5 Best Kids Games on PlayStation Plus (April 2024)

In case you were wondering — yes, PlayStation Plus is  a good launch platform for younger players. Matter of fact, it’s arguably one of the best on the market, and it’s thanks to its countless classics and family-friendly freebies that newcomers are able to get their fill and experience the wealth of content that it has to offer. What’s more, as it boasts a continuous cycle of fresh IPs and new updates for existing titles, it’s easy to see why so many families are opting for this particular subscription service to introduce to their fledgling gamers of all ages and backgrounds. The question is, which kids games on PlayStation Plus are the best, period? Well, here are the five we’d recommend picking up…

5. LEGO DC Super-Villains

If you’re not quite ready to introduce the likes of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to your little one yet, then perhaps consider LEGO DC Super-Villains, a brick-centric alternative that delivers all of the same anti-heroic elements of a traditional DC comic book, only with slightly more reckless consequences and tongue-in-cheek humor, to list just a couple of things. It’s a bread-and-butter LEGO game, clear as day, and so, naturally, you can expect to onboard a treasure trove of destructible worlds, as well as a roster of dozens upon dozens of iconic characters from the superhero universe.

LEGO DC Super-Villains grants you access to a brand-new storyline—a plot that you yourself can tailor to your own needs, as well as mold as a super-villain of your own design. With dozens of levels to work through, sandbox games to participate in, and an entire co-op campaign to shovel through, you’ll certainly have your work cut out for you here.

4. Riders Republic

Riders Republic is a bit of a mixed bag, in the case that, while it isn’t predominantly focused on biking, it’s comprised of several extreme sports, which includes base jumping, snowboarding, and even skateboarding. Suffice it to say that, as far as jack-of-all-trades-type sports games travel, Ubisoft’s all-in-one package strikes hard as one of the best of the bunch. It’s also teeming with seasonal events, mini-games, and tournaments, too, which means, even if you’re a returning player, you’ll never quite run short on things to do. What’s more, as the game is continually evolving and branching out to new modes of transport, it also means that now is as good a time as any to buckle up and hit the slopes, ramps, or mountains.

The goal of Riders Republic is simple: conquer the wide array of extreme sports, and develop your status as a fledgling rider from within the community. As for how you accomplish such feats, of course, is entirely up to you. And, as there’s an open canvas for a world and a litter of goals to complete in your own time, you’ll have all the time in the world to sharpen your skills and knuckle in on a multitude of podiums. So, whichever sport it is that tickles your fancy, know that Riders Republic takes pride in serving a genuinely unique experience in each of its components.

3. Thrillville: Off the Rails

If the likes of Park Beyond or Planet Coaster come across as a little mechanically ambitious, then consider planting roots in a lesser-known, albeit less challenging alternative, such as Thrillville: Off the Rails. Like the aforementioned park-centric business management sims, Thrillville invites you to create your own amusement park and carry out the daily chores of a budding tycoon. The only difference here, however, is that you’re not forced to deal with staff wages or financial obligations; on the contrary, you’re only real objective is to cram your park to the brim with entertaining slideshows and coasters, and essentially give your guests something to write home about.

Granted, Thrillville: Off the Rails is a little dated in comparison with other city-building games of its kind, but it is, nonetheless, a perfect starting point for those who are interested in getting their feet wet in the world of sandbox gaming. Graphically, it is somewhat shoddy and crinkled, but where it lacks in visual detail, it most certainly makes up for in countless other ways — its expansive range of coasters, rides, and stalls, to list just a few of its natural-born boons.

2. Dreams

If you’re unable to figure out which genre to tap into, then you needn’t look any further than Dreams, an all-in-one suite that, in a similar vein as Roblox, allows its players to explore millions of user-created experiences from within a single platform. Again, like Thrillville, a lot of its content can come across as a little gimmicky and repetitive, but for every lump of coal there’s often a diamond in the rough. Sure enough, it’s your duty, really, to dig them out.

Dreams isn’t on the verge of becoming the biggest game of 2024, what with a lot of its creations being in the final stages of their journey. Having said that, there are still plenty of reasons to check it out, more so if you’re interested in trying on a few hundred pairs of different shoes without committing to just the one diamond slipper. For what it’s worth, though, we’d honestly recommend picking up Art’s Dream — if only to acknowledge the amount of time and effort its creators poured into its conception.

1. SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom

SpongeBob SquarePants is making a comeback in an all-new revitalized version of its former flagship game, Battle for Bikini Bottom. This time around, however, there are few new nifty features to sift through, including new collectibles to unlock, characters to uncover, and even a selection of fresh biomes to explore. So, if you happened to miss out on the original chapter that launched way back when, then you ought to give the latest iteration some tender love and care.

Battle for Bikini Bottom offers a semi-open world setting to scoot around in, as well as a hearty selection of mini-games, combat encounters, and even a few hidden secrets, too. It’s platforming 101, and it’s arguably one of the most beloved children’s games on PlayStation Plus, period. Do you need to be a fan to enjoy it? No, though it might help you to decipher a sesame seed from a pinch of that sweet, sweet secret formula.

So, what’s your take? Will you be introducing any of the above five games to your household this month? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.