We really enjoyed EGX, and had fun checking out all the newest family-friendly games – as well as a few of what we call our “after bedtime” games!
With the kids
These are games that the girls, Georgie in particular, would enjoy playing with us.
Super Mario Maker
Wii U Nintendo
We are big Mario fans in our household so when we got to EGX this is the game we made a beeline for. Georgie was really excited by this demo, and even Lydia got stuck in with the level editor. I love the fact that you can create levels to suit the ability of the intended player – Georgie really enjoys simple platform games and is a big Mario fan, and so this will allow us to make levels for her to play on her own. This looks like a great family game, and Georgie has asked for it for Christmas!
James says “Make your own mario levels, what isn’t there to love!”
Tearaway Unfolded
PS4 Media Molecule
I think Tearaway is one of my favourite games that we saw on Sunday – the gameplay mechanics are ingenious and the use of the controller is great. Manipulating the paper by directing the wind quickly became second nature as part of the game play, and all the interactive parts really appealed to both myself & Georgie – she loved drawing snowflakes, bossing me about the perfect placement of our banner design elements, and having her photo taken to appear on the side of an Elk. The graphics are really clever and I am definitely adding this on my “I need to play the full game” list.
James says “More than just a remake. Another ingenious game from Media Molecule!”
Bears Can’t Drift!?
Steam (Win) / PS4 Strangely Named
We were physically dragged to this booth by Georgie who wanted to play “the bears game” and I can see why she wanted to. The graphics are really fun & appealing and who doesn’t love the idea of driving around as a bear?
This kart racing game has quite intuitive controls, although Georgie’s small hands struggled a little on the large controller due to the button placements. She did a fairly good job of steering her bear with a slight tendency to crash – there will be different difficulty modes which will probably make things easier for her. I can definitely see us getting this game when it comes out on the PS4 and having a family race on the four way split screen! You get to drive around a hub world as well as different tracks, which is a nice concept and Georgie definitely enjoyed exploring it.
James says “A fun take on the Mario Kart style games with the added extra of easy and free roam modes for kids to enjoy.”
Word Party “A good selection of word games for all the family”
Word Party
Wii U Lightwood Games
Word Party is a group game for the Wii U with 28 different mini word games to play, which will be available to download on the eShop. Most of the mini games have a 30 second time limit and all the players have to complete a simple word puzzle as best they can in that time limit, although some are played in rounds with smaller time limits. The games are mostly uppercase, and 2-5 players can join in the fun.
Despite being too young to really understand it properly, the girls enjoyed the graphics and the gameplay of Word Party. The game uses mostly simple words, that Georgie will be beginning to read in the next few years, so I can see her enjoying it as she learns to read more and more. From a education point of view it is a shame that you can’t change the settings to be all lowercase where possible as that is what they learn first at school, and an easy setting with longer time limits would be good for families with younger children. I could definitely see us playing the simpler games with Georgie in the next year or two though. Word Party is expected to release in November, so it will be out in time to add some fun to your Christmas family gatherings.
James says “A good selection of word games for all the family”
Splatoon
Wii U Nintendo
I loved playing this game and Georgie really enjoyed standing with me bossing me about while I played! We had a go at the turf war multiplayer mode, which was really fun, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy to play the single player mode too. I can see Georgie enjoying this one too, as the controls are simple and intuitive, and the main concept is simple – splat EVERYTHING with ink using a variety of “weapons”. One on one multiplayer mode would be fun to play at home too.
James says “Crazy multiplayer paintshooting game, but also has single player campaign mode. Great Fun.”
Kid-friendly
These games are ones we would play around the kids, often with Georgie self importantly telling us where to run and what to do! We don’t worry too much about cartoon violence or anything of the level they would get exposed to during daytime tv.
LEGO Dimensions
PS3 / PS4 / Wii U / Xbox 360 / Xbox One TT Games
I really want this game. Playing it at EGX made me go from “I wish I could convince James to let me get this” to “I am not taking no for an answer.” It is a crazy mix up of different characters and worlds, and the inclusion of Doctor Who and his TARDIS in one of the packs is one more reason for me to want it. The game style can change dependant on who you are playing as or what world you are in – the earlier Doctors turn everything to black and white.
LEGO Dimensions brings together toys and video games in a way that seems more creative and fun that the other games out there with the same concept. Building (and re-building!) the portal and vehicles yourself adds unique extra fun, and any LEGO fan will love growing their collection of minifigures. They’re guaranteeing compatibility for years to come which puts fears of it all becoming obsolete too soon to rest – I know compatibility has been a nightmare for the Disney Infinity fans. I’m really excited about this game! Georgie is a big LEGO fan so she loves to watch me play their games, and I am sure the addition of helping us to build the vehicles etc will really appeal to her.
James says “Very fun clever concept, but could get expensive for the obsessive.”
Shadow Puppeteer
Wii U (coming soon) / Steam (Win) Sarepta Studio
I had a chance to play this co-op game in the Nindies area, and really enjoyed it. One player controls the shadow and the other controls the character, and the shadow and character have to help each other out to find the secrets and explore the game. It was really fun to play and I think James and I would really enjoy playing this with each other – with Georgie watching and bossing us about, no doubt! This one is definitely on my wish list.
James says “Unique and clever co-op game”
Ratchet & Clank
PS4 Insomniac Games
I love the Ratchet & Clank games and have a couple of them on the PS3. I never got to play this particular instalment as the PS3 James and I got after we got married was my first PlayStation console – I was a Wii & PC gamer before that (and an Amiga one before that!). This is a re-imaginaing of the 2002 game that began the series, and it looks absolutely awesome. We already have this one on pre-order and I cannot wait for it to arrive!
James says “Looks great, and being based on the original it should be”
RPG Tycoon
Steam (Win/Mac) Skatanic Studios
If you were a fan of games like Theme Hospital, then RPG Tycoon will probably appeal to you like it did to me. The player is a leader of a newly established fantasy kingdom, and you have to grow your little empire; with a quest-driven storyline and heroes for hire. I’m not the biggest fantasy fan in the world but I do enjoy the genre, and this game looks like great fun.
Worms WMD
PC / XBox One Team 17
I’ve always loved Worms games and this one has some great added extras. You can drive about in vehicles like tanks, and enter buildings. The 2D cartoon styling is fun, and I felt like the game goes back to the earlier (better!) games in the series. We don’t have an Xbox, but I might try it on my laptop. It wouldn’t be suitable for the girls right now, but I’d be happy to play it with them in the room, and for them to play it if they were older.
Lumo
PS4 / Xbox One / PS Vita / PC / Mac / Linux Rising Star Games & Triple Eh?
This game appealed to me instantly, and Georgie loved helping me spot ducks to collect. They are bringing back the isometric adventure game style, and the graphics are really fun. Again, not one Georgie could play much herself but one that she could watch us play and boss us about. She did have a go at steering the character and enjoyed making the little wizard run around.
It’s a proper adventure game, all about exploring rooms, finding secrets and solving puzzles – which appeals hugely to me, as I grew up on a diet of Monkey Island games, and love that kind of problem solving. I really enjoyed the demo and if I hadn’t had the increasingly impatient kids with me, I would have quite happily sat there for ages to complete it, and find every last duck and cassette tape!
James says “Fun and intriguing.”
Star Fox Zero
Wii U Nintendo
This one is more on the list for James, not me – a dogfighting space shooter coming out in the first quarter of 2016 that is definitely going on his wish list! Star Fox Zero is a reboot of the classic Star Fox series that I know nothing about but was apparently enough to get James excited. It does look like a lot of fun, and the game pad adds a nice extra element of game play as it displays your cockpit as you fly.
James says “Looks awesome, reminds me of the SNES game”
After Bedtime
Strictly played with no kids around, these two games are among our favourite options for “after bedtime” games – we don’t get a lot of gaming time when they kids aren’t about, so we reserve the time for games we love. Assassin’s Creed and Uncharted are two series we play addictively!
Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
PS4 / XBox One / PC Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed is one of my favourite game series, and I snuck off to the over-18s area to try out the new instalment. We haven’t even got our hands on Unity yet as we don’t get a lot of time for this type of gaming, but what I played of the Syndicate demo was awesome. I really love these games and Syndicate felt like a decent continuation of the series. I am looking forward to getting this one sometime! I really like the idea of being able to play the two different characters, Jacob and Evie, and I had fun with the new rope grapple gadget, allowing the player to zoom around the rooftops, Batman style.
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
PS4 Naughty Dog & Bluepoint Games
Another favourite in our house, we have all three of the Uncharted games on PS3 already, and if I had the funds I would buy this in a heartbeat. The graphics and gameplay have been completed remastered for the PS4 and it looks great. This series is great fun to play and they have brilliant storylines, characters, and the settings are always graphically brilliant. If you haven’t got any of them already, then this collection is a great buy – and I’m still quite tempted by this despite the three PS3 games sitting on our shelf.
James says “A great series of games, that can only be better remastered for PS4”
Well there you have it, our take on the family friendly (and some not-so family friendly!) games we played at EGX 2015. We had a blast and our little girl geeks are definitely showing strong signs of growing up as little gamers!
