The PS4 hits a sweet spot for kids because:

It's social without being social media. Games like Minecraft and Rocket League let kids play with friends in controlled environments—no comment sections, no infinite scroll.

The controller feels "real." After years of touchscreens, there's something satisfying about physical buttons and thumbsticks. Kids feel like they're playing "actual video games," which matters more to them than we might think.

Split-screen still exists. Remember when you could play games in the same room as your sibling? Some PS4 games still do this, and it's honestly a parenting win for managing screen time and encouraging actual interaction.

Astro's Playroom (comes free with PS5, but Astro Bot Rescue Mission is the PS4 VR version) This is the perfect "first real game." It's colorful, forgiving, and teaches controller mechanics without feeling like a tutorial. No reading required, no scary moments, just pure joy.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure The LittleBigPlanet franchise grew up a bit with this one. It's a 3D platformer that's challenging enough to be engaging but not so hard that kids rage-quit. Great co-op option for playing together.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy A remaster of the classic Spyro games. It's a purple dragon collecting gems and breathing fire—what's not to love? The difficulty ramps up gently, and there's zero violence beyond cartoonish "poofing" of enemies.

Minecraft I mean, obviously. If your kid isn't already playing Minecraft, they're probably asking to. The PS4 version has the advantage of being more contained than the PC version—easier to manage friends lists and multiplayer. Learn more about Minecraft parental controls here.

LEGO Games (any of them) LEGO Star Wars, LEGO Marvel, LEGO Harry Potter—pick your kid's favorite franchise and there's probably a LEGO game for it. They're funny, cooperative, and have that perfect LEGO humor that works for kids and adults. The puzzles teach problem-solving without feeling like homework.

Rocket League Soccer with cars. That's it. That's the pitch. It's rated E for Everyone, the skill ceiling is high enough to stay interesting, and it teaches genuine sportsmanship (and how to lose gracefully, which... is a journey). Fair warning: it's online multiplayer, so you'll want to turn off text chat in settings.

Ratchet & Clank This is a full-on action-adventure game that feels "big kid" without being inappropriate. It's got humor, creative weapons, and gorgeous visuals. There's combat, but it's cartoonish and not graphic. Think Saturday morning cartoon energy.

Spider-Man This is THE game that makes kids want a PlayStation. It's rated T for Teen (violence, language), but it's basically an interactive Spider-Man movie. The combat can be intense, but it's not gory. Web-slinging through New York is genuinely thrilling, and the story is actually good.

Horizon Zero Dawn Rated T for blood, violence, and some intense scenes. But if your tween is ready for it, this is an incredible game about a young woman hunting robot dinosaurs in a post-apocalyptic world. Strong female protagonist, gorgeous world, and genuinely interesting story about technology and humanity.

Stardew Valley Okay, this is technically for all ages, but older kids really get into the optimization and relationship-building aspects. It's farming, fishing, and making friends in a small town. Zero violence, maximum chill. This is the game that teaches time management and delayed gratification without feeling preachy.

Yeah, we need to talk about the battle royale elephant in the room. Fortnite is rated T for Teen. Apex Legends is also T. They're both online shooters with voice chat capabilities.

Are they "bad"? Not inherently. Millions of kids play them. But they're also where a lot of the digital wellness concerns come in—the endless gameplay loop, the in-game purchases, the voice chat with strangers, the "one more match" mentality.

If your kid is playing these, you'll want to be more involved: setting time limits, managing the friends list, turning off voice chat with non-friends, and having real conversations about in-game purchases and V-Bucks.

Set up parental controls. The PS4 has robust parental controls that let you restrict games by rating, limit spending, and control communication. Here's how to set them up.

Manage the friends list. Your kid shouldn't be accepting friend requests from strangers. Period. Have a rule that you approve any new friends, or that they only add people they know IRL.

Turn off voice chat by default. Most games let you disable voice chat or limit it to friends only. Do this. The toxicity in online gaming voice chat is real, and no 9-year-old needs to hear what random internet strangers have to say.

Watch out for free-to-play traps. Games like Fortnite, Rocket League, and Apex Legends are free to download but make their money through in-game purchases. Set up spending limits or require approval for purchases.

Quick practical note: PS4 games come as physical discs or digital downloads. Physical discs can be shared, traded, and resold—but they can also get lost or scratched. Digital games are convenient but tied to your account forever (and can't be shared as easily).

For younger kids, physical discs are often better because you have more control over what's being played. For older kids who are more responsible, digital games are more convenient and often go on sale.

The PS4 has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to kid-friendly games. You don't need to default to whatever's trending on Twitch or whatever their friends are playing. There are genuinely excellent games that are fun, age-appropriate, and won't make you cringe when you see what's on screen.

Start with games that match your kid's interests and maturity level. A kid who loves building and creating? Minecraft or LEGO games. A kid who loves stories and adventures? Spyro or Ratchet & Clank. A kid who wants to feel like they're playing what the "big kids" play? Spider-Man (if they're old enough) or Rocket League.

And remember: you can play together. One of the best parts of console gaming is that you can actually see what they're doing, ask questions, and even pick up a controller yourself. It's not doomscrolling alone in their room—it's a shared experience.

The PS4 isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and its game library is only getting better (and cheaper) as time goes on. You've got options—use them.