Best games for kids on PS Plus Extra
Even if your PlayStation is yours, there’s a good chance your kids are going to want to play it from time to time. If you’ve got a PS Plus Extra subscription, we’ve got good news: there are tons of kids games you can download and play at no extra cost. We’ve rounded up them up right here: read on to see our picks of the best games for kids on PS Plus Extra.
PS Plus comes in three tiers: essential, extra and premium. Essential allows players to access online play and provides a handful of free games every month. If you pay for Extra and Premium, however, you’ll get access to a massive library of games that can be downloaded to your console. Every game we’ve included here requires the middle tier, Extra.
Our guide to the best games for kids on PS Plus Extra includes a variety of games suitable for all ages. Some titles, like Peppa Pig, are aimed at the very youngest tots, while others, such as Rayman Legends or Bugsnax, are better for older kids (and equally loved by adults), but can be played by kids of any age.
1. Bugsnax
It’s been five years since we’ve played Bugsnax but we still sometimes find ourselves chanting ‘Bunger, Bunger, Bunger’ for no good reason. This adventure game is set on Snaktooth Island, a strange place where monsters are friendly and snacks are, well, bugs. Think strawberries with legs, hamburgers with eyes and spiders made out of French fries.
The adorable aesthetic is just one reason we think this is one of the best games for kids on PS Plus Extra. Kids are going to get a big kick out of the range of creatures here. But it’s also an utter joy to play, with plenty of puzzles to keep young minds active — players will need to work out the best way to catch bugs, for example, or need to use their own initiative to complete quests. Even for younger kids who might not want to engage with the story, they’ll enjoy existing in this lovely, random world.
Read our full review of Bugsnax
2. Cat Quest
We think Cat Quest is the perfect game to introduce youngsters to RPGs. Cat Quest is cute and colourful, and its missions are basic and easy to complete: it’s mostly a case of wandering across an overworld, talking to characters, and engaging in basic combat in a series of dungeons. There’s loot to be found too, enabling you to add equipment to your character to make them hardier.
It’s all the makings of a larger, richer RPG, then, but without the depth. It’s a great place to start, and could be the perfect gateway if you think your kids will enjoy story-rich RPG gameplay. Not that we suggest you move them straight onto Baldur’s Gate, but this is certainly a good stepping stone.
3. Gigantosaurus: The Game
For kids that love dinosaurs, we can’t recommend Gigantosaurus: The Game enough. There’s a chance your kids might already be familiar wtih this franchise — Gigantosaurus started out life as an animated TV series made for Disney, and has since spawned a range of toys and multiple video games. This one’s our favourite though, offering a colourful platforming adventure that up to four players can enjoy together.
Sure, as platforming games go, Gigantosaurus: The Game is rather basic. But that’s the idea: it’s been made with young children in mind, so there’s nothing too complex or heavy for kids to figure out. It’s the type of game that’s very easy to learn, making it suitable for kids as young as three or four to play. Plus, it’s filled with dinosaurs. What kid doesn’t love dinos?
Read our review of Gigantosaurus: The Game
4. My Friend Peppa Pig
We think My Friend Peppa Pig is amongst the very best games on PS Plus Extra for young children. It’s essentially a feature-length episode of Peppa Pig that you get to star in yourself. It looks exactly like the cartoon, features fully-voiced characters, and lets you visit key locations from the cartoon. If your kids are obsessed with Peppa Pig, then, this game is going to be a real treat for them.
You start off by creating your own character in the Peppa Pig universe. They don’t have to be a pig: there’s a variety of species to choose from. You can then dress them up before taking them to meet Peppa and begin your adventure together. You’ll meet Peppa’s family, visit the park, Peppa’s house, and a host of other locations.
Read our review of My Friend Peppa Pig
5. Untitled Goose Game
Okay, some of the challenges of Untitled Goose Game might be a bit tricky for the younger of kids. But we still think this is one of the best games on PS Plus for kids, simply because getting to wander around a village as a mischievous goose is so much fun.
You absolutely don’t need to engage in the quests of Untitled Goose Game to be having fun. You can simply wander around, interact with objects, and cause as much mayhem as possible. After all, we think that’s the spirit of the game, anyway. Download this and play it with the kids: the whole family will have a great time with this one, we guarantee it.
6. Concrete Genie
The very youngest players may struggle with Concrete Genie, but this comes highly recommended as one of the best games on PS Plus Extra for kids aged eight or over. It’s predominantly worth playing for its touching subject matter: it discusses themes of bullying as well as the notion of wanting to run away from reality.
A 3D action-adventure game, Concrete Genie sees players running around a beautifully-designed world, cleaning up and painting on walls. It makes use of the PlayStation controller’s motion controls, adding a level of fun for all ages, and it also allows players to select objects to draw from a library, allowing creativity to flow.
Read our review of Concrete Genie
7. LEGO City Undercover
All LEGO games are great for kids, but we think LEGO City Undercover is one of the best. This open world adventure puts players in the (brick) shoes of Chase McCain, a police officer tracking down the criminals of LEGO City. It’s basically Grand Theft Auto but for kids, and it’s a ridiculous amount of fun.
LEGO City Undercover has a huge overworld with plenty to do, but there are also dozens of levels, with particular missions to complete. Do them if you want, but simply exploring LEGO City, finding collectibles, competing in races, and smashing stuff up is plenty of fun. If you’re looking for the best games on PS Plus Extra for kids, make sure you download this one.
Read our review of LEGO City Undercover
8. Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Overcooked! All You Can Eat certainly looks the part as one of the best games for kids on PS Plus Extra thanks to its bold and bright visuals. But looks can be deceiving. Despite its cutesy exterior, this is a fiendishly challenging multiplayer game.
That’s not to say that kids won’t love it. Overcooked! and its sequel, both bundled into this All You Can Eat edition, are party games designed for up to four players, where teamwork is key. You see, each player takes on the role of a chef in a chaotic kitchen, the goal being to serve as many customers as possible. But this isn’t any ordinary kitchen: it’s going to set on fire, split in two, have a volcano erupt in the middle of it and more! Overcooked! encourages teamwork, co-ordination and staying calm under pressure. It’s perfect for families and siblings to play together.
Read our review of Overcooked! All You Can Eat
9. Tearaway Unfolded
Although it originally started out life as a Vita game, Tearaway evolved into being one of PS4’s most adorable exclusive games. A 3D adventure game set in a papercraft world, it’s the type of game that appeals to any age. And its adorable visuals means it’s one of the best games for kids on PS Plus Extra.
Everything from the characters to the platforms you need to walk and jump along are made out of paper in Tearaway Unfolded. It really is a sight to behold. Better yet, it puts the PlayStation controller through its paces, making ingenious use of its features. Prepare to use the touchpad, make use of motion controls and give it a bit of a shake every now and then.
10. Bee Simulator
Your kids might not like bees. Not many do. But hopefully they’ll like Bee Simulator, a cute open world game that casts players as a bee. This is a fairly short adventure about exploring the world and solving problems as a bee. It also educates children about how important bees are and – hopefully – might make them less afraid of the stripy, buzzy flying things.
With fun gameplay and colourful visuals, we think this is one of the best games for kids on PS Plus Extra. Give it a try; you might get a kick out of it too!
Read our review of Bee Simulator
11. Phogs!
Like Overcooked! above, Phogs! is a game that’s designed to be played with others. It’s a two-player game more specifically, with each player taking control of one end of a two-headed dog. It sounds bizarre, and it really is – but Phogs! is a delightful, colourful adventure that’s perfect for younger players.
Players will have to work together to manoeuvre their doggos together, co-ordinating in the same direction and working their way through puzzling environments. They’ll need to operate switches together, move objects and more – and if you don’t co-operate, you’re going to struggle. The puzzles themselves might be a little tough for the youngest players, but everyone will get a kick out of Phogs!’ gorgeous aesthetic. For siblings over the age of eight, we think this is one of the best games for kids on PS Plus.
12. The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame
Yes, another LEGO game! What can we say though? Traveller’s Tales’ series of brick-based video games are some of the best for kids. Bright, colourful, easy to pick up and play, they’re suitable for kids of any age — and just as enjoyable for the adults, too.
The LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame is the game of the film (surprisingly enough), so features clips from the movie interspersed with the same lovable LEGO gameplay that we all know and love. The gameplay has been slightly tweaked, too, with combat more action-focused – think special moves and combos – and the oriental-inspired environments are a heck of a lot of fun to explore and smash.
Read our review of LEGO Ninjago Movie Videogame
13. Starlink: Battle for Atlas
Starlink: Battle for Atlas, an adventure that began life as a toys-to-life game, sees players head to the stars – quite literally. From Ubisoft, this game puts players at the helm of a ship, where they’ll head from planet to planet, uncovering new secrets and fighting against evil forces.
If you can get hold of the toys, they’re great fun for kids: chunky and attractive flying ships that clip onto your controller. They’re not necessary, though, and Starlink can now be played without any additional accessories. It’s a great deal of fun to fly around Starlink’s world, discovering crazy new species of animals, uncovering secrets and taking in the beautiful landscapes. We easily recommend Starlink for kids of all ages, especially youngsters with an interest in space and aircraft.
Read our review of Starlink: Battle for Atlas
14. Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends is a staple platforming game that any discerning PlayStation owner, no matter their age, should play. Its bright and colourful design, supported by a lively cast of characters (headed by Rayman himself, of course), means that it appeals to even the youngest of gamers.
The game can be played in its entirety in local co-op too, so it’s ideal for squabbling siblings to play together. And if the glorious platforming levels become too much, there’s always Kung Foot – Rayman Legends’ answer to head-to-head football, which is sure to raise a few smiles. The game’s musical levels are our favourite part of it though; they’re simply wonderful.
