There are so many video games out there, it can be hard to decide which ones to play even if we are looking at the ESRB. Sometimes games can be too violent or have too much vulgarity without noticing at first.
Many times, I have been asked what games I would recommend are fun to play but also safe to play as a family, for children, or for a Christ-follower who doesn’t want to be exposed to certain content.
Video games are fun, entertaining, and can teach us many lessons. Just like reading a book, watching a movie or TV show, where you can walk away thinking about a certain scene or line of dialogue and applying it to your life.
So many times, even unconsciously, we are influenced by what we watch, listen and play yet we don’t realize it. As a follower of Christ, God is first in my life and I want to please Him by obeying His will. To do so as a gamer can be a little complicated, but over the years I’ve been able to navigate this world and want to help others do the same. Hopefully, this list will show you some games that you can check out without being uneasy about the content.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
- This is not the “definitive” list of games that I believe should be played, but it’s a simple guide for those who are new to the genre or confused where to start.
- I added either a review link, an article I wrote on the game, or someone’s else’s article that can give you some insight into the game or why I chose it.
- I list each game under its system. To help in purchasing the game, I have either added an Amazon, PSN or Steam link to direct you to the store.
- If you have any recommendations I am open to them. Let me know in the comments or via email.
*I receive a small percentage for every Amazon sale, and that money goes to supporting this blog. Thank you in advance!
CELESTE
Genre(s): Action, Platformer, 2D
Help Madeline survive her inner demons on her journey to the top of Celeste Mountain, in this super-tight platformer from the creators of TowerFall. Brave hundreds of hand-crafted challenges, uncover devious secrets, and piece together the mystery of the mountain.
FIVE: Guardians of David
Genre(s): Role-playing, Action RPG
FIVE: Guardians of David is an expansive action-RPG set in the ancient lands of Canaan. Lead and play the five heroes, battling across exotic locations filled with archaic cultures, rich characters, and powerful artifacts. Experience one of the greatest stories ever told in this 11-Act epic.
Hyper Light Drifter
Genre(s): Role-playing, Action RPG
Explore a beautiful, vast and ruined world riddled with unknown dangers and lost technologies. Inspired by nightmares and dreams alike. Hyper Light Drifter is a 2D Action RPG in the vein of the best 8-bit and 16-bit classics, with modernized mechanics and designs on a much grander scale.
Purchase on Steam | Available on All Consoles
Neon Drive
Genre(s): Racing, Arcade, Futuristic
Neon Drive is a retro-futuristic obstacle-dodging game that aims to make your brain melt. You’ve been warned.
That Dragon, Cancer
Genre(s): Racing, Arcade, Futuristic
That Dragon, Cancer is an adventure game that acts as a living painting; a poem; an interactive retelling of Ryan and Amy Green’s experience raising their son Joel, a 4-year-old currently fighting his third year of terminal cancer. Players relive memories, share heartache, and discover the overwhelming hope that can be found in the face of death.
(Wii, Wii U, Switch, 3DS)
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Donkey Kong (Entire Series)
Genre(s): Racing, Arcade, Futuristic
Help Donkey Kong and his friends get back their home from Vikings in the Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze game from Retro Studios. All the challenging ground-pounding, barrel-blasting and mine cart action from the Donkey Kong Country series is back, along with a bushel of new game-play elements and features.
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild
Legend of Zelda (Entire Series)
Genre(s): Action Adventure, Open-World
Forget everything you know about The Legend of Zelda games. Step into a world of discovery, exploration and adventure in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a boundary-breaking new game in the acclaimed series. Travel across fields, through forests and to mountain peaks as you discover what has become of the ruined kingdom of Hyrule in this open-air adventure.
Megaman ZX
Genre(s): Action, Platformer, 2D
Players assume the role of either a human male character named Vent or his female counterpart, Aile, who are employees of the Girouette Express, a courier service that takes jobs transporting anything to anywhere.
Megaman Zero Collection
Genre(s): Action, Miscellaneous, Platformer, Compilation, 2D
The 4 Mega Man Zero titles have been brought to and optimized for the DS.
Metroid Prime Trilogy
Genre(s): Action, Miscellaneous, Shooter, Compilation, First-Person, Sci-Fi
Metroid Prime Trilogy, is a three-game collection for the Wii console that bundles all three landmark Metroid Prime games onto one disc and revamps the first two installments with intuitive Wii Remote controls, wide-screen presentation and other enhancements.
Octopath Traveler
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Japanese-Style
Eight travelers. Eight adventures. Eight roles to play in a new world brought to life by Square Enix. Explore each traveler’s story and use their abilities in and out of battle. Will you expand your horizons as the Merchant or track down a traitor as the Warrior?
Shovel Knight
Genre(s): Action, Platformer, 2D
Shovel Knight is a sweeping classic action adventure game with awesome gameplay, memorable characters, and an 8-bit retro aesthetic. It’s a hot mashup of new and old! You play as the eponymous Shovel Knight, a small knight with a huge quest. Shovel Knight has come to this land with two goals: to defeat the evil Enchantress and quest for his lost beloved.
Splatoon 2
Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Third-Person, Arcade
Ink-splatting action is back and fresher than ever. Get hyped for the sequel to the game about splatting ink and claiming turf, as the squid-like Inklings return in a colorful and chaotic 4 vs. 4 action shooter. For the first time, take Turf War battles on-the-go via local multiplayer in portable play styles.
Mario Kart 8
Genre(s): Other, Racing, Arcade, Automobile
Race and battle your friends in the definitive version of Mario Kart 8. Hit the road with the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 and play anytime, anywhere! Race your friends or battle them in a revised battle mode on new and returning battle courses.
Super Metroid
Genre(s): Action, Platformer, 2D
The Space Pirates, merciless agents of the evil Mother Brain, have stolen the last Metroid from a research station, and once again Mother Brain threatens the safety of the galaxy.
Super Smash Bros Unlimited
Genre(s): Action, Fighting, 2D
Inklings from the Splatoon series, as well as returning Smash characters like Mario and Link will be making appearances in this classic Nintendo franchise’s Switch debut. Faster combat, new items, new attacks, new defensive options, and more will keep the battle raging whether you’re at home or on the go.
Batman: Arkham (Series)
Genre(s): General, Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Open-World
Batman confronts the ultimate threat against the city he has been sworn to protect. The Scarecrow returns to congeal an imposing array of super villains, including The Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, to summarily destroy The Dark Knight.
Purchase on PlayStation | Arkham Knight: Being A Light In A Very Dark Place Review
Breath of Fire (Series)
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Console-style RPG
After centuries of war, the two lands bordering an impenetrable swampland have finally reached an armistice. Mysteriously, the noble Princess Elena disappears somewhere near the war-ravaged front lines. Distraught, her sister Nina goes in search of the Princess alone and on her journey, meets a mysterious young warrior named Ryu. Their destinies soon entwine. The next chapter in the epic tale of magic and mystery now unfolds. The fate of what lies ahead rests in your control.
Destiny 2 (Shooter)
Genre(s): Action, Shooter, First-Person, Arcade
In Destiny 2, the last safe city on Earth has fallen and lays in ruins, occupied by a powerful new enemy and his elite army, the Red Legion. Every player creates his own character called a “Guardian,” humanity’s chosen protectors. As a Guardian in Destiny 2, players must master new abilities and weapons to reunite the city’s forces, stand together and fight back to reclaim their home.
Dragon Ball FighterZ
Genre(s): Action, Shooter, First-Person, Arcade
After the success of the Xenoverse series, its time to introduce a new classic 2D DRAGON BALL fighting game for this generation’s consoles. DRAGON BALL FighterZ is born from what makes the DRAGON BALL series so loved and famous: endless spectacular fights with its all-powerful fighters.
Final Fantasy
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Console-style RPG, Japanese-style
Execute powerful attacks with weapons and magic, and summon the enigmatic Eidolons with an evolved Active Time Battle system. Experience seamless transitions between real-time gameplay and in-game cinematics. Do you have the courage to face your destiny?
Hollow Knight (Platformer)
Genre(s): Action Adventure, General
Hollow Knight is a 2D action-adventure game with an emphasis on traditional 2D animation and skillful gameplay. Journey to Hallownest, a vast and ancient underground kingdom inhabited by a bizarre collection of insects and monsters. Players will forge their own path as they explore ruined cities, forests of fungus, temples of bone and other fantastic lands, all on their way to uncovering an ancient mystery.
Purchase on PlayStation | Hollow Knights Review: Hard Lessons I Learned
Horizon Zero Dawn
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Action RPG
Horizon Zero Dawn is a PS4-exclusive action role playing game developed by Guerrilla Games, creators of the Killzone franchise. As Horizon Zero Dawn’s main protagonist Aloy, a skilled hunter, explore a vibrant and lush world inhabited by mysterious mechanized creatures. Embark on an emotional journey to unravel mysteries of tribal societies, ancient artifacts and advanced technologies that will determine the fate of this planet, and of life itself.
Jackbox Party Pack
Genre(s): Miscellaneous, Party, Party/Minigame
For 1-100 players! Your phones or tablets are your controllers! The team behind YOU DONT KNOW JACK presents FIVE guffaw-inducing party games in one pack!
Just Dance
Genre(s): Action, Rhythm, Dancing
No matter where you come from, how old you are, if you are a panda or a carrot: turn up the volume and get ready to unleash your inner dancer, because Just Dance 2018 brings out the dancer in everyone. Whether you are a party starter, a young dancer in the making or a pro dancer looking for new challenges, it’s never been so easy to Just Dance.
Journey
Genre(s): Action, Platformer, 3D
The pioneers that brought you the award-winning PlayStation Network titles flOw & Flower are back with another title that challenges traditional gaming conventions. With Journey, thatgamecompany (TGC) continues its tradition of delivering simple gameplay and accessible controls in a rich interactive environment that invites players to explore and experience emotional chords that are still uncommon in video games.
Kingdom Hearts
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Action RPG
Kingdom Hearts is the story of Sora, a 14-year-old boy whose world is shattered when a violent storm hits his island-paradise home, and is separated from his two closest friends, Riku, a 15-year-old boy, and Kairi, a 14-year-old girl. The storm scatters the three to different and unknown worlds. At the same time, there’s turmoil in Disney Castle. King Mickey is missing, and Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy set out to find him.
Legend of Mana
Genre(s): Action, Role-playing
In ancient times, the world was saved from destruction by sealing locations and events within magical artifacts. Now, you have the chance to recreate this world as you desire by discovering artifacts, placing them, and exploring the mysteries inside.
The Liar Princess And The Blind Prince
Genre(s): Action, General
In ancient times, the world was saved from destruction by sealing locations and events within magical artifacts. Now, you have the chance to recreate this world as you desire by discovering artifacts, placing them, and exploring the mysteries inside.
Marvel Vs. Capcom 2
Genre(s): Action, Fighting, 2D
The world’s most insane tag-team fantasy fighter is bigger than ever! An unprecedented 56 characters include the debut of Jill from Resident Evil, Servbots from Mega Man and Cable from Marvel Comics fame. Experience arcade-perfect fighting with 3 on 3 tag-team battles, unbelievable control, and hyper-fast animation.
Megaman and Megaman X Legacy Collection
Genre(s): Miscellaneous, Compilation
Mega Man X Legacy Collection includes Mega Man X, X2, X3, and X4.
Metal Gear Solid
Genre(s): Action Adventure, Modern
You are Snake, a government agent on a mission to regain control of a secret nuclear weapons base from terrorist hands. Lightly armed and facing an army of foes, Snake must avoid firefights in order to survive. If Snake can locate them he can utilize advanced hardware, ranging from silenced pistols to ground-to-air missiles.
Mirror’s Edge
Genre(s): Action, Action Adventure, Shooter, Modern, General, First-Person
In a city where information is heavily monitored, agile couriers called runners transport sensitive data away from prying eyes. In this seemingly utopian paradise, a crime has been committed, your sister has been framed and now you are being hunted.
Overwatch
Genre(s): Action, Shooter, First-Person, Tactical
Overwatch is a highly stylized team-based shooter set on earth in the near future. Every match is an intense multiplayer showdown pitting a diverse cast of soldiers, mercenaries, scientists, adventurers, and oddities against each other in an epic, globe-spanning conflict.
Papo & Yo
Genre(s): Action, Shooter, First-Person, Tactical
Papo & Yo will take players on an emotional journey that explores the relationship between a boy and his sometimes-scary best friend. As players progress, Monster will react differently to their actions based on his current desires.
Rocket League
Genre(s): Racing, Futuristic, Team, Soccer, Aracde
Features improved physics, faster gameplay, and better visuals. An all-new Season Mode with unlockable items, multiple arenas, and more
The return of 2-, 3- and 4-player split-screen.
Secret of Mana Remake
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Action RPG
Originally released in 1993, “Secret of Mana” is by far the most popular title in the Mana series. This is its full 3D remake. The game faithfully retells the story while adopting modern 3D graphics and controls. It features a newly arranged musical score, voiced characters and new content. The adventure of Randi, Primm, and Popoi is reborn in the new “Secret of Mana”.
Shenmue
Genre(s): Miscellaneous, Compilation
In 1986, teenage jujitsu artist Ryo Hazuki returns to the dojo of his father, Iwao Hazuki, only to witness his murder by a Chinese man, Lan Di. Lan Di steals a mysterious artifact known as the Dragon Mirror. Ryo vows to avenge his father’s death and sets out tracing Lan Di’s path.
Sonic the Hedgehog
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Action RPG
Sonic celebrates his 15th anniversary by blazing his way onto the next-generation consoles, with his first adventure set in the human world. Featuring interactive 3D environments and a large cast of returning and new characters, get ready for the reinvention of Sonic The Hedgehog, in his most intense, a high-velocity escapade to date.
Sonic Mania And Being A Better Disciple Review
Spider Man
Genre(s): Action Adventure, Open-World
This isn’t the Spider-Man you’ve known before or seen in a movie. This is an experienced Peter Parker who is more masterful in fighting major crimes in New York City. At the same time, he is struggling to balance his tumultuous personal life and career while the fate of nine million New Yorkers rests upon his shoulders.
Star Ocean
Genre(s): Role-Playing, Action RPG, Japanese-Style
Set between the events of STAR OCEAN: The Second Story and STAR OCEAN: Till the End of Time, STAR OCEAN: Integrity and Faithlessness takes place centuries after humans have left Earth for the stars. On a planet in the distant Faykreed star system, the swordsman Fidel Camuze and his childhood friend Miki Sauvester set out to protect their village from being swallowed in the tides of civil unrest.
Street Fighter V
Genre(s): Action, Fighting, 2D
Birdie and Charlie Nash make their return to the Street Fighter universe, where they join classic characters like Ryu, Chun-Li, Cammy, and M. Bison. Many more new and returning characters will be added to the diverse roster, offering a wide variety of fighting styles for players to choose from.
Street Fighter: 30th Anniversary Collection
Genre(s): Miscellaneous, Compilation
Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the iconic Street Fighter franchise with the ultimate tribute to its arcade legacy in the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection. This content-rich all-in-one package highlights the series’ past in an anthology of 12 classic titles with arcade-perfect balancing including the original Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting, Super Street Fighter II, Super Street Fighter II: Turbo, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Street Fighter III, Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact and Street Fighter III: Third Strike.
Tekken 7
Genre(s): Action, Fighting, 3D
Love, Revenge, Pride. Each one of us has a reason to fight. Values are what define us and make us human, regardless of our strengths or weaknesses. There are no wrong motives, just the paths we choose to take. Experience the epic conclusion of the Mishima clan and unravel the reasons behind each step of their ceaseless fight.
Uncharted
Genre(s): Action, Fighting, 3D
Unfinished Swan
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, General, 3D, First-Person
Enter the surreal world of The Unfinished Swan and explore a mysterious, hidden kingdom. Your journey will be led by a runaway swan who guides you through strange levels filled with bizarre creatures. Discover the land through innovative new game mechanics such as splatting paint on a white surface to uncover your surroundings.
The Vine and the Branch in Unfinshed Swan Review
Retro Games
Chrono Cross (2000)
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, General, 3D, First-Person
Featuring a storyline developed by the creator of Chrono Trigger and Xenogears, Chrono Cross has been christened the “Best RPG Creation” by its development team. With multiple scenarios cast along a single story thread, and many different endings, each replay can result in an entirely new adventure. In addition, a brand new battle system makes combat smooth and innovative by introducing an element field system and combo system that gives the player unparalleled flexibility in their fighting options.
Chrono Cross: Finding Our Purpose Review
Chrono Trigger (2008)
Genre(s): Action, Adventure, General, 3D, First-Person
When a newly developed teleportation device malfunctions at the Millennial Fair, young Crono must travel through time to rescue his unfortunate companion from an intricate web of past and present perils. The swashbuckling adventure that ensues soon unveils an evil force set to destroy the world, triggering Crono’s race against time to change the course of history and bring about a brighter future.
Crono’s Sacrificial Love Reviewono’s Sacrificial Love
Illusion of Gaia (1993)
Genre(s): Action, Role-Playing
Illusion of Gaia, known in Europe and Australia as Illusion of Time, is a video game for the Super Nintendo. It is an action role-playing game developed by Japanese developer Quintet, and is often considered part of an unofficial trilogy with Quintet’s Soul Blazer and Terranigma.
Sonic Adventure 1&2 (2001)
Genre(s): Action, Platformer, 3D
The world can be a confusing and dangerous place, especially when there are two of you! Sonic must face the new, villainous Shadow but you choose how the story unfolds – you can be a hero, or make friends with the dark-side! In the most thrilling Sonic Adventure ever created there are 6 playable characters, new moves to master, over 30 challenging stages and 3 different 2 player games – will you save the world or conquer it?