Great games to share with a 10 year old ?

[Steve Campbell]

Hi folks ... looking for inspiration.

For the last few years I've tried to find games that I (40+ years old) can play on a Friday evening with my 10 year old for a bit of "us" time. I'm usually pretty strict about content that is age relevant (Motorstorm Pacific Rift the only exception below !)

We have a Wii and a PS3. Our favourite one of all time was Portal 2 on the PS3. Had many a happy hour playing this in 2 player mode trying to work out the puzzles...he was better than me at "seeing" the solution on some of them !

In addition, we've been through :

Lego adventures (all of them I think ...we both really liked these aswell and we still have 1 or 2 levels to complete !)
Mario Karting
Little Big Planet 2
SuperMario Galaxy
Motorstorm Pacific Rift
Skylanders (not yet completed)

Can the collective power of Pistonheads recommend other games we should look at as a great Xmas present for us ? They don't need to be new...back catalogue is fine. A preference for collaborative type rather than competitive as a preference but open to all ideas !!

Thanks

[TREMAiNE]

When you say you want something age relevant, do you strictly go by the age certificate on the box, or do you actually research into the games content to see why it attained the rating it was given?

Also, does it need to be a 2 player game or can it be a single player game?

The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim is single player only, however I could see this being played with a father and son. You could potentially go off together and make up your own adventure as you go along, building up your character together. It is rated 15, but it has no bad language or sexual references, though it does have a lot of violence in the fantasy setting, but he's probably seen worse in movies.

For 2 player games you can play together though, Little Big Planet 2 is supposed to be good.

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks for posting.... I don't go strictly by the age rating, but research.

It's unlikely an "18" would get past my review...but 15's are possible. Bad language and sexual content are the main "non-starters" + extreme violence / bloodfest.

Really looking for something we can play together, rather than me just watching :-) I get enough of that when he's on Minecraft on the PC !!

As from original post...Little Big Planet 2 ... done :-)

Any other options out there ?

[vinopete]

Try guacamelee and trine2. Played both for hours with my daughter. Guacamelee is hilarious, reminds me a bit of Bruce lee on the c64 and it's also free if you have ps+. Trine2 is a lovely game, theme song stuck in my head for weeks after we finished it. Easy platinum if you like trophies too
Also try epic Mickey 2. Another fun 2 player puzzle game.

Edited by vinopete on Tuesday 10th December 18:08

[P-Jay]

Super Mario WII the old school side scrolling one, my Son and I played it for weeks and weeks unlocked every level and special thing. Great fun.

[IanA2]

Chess, played with my father from the age of five. No computer games in those days.

[dai1983]

Mario galaxy 2
Zelda: skyward sword (it's single player though and he needs OOT in his life)
Okami is similar to Zelda and again its single player
Mario kart
Pikmin 2 wii - has a multiplayer mode but you could play this together I guess.

[ReallyReallyGood]

F1 All-Stars - child-friendly racing game, like Mario Kart but with F1 drivers.

[Ved]

Little Big Planet with the community content
Maybe Limbo (bit unnerving in places but a good scare could be ok)
Minecraft

The last one is a wonderfully creative tool and would be amazing to watch a kid discover a new world and all it's quirks.

Also Monkey Island

Edited by Ved on Tuesday 10th December 20:09

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks all for the options...I'll explore all of them :-)

Minecraft is an interesting one. He's already playing it on the PC with his mates from school. I thought it would be good as he was very into Lego. It took him a while to get going but some of the stuff he builds is amazing...I have no clue what he is on about when he plays ! It's like Lego on steroids from what I can tell !
I believe it may be coming along on the PS3 so will watch out for that one and whether it has 2 player mode that would be interesting. I'd definitely just be the labourer...he'd be the architect and foreman :-)

[ArsE92]

The original Little Big Planet is arguably better than 2.

also - Bomberman! I think it's on PSN for about a fiver.

[deckster]

Does it have to be PS3? If you have two PCs, and can look past the ancient graphics, 2-player Diablo 2 is still as awesome as it ever was. Played many hours of that with my lad over the last couple of years.

[Riknos]

deckster said:

Does it have to be PS3? If you have two PCs, and can look past the ancient graphics, 2-player Diablo 2 is still as awesome as it ever was. Played many hours of that with my lad over the last couple of years.

Hero! Keeping the game alive. I used to play it religiously as a 14+ year old, almost failed school because of it...

The game specs are extremely low, due to it's age, so even an old PC/laptop will be able to run it.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Without a doubt, Minecraft!

It's an incredible game. It's good fun, educational and kids can use their imagination.
My 12 year old son and I often play a few hours of Minecraft, We've biult houses, farms and all sorts.
It's also completely unoffensive/

Can't recommend it highly enough!

[wolf1]

Wouldn't it be better to request games that you have the slightest hope of not having your arse handed to you on a plate by a 10yr old

My eldest two are 21 and 12, Now the 21yr old has always been an avid gamer and pretty damn good at it but even he can't keep up with his younger brother, never mind my sorry old self even trying and I'm not that shabby either (for a geriatric has been, as my delightful 12yr old likes to point out )

[Steve Campbell]

I've been gaming since ZX Spectrum days ... so he's a got a good way to go before h can regularly whoop me :-)

Although .. he can now genuinely beat me on Mario Karting on certain tracks .... good lad :-)

[garrykiller]

anything little big planet and anything lego related