Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Play

Screenwise Verdict

This is what good gaming looks like: beautiful, challenging, creative, and completely free of the garbage that plagues modern games. No microtransactions trying to nickel-and-dime you, no chat where randos can be toxic, no loot boxes teaching gambling mechanics—just pure, skill-based platforming fun.

The Definitive Edition on Switch is particularly great because the touch screen and gyroscope controls add genuine novelty without feeling gimmicky. The co-op mode is a real highlight—it's chaotic in the best way, requiring actual teamwork rather than just two people doing their own thing on the same screen.

Fair warning: this game can be genuinely hard. If your kid gets frustrated easily or is new to platformers, expect some tears and possibly some colorful language (depending on your household). But for kids who enjoy a challenge and the satisfaction of mastering difficult skills, this is gold. The musical levels alone are worth the price of admission—they're the kind of creative, joyful gaming experience that reminds you why video games can be art.

It's from 2017 (originally 2013), but the hand-drawn art style means it hasn't aged a day. Kids today will enjoy it just as much as kids did a decade ago. Solid recommendation.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6-14, though the skill ceiling is high enough that older kids and even adults genuinely enjoy it. Younger than 6 will likely find it too difficult and frustrating; older than 14 might still play it but probably won't seek it out unless they're already platformer fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Classic platformer with cartoon violence only—no realistic gore, death, or inappropriate content. Cooperative gameplay encourages teamwork. Bright, whimsical art style maintains a lighthearted tone throughout. The pacing is energetic but not chaotic, and the tone is consistently playful and family-friendly.

Imaginative

85

Vibrant, surreal fantasy worlds with creative level design. The game invites exploration across diverse environments with imaginative visual themes. Touch screen and gyroscope mechanics on Switch add interactive creativity. Musical levels that sync gameplay to rhythm show genuine originality. Strong sense of wonder and discovery throughout.

Safe

92

No in-game purchases, loot boxes, or online chat—this is a premium, complete game experience. Users can interact locally for co-op but no online toxicity risk. Cartoon-style combat is non-violent (slapping enemies, no blood). No privacy concerns or manipulative mechanics. The only mild concern is occasional competitive frustration in challenging levels.

Enriching

72

Builds hand-eye coordination, timing, and problem-solving through platforming challenges. Cooperative play teaches patience and teamwork. Rhythm-based musical levels develop timing and pattern recognition. However, it's primarily entertainment-focused rather than deeply educational—skill-building is mechanical rather than cognitive or ethical. Still genuinely fun and engaging.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Zero predatory mechanics—this is old-school 'buy it once, own it forever' gaming at its finest
Gorgeous hand-drawn art style that looks like a playable animated movie
Cooperative play that actually works well, teaching kids to coordinate and problem-solve together
Musical levels are genuinely innovative and delightful—your kid will be humming these tunes for days
Builds legitimate gaming skills: timing, pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, and perseverance through challenge

⚠

What to Watch For

Difficulty spikes can be real—some levels will test patience and may lead to controller-throwing frustration
Younger kids (under 7) might struggle with the precision required and need a patient co-op partner
It's long—over 100 levels means this could monopolize screen time if you're not setting boundaries
The competitive 'invaded' levels might spark sibling rivalry if you've got multiple kids playing

Conversation Starters

"Which world was your favorite so far? I loved the music ones—how do they make the game match the beat like that?"
"That level looked super hard. What strategy did you figure out to get past that tricky part?"
"Want to try playing co-op together? I can handle the easy stuff while you do the hard jumps."
"The art in this game is wild—if you could design a Rayman level, what would it look like?"
"How does it feel when you finally beat a level that took you a bunch of tries?"

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Rayman Legends Definitive Edition