Sackboy: A Big Adventure is probably your safest bet for younger kids. It's a 3D platformer (think jumping between platforms, collecting things, solving light puzzles) with an adorable fabric-based art style. Zero violence, great for co-op play if you want to jump in with them, and genuinely charming. It's like if Mario had a PlayStation cousin who was really into crafts.

Astro's Playroom comes pre-installed on every PS5, and honestly? It's a love letter to PlayStation that kids will enjoy even without getting all the nostalgic references. It's short (maybe 3-4 hours), completely free, and does an amazing job showing off what the PS5 controller can do. The haptic feedback when Astro walks on different surfaces is genuinely cool.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is where the PS5 really flexes. This game is stunning to look at — like Pixar-movie-quality animation. There is combat (you're shooting alien robots with cartoonish weapons), but it's more Saturday morning cartoon than anything intense. Best for kids 8+ who can handle mild action without getting scared or too amped up.

Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the game most kids are actually asking for. And honestly? It's pretty reasonable for kids around 10-12, depending on their maturity. Yes, there's combat — you're literally fighting bad guys — but it's superhero combat. You're web-slinging, doing acrobatic moves, and the violence is very comic-book style (no blood, no gore). The story is actually really good, and Miles is a genuinely positive role model. That said, some kids might find certain boss fights intense.

Kena: Bridge of Spirits is gorgeous and has more emotional depth than your typical kids' game. You're playing as a spirit guide helping lost souls, with action-adventure gameplay that can get moderately challenging. There are combat elements and some themes around death and grief (handled beautifully, but worth noting). Better for kids 10+ who can handle those themes.

Gran Turismo 7 — if you've got a car-obsessed kid, this is basically car porn (the good kind). It's a racing simulator, meaning it's more realistic than arcade-style racers like Mario Kart. Zero violence, just pure driving. The learning curve can be steep, but for the right kid, this is hundreds of hours of engagement.

Minecraft obviously runs on PS5, and if your kid is already deep in the Minecraft ecosystem, the PS5 version is basically the same experience with prettier graphics. But here's what parents often miss: you can set up a private realm or server where you control who can join, which is way safer than public servers where anything goes.

Yeah, Fortnite and Roblox both run on PS5. They're the same games your kid is probably already playing on every other device. The PS5 doesn't change the core experience or the concerns — Fortnite still has in-game purchases and voice chat with strangers, Roblox still has user-generated content that varies wildly in quality and appropriateness.

The one advantage? The PS5 has better parental controls than most devices. You can actually restrict spending, limit playtime, and control who they can communicate with. Here's how to set those up properly.

The rating system matters, but it's not everything. The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) gives games ratings like E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10 and older), T (Teen), and M (Mature 17+). These are decent guidelines, but they're just that — guidelines. A T-rated game might be fine for your mature 11-year-old, or too intense for your sensitive 13-year-old.

Most popular PS5 games are NOT for kids. I can't stress this enough. If your kid is coming to you asking for whatever game their friends are playing, there's a decent chance it's rated M. Elden Ring, Resident Evil, Hogwarts Legacy (which is technically T but has some intense moments) — these dominate the conversation, but they're not appropriate for elementary or even middle school kids in most cases.

Physical vs. digital matters for parental controls. If you buy physical game discs, your kid can potentially play anything they can get their hands on (borrowed from friends, etc.). Digital purchases go through the PlayStation Store, where you can require password approval for every purchase or download. Something to think about.

The social features are where things get complicated. Most PS5 games have online multiplayer, voice chat, and messaging. This is where the real parenting happens — not just picking appropriate games, but managing who they're playing with and how they're communicating.

The PS5 has legitimately great games for kids, but you have to be intentional about seeking them out. The algorithm isn't going to serve up Sackboy when everyone's talking about the latest M-rated blockbuster.

Start with the games I mentioned above based on your kid's age. Actually watch them play for a bit — not in a hovering way, but enough to see what the gameplay is like and whether it matches your family's values. And for the love of all that is holy, set up the parental controls before handing over the controller.

The PS5 can be a great addition to your family's media diet. It just takes a bit more curation than Netflix.