The Best PS4 Games for Kids and Parents

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Almost a year after its release, the PlayStation 5 remains difficult to secure. The good news for Sony loyalists who’ve yet to get their hands on one is that the best PS4 games for kids are more than entertaining enough to keep that console at the center of your family’s video game setup. And even if you have snagged a PS5, its backward compatibility means PlayStation 4 games for kids look great on both consoles, and while there’s no shortage of incredible single- and multiplayer (both two-player and four-player) mature game-playing experiences for the PS4—we’re looking at you, The Last of Us Part II and Spider-Man: Miles Morales—the best PlayStation 4 games for kids are just as fun and engaging as their not-safe-for-kids peers.

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If you’re looking to spend some time curled up on the couch mashing some buttons and bonding with the kids, these are the games to play. We like them because they generally have a co-op mode, meaning they can be played by two or more people working together instead of against each other. The other thing we looked for is imagination, as the best PS4 games (and the best video games in general) provide experiences that feel fresh and new.

With those criteria in mind, here are our top picks for the best PlayStation 4 games for kids and parents to play together.

The Best PS4 Games for Kids

A blast from your childhood past, this roundup includes Lion King, Aladdin, and Jungle Book games previously only available on that dusty SNES. Two-dimensional scrollers are even more fun when you can show your kid a thing or two.

The lead of this two-game package is its Racer game, which is sure to thrill both you and your child as you navigate some iconic Star Wars scenes. Note, however, that its partner, Republic Commando, might still be a little advanced for your pre-teen.

Every new year means a new Just Dance offering. This game may feel familiar, but it includes eight kid-friendly songs to keep you both moving.

In this PS4 game, players help Sonic build an army to reclaim from the evil Dr. Robotnik. If the kids love Sonic, they’ll dig this game, thanks to its multiple gameplay styles and levels, and vibrant graphics.

The premise of this PS4 game has Spyro, with his friend Sparx the Dragonfly, traversing the six Homeworlds to free the Dragons and save the world. Players guide the dragon through the Dragon Realms, getting rid of his enemies and solving puzzles to save the world. It's like Game of Thrones, for kids. The game looks beautiful, and the dragons are absolute fire-breathing stunners.

Rocket League is basically soccer, but with futuristic cars kicking, chipping, and flipping instead of people. Up to four players can create their own cars, drive around, and battle it out to knock the ball into an opponent’s goal. Nominated for over 150 game of the year awards, Rocket League is a modern classic for the whole family.

Relive your glory days with this reinvigorated version of Sonic the Hedgehog. It's single-player, sure, but switching off when someone dies on their quest to overthrow Doc Robotnik is a pretty good way to bond — and show off your old-school skills. The graphics here are fine, but the ring-grabbing, spring-jumping, loop-the-looping fun that made Sonic the greatest sneaker-wearer since Jordan is still great.

This futuristic adventure game is ideal for older kids. Players work together to build custom bases above or below ground, create vehicles to explore a massive solar system, and use terrain to create structures, mine resources, and do whatever they want. It’s got a Minecraft-in-space vibe, and the procedurally generated planets add a whole lot of awesome.

Speaking of Minecraft, the wildly popular sensation remains a great choice for those in search of a fun family game for PS4. This legendary game offers modes that can get both kids and parents really into it: Creative Mode lets up to four players create (or dismantle) their own pixilated world, and Survival Mode gets the family together to battle the Creepers together.

The PS4's flagship platformer brings Sackboy and friends back for more adventures. This time, you can work together to explore the planet Bunkum using your character's unique abilities to conquer the challenges that come along. And, as always, you and the kids can design your own levels.

Overcooked! 2 is a fast-paced game ideal for the entire family — so long as kids grasp the controls. Up to four players are chefs and tackle a variety of short orders, working together to chop vegetables, sear patties, assemble the food, and deliver it to the right place. It starts simply but soon orders become complex and the boards become ever wackier, adding a lot of hilarious stress. Only families who can work together will truly succeed — and even they will probably yell at one another about why the burgers are burning on the stove.

This Disney PS4 game from the studio behind the Final Fantasy series follows the journey of Sora, an unknowing heir to a mind-blowing power. She is joined by her friends to stop an evil force known as the Heartless from invading and overtaking the universe. Donald Duck, Goofy, King Mickey team up to stop evil Master Xehanort's plan in this fantastic sequel.

Rayman Legends is a gorgeously drawn and rendered kids’ game that pits you against an array of monsters, including dragons, toads, and luchadores. Run, jump, and fight your way through a series of mazes, puzzles, and breathtaking art. And for families, the four-person co-op mode is especially awesome, as is the fact that players can jump in and out without stopping the game

Lego Worlds is all the fun of the classic toy without the unbearable pain of stepping on a brick. The game drops you and your kids into a world made entirely out of LEGO bricks and lets you manipulate it however you want to. Build, destroy, explore: whatever floats your boat. The only limit is your kids' imagination (and their bedtime). Two-player split screen allows you to collaborate with a family member in this PS4 game, and online multiplayer lets your kids play with their friends remotely.

Everyone has a weird neighbor. In this game, players sneak into his house to figure out what he's hiding. As you play, you pick up tricks to sneak in and out without being detected. It’s fun, if a little bit creepy.

In this collection of mini-games, players get to shoot basketballs, take down bad clowns, and fly drones. Up to four players can play, and the fast-paced but simple games like cosmic bowling and drone racing make for some healthy, competitive family fun without much of a learning curve.

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