Need some help( no violent games please)

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

What are good games for a 4 yr old girl(my neice) who's in her fairies and princesse's stage?

[G-Boobie]

For what systems?

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

Any but im leading towards DS as I dont really want to buy her dolls or clothes(yes i've reached the ugh but ok stage)

[Malon_Forever]

I remember seeing a Princess Peach game come out for the DS. Maybe she would be interested...? I'm not too sure how hard or enjoyable it would be, but you could check it out.

Heck, I kinda wanted it when I had a DS.

[Therealqtip]

I remember seeing a Princess Peach game come out for the DS. Maybe she would be interested...? I'm not too sure how hard or enjoyable it would be, but you could check it out.

Heck, I kinda wanted it when I had a DS.

It's easier then passing the 3rd grade.

[G-Boobie]

Animal Crossing DS is an excellent choice: there isn't much in the way of failure states, and there's always something to do.

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

I am torn between leaning towards the Tinkerbell game or something educational like Animal crossing or a gift card or nothing at all

[Malon_Forever]

I am torn between leaning towards the Tinkerbell game or something educational like Animal crossing or a gift card or nothing at all

Gift cards are good. A gift card to a mall will cover anything pretty much.


Here's a pic of that Peach game:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61EVYC12Z0L._SL500_AA280_.jpg



It's easier then passing the 3rd grade.

Did you have fun with it?

[snes_collector]

Isn't there a Mario Party for DS? If so, that would be a good one.

[SegaAges]

There is also the Imagine series for the ds. I don't know if it is meant for a 4 yr old, but they have shit like fashion designer and babysitter and shit like that

[Fuyukaze]

Princess Debut but that may be too difficult for her.

[Ro-J]

There's an article on What They Play titled My First Video Game which you may find helpful as they cover a variety of platforms. Some of the suggestions are obviously geared towards first time adult players, but one game mentioned, Animal Genius for the DS, looks promising. Link here (http://www.whattheyplay.com/features/my-first-video-game/?page=1).

[Cryomancer]

Get Princess Peach. It's girly-pink enough that she may enjoy it, and if she does, at least you got her a real videogame. It's a platformer, so it's a real genre even. Miles beyond any Imagine or Disney game in all aspects. It's a fun game, not too super hard, and will actually make her think about stuff a little maybe.

Unless 4 years old is just still too young for any sort of actual real game...I was probably playing Atari by then though so you never know.

[Kitsune Sniper]

That Peach game is very violent, though - violent in a Mario kinda way, anyhoo.

I can't think of any game other than the obvious Barbie direct-to-DVD-tie-in games.

[Phénix]

Animal Crossing is a little too complicated for a 4 years old ... But Princess Peach is a good game, simple and easy. There's also a couple of "Disney Princess" games, it can be good too.

[calistarwind]

I work at a game store and the ones most frequently purchased for that age group on the DS are the Dora and Diego games, Disney Princess, also the other cartoon movie titles like Madagascar and the new Ice Age game. Usually younger kids relate more to the characters than to the challenge and as long is there is not a lot of reading they tend to enjoy them more.


Oh and their is also the classic storybook games for the DS which are based on fairytales. It contains reading but may be something you both could enjoy.

[joshnickerson]

Pick up Legend of Starfy... it's incredibly cute and colorful, yet a very solid platformer... it's even got a co-op mode on some stages so you can jump in via another DS and help out.

[shopkins]

Princess Peach is a great game and it is kind of easy, but I don't think it's easy enough for four. It's still a Mario-style platformer and you have to figure out how to use Peach's emotional powers to get through obstacles. The game explains them to you with hint boxes but you have to be able to read them.

It may be a pain to set up, but I thought the Genesis Little Mermaid game was really pretty easy and a lot of fun. It still seems kind of hard for four, though.

She might do better with something that's more of a non-game, like Nintendogs.

[Malon_Forever]

Princess Peach is a great game and it is kind of easy, but I don't think it's easy enough for four. It's still a Mario-style platformer and you have to figure out how to use Peach's emotional powers to get through obstacles. The game explains them to you with hint boxes but you have to be able to read them.

It may be a pain to set up, but I thought the Genesis Little Mermaid game was really pretty easy and a lot of fun. It still seems kind of hard for four, though.

She might do better with something that's more of a non-game, like Nintendogs.


If the Genesis Little Mermaid is anything like the NES one (remake/port/squeal), that's a pretty good choice too.

[NayusDante]

First of all, does she already HAVE a DS? I trusted my younger sister with a Game Boy at that age, but I'd be wary about giving a kid something with fragile LCDs.

As tempting as the "non-games" sound, they're still non-games. In my opinion, giving her a non-game is the equivalent of sitting her in front of Boohbahs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boohbah) for an hour. Sure it entertains and provides a distraction, but there's absolutely nothing to get out of it.

Someone might have to help me out on difficulty assessment, but Drawn to Life may be a good choice. Kids generally like to draw, and a platformer where you draw everything seems like a natural fit. Still, I haven't played it, I'm just going on concept.

Another suggestion would be Lego-anything. If I'm correct, Lego Star Wars has unlimited respawn, but it's still an action-platformer. It's definitely a weak one, but it's an action-platformer nonetheless.

When she's old enough, Chex Quest. Teach the kid what a real FPS is with a proper, kid-friendly introduction.


We've really entered a different era as of late. When I was growing up, there were better games that were more accessible for kids. One of my personal favorites at that age was Day of the Tentacle, as you couldn't die and were free to explore. I also loved the King's Quest series, but I needed the hintbooks for those. This was before one of the SCUMM devs went off and did Pajama Sam and all those (another suggestion), so the next generation didn't get quite the same experience. Nowadays, games are either too "hardcore" or they're flat-out casual, without much middleground. I keep wanting to blame it on the fact that I always gravitated toward the "lovable by all ages" type of games, but kids games just weren't much of a market back then. They were there, just not like they are today. The best thing you can do is teach kids what proper games are, and avoid shovelware. Just like any good parent doesn't allow their kids to watch garbage, there's no reason to let them play garbage (and I'm not referring to the presence of adult content).

[Flack]

I think some of you may be underestimating the abilities of the average four-year-old. My daughter turned four this past weekend. She writes her name backwards and recognizes a few words but can't read the instructions of a game.

That being said, we bought her a DS and bought the Littlest Pet Shop. There's a lot of coloring and other little girl things that seem to be keeping her busy.

I may snag that Princess Peach game and see how she does with that, but so far she's shown a complete lack of control when it comes to d-pads ...

[s1lence]

I think some of you may be underestimating the abilities of the average four-year-old. My daughter turned four this past weekend. She writes her name backwards and recognizes a few words but can't read the instructions of a game.

That being said, we bought her a DS and bought the Littlest Pet Shop. There's a lot of coloring and other little girl things that seem to be keeping her busy.

I may snag that Princess Peach game and see how she does with that, but so far she's shown a complete lack of control when it comes to d-pads ...

My daughters (now 7) have enjoyed playing the Littlest Pet shop games as well.

I personally can't stand them, but they REALLY enjoy them. Nintendogs is another popular game for them.

[smork]

Pick up Legend of Starfy... it's incredibly cute and colorful, yet a very solid platformer... it's even got a co-op mode on some stages so you can jump in via another DS and help out.

Starfy was released in the US? How nice. I like the Starfy games.

I forgot - how about Mario Kart? I've played plenty of Mario Kart with my friend's very young kids, and while they are obviously horrid at it they always seem to have alot of fun.

[Therealqtip]

Did you have fun with it?

Third grade or the game?

[Fuyukaze]

almost forgot, 101 in 1 shouldnt be a problem.

[monkeychemist]

This may have already been mentioned but I would recommend a GBA. They are cheap, rugged and have a huge library of games that you can get for her. A DS might be too complicated/fragile for 4 year old. She may press too hard on the screen with the stylus and it will be broken in 6 months. A GBA is simple with only buttons to push and one screen. I've seen kids neglect the hell out of it and it still work well.

[Malon_Forever]

Third grade or the game?

I meant 3rd grade...obiviously.... :p

Yeah, how was the Peach game.


Also, what did you (OP) end up getting?!?!

[SegaAges]

I don't have a daughter, so I am just throwing out cute and colorful stuff.

Maybe flack and silence who have daughters should be a better answer since they have already tried stuff before.

And I am just throwing it out there, but the Wii also has some colorful easy games as well

[Baloo]

I would recommend Nintendogs.

[ianoid]

Seriously, not one of you has seen a 4 year old with a DS or other game. They can't read, which makes Nintendogs and most other games impossible to navigate. There is only one game I have come up with on DS that has no reading requirement and is easy enough for a regular 4 year old: Dora and the Mermaids. It is horrific, but perfect for an early 4 year old. There is a designation on GBA games for early gamers, I forget what it is, but if you are going GBA, those games are ok. I have a Carebears game that works, but is almost too stupid for my kid to play, which is saying a lot.

For a precocious kid or older 4 year old, things like Mario Kart, Disney Friends, and Strawberry Shortcake might work. Consider also Lego Star Wars Complete Saga (the original release for DS was crap, go for the Complete Saga one) or the other Lego movie titles. Even those are more like late 5 or 6 year old games. Nintendogs requires a lot of reading and coaching, it's just not good unless you want to play the game alongside your kid.

I have to say, my favorite thing for youngun is the Pico. If they can get the whole control thing, it's pretty much a great choice. Every game has a paint program as the last page, which can always get a good 5 minutes of joy.

Aside from that, most games require reading to navigate, and it really limits kids under 5.

[Gameguy]

I got my Genesis when I was 4 years old. I remember playing Sonic 1, Kid Chameleon, Taz Mania, Space Invaders '91, and Golden Axe II. I think I briefly had some problems with Sonic back then, I couldn't get past Act 2 of the first level. I still had fun with those games, but Golden Axe II was my favourite. I'm pretty sure I could read by then too.

[Baloo]

I got my Genesis when I was 4 years old. I remember playing Sonic 1, Kid Chameleon, Taz Mania, Space Invaders '91, and Golden Axe II. I think I briefly had some problems with Sonic back then, I couldn't get past Act 2 of the first level. I still had fun with those games, but Golden Axe II was my favourite. I'm pretty sure I could read by then too.

Yeah, I've been playing the Genesis since probably 3 years old, and I learned to read at 4. I've been playing some of the same games as you have, Sonic 1, 2, 3, Mortal Kombat, Mickey Mania, etc. and I always had a blast. To be honest, I really do think it all depends on how smart your kid is at that age. Don't just give them oversimplified games, they may not enjoy them. But don't give them too complicated games like Phoenix Wright either.


You know what I recommend actually, get her a Sega Genesis, and pick up the Sega Club titles, most of them are just what a kid would like, but they're not overly simplified, they're just what a kid would like. Here are some of them:

Richard Scarry's Busytown
Ecco Jr.
Magic School Bus
Bonkers
Sesame Street: Counting Cafe

[NayusDante]

You know what I recommend actually, get her a Sega Genesis...

While you're at it, pick up Sonic 1, 2, and 3. There's no sense getting a proper system for a kid only to ignore these accessible and easy to find classics. Heck, the multiplayer in Sonic 2 is great for young kids. Sonic 1 and 2 would be $2~ well spent. Also, go for the 3-button pads, the buttons are bigger.

Let me throw something else out: When I was a kid, Game Genie was my friend. Try looking into cheat-friendly games with invincibility, etc.

[hellfire]

I am torn between leaning towards the Tinkerbell game or something educational like Animal crossing or a gift card or nothing at all

dont buy a weird princess game, get her something that is fun easy and enjoyable for people of all ages. mabie you should let her play some of your games to see what she likes.

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

dont buy a weird princess game, get her something that is fun easy and enjoyable for people of all ages. mabie you should let her play some of your games to see what she likes.

My favorites are way too hard for a 4yr old, or are too mature ie Persona 4, Earthbound Chrono Trigger, The ace attorney series etc

[iycon]

games my 4 year old daughter plays,

Game boy advanced- 1. Care bears-Care Quest
2. Strawberry Shortcake-Summertime Adventures

Nintendo DS- 1.Littlest PetShop (the entire series)
2.My Pet Shop
3.My Little Pony - Pinkie Pie's Party
4.Paws&Claws -Let's Ride ,Friends Forever
5.Paws&Claws - Pet Vet, Healing Hands
6.Smart Girl's - Playhouse
7.Smart Girl's - Magical Book Club
8.Build.A.Bear Workshop
9.Dora the Explorer- Dora Saves The Mermaids
10.Disney's The little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure

These are the games she picked out as we were in Target or Gamestop. Gamestop seems to be a good place to get these used as parents will trade these games in as their little ones get older.

Stuff like Princess Peach seem like like cool games for kids but my daughter (turned 4 in may) has no intrest in my copy. I think she would like to get the Tinker Bell game.

Sadly, i rarely get to use my DS much ,as HER collection of DS games exceeds mine and she often drains the battery.

[SegaAges]

Barney's Hide and Seek on the Genesis is pretty good for kids.

I have a v.smile, and those are catered towards young kids as well.

[Mianrtcv]

I have a v.smile, and those are catered towards young kids as well.

Leapster units are pretty plentiful and have some titles kids like.

[Therealqtip]

I meant 3rd grade...obiviously.... :p

Yeah, how was the Peach game.



Meh, but im sure a 4 year old would enjoy it. Just a simple platforming game

[ianoid]

games my 4 year old daughter plays,

Game boy advanced- 1. Care bears-Care Quest
2. Strawberry Shortcake-Summertime Adventures

Nintendo DS- 1.Littlest PetShop (the entire series)
2.My Pet Shop
3.My Little Pony - Pinkie Pie's Party
4.Paws&Claws -Let's Ride ,Friends Forever
5.Paws&Claws - Pet Vet, Healing Hands
6.Smart Girl's - Playhouse
7.Smart Girl's - Magical Book Club
8.Build.A.Bear Workshop
9.Dora the Explorer- Dora Saves The Mermaids
10.Disney's The little Mermaid - Ariel's Undersea Adventure


This is a great list, actually. Princess Peach is too complicated for a 4 year old. Smart Kid's are ok for younguns. Really Dora Saves the Mermaids is the most moronic of the lot, and a good starter title.

[iycon]

i'll also have to agree with a previous post. My daughter also has a Leapfrog Leapster, many good educational games she likes. But not as much as the DS titles. If there was a true Hello Kitty game she could find, she would be all over it.:kiss:

[hellfire]

My favorites are way too hard for a 4yr old, or are too mature ie Persona 4, Earthbound Chrono Trigger, The ace attorney series etc

It really doesent matter what system its for, have her over and let her play some games to see what genre of games she likes and go from their

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

It really doesent matter what system its for, have her over and let her play some games to see what genre of games she likes and go from their

That's almost impossible since I live on the East coast(for now) and she lives with my sister in california

[RCM]

You should take a look at sites like GamerDad and What They Play. You'll probably find some good advice there.

[T3chnologyGuy]

Any Disney game.

[hellfire]

get her mario 64 ds

[grado]

buy leapfrog leapster game, this is great education game, Disney Princess is suitable for 4 years old girl.

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

umm this thread was dead

[Therealqtip]

for next year buddy

[Chainsaw_Charlie]

lock please

[Richter Belmount]

madworld

[gum_drops]

madworld

Solid choice, but I wonder if the more artistic approach to the design of the game world may be a little too abstract for a 4 year old to fully grasp. I think Deadspace could be a better fit.