Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is what thoughtful game design looks like. Concrete Genie takes a tough topic—bullying—and turns it into a game about creativity, empathy, and choosing to be better than the people who hurt you. Instead of fighting back, you paint. Instead of revenge, you heal a broken town.

The gameplay is genuinely imaginative: you're creating living, breathing genies and transforming gray walls into vibrant murals. It's short enough (5-6 hours) that kids will actually finish it, which matters for a story-driven game with a real message.

Yes, there are bullying scenes—Ash gets pushed around, kicked, mocked—but they're not gratuitous. They're there to make you feel something, and then to show you a different way forward. The resolution focuses on understanding why people hurt others and choosing forgiveness, which is a genuinely mature take.

The only real drawback is platform exclusivity (PS4 only), but if you've got the console, this is a rare gem that's both fun to play and meaningful to experience. It's the kind of game that might actually spark a real conversation afterward.

Age Fit

Best for ages 9-14 who can handle the bullying themes and appreciate the emotional nuance. The E10+ rating is spot-on—younger kids might struggle with both the mechanics and the heavier subject matter, while teens will find the gameplay a bit simple but may still connect with the story.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

92

Tackles bullying with empathy and forgiveness rather than revenge. Ash responds to cruelty with creativity, and the game's resolution focuses on understanding and redemption. The emotional tone is gentle, the pacing thoughtful, and it models kindness as strength. Bullying scenes are present but not gratuitous—pushing, shoving, one kick—serving the narrative rather than glorifying conflict.

Imaginative

94

The core mechanic is painting living creatures and environments with magical paint—pure creative expression. Players design their own genies with different traits, bring color to a gray town, and solve puzzles through art. It's a game that literally makes imagination the superpower, turning walls into canvases and drab spaces into vibrant worlds. Original concept executed beautifully.

Safe

88

E10+ rating with fantasy violence only. No in-game purchases, no loot boxes, no online chat. Users can interact (likely sharing creations) but without the toxic elements. Bullying is depicted but contextually appropriate to the anti-bullying message. The protagonist can fall and reset, but no gore or real harm. Clean, contained experience with minimal risk vectors.

Enriching

89

Delivers a meaningful message about responding to cruelty with creativity and choosing forgiveness over retaliation. Builds emotional intelligence around bullying dynamics and empathy for others' pain. The art-based gameplay encourages problem-solving and self-expression. Short runtime (5-6 hours) keeps it focused. Players come away with both skills and insight, plus it's genuinely moving.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Swaps typical video game violence for art and creativity—your weapon is literally a paintbrush
Tackles bullying head-on with a message of empathy and forgiveness that actually lands without being preachy
Design your own living genies and paint entire environments—pure imaginative play as the core mechanic
Short and sweet at 5-6 hours, so kids can finish it and feel accomplished without the endless grind
PlayStation VR mode adds another dimension for families with the hardware

⚠

What to Watch For

Bullying scenes are present throughout—kids see Ash pushed, shoved, and kicked, which serves the story but might hit close to home for sensitive kids
PS4/PSVR exclusive, so you need the console (no Switch, PC, or Xbox)
Some puzzle-platforming requires spatial thinking and timing—younger players might need help

Conversation Starters

"If you had a magic paintbrush like Ash, what would you create first? What would you want to bring to life?"
"Why do you think the bullies acted the way they did? What do you think was going on with them?"
"Ash chose to help people who were mean to him—would that be hard for you? When is it okay to forgive someone?"
"The town was all gray and sad at the start—have you ever felt like a place or situation needed more color or life?"

Deep Dive

The "anti-combat" power fantasy

Most games give you a sword or a gun and tell you to fix the world by breaking things. Concrete Genie flips that script. Your primary tool is a paintbrush, and your "attacks" are actually acts of restoration. There is a specific, tactile joy in taking a grimy, industrial wall in the town of Denska and covering it with glowing meadows and aurora borealis-style streaks.

The game uses the PlayStation controller’s motion sensors to mimic the strokes of a brush. While it can feel a bit floaty at first, once you get the hang of it, the barrier between your intent and the screen disappears. You aren't just picking a "skin" for a wall; you’re choosing where the grass grows and how high the trees climb. For kids who spend hours in Minecraft or Roblox just building for the sake of the aesthetic, this is a more directed, high-fidelity version of that creative urge.

Why the bullying feels different here

We’ve all seen the "bullied kid finds a secret power" trope, but Concrete Genie doesn't use it as an excuse for a revenge tour. The bullies aren't just faceless obstacles; they are part of the ecosystem of the town. The game eventually forces you to look at why these kids are so miserable, which is a sophisticated pivot for a title aimed at the E10+ crowd.

It’s a great example of how diverse characters and stories help kids see the world through someone else's eyes. Ash isn't a superhero; he’s a kid who uses his art to process his isolation. When the game eventually introduces more traditional "action" elements in the final act, it feels earned because you’ve spent the last few hours building an emotional connection to the environment. You aren't just fighting to win; you’re fighting to protect the beauty you created.

A weekend-sized masterpiece

If you are tired of games that demand 100 hours of "grinding" or daily logins, this is your antidote. You can comfortably finish the main story in a couple of sittings. This makes it an ideal "bridge" game—something a parent and child can play through together over a rainy weekend without it becoming a permanent fixture on the living room TV.

It is a standout in The Ultimate Guide to Kid-Friendly PS4 Games because it utilizes the hardware in ways most big-budget titles ignore. If you have the PSVR headset tucked away in a closet, pull it out for this. The VR mode is a separate, shorter experience, but it’s one of the most immersive uses of digital art I’ve seen. It turns the act of painting into a 360-degree sensory event that usually leaves kids (and adults) pretty wide-eyed.

The friction to watch for

While the message is top-tier, the mechanics can occasionally be fiddly. The platforming—jumping between rooftops and climbing pipes—isn't as precise as a Mario game. There will be moments where Ash doesn't quite grab a ledge or the camera gets stuck in a tight corner of an alleyway.

The motion-control painting also requires a bit of patience. If your kid is the type to get frustrated when a cursor doesn't go exactly where they want it, you might need to step in and help them recalibrate the controller. But these are minor gripes for a game that has this much soul. It’s a rare instance of a developer taking a big swing on a "quiet" story and actually sticking the landing.

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