In an age where technology permeates everything and where many young people prefer to spend the afternoon in front of a screen rather than going to the park or picking up a book, it's normal for families to wonder Which video games are suitable for young people and teenagers? and how to avoid mobile addictionNot all titles are the same: there are frantic shooting games, educational experiences that stimulate critical thinking, cooperative proposals that encourage teamwork, and others that may simply not be appropriate due to their level of violence, language, or themes.
This article gathers and rewrites information from various guides and specialized websites to offer you a comprehensive overview of Video games for young people, types of games, concrete examples and safety tipsYou'll find recommendations for titles for ages 12 and up, lists of popular games among teenagers, options that develop cognitive skills, as well as basic tips for managing playtime and online safety from home, and more. conscious ways to use technology.
Recommended video games for teenagers aged 12 and up
Some non-profit organizations, similar to Common Sense Media, analyze movies, TV series, and video games so that mothers and fathers can learn more. what they will find in each title and for what ages they are recommendedInspired by this type of assessment, a list of five video games designed for teenagers over 12 years old is proposed, covering genres such as strategy, platformers, shooters and racing.
AEGIS Defenders
AEGIS Defenders is a game released in 2018 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PCAvailable in Spanish and primarily designed for single-player, though it allows you to control up to four characters by switching between them. It combines elements of tower defense and platforming: the player guides a group of adventurers traveling through a world filled with ruins and legendary relics, facing strange creatures using turrets, explosives, hammers, bows, arrows, and other weapons.
Its graphic style employs pixel art, making the Violence is never shown explicitly, nor is blood shown.However, it's not a simple game: the controls are introduced gradually, but the difficulty increases and demands concentration, practice, and coordination. Regarding the content, beyond a few female characters in somewhat revealing clothing, There are no sexual scenes or graphic violence that would make it unsuitable for teenagers of this age..
Aven Colony
Aven Colony was launched in 2017 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Windows PCThe player must build and maintain a futuristic colony on an alien planet, managing resources, infrastructure, and the needs of the population. The environment is hostile, with storms and attacking creatures, so defenses must be built and security buildings managed.
The game includes encounters with extraterrestrial threats, but the Violence is not bloody nor does it revel in the impactsThe most sensitive aspect is the occasional use of swear words. It's a very interesting option for teenagers who enjoy the management, changing statistics, and strategic decision-making.
Blasters of the universe
Blasters of the Universe is a first-person shooter designed for Virtual Reality (PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive)With an affordable price and currently only available in English, the player equips themselves with a visor and motion controllers to fight waves of enemies in a very colorful world, where the villain is an egocentric character whose lust for power has gotten out of hand.
The mechanics force move physically, crouch, and dodge projectilesThis can be problematic in small spaces or if the player is not used to physical exertion while playing. Although there is constant gunfire, the violence is neither graphic nor realistic. It is important to remember that the virtual reality equipment manufacturers themselves... They do not recommend its use for children under 12 years old due to possible effects on vision and spatial perception in very young players.
Brass Tactics
Brass Tactics is a title of real time strategy (RTS) Released for Oculus Rift and available in Spanish, this game was designed by one of the creators of Age of Empires II, so it inherits the philosophy of building and commanding armies from a tactical perspective. In this case, you control an army of robots through hand gestures, ordering units to fire arrows, cannons, or fire projectiles.
Violence is at the core of the game, but all the troops are robotic, so There is no blood or dismembermentYou can play solo against the AI ​​or in online cooperative and competitive modes, with interaction with other players. The controls are often explained and easy to learn, although occasionally The VR headset's sensors may fail to read some gestureswhich is frustrating. Furthermore, a fairly powerful PC with 16 GB of RAM is recommended, something to keep in mind before buying.
Burnout Paradise Remastered
Burnout Paradise Remastered is a racing game released for multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox and PCIt's a very fast-paced title where reckless driving is the core of the experience: driving at the limit through traffic, ramming into other vehicles, and causing spectacular slow-motion crashes are rewarded.
Research on this type of game has found that They can increase the tendency to take risks in real life.Therefore, it's advisable to discuss this with teenagers and make it clear that what happens on screen is not a model for safe driving. Although collisions are shown in detail, no injured people or explicit scenes are depicted. It has online modes with chat and the ability to share snapshots via camera, which implies exposure to strangers and content generated by other usersThe remastered version includes all downloadable content from previous installments, with improved graphics.
Most popular video games among teenagers in the classroom
A group of high school students created a catalog of favorite games among their classmatesThis allows us to see which titles are trending in real high school settings. These include survival games, building games, life simulation games, sports games, shooting games, and classic adventure games.
- FortniteA battle royale survival game with matches of up to one hundred players where only one can remain. Structures are destroyed, battles are fought, and in some modes, large creatures are faced.
- MinecraftA pixelated-style game where you build houses, explore forests, and collect food, minerals, and items. It allows you to develop creativity and learn basic resource management skills.
- GTA VThis game is not recommended for children under 16 due to its mature content. It includes car theft, illegal racing, drug trafficking, violence, and explicit language, as well as various minigames.
- FIFA 20 coinsA football simulator where you choose your team, squad, transfers, and kits. Each annual edition improves graphics and gameplay, with increasingly realistic player appearances.
- Roblox: a platform where you can create and play thousands of minigames made by other users, customize your avatar, and participate in multiplayer experiences.
- The Sims: a daily life simulator in which you design a character, build a house, choose a profession, and develop social and family relationships.
- Pokémon Go: a geolocation-based mobile game that encourages you to go outside and walk around to find and capture Pokémon in the real world.
- Call of Duty: a first-person shooter saga focused on war combat, with a strong competitive focus.
- Animal Crossing: a relaxed life game for Nintendo consoles, in which animal-like characters live together in a town or island and perform everyday tasks.
- Mario Bros: platform game in which levels full of obstacles and enemies are created or overcome, often with the option to play levels designed by other users.
- Mario Kart: Racing game with classic Nintendo characters; up to twelve racers compete using a wide variety of vehicles, items, and tracks.
This type of school survey also allows us to see How much time do teenagers actually spend playing video games?In the example provided, several students stated that they did not play during the week but did dedicate many hours to it on weekends, with figures ranging from four to eight hours on Saturday and Sunday. Another case mentioned gaming sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., while one student indicated that she played for about fifteen minutes each day.
These differences show that Playtime can vary enormously from one teenager to another.and that it's advisable to talk as a family to agree on reasonable limits and know What to do if children spend a lot of time indoorscombining digital leisure with sports, reading, outdoor activities and time with friends face to face.
These differences show that Playtime can vary enormously from one teenager to another.and that it is advisable to talk as a family to agree on reasonable limits, combining digital leisure with sport, reading, outdoor activities and time with friends face to face.
Video games that enhance critical thinking
Beyond entertainment, certain video games are especially useful for Develop critical thinking, planning, and problem-solving skillsFor pre-teens and teenagers, some titles stand out for the way they require analyzing data, anticipating consequences, and seeking creative solutions.
SimCity and SimCity Creator
In these SimCity installments, the player assumes the role of mayor and urban planner who must build a city from scratch and make it evolveIt begins with simple settlements and progresses to metropolises that require factories, schools, services, and residential and commercial areas. Understanding concepts such as zoning laws, municipal codes, and the balance between supply and demand is essential.
The key is to anticipate what the city will need as it grows: If the supply of water, energy, or transport is miscalculated, the population complains and the city can collapse.This approach transforms the game into a powerful tool for working on long-term planning and the analysis of complex systems.
scribblenauts
Scribblenauts is an adventure with very little direct action but with a enormous load of creativity and puzzle-solvingThe protagonist progresses through levels by encountering obstacles that must be overcome by summoning objects or beings simply by typing their names. You can ask for something simple like a "rope" or something extravagant like "the Yeti on a lawnmower" to solve a specific problem.
This approach forces you to think laterally, test ideas, and see how The most ingenious solutions can be even better than the obvious ones.It is an ideal title for working on vocabulary, imagination and cognitive flexibility.
Portal and Portal 2
Portal and its sequel place the player in the Aperture Science Enrichment Center testing laboratoryA complex filled with 3D rooms that must be navigated using a portal gun. Each test presents a spatial challenge: placing portals on walls, ceilings, and floors to travel or move objects in a matter of seconds.
The first screens are simple, but the difficulty increases and forces you to understand the relationship between space, time, speed and gravityMany schools use Portal 2 in educational activities because it offers a fun and visual way to introduce basic physics concepts and complex spatial reasoning.
Minecraft as a creative tool
Minecraft, mentioned earlier as a popular game, also stands out as highly flexible educational platformBased on virtual blocks used to build and shape the environment, players must plan structures, design farming systems, mines, and manage resources. The game also requires extracting materials and combining them to create tools, objects, and mechanisms.
Depending on the chosen mode (survival, creative, adventure), teenagers can experiment with different approaches, analyze what works and rethink your strategy when something goes wrongIt is frequently used by teachers to work on concepts of geometry, programming (using mods) or group collaboration.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda saga offers adventures in which the player must save kingdoms, defeat creatures, and advance through an elaborate plotTo progress, you must solve puzzles, learn to use objects and weapons like the sword or the bow, and pay attention to details of the environment, all while dealing with visual and auditory distractions.
There is no main voice explaining step by step what is happening, so in many installments, Teenagers practice reading, working memory, and planning by following dialogues, clues, and maps. It's a highly regarded series because it combines story, exploration, puzzles, and combat without resorting to extreme violence.
Categories of video games for young people and examples by genre
When talking about video games for young people, it is useful to know the Main game categories and what they entail in terms of mechanics and potential risksThe following section reviews several common genres, with specific examples and platforms where they can be found.
Real-time strategy (RTS) games
Real-time strategy games are characterized by featuring maps that are constantly evolving, limited resources, and decisions that cannot be stopped with constant pauses.The player must build bases, manage units, and react to enemy movements in real time.
A very popular example among young people is Clash of ClansA strategic action game available on mobile and PC. It allows you to build a village, fortify it to withstand attacks from other players, and organize offensives against rival clans. You can play solo or join clans of up to 50 people to cooperate, share resources, and coordinate battles.
Another title is Clash RoyaleIt also focuses on fast-paced, real-time matches using collectible cards. The objective is to destroy the opponent's towers using troops, spells, and buildings. Here, the emphasis is on... reading the opponent's strategy and making good use of time and available mana.
Among the strategy games with a historical focus are oregon trailAvailable on several platforms, this game puts the player in charge of leading a caravan of settlers along a route inspired by the real westward migration of the United States. Players must decide what food and supplies to take, when to advance or stop, and how to keep the expedition safe from disease and other dangers along the way.
Shooting games (shooters)
Shooters simulate the point of view of a character who fires firearms or other projectilesThey can be first-person (FPS) or third-person (TPS), and usually include multiplayer modes in which you cooperate or compete with other connected users.
Within the games with a mature (M) rating, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Follow a soldier investigating the reemergence of a terrorist threat, with the goal of protecting the United States from a tech giant that jeopardizes world peace. The experience revolves around armed combat, with squads of players coordinating via chat to complete missions.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare y Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War They belong to the same franchise. In Modern Warfare, the objective is to defend the United States from enemy forces using machine guns, rifles, grenades, and other modern weapons. Black Ops Cold War, on the other hand, sets the action during the Cold War, with teams of soldiers facing off in scenarios inspired by the era, also featuring a high level of violence and wartime tension.
In a somewhat more lighthearted tone, Fortnite It offers third-person combat in a colorful, almost cartoonish world. Players can compete solo or in teams to be the last one standing while building structures, gathering resources, and using weapons and special items. Although it remains a shooter, the less realistic graphics and emphasis on costumes and dances make it the visual impact is less harsh than in other games of the genre, but that does not mean it does not require supervision for minors.
Role-playing games (RPGs) and action-adventure games
In role-playing games, the player controls a character—or group of characters—who He levels up, acquiring skills and equipment as he completes missionsMany combine elements of action and adventure, exploration, and narrative.
The Elder Scrolls V (The fifth installment in the series) is a fantasy RPG for PC and consoles in which you design a hero or heroine and explore a vast world. It can be played in first or third person, with combat using swords, bows, axes, and magic. Battles are frequent and violence is present, so it is rated for mature audiences.
RobloxRated for ages 10 and up, it functions more as a universe of role-playing games and experiences that users create and share. Many minigames include RPG elements, character customization, and chat with other players. It features parental controls that allow restrict the type of content that minors can access, something highly recommended to activate.
monster hunter stories 2For Nintendo Switch and Windows, it's an RPG where the player takes on the role of a monster rider tasked with protecting a mysterious egg. Players traverse a fantasy world completing challenges and battling creatures, using weapons like swords, bows, and guns. The online mode allows for cooperation with others, but the chat is limited to... stickers and predefined messagesreducing the risk of inappropriate conversations.
Final Fantasy VII Remake It represents the action role-playing genre, with real-time combat and a story centered on a mercenary, Cloud Strife, who fights to save the planet from an evil corporation. The game features scenes of violence and some suggestive situations, so it is rated for teenagers.
Dragon Ball ZBased on the famous anime, this game blends role-playing and third-person action. The player interacts with characters from the Dragon Ball universe and participates in one-on-one battles while progressing through various missions. Despite its cartoonish style, the The fighting action is intense and constant..
Assassin's Creed: Valhalla It's an action-adventure game with a strong role-playing component, set in the Viking Age. The player controls a Norse warrior attempting to establish a settlement in England, participating in raids, melee combat, and making decisions that affect the story's development. It's clearly aimed at a mature audience.
Simulation and sports
Simulation and sports games come to the screen real-life activities such as skateboarding, soccer, basketball, or go-karting, often with a high level of detail and realism.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater It lets you step into the shoes of professional skaters to perform tricks, chain combos, and explore different environments. You can create custom skate parks and search for hidden objects, competing against other players.
Rocket League It mixes cars and soccer: rocket-powered vehicles try to score goals with a giant ball in short, intense matches. It includes season, exhibition, and training modes, and has a highly addictive learning curve.
In the more traditional sporting sphere, NBA 2K21 y MLB: The Show They recreate basketball and baseball games with real NBA and MLB rosters. Players manage teams, adjust the form of their stars, and compete in full seasons or tournaments. Madden NFL 22 It does the same with American football, allowing the user to create and manage their franchise.
Football simulators like FIFA 21 coins They allow you to choose from hundreds of teams, leagues, stadiums, and players. You can play in single-player career mode or in competitive online mode, where real teams face off against user-created squads, with a strong social and competitive element.
In a more relaxed tone Animal Crossing: New HorizonsA life simulator for Nintendo Switch in which players build a community on a deserted island. They fish, decorate their house, plant trees, and invite other players to visit. It's a title that It fosters creativity and organization without resorting to violence..
Puzzles, party games, platformers, and survival
In addition to the genres mentioned above, there are digitized board games, puzzles, cooperative experiences, and retro-style platformers that can be very suitable for gaming sessions with family or friends. Puzzle and party games often introduce multiplayer elements that expand the original experience of board games, while survival and horror titles focus on managing resources, creating objects and keeping the character alive in hostile environments, sometimes with zombies or post-apocalyptic scenarios.
Finally, platform games—many with a nostalgic aesthetic—are reminiscent of classic side-scrolling games and demand precision, hand-eye coordination, and patienceThey are often a perfect entry point for younger players approaching the world of video games for the first time.
Free online games for teenagers and multiplayer games
In recent years, online gaming platforms have proliferated where it is possible Play from your browser, without downloads or installationsSome websites specializing in "games for teenagers" offer catalogs that load directly on both mobile phones and computers.
These websites often highlight the multiplayer mode, raising the question of whether it's better to play with friends from your immediate surroundings or with strangers from anywhere in the world. The reality is that Most games allow both optionsYou can share the game with friends who are nearby or connect with players from other countries in real time.
As a selling point, some pages mention their "top-rated games for teens," including titles such as Unplex it!, Лабубу Мтч or PainterThese are usually puzzles or skill-based games. In any case, it's always advisable to check the comments, ratings, and especially the chat permissions and moderation systems before letting a minor play.
Many of these sites remind us that There's no need to download anything and you can play for freeIt's convenient, but it means being constantly connected. This makes it even more important to monitor screen time and the content accessed, explaining to young people how to protect their privacy and what to do if they encounter inappropriate online behavior.
How to monitor computer usage and maintain security
When discussing online games for teenagers, the immediate concern arises about the safety, privacy, and the type of people with whom minors interactNot all games are designed for children, and although many provide reasonably safe environments, it is advisable to combine digital education with technical tools.
A common recommendation is to use parental controls like Windows Live Family Safety (or their current equivalents in Windows). To check if it's installed, you can click the Windows Start button, go to "All Programs," and look for the Windows Live section. If you don't find it, you can download and install it from the official Microsoft website or other modern parental control solutions. In addition, many families They monitor their children's online purchases.
In addition to limiting viewing times or blocking certain websites, it's important to get used to occasionally check your computer's browsing historyThis should not replace open dialogue with children, but it can serve as a tool to detect potential problems, such as access to inappropriate websites or attempts at contact by strangers.
In the realm of consoles, mobile devices, and platforms like Roblox or Fortnite, there are almost always Options to restrict voice or text chat, limit in-game purchases, and set age limitsIt's a good idea to spend some time setting up these settings from the beginning, explaining to the teenager why they are being done and what is expected of their online behavior.
Regarding usage time, pediatricians and child health specialists insist that, even if video games are age-appropriate, It is vital to strike a balance between digital leisure and physical activity, rest and social life off the screen.Setting schedules, agreeing on screen-free times (such as mealtimes or evenings), and encouraging alternative hobbies helps to getting teenagers to sleep wellso that video games are a healthy part of the routine, and not the only focus of interest.
The world of video games for young people is vast, encompassing everything from experiences that foster creativity and reasoning to titles with clearly adult content; therefore, learning about genres, age ratings, online modes, and parental control tools allows mothers, fathers, and educators to better guide teenagers in this area, helping them to enjoy play your favorite games safely, in a balanced and responsible way.
