2009
WISE Score
IGDB
A breathtaking 'zen' experience where you control the wind to heal the world with flower petals.
View →Flower is the ultimate digital detox. In a world of battle passes and 'just one more match' loops, this game asks for nothing but your attention for a few hours of pure, unadulterated beauty.
It’s a rare 100 on the safety scale because it’s a closed loop—no chat, no shops, no strangers. It’s just your kid and the wind. If you want to show them that games can be art rather than just toys, start here.
If they can hold a controller or a phone, they can play this. It’s perfect for ages 4 and up, though older kids and adults will appreciate the artistry more deeply.
It is a rare game that focuses entirely on beauty, nature, and restoration. There is no combat, no competition, and no stress—just the act of bringing life back to a landscape.
The central mechanic—controlling a gust of wind to carry petals—is poetic and highly original. It encourages players to explore and see the environment as a canvas.
Completely single-player with zero social features, no in-game purchases, and no loot boxes. It is one of the most curated and safe digital environments available.
It functions as a digital meditation. It teaches environmental empathy and proves that games can be about creation rather than destruction.
Released in 2009 by ThatGameCompany, Flower was a pioneer in the 'art game' movement. While most games at the time were about shooting things or jumping on heads, Flower asked players to simply exist within a dream. You start as a single petal on a windowsill in a drab city, and as you enter the dream, you become the wind.
Even though it's over 15 years old, the stylized art direction means it hasn't aged like other titles from that era. The way the grass ripples as you fly over it is still mesmerizing. For parents, the real value is in the emotional regulation. If your kid is coming off a heated session of Fortnite or Roblox and their adrenaline is through the roof, twenty minutes of Flower is the fastest way to bring the heart rate back down.
It’s worth noting that the game isn’t entirely sunshine and daisies. The later levels depict the encroachment of the city—jagged metal, electricity, and muted colors. It’s not violent, but it is a shift in tone that might make a very sensitive 4-year-old a bit nervous. However, the payoff is always restorative. You aren't just watching the world get ruined; you are the force that fixes it.
If you're playing on PlayStation, the game uses the controller's internal gyroscope. You tilt the controller to steer. It's tactile and lovely, but for kids used to just mashing buttons, it might take five minutes of 'learning by doing' to get the flow right.
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