One of the difficulties when there is a big age gap between our children is finding games that they will all enjoy. Here are some games that won't bore the grown-ups or make the little ones cry.
Mario 3D World (Wii U)
Super Mario 3D World is a tribute to all the best games that have come before it in the series. It's a game full of surprises. It gives good challenges to older children who will be able to beat the monsters and discover all the hidden pieces. During this time, the little ones will climb the walls, collect the pennies and be able to catch up with the older ones by engulfing themselves in a bubble which will protect them when they are too far away. In addition, the little ones will be able to grab their big brother or their big sister in their arms and throw them as they dream of doing during their "battles". All this means that children of all ages can play together and (almost) in perfect harmony.
Plants VS Zombies Garden Warfare (PS3, PS4, Xbox360 and Xbox One)
This game allows children (and adults) to choose a plant and its powers to defend their garden fromzombies (really not scary) who want to destroy it. They can do this by planting other standalone plants, throwing thorns, or chewing up zombies, thanks to carnivorous flowers. As the screen is shared, your pre-teen can very well take care of it alone while the youngest is further away snacking on cars or discovering the city. You can also play zombies, if you prefer to attack plants.
Disney Infinity or Skylanders (Xbox One, PS4, P3 and Xbox 360)
These two franchises are based on the same principle: you drop real figures on a real platform and the characters appear in the game. Although there are many beautiful figures that can fill several roles, you can finish the whole story with the same character that is offered with the sets and thus avoid spending a fortune.
Disney Infinity offers well-known characters to your kids and a dual screen, so there's no need to hear the older one yelling at the younger one to hurry up. For those who have been waiting for Disney Infinity 2.0, including more solid figures and Marvel characters, it has been available for a few days, and the figures you have will still work there.
For its part, Skylanders offers good challenges and the characters are well designed. The adventures are interesting, and the elements and dialogue give the characters unique personalities that children become attached to. These are two good sets of games that thekids should enjoy without bickering… if they manage not to all prefer the same character.
The Lego Franchise (Xbox One, PS4, P3 and Xbox 360)
Lego games, whether it's Indiana Jones, Marvel, Batman and the rest, are all interesting for children, whether they play with the blocks or not. As with Disney Infinity and Plants VS Zombies, the screen is split in two, so loafers can't lose patience with those old enough to play more seriously. The little ones can therefore destroy the furniture and pick up the pieces as they please.
Little big planet (PS3, PS4 and Vita)
In this game where the sack boys, their house and the decorations can be decorated using accessories found everywhere in the tables, the young people learn to collaborate in situations where they have no choice but to do it to move forward. They also do races, can create their own tables or play those created by other players online. The expressive side of the characters means that they can laugh at the defeat by making them cry their hearts out or give a big slap to the other players who have won. It is therefore a very funny game, even for bad losers. Little Big Planet 1 and 2 for PS3 and Vita already exist and the third installment will arrive on PS4 on November 18, 2014.
Animal Crossing: New Leaf (3DS)
Perfect for children who can read, this cute gameallows children to play alone, but to send surprises to each other. They can play it on their own and fish, pick fruit, take up challenges, go listen to Kéké at the bar and laugh at the captain's jokes. They will also be able to send each other letters by post and attach gifts, money, tapestries, carpets, fruits, fish and many other things to them that will help them decorate their respective houses. They can also celebrate special days like Christmas, character birthdays and Halloween, or participate in fishing competitions. Since fish catches are decided at random, your younger kids won't even be at a disadvantage and can beat your older kids with ease.
