(Co-op) PC games for kids for Xmas?

strumpusplunket

strumpusplunket

strumpusplunket

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I have two boys who love their gaming PCs. They're just about to turn 12 and 10 and most years I try to get them a game or two to play over Christmas.

In the past, given their age, this had been largely limited to the Lego games, Scribblenauts and the like, but now the eldest at least is getting to an age where it feels I can push the envelope a bit in terms of potential games.

Obviously I'm thinking nothing too graphically violent, gory or with adult sexual themes, but something between, say, Borderlands level of violence as too extreme on one end and the tameness of Lego games on the other.

Ideally, something we could play co-op together would be great. If all three of us could play together, even better!

Both kids love world-building games, crafting and exploring and action (Sims 4, Subnautica, Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite are their staples at the moment). I love my RPG, strategy and open-world games. None of us are fans of sports or driving games.

I was hoping to be able to co-op with them on Subnautica but it looks like that's not straightforward to set up.

So far I've come up with Portal 2 and Orcs Must Die 2 - which probably indicates my inspiration circuits are not running at optimum capacity...
 
Was going to recommend rocket league but guess not!

What about something like Guild Wars 2? I know it's a MMO but seems to tick a few boxes anyway.
 
divinity original sin 1 and 2 have fairly solid co-op and are different kind of games from the usual fair deep RPGs with turn based combat. Diablo 3 is pretty good these days as well.

I've also heard good things about don't starve together, though I've not played it
 
Techen said:
Was going to recommend rocket league but guess not!

What about something like Guild Wars 2? I know it's a MMO but seems to tick a few boxes anyway.
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Yeah, we tried Rocket League, but it didn't really do anything for any of us really.

GW2 I've never played. Kind of want to keep them away from online communities still for a bit, so I don't know if that's really possible in that game?

StarShock said:
divinity original sin 1 and 2 have fairly solid co-op and are different kind of games from the usual fair deep RPGs with turn based combat. Diablo 3 is pretty good these days as well.

I've also heard good things about don't starve together, though I've not played it
Click to expand...

I love D:OS 1 and 2. I kind of considered them, but they're sooo long! Diablo 3 I didn't realise had co-op! I'll check that out, cheers.

Will look at Don't Starve Together too. I didn't see the attraction with the solo version, but co-op might add more interest.
 
strumpusplunket said:
I have two boys who love their gaming PCs. They're just about to turn 12 and 10 and most years I try to get them a game or two to play over Christmas.

In the past, given their age, this had been largely limited to the Lego games, Scribblenauts and the like, but now the eldest at least is getting to an age where it feels I can push the envelope a bit in terms of potential games.

Obviously I'm thinking nothing too graphically violent, gory or with adult sexual themes, but something between, say, Borderlands level of violence as too extreme on one end and the tameness of Lego games on the other.

Ideally, something we could play co-op together would be great. If all three of us could play together, even better!

Both kids love world-building games, crafting and exploring and action (Sims 4, Subnautica, Minecraft, Roblox and Fortnite are their staples at the moment). I love my RPG, strategy and open-world games. None of us are fans of sports or driving games.

I was hoping to be able to co-op with them on Subnautica but it looks like that's not straightforward to set up.

So far I've come up with Portal 2 and Orcs Must Die 2 - which probably indicates my inspiration circuits are not running at optimum capacity...
Click to expand...

It must be amazing to be a child with gaming and technology right now. Imagine what it'll be like when they're 20 and still young.
 
V F said:
It must be amazing to be a child with gaming and technology right now. Imagine what it'll be like when they're 20 and still young.
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Yeah, I think this quite often. I like to show them videos of Frogger, Pac-Man, Jetpac, etc. to show them how far games have come since I first experienced them. It's really incredible.

Zefan said:
Rayman Co-op is absolutely fantastic, definitely highly recommended!
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Excellent! Cheers, I'll see if I can find a good deal in the forthcoming sales and pick up a few copies.

tuftyfella said:
Dungeon Defenders
Gauntlet
Hero Siege

:)
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These look great too! Just had a look on Steam. The first two especially look just the kind of thing we might enjoy.

Ok, this is cool - building up a nice little list now!
 
Trine 1 & 2
Monaco: Whats Yours is Mine

The three games above, all are absolutely fantastic playing together (local co-op and 3 players is the perfect number) :)
 
may be some of these (i've removed the ones already mensioned) :
a virus named tom
alien swarm & reactive drop
assult android cactus
battleblock theater
boarder lands 1/2/pre sequal
broforce
castle crashers
dont starve togeather
dota
double dragon: neon
jamestown
left for dead 1 & 2
lovers in a dangerous spacetime
magicka
metal slug 3
moonbase alpha
octodadd
portal 2
sanctum 2
terraria
the cave
The Expendabros
tiny brains
tourchlight 2
worms armageddon
 
Ninco! said:
Trine 1 & 2
Monaco: Whats Yours is Mine

The three games above, all are absolutely fantastic playing together (local co-op and 3 players is the perfect number) :)
Click to expand...

I tried Monaco solo and to be honest didn't even get what I was supposed to be doing. Is this one of those games you have to play co-op to really appreciate the gameplay?

Tombstone said:
For some hilarious manic co-op couch fun.. Overcooked.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/448510/Overcooked/
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Yes - Overcooked is on my list too. I'm guessing this is better for couch co-op by the looks of it, so could grab a copy for the lounge PC for Christmas.

Emo_hug said:
may be some of these (i've removed the ones already mensioned) :
a virus named tom
alien swarm & reactive drop
assult android cactus
battleblock theater
boarder lands 1/2/pre sequal
broforce
castle crashers
dont starve togeather
dota
double dragon: neon
jamestown
left for dead 1 & 2
lovers in a dangerous spacetime
magicka
metal slug 3
moonbase alpha
octodadd
portal 2
sanctum 2
terraria
the cave
The Expendabros
tiny brains
tourchlight 2
worms armageddon
Click to expand...

Whoah - quite a list, thanks. Will have a look through. And of course - Worms, how did I forget Worms! I prefer versus rather than co-op, but it would be fun if the boys could get into it.

Borderlands I have a feeling is a bit adult and I notice it's PEGI 18, but looking back on it I'm not really sure I can actually remember any specific sections that would be too inappropriate, other than that it's just generally chaotically violent.
 
Stardew Valley recently had co-op mp added, no idea if the mp aspect is any good but the game is certainly kid friendly.
 
strumpusplunket said:
I tried Monaco solo and to be honest didn't even get what I was supposed to be doing. Is this one of those games you have to play co-op to really appreciate the gameplay?
Click to expand...

Single player I have never tried and to be honest, I think its multiplayer where it shines. Same with Trine.

I was put off by the infographic style at first (it looks a bit confusing!) However, it will click and I like the graphics. Each mission you are set a goal to steal money etc, different characters (one can drill through walls, the other is better at stealth) you work as a team (never lasts as one of you will trigger an alarm or let off a shotgun) then chaos ensues. Playing co-op is great fun. If you have already got the game and want a quick one whilst debating the next - worth a try. :)
 
Qel said:
Stardew Valley recently had co-op mp added, no idea if the mp aspect is any good but the game is certainly kid friendly.
Click to expand...

I may have sunk some hours into this game in the past. :o

Had no idea it had co-op. Not sure I can go back to it though.

I've got a nice list now. Including a good number of three-way co-op games, which is cool.

Some of them seem to be quite cheap as well, which helps :)

Will be keeping an eye on the sales.

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. :)
 
V F said:
It must be amazing to be a child with gaming and technology right now. Imagine what it'll be like when they're 20 and still young.
Click to expand...

I dunno.... whilst i would obviously love to be young and responsibility free again, personally i think as an almost 43 year old i have lived in an unbeatable time in terms of the birth of the home computer.

I do not think the next 35 years will be anything even remotely like the last 35, having gone from a speccy 48k (my 1st computer) to a high end PC with VR. I think now it is just going to be iteration rather than revolution.

that of course and the whole birth (and largely death) of the seaside arcade.

I have loved almost every minute of it. :)

Am sure there will be something else that the current kids will be able to look back on however, for my parents it was stuff like the Television and the space race (sadly cut short)

back to OP........ ;) ............ they are not that new but what about stuff like lara croft GOL and TOS? loads of good stuff already flagged but there is also warframe... its free as well.
 
with the steam sale i have just remembered :
Turbo Toybox
Warhammer: Vermintide 1 & 2 - check for violence though may not be what your looking for.
Factorio

try some of these :
Cuphead
A Hat in Time
ARK: Survival Evolved - Private Server
Prison Architect - this just got multiplayer
just cause series
payday
ASTRONEER
Neverwinter Nights
Golf With Your Friends

Kerbal Space Program - single player but you can set them head to head to see who can reach object x 1st i.e. reach the moon / orbit the moon, get in to space / 1st to launch ect
 
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