Although there have been widespread fears before that playing video games made kids anti-social, obese and even violent, there is scientific evidence to prove the exact opposite. According to Psychology Today playing video games has some profound benefits for your kids. These include:
- Improves their decision-making skills
- Improves their memory
- Sharpens their ability to focus and pay attention
- Improves their visual contrast sensitivity
- Reduces impulsivity
There is further research suggesting that playing video games helped with their mental flexibility and overall cognitive capabilities. The research even goes further to show how video games can help your kids become good at their future jobs, especially if the careers they choose call upon excellent eye-hand coordination, memory, attention and snap decision making.
The point is, video games may just be what your unruly kids need to learn some valuable life lessons and skills.
The question now remains, which Xbox One games are best for your kids in 2018? Here is a list of some of the most enjoyable and beneficial games for your kids to try out this year.
Best Xbox One Games for Kids in 2018
Minecraft - Xbox One
Minecraft is the one LEGO game that has equally captured the minds of children and adults the world over. With good reason; the game not only encourages creativity, but it fosters teamwork, cooperation and quick mental processing and situational awareness.
Minecraft is so well designed that even some schools are using it as an educational tool. The game itself is all about building your own world using blocks and tools that you are given within the framework. Your kids probably already know all about it.
With the virtual blocks they get in the game, your kids can build pretty much anything from shelters to fires and other tools they need to thrive. They can choose to play the survival or passive modes of the game. When playing survival mode, they get challenged to build important structures, collect resources, manage hunger, battle mobs as well as explore their new world to try and find ways to survive and thrive.
The benefits of playing Minecraft to kids
If you have a child who already understands video games, then getting them a game like Minecraft will help to increase their creativity levels as well as problem-solving and decision-making skills. The game is played by following a procedure where kids must complete certain tasks before moving on to the next level.
They will also learn the importance of teamwork. Playing with friends will teach them how to discuss common problems and come up with a group decision for the benefit of all that are concerned. All-important skills that they will need in their adult careers and life in general.
Pros:
- A lot of things to explore and keep the child busy
- It can be played with friends
- They can build anything from their imagination
- They can dig up fun items for their survival
Cons:
- The animation may seem rudimentary to some kids
This is a fun game that forces your child to turn on their creativity, play well with others and let their imaginative mind run wild as they try to build the perfect virtual world for themselves. It goes a long way to marry fun and learning in a simplistic yet very intuitive way.
LEGO Jurassic World - Xbox One
With this Xbox One edition of LEGO Jurassic World, your kids get the chance to experience all of the Jurassic films:
- Jurassic Park
- The Lost World: Jurassic Park
- Jurassic Park III
- Jurassic World
The game uses the LEGO form that kids love so much and recreates the films' action sequences as well as unforgettable scenes. Your kids can immerse themselves in an exciting adventure as they battle and escape dinosaurs from the past.
They can choose from 20 dinosaurs including T-rex, Triceratops, Raptors, and others. However, if your kids feel like they can create a better dinosaur, they can do so using DNA experimentation with their collected LEGO amber.
The benefits of playing LEGO Jurassic World to your kids
This game is all about fun and relieving some of the most action-packed sequences from the Jurassic Park movies. The feature that allows you to create your own dinosaur is especially beneficial as it promotes creativity all the while prompting your kids to remain within the realms of reality as they imagine and create their very own dinosaur.
The game enhances motor skills all the while improving your child's problem-solving skills and concentration.
Pros:
- Helps to improve problem-solving skills
- Enhances your child's fine motor skills
- It encourages socialization
- Improves your kid's concentration
- It is fun that can be had with their whole family
Cons:
- Can be difficult to play sometimes
- The characters do not have on-screen dialogues
This game offers your kid a whole new world to explore. It does not deviate that much from the films and is therefore quite familiar and fun to play.
Lego Marvel Super Heroes
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is a game that taps into the popularity of all heroes created by Marvel Comics. Unlike most games that have a tie to the movie world, with LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, the storyline is original. This allows everyone who plays to explore and discover new challenges and adventures that haven't been seen in the numerous Marvel movies.
An overview of the story is quite similar to the Avengers theme where Nick Fury sermons all the superheroes including Spiderman, Hulk, Thor and Iron Man to save the world from Loki and Galactus.
This game has over 100 superheroes and supervillains from the Marvel Universe. You can choose from the Black Widow, Captain America, and so many others to help you save the world.
The characters have new powerful moves, and the game allows you to explore more iconic locations such as Asteroid M, X Mansion, and Asgard. To make it even more enjoyable, your kids can customize their own characters thus allowing them to create their very own superhero.
The benefits of playing LEGO Marvel Super Heroes to your kids
This is a game that allows your kids to become their favorite Marvel superheroes and use their skills and knowledge of the characters to save the world. It brings action-packed adventures and the witty humor that all LEGO characters tend to bring into our lives.
Every single one of the characters is well-equipped with their superpowers and built to save the world. Playing this game will help your kids enhance their fine motor skills, give them a sense of accomplishment as they try to save their universe and teach them how to strategize and outthink the villains.
Pros:
- Improve multitasking skills
- Enhance your kid's fine motor skills
- It is a two-player game which means you can enjoy it with your kid or they can play with a friend
- It helps to improve strategic playing skills
Cons:
- There is no online game playing option
- Sometimes it has issues with saving data
The game has useful guides that help your kids be as courageous, as skillful and as heroic as their favorite Marvel characters. It is one of the best ways to help them develop their need to help others and be better.
Rare Replay - Xbox One
Rare has been in the video game making business for over 30 years now. In that time, they have always found a way to keep their players engaged and entertained. Those who have been playing these games all along will find this new Rare Replay Xbox One version both interesting and exciting. This version includes many iconic adventures and characters as previous editions.
It features 10,000 Gamerscore as well as new snapshot challenges that put your kid's basic skills to the test. Your children will enjoy this game immensely as they fight against Battletoads as they discover bonus content and exclusive looks. The product has 30 iconic, more than 700 hours of gameplay as well as 60-minute footage of behind-the-scenes interviews and so much more.
The benefits of playing Rare Replay to your kids
The fact that this game was created to commemorate Rare's 30th Anniversary makes it a special edition that includes 30 of their most iconic games and mesmerizing effects. The one hour of behind-the-scenes interviews are a wonderful touch that gives your kids enjoyable insight into how the game is built.
With over 700 hours of gameplay time, the fun seemingly never ends and will go a long way to help your kids develop their fine motor skills as well as their problem-solving skills.
Pros:
- Enhances fine motor skills
- It has more than 30 iconic games and 700 hours of gameplay time
- A fun way to learn
- Increases your child's brain speed
- Enhances the kid's memory
- Has behind-the-scenes interviews that give the kids insight into how their favorite games and characters are created
Cons:
- The games are the same as the original games
- Requires a huge amount of space on your console's hard-drive
With 30 iconic games and 700 hours of gameplay time, your kids will remain engaged and entertained for a very long time. They will also learn a bit about how their video games are created.
Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition - Xbox One
The best video games all have a wonderful, albeit emotional, backstory. Ori and the Blind Forest is no exception to this rule. The game is masterfully crafted, it is action-packed, full of adventure and has a wonderful narrative.
It features Ori, a lovable glowy mouse who is helped through its journey by Sein, an adorable floating orb. Their mission is to restore joy in the world. The game features a story that is very well written and presented.
It offers exciting fits of adventure and presents your kids with challenging puzzle-solving levels that will keep them occupied for a long time.
Ori, the main character, starts off as a weak mouse who soon gains his strength because he discovered old spirits that helped him grow. He quickly learns how to stomp, jump, double-jump and do so much more in his journey to restore joy in the world.
The benefits of playing Ori and the Blind Forest to your kids
Because this game is created on a 2D platform, it doesn't have levels. However, that does not stop the fun from flowing as the characters battle their way through shooting enemies, fatal brambles, spikes and a whole lot more. It has a map-like sketch that has a wider classic Castlevania and some Zelda in it.
The game helps your kids learn how to solve complex problems while looking for solutions in simple, yet enjoyable ways. By playing this game, they will learn that just because they have powers does not mean that they can use them in every scenario which teaches them self-control and some form of humility.
Pros:
- It has a wonderfully enjoyable backstory
- It features beautiful graphics despite being on 2D
- It improves problem-solving skills
- It is challenging and enjoyable at the same time
Cons:
- It gets a little slow from time to time
The game is elegantly crafted and has a beautiful back story with which every kid can identify. It teaches them how to use their skills for the greater good and shows them how to choose their moments and match the right skill set to specific problems and situations.
There is no doubt that finding the right video games for your kids is a wonderful and enjoyable way to keep them busy while learning some valuable life skills. The best thing about the games on this list of Best Xbox One Games for Kids 2018 is that even the adults can enjoy these games from time to time.
Make the time to buy any one of these games for your kids and see their skills grow, they enjoyment levels skyrocket and thankfully, see them leave you alone as they get lost in their own virtual worlds.