Video games are best enjoyed with good company at any age.
Playing video games online is a modern marvel that we are all thankful for. Never before could you and your friend in Japan, South Africa, Portugal, or anywhere else connect and play a round of Mario Kart together!
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It gets tricky when kids are playing online, since they might be exposed to things that you aren't comfortable with. This list brings together some of the best, most popular online multiplayer video games for kids - some that can only be played with friends, some that involve strangers - for you to review.
Skribbl is a free, really fun, surprisingly addictive guessing game that's played through a browser. Each player takes a turn drawing something with their mouse, and the other players have to guess what it is.
Due to the nature of the game, it isn't officially rated by ESRB, but it's really tame. If there was anything inappropriate present, it would be because you drew it or added it to the word bank. People love to play Skribbl for a group icebreaker, but its potential goes way beyond that!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can be played with up to eight people online (with a maximum of four people per Switch console)! It's an adorable racing game themed around the Mario franchise that anyone will be able to enjoy.
Settings are customizable for each player, so beginners can get a bit of help while experienced players still have a challenge. As such, it makes a great family game, since members of a family are bound to be of varied ages and skill levels.
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Rocket League takes fast race cars and combines them with the sport of soccer to create a chaotic and fun game that's perfect for groups! People have been playing it for years but it still hasn't left our collective radar, so you just know that it's good.
The cars in the game get special abilities and such to add to the excitement, so it's not quite like any other game of soccer. It also has cross-platform play between all its platforms, which is important for your online multiplayer shenanigans.
Minecraft has had its grip on us through three generations of Xbox and PlayStation consoles and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. New updates are constantly improving and expanding on the game - so you also know that your investment won't go to waste.
At its core, Minecraft is a creative sandbox game where players can freely build, fight, survive, and explore. All that is best experienced with good friends (as so many things are), so online multiplayer is a must.
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Settlers of Catan is a European board game that's rocketed into popularity in recent years. But did you know that there's no reason to only play with the people who are in the room? You can easily play it online with the mobile app, computer game, or right though your browser!
This one is a nice way to keep kids in touch with older relatives. Children can quickly become bored when being forced to sit on the phone and talk to someone, but a board game - especially one that's easy to learn and with simple controls like this - is a great icebreaker.
Roblox isn't so much a game in and of itself as it is a gaming platform. Users can create games in Roblox by using an engine known as Roblox Studio, then allow other players to join in on the fun! When done right, Roblox can really highlight the users' creativity, passion, and dedication to making a fun experience for the player.
There are tons of really impressive games to join, and it's a lovely way for children to hang out in a virtual environment, but its public nature means it should be treated a little more carefully. For extra security, familiarize yourself with the parental controls for the game.
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In 2016, Pokemon launched an Augmented Reality (AR) game called Pokemon Go, and everyone lost their minds. It basically allows you to experience Pokemon as if they lived in the real world, right in front of you!
While plenty of people over the years have had complaints about one thing or another, there's a reason this live-service game has survived for so long. You spend your time catching a team of Pokemon, training them up, and battling Team Rocket and other trainers - just like in the mainline Pokemon games!
Sea of Thieves lets you live out the fantasy of being a real pirate! That comes with the good stuff, like looting lost treasure, catching and cooking your own fish, and swordfighting with skeletons, but it also comes with the bad stuff about pirate life, too, like being raided by other pirates, having to patch up your ship to keep water out, and dealing with the Kracken.
Sea of Thieves' type of multiplayer puts a bunch of players in the same map together, so you'll see them and their ships as they go by. Will they attack you? Will they leave you be? Should you attack them? How much are you willing to risk? These are all questions that you'll constantly be asking yourself as you go. It's best experienced with a full crew on your ship, but can be played solo, too.
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Gabrielle "Belle" Huston is a writer and long-time gamer based in Ottawa, Canada. Reach her on Twitter (@TalkToGabrielle) or by email (gabrielle.h@thegamer.com). She's played video games for at least as long as she could write, and vice versa! As a current undergraduate student of journalism, she's seldom away from her computer. Belle uses what little free time she has to play Guild Wars 2 with her partner, work toward that 5-star rating in Animal Crossing, and wonder when the new Dragon Age installment is coming out.