Lets continue our “The best PC games for…” series with the best games to play with the kids. If you have children, siblings, nephews, nieces or cousins, and want to play games that are a little more age appropriate than Call of Duty: Ghosts, you have more family friendly options that won’t leave you stuck with Peppa Pig. There are tons of affordable video games accessible for all ages, that also happen to look great, have an awesome story line, or are just plain fun to play. The platform genre is one of the oldest in the world of video games. When I was little (just a couple of decades ago), I loved playing them, and they served me fairly well. Although there are many platformers for PC that I’d highly recommend, Rayman Legends has to top the list. Big kids and little kids alike enjoy this Ubisoft classic, and not just because it’s a great game –it’s also an asymmetric multiplayer. This means that a character has the lead role (they can jump, attack enemies and go forward) while others act as supporting characters, moving platforms or cutting ropes to move forward.
Too easy for your little one? Then switch roles and let them be the main star. Who doesn’t like superheroes? Kids certainly do, and they’ll go crazy for the latest LEGO game based on the Marvel franchise. Lego Marvel Super Heroes has all the mainstays of games from developers TT Games: levels full of secrets, hundreds of characters with different abilities, multiplayer for two, a sense of humor and, in this case, a fun open world based in Spider-Man‘s New York. You can rest easy that when you play this Lego game with your little ones, there won’t be even a hint of graphic violence. The humor is very clean (but very successful), and the difficulty level is accessible for almost everyone. Download Lego Marvel Super Heroes Another theme that gets kids really excited is cars, motorcycles and pretty much any machine that moves. Windows has lots of driving simulators, but most are too complex for smaller kids. That changes, however, if you add Sonic & All -Stars Racing Transformed into the mix, which is especially recommended for children from 7 years and up.
In the game, you control the legendary hedgehog, all of his friends, and even the most colorful of SEGA characters, from a “Football Manager” to a Total War Shogun. The objective is clear: to get the first goal in a circuit filled with colorful and original obstacles in which you’ll drive vehicles that can transform into other objects. Up to 4 players can enjoy racing at the same time on a split screen, so encourage the whole family to join the party. Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed is obviously similar to the legendary Mario Kart, but it does have some advantages over it, like its planes and seafaring vehicles and the ability to do stunts. Your kids are sure to love it, and you will too! Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed It’s true that the last Maxis game didn’t have a multiplayer for playing at home, but with the classic title, your entire family can play together. With so many management options, your kids could get overwhelmed. I propose another way to play: you take the reins of the game and ask them to lend a hand with advice on where to place the buildings, or ask them what they think is missing in your city.
With this approach, they feel useful and, without realizing it, they’re be learning basic organizational concepts, which can help them when it comes to things like keeping their rooms clean! In addition, SimCity will soon have another benefit: you can install mods. This will infinitely expand the possibilities of the game, just like in these titles. Angry Birds and company are very popular on mobile phones, but most of their games are also available for Windows. This includes the series spin-off that places the spotlight on the green piggies. In Bad Piggies, you need to help the piggies retrieve the eggs that the birds are trying to steal. To do this, you must build machines with the pieces provided in each level. Like SimCity, Bad Piggies may be a bit complex for younger children, but they’ll feel really useful if they can help you make little machines (in fact, the game has a PEGI rating of +3). For slightly older children, especially those with a talent for building logic and mathematics, the game doesn’t involve too much difficulty, and it can be you helping them instead of them helping you.
It’s very easy to give children a tablet and let them immerse themselves in a world of fun and learning. Sometimes this can give you a much-needed moment of peace and quiet, but there will also be times when you want to play with the kids. Thanks to the PC, you won’t miss the opportunity to share some time with them. Everyone will have fun and they may even learn something. If you like this article, check out the rest of our ‘The best PC games for…’ series!Scuf Gaming is a small Atlanta-based video game company that makes custom console controllers for professional and everyday gamers. From its inception five years ago, the company has partnered with top eSports gamers and teams to establish its products as the go-to console controllers in eSports.Over 90% of console pro gamers across titles such as Microsoft's Halo 5, Activision's Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, and Hi-Rez Studios' Smite use Scuf Gaming controllers, according to Duncan Ironmonger, CEO and co-founder of Scuf Gaming.Now the company is going mainstream by offering artists and presenters at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards
Xbox One and PC Scuf Infinity 1 controllers and accessories in the official talent gift bags and backstage gift lounge.The controllers can cost up to $195. They're just one of the many goodies in the Grammy gift bags for this year's show, which airs on CBS on Feb. 15.Scuf Gaming will have several Xbox One consoles available to test out the custom controllers in the Grammy gift lounge backstage in the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Adele, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Skrillex and LL Cool J might be found trying their hand with the controller on games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, Halo 5: Guardians, Forza Motorsport 6, and FIFA 16."There is a natural connect between the top performers in the music industry and our audience of top gamers, so reaching out to the Grammy organizers to discuss our involvement seemed a logical next step," Ironmonger says. "Many of our fans are musicians, celebrities, and band members who regularly play video games both on tour and at home."Get Data Sheet, Fortune's technology newsletter.
One such band is Avenged Sevenfold, which worked with Scuf Gaming to release a Scuf Hybrid Avenged controller in 2013 and has a new Scuf Infinity 1 Avenged controller launching in a few weeks. Lead singer M. Shadows, who's a huge Call of Duty gamer, says video games have given artists a medium that used to be exclusive to MTV and radio."Opportunities that used to exist through these channels have dried up and now we feel the best ways to reach our potential fans is through gaming," Shadows says. "It's young, fresh, intelligent, and exciting."Lash Fary, founder and president of Distinctive Assets, says with so many gentlemen on the Grammy stage, his LA-based entertainment marketing and gifting company has always sought out cool tech items to satisfy the male artists’ love of gadgets."Gaming has been a hit in the past, so whether they are gamers themselves or simply get to return home after Grammy rehearsals and be a hero with their kids, we've included a couple great gaming-related gift items in the official talent gift lounge," Fary says.
Unlike a traditional controller, each Scuf controller is handmade by one of 200 employees after its been customized online by the gamer. That process is being re-created within the 5,000-square-foot gifting lounge by offering artists a variety of colors and accessories to choose from. Then they can play games while their controller is being built."Musicians understand the value of using professional tools and appreciate the unique customization that Scuf controllers offer," Ironmonger says.For more on musicians and Xbox, watch:Ironmonger is using the Grammys to establish additional relationships with musicians who game. The partnership with Avenged Sevenfold has been successful in extending the Scuf brand to the band's global rock audience, he says."Music is one of the few things that go hand in hand with gaming and eSports," Ironmonger says. "Many of our sponsored pro players and influencers play music during their live streams, practice matches, and scrimmages."Scuf Gaming, which filed 55 patents and had 17 granted for the technology that makes the Infinity 1 controller a reality, licensed its technology to Microsoft for its $150 Xbox One Elite Controller, which has been selling out at retail since it launched last year.