Hey don't forget retro games that are available on PS4, why don't you put that in on the list. Retro games can still be child friendly, and can entertain children now like they did back then. Also I have heard from retro gamers that are parent that they bond closer with their kids when they play retro games together. A parent who grew up playing Sonic the Hedgehog as a kid and the children of parent that have been introduced to Sonic the Hedgehog, that parent and their children will bond closer all because of a retro game both parent and children adore. So here's my list of retro game that you can give to your kids (and even bond together):
Disney Afternoon Collection: This collection of classic NES Disney games that was released from 1989-1994, these compilation of Disney games can still entertain children. If your kids played Ducktales: Remastered on PS3 (or another console), then let them try the NES original (and the sequel) in this collection, they may like or love the game. Also, Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers 1 & 2 in the collection should please kids if they like the 2 players mode. I'm sure Darkwing Duck, and TaleSpin can still entertain children even if the games in this compilation collection are old.
Disney classic Games: Aladdin and the Lion King-How many of you played Aladdin and the Lion King on the SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo back in 1993/1994? Well these games are going to make a return in this upcoming re-release. Why am I putting this re-release on my list, it's because a lot of kids back in 1993/1994 (including me) played these games. I had fond memory playing Aladdin on my SNES and SEGA Genesis. I also played The Lion King in the same era. So if you have kids, and they watched The Lion King and Aladdin whether it's the classic animated movies or the recent live-action adaptation, they will enjoy this game. If a lot of kids in 1993/1994 played and loved Aladdin and The Lion King video game, then I'm sure kids today will enjoy this one. If you're a person who grew up in 1993/1994 playing this game as a kid, and you have children, get this game for your kids. Parents that played this game as a kid and playing this game with their children will bond closer.
SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Classics: OK, now Sonic Mania is on the list. But how can you forget SEGA Genesis Classics. That game collection is the only way your child can play Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 (along with Sonic Spinball, and Sonic 3D Blast). Beside Sonic, there are other Genesis/Mega Drive games in the collection that kids today can still enjoy. Shinobi (Shinobi 3, Revenge of Shinobi, Shadow Dancer: Secret of Shinobi), Golden Axe (all 3 of them), Streets of Rage (all 3 of them although the 2nd one is my favorite), Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Ristar, Galaxy Force 2, Gunstar Heroes, Flicky, Kid Chameleon, Space Harrier 2, Wonderboy III, and Wonderboy in Monster World can be really fun for kids if you get this game collection. A lot of the Genesis/Mega Drive games I mentioned were played by kids back then, I don't see any reason why kids today wouldn't be turned off by old game in this collection.
SNK 40th anniversary collection: Despite the Teen rating from ESRB, and if you can find a way to not let your kids play Beast Busters, and SAR: Search and Rescue, then the other games in the collection should be OK for your kids. Ikari Warriors (all 3 of them), P.O.W, Alpha Mission, Time Soldiers, Prehistoric Isle, Bermuda Triangle, and World Wars in the collection should keep your kids enjoying these old school games.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 and 2: Anybody remember playing Mega Man on their NES or any of it's sequel? When Mega Man first came out on NES, kids were the one playing this game back then. I still believe kids today can play and enjoy Mega Man classic in this collection even if the games are from another period. Mega Man already has a cartoon and several anime shows aimed at kids, so the game in both legacy collection should keep the kids entertain. Make sure your children are aware that Mega man are fun to play, but at the same time they can be difficult (the first and the third game in Mega Man Legacy Collection were classified as "Nintendo Hard" when they first came out back on NES).
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection: Yep another Mega man franchise is getting a legacy collection, Mega Man Zero and it's sequels. It has been rated Teen despite the game has been rated E when it was released on Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, I asked a Gamestop employee who played Mega Man Zero and he told me even in it's uncut format, Mega Man Zero and it's sequels are still kid-friendly. I asked him despite the T-rating, is it still safe for 6-7 years old to play? He said yes, the game is safe for a 6-7 year old. So if you're still skeptical about the teen rating it got, play it for yourself and judge/determine if this game is OK for your kids. My opinion: If it's previously rated E on GBA, and re-release on PS4 with a T-rating, I'm sure your 6-7 years old are going to be OK with Mega Man Zero/ZX legacy collection despite the Teen rating.
Contra Anniversary Collection: This compilation collection that make up of all the good Contra games from the arcade, NES era is in this one. Again, kids back in the NES period played Contra and Super C. This collection also has the arcade version of Contra, and Super Contra. Overall, this collection has 10 classic Contra games (and that include the Japanese version so your kids can not only compare 2 different versions, but also the Japanese version has some features not found in the English/US version). Again like Mega Man, Contra is fun but also difficult (yes, there are save slots in this collection to make it easier if you get a game over), the NES version of Contra has been classified as Nintendo Hard, so make sure your kids are taught that older game are harder then today's game, also make sure your kids save often when they played the NES version of Contra (as a matter of fact, make sure they always save often whatever Contra game they're playing in this collection).
Castlevania Anniversary Collection: Despite the Teen rating from ESRB, I still believe the early NES Castlevania game are pretty tame by today's standard and can still be played by kids today. Super Castlevania IV, and Castlevania: Bloodlines can still impress young children today when they play it. Including in this collection is Kid Dracula (released only in Japan on NES/Famicom) and translated in English for the first time for western audiences. Like the title, Kid Dracula was designed to appeal to children, so if your kids want to play something light in this collection, Kid Dracula can fulfill that for your kids. Like Contra, there are also Japanese version of each Castlevania games included in this collection. So your kids can play and compare both English and Japanese version. Like I mentioned in previous games like Contra and Mega Man, Castlevania 1 and 3 are classified as Nintendo Hard. So make sure like Contra, save often and make sure your kids are taught that Castlevania although fun but can be difficult, make sure your kids always save often when they're playing the first and third Castlevania game. I believe the Japanese NES/Famicom version of Castlevania 1 does have an easy mode option if your kids can't handle the Nintendo hard found in the US NES version of Castlevania.
Castlevania Requiem: Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night-I would recommend this game collection for kids age 9-10, and if those 9-10 years old completed Castlevania Anniversary Collection, and they want more Castlevania game, give them Rondo Of Blood and Symphony of the Night. I've heard of kids at that age back during the PS1 era played Symphony of the Night despite the Teen rating, so it should be OK.
Super Star Wars: This SNES game got a PS4 release via PS Store which really surprised me because I never thought we would get a SNES game on a Playstation console. Also it's a Star Wars game, what kid does not love Star Wars. So buy this game from the PS store if your kids love Star Wars and don't mind the game was from another era. Oh and one note: Super Star Wars despite being a SNES game, this game has been classified as Nintendo Hard. So please make sure your kids are aware of this game not going to be an easy run.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection: Anybody remember playing Street Fighter 2 on the Arcade or on SNES or on SEGA Genesis back in the 90's? I'm sure many kids as young as 7 years old back in the 90's did. Does your children currently played Ultra Street Fighter 4 or Street Fighter 5? Then take them back to 1991 with this game collection. Street Fighter 2 (Champion Edition, Turbo Hyper Fighting, and Super Turbo should keep the kids entertain) and the sequels that comes after it in the collection can still be fun and enjoyable by kids today. Don't worry about the Teen rating from the ESRB, all the SF games in the collection are pretty tame by today's standard.
Capcom Beat em up Bundle: Anybody here grew up playing arcade beat em up game back in the old day? Anybody remember playing Final Fight at the arcade (or playing the dumb down version on SNES, or the near arcade perfect version on SEGA CD)? Well, this collection (7 games total, that include their Japanese version) has it all. Also you want your kids away from Fortnite, but at the same time can't play Batman: Arkham series due to the game being too dark. No problem, Capcom Beat em up Bundle can fulfill that. Final Fight from 1989 can still entertain kids today (that's because kids play this game when it first came out at the arcade), it's more fun since it's connected to Street Fighter. Also in this collection, The King of Dragons, and Knights of the Round can entertain your kids if they're into medieval setting, the legend of King Arthur, etc... Armored Warriors in this collection is perfect for your kids if they loved giant robot/mech beating other mech/robot up. Captain Commando and Battle Circuit are the only 2 games in this collection that have 4 player mode. So if you want your kids to play 4 player multiplayer, there you go. Also let me make it easy to help how many multiplayer each game in the collection has:
-Final Fight: 2 players maximum
-3 players maximum: The King of Dragons, Knights of the Round, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warriors
-4 player maximum: Captain Commando, Battle Circuit
So yeah if you have a kids and their cousins, friends come over and they want a game they can play and enjoy. Capcom Beat em up Bundle can do that. Beat em ups are played by children back then, I still believe today's kids can still enjoy the genre.
The Arcade Archive from Hamster Corporation also have a bunch of good retro arcade and Neo Geo games that your kids can enjoy:
Arcade Archive:
Double Dragon: Come on, everybody knows this game was played by kids back in the old day. The NES version is the most well-known version. But the arcade version will always be the king. So yes, you can buy this one off of the PS Store.
Double Dragon 2: Just like Double Dragon, many kids played this game back in the day. I don't see any reason why kids today would not be turned off by this game.
Ninja Gaiden: Don't want your kids to play the M-rated version from Team Ninja. No problem, the arcade version from 1988 can still entertain children. It comes with both US and Japanese version.
Bubble Bobble: This cute 1986 arcade game from Taito can guarantee to entertain your kids.
There maybe other in the Arcade Archives, I haven't got chance to look at them.
I hope these will help when thinking about getting retro games for PS4 for your kids.
Comments 1
Re: Guide: Best PS4 Kids Games
Hey don't forget retro games that are available on PS4, why don't you put that in on the list. Retro games can still be child friendly, and can entertain children now like they did back then. Also I have heard from retro gamers that are parent that they bond closer with their kids when they play retro games together. A parent who grew up playing Sonic the Hedgehog as a kid and the children of parent that have been introduced to Sonic the Hedgehog, that parent and their children will bond closer all because of a retro game both parent and children adore. So here's my list of retro game that you can give to your kids (and even bond together):
Disney Afternoon Collection: This collection of classic NES Disney games that was released from 1989-1994, these compilation of Disney games can still entertain children. If your kids played Ducktales: Remastered on PS3 (or another console), then let them try the NES original (and the sequel) in this collection, they may like or love the game. Also, Chip N Dale Rescue Rangers 1 & 2 in the collection should please kids if they like the 2 players mode. I'm sure Darkwing Duck, and TaleSpin can still entertain children even if the games in this compilation collection are old.
Disney classic Games: Aladdin and the Lion King-How many of you played Aladdin and the Lion King on the SEGA Genesis and Super Nintendo back in 1993/1994? Well these games are going to make a return in this upcoming re-release. Why am I putting this re-release on my list, it's because a lot of kids back in 1993/1994 (including me) played these games. I had fond memory playing Aladdin on my SNES and SEGA Genesis. I also played The Lion King in the same era. So if you have kids, and they watched The Lion King and Aladdin whether it's the classic animated movies or the recent live-action adaptation, they will enjoy this game. If a lot of kids in 1993/1994 played and loved Aladdin and The Lion King video game, then I'm sure kids today will enjoy this one. If you're a person who grew up in 1993/1994 playing this game as a kid, and you have children, get this game for your kids. Parents that played this game as a kid and playing this game with their children will bond closer.
SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Classics: OK, now Sonic Mania is on the list. But how can you forget SEGA Genesis Classics. That game collection is the only way your child can play Sonic the Hedgehog 1 and 2 (along with Sonic Spinball, and Sonic 3D Blast). Beside Sonic, there are other Genesis/Mega Drive games in the collection that kids today can still enjoy. Shinobi (Shinobi 3, Revenge of Shinobi, Shadow Dancer: Secret of Shinobi), Golden Axe (all 3 of them), Streets of Rage (all 3 of them although the 2nd one is my favorite), Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle, Ristar, Galaxy Force 2, Gunstar Heroes, Flicky, Kid Chameleon, Space Harrier 2, Wonderboy III, and Wonderboy in Monster World can be really fun for kids if you get this game collection. A lot of the Genesis/Mega Drive games I mentioned were played by kids back then, I don't see any reason why kids today wouldn't be turned off by old game in this collection.
SNK 40th anniversary collection: Despite the Teen rating from ESRB, and if you can find a way to not let your kids play Beast Busters, and SAR: Search and Rescue, then the other games in the collection should be OK for your kids. Ikari Warriors (all 3 of them), P.O.W, Alpha Mission, Time Soldiers, Prehistoric Isle, Bermuda Triangle, and World Wars in the collection should keep your kids enjoying these old school games.
Mega Man Legacy Collection 1 and 2: Anybody remember playing Mega Man on their NES or any of it's sequel? When Mega Man first came out on NES, kids were the one playing this game back then. I still believe kids today can play and enjoy Mega Man classic in this collection even if the games are from another period. Mega Man already has a cartoon and several anime shows aimed at kids, so the game in both legacy collection should keep the kids entertain. Make sure your children are aware that Mega man are fun to play, but at the same time they can be difficult (the first and the third game in Mega Man Legacy Collection were classified as "Nintendo Hard" when they first came out back on NES).
Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection: Yep another Mega man franchise is getting a legacy collection, Mega Man Zero and it's sequels. It has been rated Teen despite the game has been rated E when it was released on Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, I asked a Gamestop employee who played Mega Man Zero and he told me even in it's uncut format, Mega Man Zero and it's sequels are still kid-friendly. I asked him despite the T-rating, is it still safe for 6-7 years old to play? He said yes, the game is safe for a 6-7 year old. So if you're still skeptical about the teen rating it got, play it for yourself and judge/determine if this game is OK for your kids. My opinion: If it's previously rated E on GBA, and re-release on PS4 with a T-rating, I'm sure your 6-7 years old are going to be OK with Mega Man Zero/ZX legacy collection despite the Teen rating.
Contra Anniversary Collection: This compilation collection that make up of all the good Contra games from the arcade, NES era is in this one. Again, kids back in the NES period played Contra and Super C. This collection also has the arcade version of Contra, and Super Contra. Overall, this collection has 10 classic Contra games (and that include the Japanese version so your kids can not only compare 2 different versions, but also the Japanese version has some features not found in the English/US version). Again like Mega Man, Contra is fun but also difficult (yes, there are save slots in this collection to make it easier if you get a game over), the NES version of Contra has been classified as Nintendo Hard, so make sure your kids are taught that older game are harder then today's game, also make sure your kids save often when they played the NES version of Contra (as a matter of fact, make sure they always save often whatever Contra game they're playing in this collection).
Castlevania Anniversary Collection: Despite the Teen rating from ESRB, I still believe the early NES Castlevania game are pretty tame by today's standard and can still be played by kids today. Super Castlevania IV, and Castlevania: Bloodlines can still impress young children today when they play it. Including in this collection is Kid Dracula (released only in Japan on NES/Famicom) and translated in English for the first time for western audiences. Like the title, Kid Dracula was designed to appeal to children, so if your kids want to play something light in this collection, Kid Dracula can fulfill that for your kids. Like Contra, there are also Japanese version of each Castlevania games included in this collection. So your kids can play and compare both English and Japanese version. Like I mentioned in previous games like Contra and Mega Man, Castlevania 1 and 3 are classified as Nintendo Hard. So make sure like Contra, save often and make sure your kids are taught that Castlevania although fun but can be difficult, make sure your kids always save often when they're playing the first and third Castlevania game. I believe the Japanese NES/Famicom version of Castlevania 1 does have an easy mode option if your kids can't handle the Nintendo hard found in the US NES version of Castlevania.
Castlevania Requiem: Rondo of Blood and Symphony of the Night-I would recommend this game collection for kids age 9-10, and if those 9-10 years old completed Castlevania Anniversary Collection, and they want more Castlevania game, give them Rondo Of Blood and Symphony of the Night. I've heard of kids at that age back during the PS1 era played Symphony of the Night despite the Teen rating, so it should be OK.
Super Star Wars: This SNES game got a PS4 release via PS Store which really surprised me because I never thought we would get a SNES game on a Playstation console. Also it's a Star Wars game, what kid does not love Star Wars. So buy this game from the PS store if your kids love Star Wars and don't mind the game was from another era. Oh and one note: Super Star Wars despite being a SNES game, this game has been classified as Nintendo Hard. So please make sure your kids are aware of this game not going to be an easy run.
Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection: Anybody remember playing Street Fighter 2 on the Arcade or on SNES or on SEGA Genesis back in the 90's? I'm sure many kids as young as 7 years old back in the 90's did. Does your children currently played Ultra Street Fighter 4 or Street Fighter 5? Then take them back to 1991 with this game collection. Street Fighter 2 (Champion Edition, Turbo Hyper Fighting, and Super Turbo should keep the kids entertain) and the sequels that comes after it in the collection can still be fun and enjoyable by kids today. Don't worry about the Teen rating from the ESRB, all the SF games in the collection are pretty tame by today's standard.
Capcom Beat em up Bundle: Anybody here grew up playing arcade beat em up game back in the old day? Anybody remember playing Final Fight at the arcade (or playing the dumb down version on SNES, or the near arcade perfect version on SEGA CD)? Well, this collection (7 games total, that include their Japanese version) has it all. Also you want your kids away from Fortnite, but at the same time can't play Batman: Arkham series due to the game being too dark. No problem, Capcom Beat em up Bundle can fulfill that. Final Fight from 1989 can still entertain kids today (that's because kids play this game when it first came out at the arcade), it's more fun since it's connected to Street Fighter. Also in this collection, The King of Dragons, and Knights of the Round can entertain your kids if they're into medieval setting, the legend of King Arthur, etc... Armored Warriors in this collection is perfect for your kids if they loved giant robot/mech beating other mech/robot up. Captain Commando and Battle Circuit are the only 2 games in this collection that have 4 player mode. So if you want your kids to play 4 player multiplayer, there you go. Also let me make it easy to help how many multiplayer each game in the collection has:
-Final Fight: 2 players maximum
-3 players maximum: The King of Dragons, Knights of the Round, Warriors of Fate, Armored Warriors
-4 player maximum: Captain Commando, Battle Circuit
So yeah if you have a kids and their cousins, friends come over and they want a game they can play and enjoy. Capcom Beat em up Bundle can do that. Beat em ups are played by children back then, I still believe today's kids can still enjoy the genre.
The Arcade Archive from Hamster Corporation also have a bunch of good retro arcade and Neo Geo games that your kids can enjoy:
Arcade Archive:
Double Dragon: Come on, everybody knows this game was played by kids back in the old day. The NES version is the most well-known version. But the arcade version will always be the king. So yes, you can buy this one off of the PS Store.
Double Dragon 2: Just like Double Dragon, many kids played this game back in the day. I don't see any reason why kids today would not be turned off by this game.
Ninja Gaiden: Don't want your kids to play the M-rated version from Team Ninja. No problem, the arcade version from 1988 can still entertain children. It comes with both US and Japanese version.
Bubble Bobble: This cute 1986 arcade game from Taito can guarantee to entertain your kids.
There maybe other in the Arcade Archives, I haven't got chance to look at them.
I hope these will help when thinking about getting retro games for PS4 for your kids.