RPGs that All Children Should Play

[The Legendary Zoltan]

Not little tiny children. I'm not thinking about my 7-month-old daughter. I'm thinking of elementary school kids around the ages of 10 and 12. What do you think?

I would suggest Chrono Trigger since it's great, it's not convoluted, and it's on the DS which lots of kids get, especially in Japan.

[Tooker]

My nephew's 11, and you can have his copy of Pokemon AnyColorYouCanName when you pry it from his cold, dead hands.  He also enjoyed FFTA2 and FFIV on DS.

I'm pretty sure he hasn't played the Mario & Luigi games, but they're also great and totally suitable for kids.  I somehow missed Partners in Time, but I loved Bowser's Inside Story.

I will be lazy and give you this link to our whole DS reviews page rather than link to each of the specific games. :)
http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews-ds.html

If she's got a version of the DS that includes a GBA slot, there are good options there as well.

[Agent D.]

SMT series.


...oh you meant games FOR children. Haha, yeah, not that then.



Obviously you should force the child to play earthbound, at least for the hilarity in twoson when you talk to the one kid who giggles about farting. Best part of the game right there.

[BobofMainframe]

I say Paper Mario. Everyone in the world has a Wii in a draw somewhere. Paper Mario is available on virtual console. The only drawback is you need a pro controller to play it. You might be able to use a Gamecube pad, I can't remember.

[trexrell]

A lot of people say that Mario RPG is one of the best out there. That seems like a pretty good one for a kid.

[Tooker]

I say Paper Mario. Everyone in the world has a Wii in a draw somewhere. Paper Mario is available on virtual console. The only drawback is you need a pro controller to play it. You might be able to use a Gamecube pad, I can't remember.

i just finished it - it requires the "classic controller."

[Der Jermeister]

Definitely the Kingdom Hearts games since they have a general kiddie feel at least in my opinion.

[daved]

Shining Force 1 & 2.  Think I was around 12 when I played those.  Plot isn't too complicated and while they're SRPGs, the combat systems are pretty straight forward and easy to learn.  If you don't have a SEGA Genesis, I believe there's PC, PS3, and XBox 360 versions available in one of the SEGA collections. 

And for nice, easy, & non-violent RPGs, there's always the Harvest Moon series. 

[Klyde Chroma]

I tend to think that in general most 16 bit RPGs and ARPGs are well suited for young teens and beginners, with the exception of a few for obvious reasons. Simplistic mechanics and easy to follow plots with the violence mostly "suggested" by way of the animations and not so much "illustrated" as it is today.

I also vote Lunar SSSC, Lunar EB, Alundra, and even Shining Wisdom and Albert Odyssey (if one has access to a Sega Saturn) simply because when I was 12 or 13 nothing was as satisfying as a working designs offering.

[MeshGearFox]

I'm not thinking about my 7-month-old daughter.

See, and that right there's a problem -- you're not thinking about your 7-month-old daughter, but do you know who is? The pack of dingos waiting right outside your door.

Anyway, probably Minecraft or Earthbound.

[kofvscapcom]

I'm thinking Super Mario RPG, anything pokemans or megaman battle network as those are all kid-friendly, relatively angst-free experiences and fun too. Not so sure about Earthbound as that mu training scene with Poo scared the hell outta me as a kid.

[Starmongoose]

Jade Cocoon 2 (no I won't ever stop shilling this game)

[Wild Armor]

Super Mario RPG, Chrono Trigger, possibly Lufia? (never played it), Summon Night for the GBA/DS, Pokemon, Golden Sun, Lunar, Grandia 1, Secret of Mana, Final Fantasy Legend (pick one). Robotrek?

I have a bunch of dungeon crawlers on mind, but I don't think they would have the patience for it. I'd probably just go with one of the ones above.

[cj_iwakura]

Seconding Lunar. Unless you're feeling evil, then Dragon Warrior. :D

[MeshGearFox]

What about Dungeons and Dragons? Like, the super-hardcore 80s kind of D&D where you make blood sacrifices out of your friends in a storm drain.