screen with an age checkbox, overlaid with icons for ID cards, credit cards, and device settings.","age-gating-that-actually-works","Age-Gating That Actually Works (Not Just a Checkbox)",{"_id":807,"excerpt":808,"gameSlug":770,"hasPrimaryGame":6,"imageAlt":7,"imageUrl":7,"kind":771,"publishedAt":772,"slug":809,"title":810,"updatedAt":7},"pzsG0jkw9smmfHT1ez0HWS","It's easy to file each Roblox horror story under awful but rare. Read a stack of them together and the same pattern keeps showing up, which is a lot harder to wave off.","roblox-stories-arent-one-offs","The Roblox Stories Aren't One-Offs Anymore",{"_id":812,"excerpt":813,"gameSlug":7,"hasPrimaryGame":210,"imageAlt":7,"imageUrl":7,"kind":814,"publishedAt":815,"slug":816,"title":817,"updatedAt":7},"pzsG0jkw9smmfHT1ez0HnE","Build a kid-proof retro gaming console with a Raspberry Pi and your old cartridges. Plays NES through PlayStation. Around $80 to $130 in parts, a weekend of setup, no Linux experience required.","build","2026-05-07T00:00:00Z","retro-gaming-pi-build","Bringing Your Nostalgia Home: Building an Affordable  Retro Gaming System Your Kids Will Love to Use",[819],{"_id":820,"credentials":7,"creditCount":821,"imageUrl":822,"name":68,"role":7,"sameAs":7,"slug":9},"bda9c6d1-b71c-4038-8f63-ad1641a55152",39,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fb3149ab50bd82f2fc9bbca6533a22f7b46efa8bc-502x508.png",[824,825,835,843,851,859,866,873,880,887,895,902,909,916,923,930,937,944,951,958,967,974,981,988,995,1002],{"_id":20,"excerpt":73,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":75,"imageUrl":76,"menuLabel":23,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":7,"publishedAt":253,"showInNav":7,"slug":28,"title":23,"updatedAt":7},{"_id":826,"excerpt":827,"finalRecommendation":828,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":829,"imageUrl":830,"menuLabel":831,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":832,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":834,"title":831,"updatedAt":833},"game-among-us","Among Us looks innocent but chat is the entire game. A kid in public lobbies will be in chat with strangers, and Innersloth's under-13 parent-permission flow is the safety surface most families never set up.","cautious-yes","Among Us crewmate characters in a meeting voting on who the impostor is.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fdfd663dee7aee63d3a5af569452fe1ceece593c1-2400x1350.png","Among Us","breakout-hit","2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z","among-us",{"_id":836,"excerpt":837,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":838,"imageUrl":839,"menuLabel":840,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":842,"title":840,"updatedAt":833},"game-animal-crossing-new-horizons","Animal Crossing: New Horizons is often called the holy grail of safe multiplayer for younger kids. You only visit islands of people you have exchanged friend codes with. That's why it earns the reputation.","Animal Crossing: New Horizons player customizing their cozy island, with cartoon animal villagers in the background.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fdf5cb2a6685ec164d89e59c2be6774d9da8e2d1b-1920x1080.png","Animal Crossing: New Horizons","mainstream","animal-crossing-new-horizons",{"_id":844,"excerpt":845,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":846,"imageUrl":847,"menuLabel":848,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":832,"publishedAt":849,"showInNav":7,"slug":850,"title":848,"updatedAt":833},"game-astro-bot","The full standalone follow-up to Astro's Playroom. Same studio, same gentle posture, much more content. Still single-player, still no online stuff to manage, still safe for a three-year-old with help.","Astro Bot Cover Art","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F86f70a980bdcae0e652163723347096ee55d5bfb-1920x1080.png","Astro Bot","2026-05-13T00:00:00.000Z","astro-bot",{"_id":852,"excerpt":853,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":854,"imageUrl":855,"menuLabel":856,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":857,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":858,"title":856,"updatedAt":833},"game-astroneer","Astroneer is the Minecraft-but-calmer recommendation. Cooperative sandbox on procedurally generated planets. No combat, no enemies, just exploration and base-building.","Astroneer scene with a colorful astronaut character exploring a procedurally generated alien planet.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F44eb9c249a0d13347e16a0f1ce9530afcccd492b-616x353.png","Astroneer","niche","astroneer",{"_id":860,"excerpt":861,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":862,"imageUrl":863,"menuLabel":864,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":849,"showInNav":7,"slug":865,"title":864,"updatedAt":833},"game-astros-playroom","The PS5 ships with Astro's Playroom already installed. We've used it as the on-ramp for our kids, including the three-year-old. Single-player, offline, no purchases, no chat.","Astro's playroom cover art from Playstation.com","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F29ba61cfe4ca81a8e13cba5e9e22d71ded0ef289-3840x2160.png","Astro's Playroom","astros-playroom",{"_id":867,"excerpt":868,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":869,"imageUrl":870,"menuLabel":871,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":872,"title":871,"updatedAt":833},"game-bluey-the-videogame","Bluey: The Videogame is a calm, character-led mini-game collection for ages 4 to 7. No chat, no online play, no purchases. The kind of first-game pick that doesn't demand anything of a parent.","Bluey and Bingo from the Bluey TV show in the Heeler family frontyard, the setting of Bluey: The Videogame.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F307c8a57f091ab9c409e7aae6d8a069c4ff73880-1920x1080.png","Bluey: The Videogame","bluey-the-videogame",{"_id":874,"excerpt":875,"finalRecommendation":828,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":876,"imageUrl":877,"menuLabel":878,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":849,"showInNav":7,"slug":879,"title":878,"updatedAt":833},"game-clash-royale","Rated E10+, App Store 9+, but the economic shape of the game in 2026 feels closer to 12+. The question isn't whether the game is appropriate, but whether the kid is ready to play a game with this monetization model.","Clash Royale characters","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F5b9746f1addf2e699403544ee239d16d319a01e4-1152x648.png","Clash Royale","clash-royale",{"_id":881,"excerpt":882,"finalRecommendation":828,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":883,"imageUrl":884,"menuLabel":885,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":886,"title":885,"updatedAt":833},"game-fall-guys","Fall Guys reads like a low-stakes party game and that's mostly accurate, but it shares the Epic ecosystem with Fortnite. Account setup, cosmetic pressure, and event tie-ins surprise families.","Fall Guys Game, dozens of colorful blob characters racing through an obstacle course.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fdc335fa006efa27f6195eeb107a14781bba6bf82-1920x1080.png","Fall Guys","fall-guys",{"_id":888,"excerpt":889,"finalRecommendation":828,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":890,"imageUrl":891,"menuLabel":892,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":893,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":894,"title":892,"updatedAt":833},"game-fortnite","Fortnite in 2026 is a launcher with a battle royale, a music game, a racing mode, and a Lego survival mode all behind one icon. The age question matters less than the account-setup question.","Fortnite Battle Royale match in progress, characters in colorful skins on a cartoon island.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fe7b9e128ea2e9bec4a9af698022a5428a68b5342-1000x1500.png","Fortnite","mega-hit","fortnite",{"_id":896,"excerpt":897,"finalRecommendation":828,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":898,"imageUrl":899,"menuLabel":900,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":901,"title":900,"updatedAt":833},"game-it-takes-two","It Takes Two is the two-player parent-and-kid story everyone recommends, and the divorce framing is the conversation. Rated T. Wrenching moments parents should know about before the first scene plays.","It Takes Two co-op scene with the two parent-doll characters in a fantasy world setting.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F138602ec21aba7e6f91889a01b4cb06c5ce0d8b6-2400x1350.png","It Takes Two","it-takes-two",{"_id":903,"excerpt":904,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":905,"imageUrl":906,"menuLabel":907,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":908,"title":907,"updatedAt":833},"game-kirby-and-the-forgotten-land","Kirby and the Forgotten Land is the entry-level 3D platformer for kids who can't yet handle Mario Odyssey. Two-player mode lets a parent jump in as Bandana Waddle Dee for support.","Kirby and the Forgotten Land scene with Kirby exploring an abandoned cityscape with Bandana Waddle Dee.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F02a69fe855232049350df6c3d546ab59a0760f29-1920x1080.png","Kirby and the Forgotten Land","kirby-and-the-forgotten-land",{"_id":910,"excerpt":911,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":912,"imageUrl":913,"menuLabel":914,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":915,"title":914,"updatedAt":833},"game-lego-games-series","The LEGO games series is the reliable family co-op catalog. Drop-in\u002Fdrop-out couch co-op, forgiving checkpoints, and a generation of kids who learned 'collect everything' here.","LEGO Batman","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fcc4a2bad83002beb75bc54e782a73be6ce2bf41a-1600x700.png","LEGO Games (Series)","lego-games-series",{"_id":917,"excerpt":918,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":919,"imageUrl":920,"menuLabel":921,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":857,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":922,"title":921,"updatedAt":833},"game-lil-gator-game","Lil Gator Game is the open-world game without open-world problems. No combat, no fail state, just a gator with cardboard armor doing quests for friends.","Lil Gator Game scene with the gator protagonist wearing cardboard armor exploring a small island with animal friends.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fd72cb138b44e5dd5eee0a2529a6142a7b808e745-1920x1080.png","Lil Gator Game","lil-gator-game",{"_id":924,"excerpt":925,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":926,"imageUrl":927,"menuLabel":928,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":893,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":929,"title":928,"updatedAt":833},"game-mario-kart-8-deluxe","Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the default Switch family game. Everyone names it. Worth a review anyway because parents ask about online lobbies, smart-steering options, and whether five-year-olds can keep up.","Mario Kart 8 Deluxe race in progress, four karts driving on a Rainbow Road circuit.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Ff4f3bf28a7de97d539b2e08cbe0dcca0995576c0-1240x698.png","Mario Kart 8 Deluxe","mario-kart-8-deluxe",{"_id":931,"excerpt":932,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":6,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":933,"imageUrl":934,"menuLabel":935,"pageCount":936,"popularityTier":893,"publishedAt":849,"showInNav":6,"slug":743,"title":935,"updatedAt":833},"game-minecraft","The closest a modern, online-enabled game gets to default-safe. The risk surface is almost entirely in multiplayer, which is the part most under a parent's control.","Minecraft Cover Art","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fc82049962f769a74addd5d6f86a42ad216828f0f-1600x800.png","Minecraft",3,{"_id":938,"excerpt":939,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":940,"imageUrl":941,"menuLabel":942,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":943,"title":942,"updatedAt":833},"game-nintendo-switch-sports","Nintendo Switch Sports is the grandparent-visit default. Motion controls let preschoolers join in without learning a controller. Multi-generational family gaming.","Nintendo Switch Sports characters in a tennis match, Sportsmate avatars on a colorful court.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F8ff1de7dc81656c329a1b2f7f7b9867fe22b77f0-1920x1080.png","Nintendo Switch Sports","nintendo-switch-sports",{"_id":945,"excerpt":946,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":947,"imageUrl":948,"menuLabel":949,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":950,"title":949,"updatedAt":833},"game-overcooked-2","Overcooked 2 is the co-op cooking game everyone recommends as the parent-and-kid pick. Realistically, it can frustrate younger kids and parents need to know which levels actually work for mixed ability.","Overcooked 2 Official Cover Art","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fa338d062128e95a5a07d7d37ef957d68fc607561-2400x1350.png","Overcooked 2","overcooked-2",{"_id":952,"excerpt":953,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":954,"imageUrl":955,"menuLabel":956,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":893,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":957,"title":956,"updatedAt":833},"game-pokemon-scarlet-violet","Pokemon Scarlet and Violet is the current Pokemon generation. The single-player core is the appeal. Tera Raids and Union Circle pull kids into casual online play with strangers, which parents rarely notice.","Pokemon Scarlet and Violet open-world scene with a trainer and starter Pokemon exploring the Paldea region.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F5971b4f0d4231128d9dbdbfb90e7f83947a98610-500x430.png","Pokemon Scarlet & Violet","pokemon-scarlet-violet",{"_id":959,"excerpt":960,"finalRecommendation":961,"hasGuide":6,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":962,"imageUrl":963,"menuLabel":964,"pageCount":965,"popularityTier":893,"publishedAt":849,"showInNav":6,"slug":770,"title":964,"updatedAt":966},"game-roblox","Roblox is unavoidable if you have a kid in the 6 to 12 range, and I no longer recommend it. The 2026 reforms are real, and they all operate inside Roblox while the pattern that keeps showing up runs outside it. Here's the reasoning, plus the setup that matters if it's staying anyway.","not-recommended","Roblox Cover Art","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F7d6b2bc4ff3ba8011cc2a8656c691c47840f8ba3-1200x675.png","Roblox",2,"2026-07-14T12:00:00Z",{"_id":968,"excerpt":969,"finalRecommendation":828,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":970,"imageUrl":971,"menuLabel":972,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":832,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":973,"title":972,"updatedAt":833},"game-rocket-league","Rocket League is cars playing soccer. Often dismissed as 'fine' because there's no shooting. Now an Epic title with cabined accounts, voice chat tiers, and Quick Chat that some lobbies abuse.","Rocket League video game, two rocket-powered cars chasing a giant soccer ball on a stadium pitch.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F234c229eeca507a626da8c9a7a8a54680a4e1911-1536x1024.png","Rocket League","rocket-league",{"_id":975,"excerpt":976,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":977,"imageUrl":978,"menuLabel":979,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":849,"showInNav":7,"slug":980,"title":979,"updatedAt":833},"game-sackboy-a-big-adventure","A 3D platformer with up to four-player local co-op. The one to reach for when the whole family is in the room at the same time. Cute, no violence, very forgiving when you turn the assist on.","Sackboy a Big Adventure","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fa01a9bd95055deded54d1eb6ce2e325726f4a8fd-2560x1440.png","Sackboy: A Big Adventure","sackboy-a-big-adventure",{"_id":982,"excerpt":983,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":984,"imageUrl":985,"menuLabel":986,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":857,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":987,"title":986,"updatedAt":833},"game-snipperclips","Snipperclips is the quietly perfect co-op puzzle game. Two players cut paper characters into shapes to solve problems together. No reading required. No fail state.","Snipperclips characters as paper cutouts working together to solve a shape puzzle.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F8ac0e396d236b910c05d3384177377cc58c2a23d-1280x720.png","Snipperclips","snipperclips",{"_id":989,"excerpt":990,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":991,"imageUrl":992,"menuLabel":993,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":841,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":994,"title":993,"updatedAt":833},"game-splatoon-3","Splatoon 3 is the rare kid-facing online shooter built without in-game voice chat. The chat surface is two preset phrases. Most parents dismiss it for the wrong reason.","Splatoon 3 Turf War match in progress, four squid-kid players covering the map in opposing-team ink.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F821cd9c20be43a72c2d26cc120d3a06c85b76238-2400x1350.png","Splatoon 3","splatoon-3",{"_id":996,"excerpt":997,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":998,"imageUrl":999,"menuLabel":1000,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":832,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":1001,"title":1000,"updatedAt":833},"game-stardew-valley","Stardew Valley is the cozy farming sim parents love and underestimate the reading load on. For a fluent-reader kid who likes routine, it's a long, calm hit. For younger kids, it's a wall of menus.","Stardew Valley farm scene with crops, fences, and the player character watering plants in the early morning.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F7afc7f30d6a0acb1c8fe968e771214f1a9aeb014-1917x1078.png","Stardew Valley","stardew-valley",{"_id":1003,"excerpt":1004,"finalRecommendation":77,"hasGuide":210,"hasReview":6,"imageAlt":1005,"imageUrl":1006,"menuLabel":1007,"pageCount":60,"popularityTier":893,"publishedAt":833,"showInNav":7,"slug":1008,"title":1007,"updatedAt":833},"game-super-mario-bros-wonder","Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the current 2D Mario. The badge system and difficulty options scale to mixed-ability play; four-player local co-op chaos is the family default.","Super Mario Bros. Wonder scene with Mario, Luigi, Peach, and Daisy in a colorful 2D platformer level.","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002Fda6fbf18e5c69cb2c764623b87f7cf5070bb9aeb-2000x1000.png","Super Mario Bros. Wonder","super-mario-bros-wonder",[1010,1031],{"_id":1011,"_type":1012,"ageBandMax":1013,"ageBandMin":252,"authorName":68,"authorSlug":9,"axis":1014,"entryCount":1015,"excerpt":1016,"featured":210,"featuredImageAlt":1017,"featuredImageUrl":1018,"forWhom":1019,"gameTypes":1020,"introText":1025,"lastReviewedAt":1026,"platforms":1027,"publishedAt":747,"slug":1028,"title":1029,"updatedAt":1030},"2e14a885-41f6-4200-8bd8-b696a9f431ac","gameList",7,"age",16,"A tiered first-games list for the four-to-seven stretch: what each game actually asks of a kid, and which one to hand them depending on where they are.","Astro's Playroom is Free with every PS5","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.sanity.io\u002Fimages\u002Fduim1jr2\u002Fproduction\u002F5ea80572204a807bea980f62eee17c83242d0fa6-1000x563.png","Parents of kids roughly four to seven, looking for a first real video game on a Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. Not a phone, not a tablet. Less useful if you want an exhaustive directory of every kids' game ever made.",[1021,1022,1023,1024,30],"platformer","party-family","creative-sandbox","cozy-life-sim","A four-year-old picking up a controller for the first time is learning two things at once: the game in front of them, and what gaming itself feels like. The second one is what lingers. A first game that fights them, or that is obviously cheap, teaches a lesson about the whole medium that takes a while to undo.\n\nMost of what comes up when you search for games for young kids has one of two problems. A lot of it is licensed shovelware tied to whatever cartoon is currently in rotation, and the rest is games built for older kids, recommended on the theory that a four-year-old will grow into them. What both versions miss is that four-to-seven is not one age. A four-year-old needs assist modes, soft fail states, and a game where mashing every button at once cannot break anything that matters. A seven-year-old can read, can lose without the evening ending, and can carry a save file across weeks. Those are different players.","2026-10-13T19:04:00.000Z",[52,53,54,55],"best-games-to-introduce-kids-ages-4-7","The best video games to introduce your kid to gaming (ages 4-7)","2026-10-13T19:03:00.000Z",{"_id":1032,"_type":1012,"ageBandMax":1033,"ageBandMin":1034,"authorName":68,"authorSlug":9,"axis":1035,"entryCount":5,"excerpt":1036,"featured":210,"featuredImageAlt":1037,"featuredImageUrl":999,"forWhom":1038,"gameTypes":7,"introText":1039,"lastReviewedAt":7,"platforms":7,"publishedAt":1040,"slug":1041,"title":1042,"updatedAt":7},"dd35299d-db2b-411d-998d-cfe3f0535841",12,5,"coop","A r\u002Fgaming thread asked parents which game they like playing with their kid. Almost three hundred answers later, the same handful of games keep coming up, often with the same warnings attached.","A screenshot of Stardew Valley","If you have a kid roughly five to twelve and you want a parent-tested list of co-op games to play together. Less useful if you came in looking for picks for teenagers, because most of the answers in this thread are about younger kids, which is its own interesting signal.","The thread was straightforward. A parent looking for games to play with his friend's teenage boys, ages thirteen and fifteen, both with a PS5 and an Xbox Series X. What came back was almost three hundred replies, most of them about playing games with much younger kids.\n\nThat gap is worth pausing on. The Reddit hive mind on co-op with your kid lives somewhere around ages five through ten. The games that get named over and over are not the obvious teen-leaning shooters. They are chaos co-op, builder games, and a small group of titles by one studio that have basically become a genre of their own. The fifteen-year-old gaming PC adjacent multi-platform demographic the original poster asked about is largely absent from this thread, which is its own answer.","2026-05-22T16:00:00.000Z","reddit-co-op-games-parents-play-with-kids","The games parents on Reddit actually play with their kids"]