Here are some fun online video games for kids of all ages to play by themselves. In addition to featuring some genuinely enjoyable single-player offline story campaigns that will keep players of all ages busy for days, each Pokemon game also supports online multiplayer in the form of Pokemon trading and battles. Communication with other Pokemon players is very minimal and is almost entirely restricted to basic gameplay information entered on a player’s in-game ID card such as their nickname and how many Pokemon they’ve caught. Other forms of communication include emoji and basic phrases which are created from a list of pre-approved safe words. Referred to in-game as the World Dance Floor, Just Dance’s online mode has players dancing to the same song as other players from all around the world at the same time. There’s no verbal or visual communication with other players, however, you can see the top dancers’ scores update in real time which creates a sense of genuine competition amongst the participants. Minecraft has a strong solo-player offline element but kids can also go online and play with or against other players and there’s also the ability to share creations and download those made by others. The simplified graphics prevent any of the action from being too scary and the voice chat can be disabled via console parental settings. There are a variety of fun online modes for kids and adults to play in Star Wars Battlefront II with the two most-popular ones being Galactic Assault and Heroes Versus Villains. The former is a massive online 40-player battle mode that recreates iconic moments from the films while the latter lets the player play as iconic characters like Luke Skywalker, Rey, Kylo Ren, and Yoda in four-on-four team battles. There is no built-in voice chat functionality in Star Wars Battlefront II though players still can converse with friends using a console’s own online services which can be disabled. The aim of each match is to cover as much of the field in your team’s color as you can by blasting and spraying paint on the floors, walls, and opponents. Splatoon 2 uses the Nintendo Switch smartphone app for voice chat which can be controlled or disabled by parents. While there is a story mode in Fortnite, its Battle Royale mode is what most gamers play. In it, users connect with 99 other players from around the world and, depending on the match’s rules, take out the other team or every other player to claim victory. The concept sounds violent and inappropriate but there’s zero gore, player deaths are more like digital disintegrations, and everyone gets to dress up in wild outfits such as a teddy bear onesie or a fairy. Voice chat in Fortnite is enabled by default to work with other squad/team members but this can be disabled in the game’s settings on all platforms. Kids can still form private chats with their personal friends on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 consoles but this can be disabled completely by using the respective console’s parental restrictions. Players can connect with up to seven other players to play online with which creates numerous opportunities for some fun, and safe, co-op multiplayer action. Terraria relies on consoles’ built-in voice chat solutions which can be disabled by parents. In Rocket League, players drive a variety vehicles on an open soccer field and must smash the giant ball into the goal just as in a traditional soccer game. Gamers can play in online multiplayer Rocket League matches for up to eight people and there’s loads of customization options for kids to personalize their cars and make them their own. Voice chat can be controlled via the console’s family settings. When using the Lego website, it’s important to check the icons of the games listed. Those that display a gaming console icon or one with a tablet and smartphone are promos for the paid Lego video games such as Lego Marvel’s The Avengers. The ones that are free to play online are the games that use the laptop icon. In Super Bomberman R’s multiplayer modes, the aim is to defeat other players by strategically placing bombs within the maze-like level. Power-ups and abilities provide some variety to the proceedings but overall it’s good, simple fun that anyone can play.
