Our favourite online games for children (and their parents)
We look at some of our favourite free online games that don’t require a gaming PC and that both children and parents can enjoy.
Roblox has become one of the most popular online gaming services among younger players thanks to workd of mouth . AFP/Lionel BONAVENTURE
With the advent of the digital age, bonding with your children doesn’t now have to take on the form of playing catch or you even physically having to be in the same room as them. Online gaming is a fun and entertaining way to relax and bond with your child.
Royale High – Available on Roblox
Set in a fictional high school, Royale High is a role play/hangout game where you can play as a fully customisable character, from princes and princesses to fairies and mermaids. Level up and earn diamonds by attending classes, doing homework and participating in school activities. Recommended for boys and girls ages 6-12.
Drift Hunters is a car racing and driving simulator game which uses realistic drift physics. You can live out your drifting dreams and choose from one of the 25 different cars and customise it just the way you like, select the paint job, rims, and even fine-tune the brake pressure, gearbox and turbo. This game is great fun and exciting for child and parent alike.
Drift Hunters Game
If you’re a fan of trivia, general knowledge, strategy and puzzles then the Wiki game is for you. You start the game on a certain Wikipedia page topic and the aim of is to race through different links within Wikipedia to reach a different sometimes totally unrelated topic. The topics can vary from quantum physics to pop culture, so be prepared to think outside the box.
Parents who grew up in the 90s are all too familiar with this tile-matching puzzle game. The concept is simple: stack differently shaped falling tiles into straight lines. It sounds simple, but can be deceptive; one wrong move and the pieces can start to pile up on you. Recent studies have shown that playing Tetris can lead to a thicker brain cortex and may also increase brain efficiency, which is an added benefit for you and your child.
If you fancy yourself an artist or are a fan of Pictionary, then this is the game for you. Put your drawing skills to the test and see if you can have them recognised by Google’s deep-learning-based judge. You get 20 seconds to draw everyday objects ranging from a basic cellphone to a bear. Drawing has been proven to help children build their knowledge and visual skills and improve their fine motor coordination. This game will aid in helping your child think out of the box, plus it’s a lot of fun too!
5 Tips for online gaming safety
- During gameplay, never give out personal information, such as your real name, contact details, or credit card information.
- Always use a strong password when setting up a gaming account.
- Ensure that you have anti-virus software installed on your computer and run updates regularly.
- Never download software or games from any unknown websites.
- Always check the age rating for games and use the parental control function when applicable.
