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Times are changing and so are the modes and forms of entertainment. Instead of every person in the family being glued to their own screens and devices, they could start playing video games together. Think of having game nights — not your usual Monopoly and Game of Life — as a family. It is not only fun, but it comes with numerous benefits. It allows you and your family the opportunity to unplug for a couple of hours and also to create new traditions that you and your young ones will cherish forever.
A study titled, “Play It Again, Grandma: Effect of Intergenerational Video Gaming on Family Closeness” found that “the more frequently family members play video games together, the better family satisfaction and family closeness they have.”
By playing video games as a family, parents can slowly teach essential life skills they want their kids to learn. Interacting with others, dealing with defeat, sportsmanship, resolving conflicts, teamwork, strategy, and adaptability are some of the many skills you can teach by playing video games. In addition to this, children also grow self-confidence while overcoming a certain level or a challenging fight.
As parents, you will also learn to celebrate small wins along with your children, tune out from the hustle and bustle of your work life, and have the opportunity for honest conversation and connection with your kids. You might also overcome the inhibitions that you hold about video games. You will slowly realize that not all games are hard to play and violent. You are also in charge of choosing the game that your kids play and as a result, you can opt for age-appropriate video games that are also goal-oriented.
In this article, we will take a closer look at some games that are suitable for the whole family to sit and enjoy.
Video Games That Are Perfect To Play as a Family
We will take a look at five games that are family-friendly and loads of fun. You are guaranteed to find the many joys and frustrations of healthy gaming with these picks:
Overcooked
Overcooked is a game where four people work together to create plates of food in a restaurant and they need to work together to complete the dishes on time. It is a chaotic, same-screen co-op game that will surely have you screaming and laughing together as a family.
In this game, the chefs have to prepare meals by going through the process of picking ingredients, cooking, serving, and even cleaning up, and must do all these tasks within a stipulated time.
Overcooked is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
It Takes Two
This two-player platform adventure game is all about mending relationships and working together to overcome hurdles and tasks. It Takes Two also has a very “domestic” vibe to it, making it very relatable and casual. While only two players can play this game, watching this game is just as fun.
Players take on the roles of clashing couple Cody and May, two humans who get turned into dolls by magic. In order to get back to their normal selves, they need to work together to solve puzzles, defeat bosses, and eventually save their fractured relationship.
The game is aesthetically pleasing and presents unique challenges that make it enjoyable. It is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Steam for PC.
Minecraft
How could we ignore the “OG” game meant to be chill and fun for players looking to spend time together? Minecraft is a sandbox-adventure video game that presents you with endless possibilities without an end. It allows both you and your kids to immerse themselves in creative thinking, geometry, geology, and even engineering.
You look for resources, mine, and build your world one block at a time. All you need to know about Minecraft is that there are two different modes: Survival and Creative.
In the Survival mode, players have to forage for food and keep themselves safe from enemies. While, the creative mode is a chill experience where you do not have to worry about hunger, health, or being attacked by enemies.
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a space shooter video game where up to four players can play together. You need to save the galaxy from the forces of “anti-love” and you do so by controlling a single spaceship together. Each of the four players has a unique role: One will be the pilot, one controls the shields, while the other two control the four guns. To survive in this game, you need good coordination and team play.
Notably, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is a couch game that has four campaigns. Each campaign has four levels and a concluding boss fight that makes it interesting and entertaining. This game is available on Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One.
Other honorable mentions for couch co-op games are Portal 2, Untitled Goose Game, A Way Out, and Snipperclips!.
The next time your kid is playing a game, sit beside them and watch them play, ask them questions, and give it a try yourself. It will make them feel seen and heard and they might even try and teach you some of the ways of gaming. Families that play together, have fun, and grow closer together!
