TL;DR
PlayStation is no longer just a "gaming console"—it’s a social hub, a movie theater, and occasionally a very expensive Roblox machine. If you’re looking for the best family experience, Astro Bot is the absolute gold standard for all ages. For parents, the PlayStation App is your best friend for managing screen time without having to hover over the couch. Skip the PS5 Pro unless you’re a tech enthusiast; the standard Slim model is more than enough for 99% of families.
Ask our chatbot about the best PS5 games for a 7-year-old
We’ve officially hit the "Pro Era." The PlayStation 5 has been around long enough to have a younger sibling, the PS5 Pro, which is faster, shinier, and significantly more expensive. But at its core, PlayStation is Sony's ecosystem for high-end gaming.
Unlike the Nintendo Switch, which feels like a toy (in a good way), the PlayStation 5 feels like a piece of high-end home theater equipment. It’s where kids go for the "big" games—the ones with graphics that look like Pixar movies and worlds that feel endless. Our Screenwise community data shows that by 5th grade, roughly 62% of kids have shifted their primary gaming from tablets to a dedicated console like the PlayStation.
It’s where they play Fortnite, talk to friends in "Parties" (Sony’s version of a group call), and increasingly, where they engage in the "creator economy" through games like Roblox.
It’s the social currency. In 2026, if a kid says they’re "hoping on," they usually mean they’re signing into their PlayStation account to meet friends in a digital lobby. It’s the modern-day mall.
Beyond the social aspect, PlayStation has the "prestige" factor. They have exclusive games you can’t get anywhere else—titles like Spider-Man 2 or the recent masterpiece Astro Bot. These games are culturally massive. If your kid is talking about "the robot game" or "swinging through New York," they’re talking about PlayStation exclusives.
Not everything on the PlayStation store is "brain rot" or hyper-violent shooters. There is some genuinely incredible art here. Here’s how to navigate the library:
Astro Bot (Ages 6+)
This is the best thing to happen to PlayStation in a decade. It’s pure joy. It’s a platformer (think Mario-style jumping) that uses every feature of the controller—the vibrations, the triggers, the tiny speaker. It’s creative, it’s non-violent (mostly just bopping cute robots), and it’s actually challenging enough that you won’t mind playing it with them.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (Ages 9+)
If your kid likes animated action movies, this is basically a playable one. It’s funny, visually stunning, and has a great story about friendship and multidimensional travel. It’s a "shooter," but with goofy weapons like a gun that turns enemies into garden topiary.
Spider-Man 2 (Ages 12+)
This is the big one. It’s rated Teen for a reason—there’s some heavier thematic stuff and "comic book violence"—but it’s also a fantastic story about responsibility. Our community data shows this is the #1 requested game for middle schoolers. It’s a great "bridge" game for parents to play with their tweens.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure (Ages 6+)
The perfect "first console game." It supports four-player local co-op, meaning the whole family can play on one couch. It’s charming, the music is fantastic (lots of licensed tracks you’ll actually recognize), and it’s very forgiving for little hands still learning how to use a controller.
Horizon Forbidden West (Ages 13+)
For the older kids who want a "serious" game. It features a strong female lead, Aloy, in a world where robotic dinosaurs roam the earth. It’s beautiful, deep, and involves a lot of strategic thinking. It’s a massive time sink, though, so be prepared for the "just five more minutes" excuses.
Sony’s subscription service is confusing on purpose. They want you to subscribe to the highest tier, but you probably don’t need it. Here’s the No-BS breakdown:
- Essential: This is the bare minimum. You need this if your kid wants to play games like Minecraft or Call of Duty online with friends. It gives you a couple of "free" games a month that you keep as long as you subscribe.
- Extra: This is the "Netflix for Games" tier. It gives you access to a massive catalog of hundreds of games. This is the best value for families. Instead of buying $70 games every month, your kid can just download whatever is in the catalog.
- Premium: This includes "Classic" games from the 90s and game trials. Honestly? Unless you’re a nostalgic parent who wants to play old PS1 games, skip this. It’s not worth the extra $30+ a year for most kids.
If you take one thing away from this, let it be this: Download the PlayStation App on your phone.
Don’t try to set up parental controls on the console itself using the controller—it’s a clunky, miserable experience. The app allows you to:
- Set Spending Limits: Set this to $0.00 immediately. PlayStation is notorious for making it easy to accidentally spend $100 on "V-Bucks" or "Robux" with two clicks.
- Playtime Limits: You can set a hard stop for the console. It will give the kid a warning (e.g., "15 minutes left") and then actually log them out. It saves you from being the "bad guy" who has to go in and pull the plug.
- Communication Settings: You can restrict who can message your child. For elementary and early middle school, we recommend "Friends Only" or "No One." The "Parties" feature is where most of the "Ohio" and "Skibidi" slang-filled chaos happens, and it’s also where bullying is most likely to occur.
In late 2024, Sony released the PS5 Pro for $699. It doesn't even come with a disc drive (that's another $80). Our take: For a family console, the Pro is a waste of money. Your kids will not notice that the shadows in Fortnite look 20% more realistic. The standard PS5 Slim is faster than anything they’ve used before and will play every single game perfectly well for the next five years. Save that $300 and put it toward a couple of extra controllers or a PlayStation Plus subscription.
Gaming is a hobby, but it's also a lifestyle for this generation. When your kid is playing Roblox, they aren't just "playing a game"—they are hanging out.
Instead of asking "When are you going to be done with that game?", try asking:
- "Who are you playing with right now?"
- "What’s the goal of this level?"
- "Is this a game where you can save and quit, or are you in the middle of a match?" (This shows respect for their time and helps avoid the "I can't pause it, Mom!" argument which—in the case of online games—is actually true).
The PlayStation 5 is a powerhouse. It offers some of the most beautiful, meaningful media experiences available today. But it’s also a direct pipeline to the internet and digital storefronts.
If you set up the PlayStation App early, keep the console in a common area (not the bedroom!), and steer them toward high-quality titles like Astro Bot or Stardew Valley, it can be a really positive part of their "digital diet."
- Check your settings: Open the PlayStation App and ensure your "Family Management" settings are active.
- Audit the library: Look at what they’re playing. If it’s all Fortnite all the time, consider introducing a "one-for-one" rule: for every hour of online multiplayer, they play 30 minutes of a single-player story game like Ratchet & Clank.
- Join them: Seriously. Grab a second controller and play Sackboy. It’s the best way to understand what they’re actually doing in there.
Ask our chatbot for a personalized PlayStation game recommendation based on your kid's interests