Kids

LIST: Top Video Games Kids Are Playing In 2024

by Kevyn Gohu
September 25, 2024

Ever wonder what kind of video games our kids are playing in 2024? Here are some of the most popular video games among kids!

While video games have always been part of our childhoods, they became more popular during the pandemic. Not only did these platforms serve as a space where kids could socialize without physical contact but they also allowed them to experience at least a “simulation” of what it would be like to go outside. As 2024 leaves the third quarter and enters the fourth, here are some video games that kids have been playing.

1. Roblox

Although Roblox was originally released in 2006, its popularity skyrocketed when kids had to stay home during the pandemic. While it offers some built-in games, Roblox also has a content-creating feature wherein kids can produce their own games similar to a content developer. Some parents even see Roblox as a “stepping stone” for their kids to become developers but a little more fun than coding camp.

Despite the fun it offers, Roblox isn’t completely “secure” as a game. Because much of the game modes and their contents come from other users, kids can be exposed to things to inappropriate adult content. Kids may also end up playing with cyberbullies, scammers, hackers, and online predators without realizing it.

To arrest the problem, the developers released a Parental Settings feature to make sure the game stays safe. They even released a guide for it!

2. Minecraft

Even in 2024, Minecraft still tops the charts as a video game that kids love to play! Similar graphics-wise to Roblox, Minecraft has two distinct features: it’s pay-to-play and a sandbox game. The video game has servers where players can gather and to make sure it’s safe to play and more private, players can pay a subscription fee to pay for a server and even lock it with a password. As a “sandbox” game, Minecraft allows kids to build and create things without the physical mess that comes from typical building blocks.

In arcades like Time Zone, Quantum, or Power Station, kids might find a spin-off from the franchise: Minecraft Dungeons. But kids can also buy the video game on Steam.

3. Fortnite

Remember the popular K-Drama Squid Game? Fortnite is similar to it because it’s a battle-royale game — multiplayer with one winner. It’s a no-holds-barred game where players need to fight each other as the arena shrinks. Guns, weapons, medical kits, and other forms of equipment lie around for players to pick up, hide in a particular spot, and “camp” — the act of picking off their enemies one by one.

4. Mario Kart 8

Super Mario-themed games have always been true to Nintendo’s DNA as a game developer: being family-friendly. Mario Kart 8 follows that similar pattern except it’s a racing game which traditionally, is best enjoyed with friends and family! Unlike old racing games, players can connect via the internet to play with others although they need to pay for that particular feature.

Some parents even advocate Mario Kart 8 as a stepping stone to teaching kids how to drive.

5. Animal Crossing: New Horizon

Unlike the aforementioned games, Animal Crossing: New Horizon has less violent themes. Centered around building a life on an island, kids and even young parents enjoyed playing this video even in 2024. The game, since its release, has added various features like cooking, fishing, and many other activities. Because of its popularity, the game even hosts on-the-ground events like aquarium tours.

Currently, the game is available only on the Nintendo Switch. PC Gamers, however, have discovered a way to play the game via emulators.

6. Splatoon 2

When kids have too much aggression, they can take it out in shooting games instead. Splatoon 2 is a kid-friendly shooter game where players shoot each other in the form of squids and other anthropomorphic characters. As a kid-friendly game, Splatoon 2 adds more animation to the points and has brighter colors, unlike its other siblings in the same genre like Apex Legends, Call of Duty series, and others.

Like its siblings, however, the game has an online function that allows them to compete with other players online.

7. Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB)

For kids who dream of becoming professional video game players one day, they train themselves by playing Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games. While the more popular ones include Defense of the Ancients 2 (DOTA2) and League of Legends (LOL), Mobile Legends Bang Bang immediately became popular because of its console: people could play it on their phones which was more versatile to bring around!

Mobile Legends Bang Bang is a game that relies on three skills: map awareness (knowing and predicting where your allies and your opponents will be on the map), coordination (checking if your teammates can follow up to help defeat the enemy), and reading comprehension (actually reading the definition of each equipment and skill to see how they can maximize its use).

8. Among Us

A video game that relies heavily on social interaction, Among Us indulges our kids’ desire to prank their friends! The game is split into two groups: imposter and crewmate. While the game can hold up to 15 players per room, most kids prefer groups of 5-7 to maintain the balance of challenge between players. The game can be played on either phone or PC and it’s free to play! But to make the crewmate look more unique, we need to pay for skins.

9. League of Legends

The game that most kids play when hiding out in an internet café, League of Legends (LoL) has a higher learning curve because of some features. Unlike MLBB, LoL requires players to return to their “base” to upgrade their equipment. So in a way, it challenges a player’s sense of timing as well. At the same time, the game has been around for a while and even has a series based on their lore: Arcane.

There are pros and cons to kids playing these popular 2024 video games

While video games have often become a subject of research, the bottom line is: that it’s good to play with moderation. Video games become addicting when there’s no other activity in real life that matches the same comfort and excitement that the game does. But these games can also teach our kids how to think critically and abstractly, challenging them with various puzzles that they need to solve. Some video games, especially if they’re educational, even help our kids through school!