Suggestions for kid-friendly fighting games?

[CParsons]

Over the holidays I spent some time with my younger cousins and it kind of dawned on me that I had no real kid-friendly fighting games. They pretty much were all a little too much for them, does anyone have any good suggestions for more kid-friendly options? Mainly looking in the 8+ range but any suggestions would help because I dunno what gets their attention. Thanks!

 

[PCG Robin]

Depends what you count as kid-friendly really.

If you're looking for simple and accessible, Divekick is great fun, reducing the entire concept of fighting games down to just two buttons. Gangbeasts is another great one for some easy, silly fun, though it's maybe more a wrestling game than a fighting game.

On the meatier side of things, Injustice 2 is on the more accessible end of mainstream fighting games, and features characters they probably already know and like. It's a little grim and dark but there's not really any blood, gore, or over-sexualised characters, and I don't remember any swearing even, so I'd have thought it'd be appropriate.

 

[I Will Haunt You]

When my son was younger he had a blast with Sumotori Dreams. http://www.gravitysensation.com/sumotori/

And acquired taste for me personally, but he adored for good while.

 

[CParsons]

When my son was younger he had a blast with Sumotori Dreams. http://www.gravitysensation.com/sumotori/

And acquired taste for me personally, but he adored for good while.

That looks awesome. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[CParsons]

Depends what you count as kid-friendly really.

If you're looking for simple and accessible, Divekick is great fun, reducing the entire concept of fighting games down to just two buttons. Gangbeasts is another great one for some easy, silly fun, though it's maybe more a wrestling game than a fighting game.

On the meatier side of things, Injustice 2 is on the more accessible end of mainstream fighting games, and features characters they probably already know and like. It's a little grim and dark but there's not really any blood, gore, or over-sexualised characters, and I don't remember any swearing even, so I'd have thought it'd be appropriate.

Totally adding them both to my list! Thank you.

 

[Apollo]

Easy, at least for me. Dragon Ball FighterZ and Street Fighter V. For SF, Chun-Li is the closest thing to oversexualized, and Dragon Ball is just anime.

 

[Gamegeneral]

I've heard and seen good things about Them's Fightin' Herds. They recently, as of a couple months ago, added a kind of party game mode, too.

 

[CParsons]

I've heard and seen good things about Them's Fightin' Herds. They recently, as of a couple months ago, added a kind of party game mode, too.

Just checked out the trailer, that looks pretty sweet!

 

[SparkyNinja]

The thing with fighting games for my kids is the complexity of the gameplay.

I've played Gangbeats with them and they get it and find it fun for a while.

Super smash bros on the other hand they enjoy for the content, but they're just smashing the controls really and I suck at it so they always win - I can't have that.

 

[CParsons]

The thing with fighting games for my kids is the complexity of the gameplay.

I've played Gangbeats with them and they get it and find it fun for a while.

Super smash bros on the other hand they enjoy for the content, but they're just smashing the controls really and I suck at it so they always win - I can't have that.

Yeah, sucks getting owned by kids. My oldest takes great pride in letting me know how terrible I am at Fortnite.

 

[Lutfij]

Lego? I remember getting Lego Star Wars (the first)trilogy and it occupied my little brother for hours. When the saga came out, it was even more interesting. Then there's the rest of the Lego games. maybe that's what you can look into.

Though age will play a part in what you recommend to a "kid", since I'm a grown up "kid".

 

[Inspireless Llama]

When I was a kid I played Super Smash Bros (Mario) on GameCube. Not sure if that's really a kid-friendly fighting game, but maybe a simular game would fit.

 

[logainofhades]

These look pretty kid friendly, to me. I haven't played a fighting game, in years.

Rivals of Aether on Steam

RIVALS OF AETHER is an indie fighting game where warring civilizations summon the power of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Play with up to four players either locally or online.

store.steampowered.com

Brawlhalla on Steam

An epic platform fighter for up to 8 players online or local. Try casual free-for-alls, ranked matches, or invite friends to a private room. And it's free! Play cross-platform with millions of players on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android & Steam! Frequent updates. Over sixty Legends.

store.steampowered.com

 

[Echo84]

Over the holidays I spent some time with my younger cousins and it kind of dawned on me that I had no real kid-friendly fighting games. They pretty much were all a little too much for them, does anyone have any good suggestions for more kid-friendly options? Mainly looking in the 8+ range but any suggestions would help because I dunno what gets their attention. Thanks!

Divekick like the other poster mentioned, and maybe introduce the lads to emulation, by way of Nintendo's Smash Bros running on Dolphin? I can't believe we played Mortal Kombat when we were that age

The Brawlhalla and Rivals of Aether suggestions also look rad.

 

[Apollo]

Divekick like the other poster mentioned, and maybe introduce the lads to emulation, by way of Nintendo's Smash Bros running on Dolphin? I can't believe we played Mortal Kombat when we were that age

The Brawlhalla and Rivals of Aether suggestions also look rad.

Brawlhalla is really cool, and pretty simple and the Adventure Time, Rayman, and Steven Universe features could help with appealing to them

 

[Rensje]

As a few before me mentioned, the first game that inevitably comes to mind is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's very accessible, it features characters that they will know and love, and it's fast 'n flashy in all the right ways without ever looking or feeling violent.

Brawlhalla is basically a free-to-play indie adaptation of that exact style of fighter. The roster isn't as recognisable and in my opinion it is never going to look or play as good as Nintendo's original, but if you don't have access to a Nintendo Switch it can't hurt to give this one a try. It's free, after all.

Personally, I think I might give the nod to Lethal League and Lethal League Blaze (sequel). It's a fighting game of sorts where you and your opponent(s) hit an anti-gravity ball at each other until one of you gets hit. There's no limit to the speed the ball can pick up with each hit, so the action gets more frenetic constantly. It's really good fun!

 

[Apollo]

As a few before me mentioned, the first game that inevitably comes to mind is Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. It's very accessible, it features characters that they will know and love, and it's fast 'n flashy in all the right ways without ever looking or feeling violent.

Brawlhalla is basically a free-to-play indie adaptation of that exact style of fighter. The roster isn't as recognisable and in my opinion it is never going to look or play as good as Nintendo's original, but if you don't have access to a Nintendo Switch it can't hurt to give this one a try. It's free, after all.

Personally, I think I might give the nod to Lethal League and Lethal League Blaze (sequel). It's a fighting game of sorts where you and your opponent(s) hit an anti-gravity ball at each other until one of you gets hit. There's no limit to the speed the ball can pick up with each hit, so the action gets more frenetic constantly. It's really good fun!

I see Smash and Brawlhalla, but kids could get angry and call Lethal League broken or something since the game is inherently chaos

 

[PCG Robin]

I see Smash and Brawlhalla, but kids could get angry and call Lethal League broken or something since the game is inherently chaos

Kids love chaos!

 

[Apollo]

Kids love chaos!

True, but there's 2 kinds of chaos. Controlled Chaos is like playing with toys or Minecraft. It's total chaos, but only when Ensign Wesley makes it so. Total Chaos is Pandora's box, and i think if a button mashing 7 yr old plays Lethal League, total chaos is gonna reign.