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Game Recommendations

Because family bonding is important and also, we’re tired of playing pretend restaurant.

Dad-Approved Games That Won’t Make You Fake a Wi-Fi Outage

Tired of pretending to enjoy glittery dress-up apps or watching your kid get jump-scared in horror games that you wouldn’t touch without adult supervision? We got you.

Here’s the ultimate list of family-friendly video games that you’ll actually enjoy playing with your kids. Whether they’re 5-year-old button mashers or teenagers who only speak in sarcastic grunts.

We skipped the fluff and gave each game a quick, scrollable review, including the one thing that really matters: why it’s

DAD APPROVED

Every title has been rigorously tested in our living rooms, under snack-based stress conditions and at least one controller-related meltdown.

So grab a controller, recruit your co-op sidekick, and prepare for laughs, bonding, and the humbling realization that your 8-year-old has better reflexes than you.

Easy Mode (Ages 3–6)

AKA: The Button Mashers & Snack Negotiators

Simple missions, no reading required, and zero in-game judgment. Dad Approved: Because your kid can actually beat levels without your help. Miracle.
Simple missions, no reading required, and zero in-game judgment. Dad Approved: Because your kid can actually beat levels without your help. Miracle.
It’s cute. It’s squishy. It’s basically snack-themed Mario Party. Dad Approved: Looks like dessert, plays like giggle therapy.
It’s cute. It’s squishy. It’s basically snack-themed Mario Party. Dad Approved: Looks like dessert, plays like giggle therapy.
Yes, it exists. It's wholesome, fun, and full of heart. Dad Approved: You’ll cry less than during an actual Bluey episode.
Yes, it exists. It's wholesome, fun, and full of heart. Dad Approved: You’ll cry less than during an actual Bluey episode.
Training wheels for racing, pure rainbow road joy. Dad Approved: They feel like pros while you quietly guide them with items.
Training wheels for racing, pure rainbow road joy. Dad Approved: They feel like pros while you quietly guide them with items.
Simple drag-and-drop play with zero stress. Dad Approved: Keeps 'em busy while you enjoy a hot coffee. Like, actually hot.
Simple drag-and-drop play with zero stress. Dad Approved: Keeps 'em busy while you enjoy a hot coffee. Like, actually hot.

Medium Mode (Ages 7–12)

AKA: The Age of Trash Talk and Endless Minecraft

Colorful platformer with couch co-op chaos. Dad Approved: It’s like LittleBigPlanet, but now you can actually see what’s going on.
Colorful platformer with couch co-op chaos. Dad Approved: It’s like LittleBigPlanet, but now you can actually see what’s going on.
Mini-game mayhem with just enough luck to keep it fair. Dad Approved: Great equalizer when your kid starts getting too good.
Mini-game mayhem with just enough luck to keep it fair. Dad Approved: Great equalizer when your kid starts getting too good.
Spooky but silly, and two-player ghost busting is a blast. Dad Approved: Feels like Ghostbusters with training wheels.
Spooky but silly, and two-player ghost busting is a blast. Dad Approved: Feels like Ghostbusters with training wheels.
Open-world Mario with hats, puzzles, and co-op that’s actually helpful. Dad Approved: You get to be Cappy. You’re a literal flying hat. Iconic.
Open-world Mario with hats, puzzles, and co-op that’s actually helpful. Dad Approved: You get to be Cappy. You’re a literal flying hat. Iconic.
Build anything. Blow it up. Repeat. Dad Approved: Teaches creativity, even if your builds look like sad cubes.
Build anything. Blow it up. Repeat. Dad Approved: Teaches creativity, even if your builds look like sad cubes.

Hard Mode (Ages 13–18)

AKA: You Will Be Humiliated, Emotionally and Digitally

Chaotic kitchen teamwork. Hilarity (and yelling) guaranteed. Dad Approved: Teaches teamwork. Or sparks a food-fight-level argument. Either way: bonding.
Chaotic kitchen teamwork. Hilarity (and yelling) guaranteed. Dad Approved: Teaches teamwork. Or sparks a food-fight-level argument. Either way: bonding.
Soccer with rocket-powered cars. Dad Approved: Even if you lose, you’re losing in style.
Soccer with rocket-powered cars. Dad Approved: Even if you lose, you’re losing in style.
it takes two video game cover
Beautiful chaos and heartfelt teamwork puzzles. Dad Approved: Legit made us emotional… and confused. Like parenting.
stardew valley video game cover
Farming, friendships, and pixel chickens. Dad Approved: Chill AF. Great for teens who want calm gameplay and dads who need it.
Still fun, still chaotic, now with less trauma. Dad Approved: No building required = less sobbing from Dad.
Still fun, still chaotic, now with less trauma. Dad Approved: No building required = less sobbing from Dad.

Pixels & Parenthood

We’re not just playing games with our kids to avoid folding laundry (though… yeah, that too). Turns out, gaming with your kids actually builds trust, teaches teamwork, and gives you a rare glimpse into their weird little digital worlds, usually while being brutally owned by a 7-year-old in Mario Kart.

Whether it’s family-friendly video games, couch co-op chaos, or pretending to “help” in Minecraft while your child builds a pixelated Eiffel Tower, this is bonding 2.0. Plus, studies show that parent-child gaming improves communication, especially when you’re yelling “NO BLUE SHELL!” in unison.

It’s not just screen time, it’s quality time with power-ups.

More About Us

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