Few Xbox Kinect games are suitable for younger children, currently, with an age rating of 3+ in Europe or E in the US and Canada. Two more games that are 7+ rated are available and teenagers have a greater range to choose from. Games suitable for children tend to be family games for all ages, there are no specific kids Xbox 360 Kinect games.
The Kinect games are getting mixed reviews: some are very good but have a limited play life for older children and adults. These games would be better to buy when the price comes down. Others are widely reported as very poor because of controlling problems in those particular games.
Kinect Games for Children Aged 4 or 5
The Xbox 360 Kinect game suitable for the youngest players also has great reviews. Kinectimals is a family game in which the world's wild big cats are as friendly as tame pets. This is a game for younger children but all players will enjoy how it fully uses the features of Kinect. Players can play with the animals or go on a quest. Unlike some of the other games the software related to this game has little problem in translating the movements of the players into the action of the game.
Kinect Xbox 360 Games for Little Girls and Boys Aged 6 or 7
The most appealing Xbox Kinect games for young girls and boys are:
- Kinectimals, described above.
- Kinect Adventures, an action game which is good but a small game for the $50 price tag,
- Game Party in Motion, a family game which sounds great on the label but unfortunately has many disappointed reviewers reporting frustrating controls.
Exciting Racing Kinect Xbox 360 Games for Boys and Girls
Boys are as likely as girls to enjoy the games listed above. Young boys of about four or five years of age will like interacting with the lions and tigers in Kinectimals and many little boys will enjoy Kinect Adventures. Three further games designed to appeal mostly to boys who like racing games are:
- Sonic Free Riders, unfortunately this game is not regarded as one of the best games featuring Sonic the Hedgehog, not least because too many players report difficulties in simply playing and controlling the game.
These two games have a 7+ European age rating and reasonably favourable reviews:
- Kinect Joy Ride, a racing game with tricks and stunts which requires drivers to stand-up and move their bodies. This is generally viewed by players as a good game if it is available for less than $25, but not worth $40 or more which is the current selling price.
- Cross Board 7 in the UK is entitled Adrenalin Misfits for its US & Canadian version. Exciting, fast-paced snow-boarding action. Unfortunately, again there are many experiences for the sensors and avatar not corresponding to the actions of the players.
Kinect Games Suitable for Children & Families of All Ages
There are additional Kinect games which are suitable for everyone to play but the get fit themes are aimed at adults and are less interesting to pre-teenagers. The only dance title currently for everyone, Dance Masters, is not just a get up and dance game but more a course of study to learn a routine. Great fun for some people but others would find it a bore.
- Dance Evolution in the UK called Dance Masters everywhere else, the theme is learning dance routines to perform on stage. Despite being rated 3+ this is generally not a fun dance game for children though it can be fun and funny for adults, but some children are sure to love it.
- EA Sports Active 2, designed to appeal to men.
The title says all you need to know about the next batch of family games:
- Get Fit with Mel B
- Your Shape Fitness Evolved
- Zumba Fitness
- The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout
Buying Good Xbox 360 Kinect Games for Kids
The best games for children available on Xbox Kinect to date seem to be Kinectimals and Kinect Adventures, with Kinect Joy Ride being the best car racing game. There are likely to be more game released before Christmas of 2011, so watch this space for an update.
Kinect is a great and exciting idea but many players are disappointed with some games because somewhere in the process the motion detectors and the software fail to make the on-screen avatar behave as expected. Issues like these are likely to be sorted out over time. We would expect software updates and new games to improve on those which are the pioneers or this system.
Families should be aware that Xbox Kinnect is unsuitable for toddlers and children under about four years of age whereas as there are games consoles specifically for young children which require kids to move about such as the Zippity by Leapfrog.
Deborah Percy - BSc. MA. Managing Director of a heating & plumbing business. Interest in maths, science & research. Mother of 3, including twins.
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