My daughter is 6 and has been playing Pokémon and Yokai watch for a few years. She sometimes needs help with certain aspects of the games, but as her reading comprehension improved the help required lessened. She also is pretty good at finding walkthrough videos. Abdallahsmash is good for this as he is family friendly and provides very clear walkthroughs.
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Could an almost 6 year old handle a Pokemon game?
- Thread starter MasterShotgun
- Start date
Well Sun and Moon is lot more story focus than X and Y, hence why it has more texts.
Don't do this, the original Gen 1 games will be much harder for her to grasp than X and Y, especially since X and Y has better tutorial, the exp share, megas and a liner map with lesser requirement of HM moves, she will only need surf and Strength to get trough X and Y, whereas in Red/Blue she will need more and unlike X and Y she will have to go into a menu to use them.
I have Pokemon Moon on my 3DS and my 5yo was really interested in it, so on the weekends he'd either watch me play, roam around the island catching Pokemon for himself or watching playthroughs on youtube. I ended up buying Sun for him, I helped him a little bit, but he actually found Thinknoodles playthrough on YT so followed along with that. He got to the last island then asked me to wipe the game and start from scratch coz he enjoyed the earlier part so much.
I played Pokemon Silver for the first time at the age of 6. I got as far as the eighth gym before I got irrevocably stuck, because I couldn't read well enough to understand that you're supposed to go to the Dragon's Den after that. I still had tons of fun though. And with how hand-holdy the games are these days it might be even less of a problem.
MasterShotgun
brazen editing lynx
I'm not really looking for suggestions on specific versions. If I do go with Pokemon, it will definitely be X.
Amie is definitely a feature I believe she'll like. You get it early too, so that shouldn't be a hurdle for her. The Exp. Share will also be a boon for her.
3D Land is my next choice if I decide against Pokemon. She did struggle with it being a 3D platformer since she's only used to 2D platformers. I actually thought about Rayman Origins since she liked my X360 version, but the 3DS version didn't impress me at all. I might let her try the demo and see how she feels.
Amie is definitely a feature I believe she'll like. You get it early too, so that shouldn't be a hurdle for her. The Exp. Share will also be a boon for her.
3D Land is my next choice if I decide against Pokemon. She did struggle with it being a 3D platformer since she's only used to 2D platformers. I actually thought about Rayman Origins since she liked my X360 version, but the 3DS version didn't impress me at all. I might let her try the demo and see how she feels.
milkham
Member
I gave my niece who is in second grade now a 3ds and pokemon X over the summer. She's familiar with pokemon from watching the cartoons but this is the first game she's been exposed to. she says she likes it but I never see her playing it. I asked her why and she says that everyone is always trying to fight her. She's not interested in the combat at all and wanted to be a pokemon performer whatever that is. I personally have never really played any of them so I had no guidance for her, if she doesn't like the combat I guess there's nothing really in it for her. She enjoys kirby triple deluxe and Mariokart much more. I've been thinking about getting her one of the Style Savvy games.
i've always been thinking they've been selling pokemon professions in so many different ways, it's a wonder there aren't more games about doing stuff other than fighting in them. There's side content in the main games but yeah
I peaked early.
OP I would also recommend the Kirby games. Kirby is basically a Pokémon anyways, plus they arent text heavy to my knowledge. The 3DS games are highly regarded.
[Edit] Dude what if there was a crossover game where Kirby can swallow Pokémon and take their powers THAT WOULD BE RAD
lucebuce12
Member
Teach him/her how to play Nash in SFV instead.
CampbellzSoup
Member
I was 9 or 10 when I first got it...??? I started with RBY yes first gen lol.
Im gonna also say that it pushed me to read better.
Im gonna also say that it pushed me to read better.
Omnii-chan
Member
I was playing Pokemon games at 7. Almost 6 might be alright if they can read well.
applesaucejaxon
Member
I guess it depends where exactly their reading level is at currently. My kid is 7 and has been playing Pokémon for a little over 2 years now and has mostly had no issues.
Twilight Princess
Member
I was a fetus and I beat pokemon fine
ThatStupidLion
Member
Id day no, my nephew couldnt get through all the text and concepts at 6/7
BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO
Junior Member
Yeah.
jasminlovesyoux
Banned
I've played pokemon games with kids around that age, and it actually helped them to learn how to read. They were driven to read simply because they wanted to play the game.
It was a long time ago when I'd baby sit two brothers, one was 8 and the other 6. I think this was when Gold and Silver first debuted. Easiest baby sitting gig ever.
It was a long time ago when I'd baby sit two brothers, one was 8 and the other 6. I think this was when Gold and Silver first debuted. Easiest baby sitting gig ever.
stuminus3
Member
My oldest daughter has been playing since she was 6. She got super into learning the mechanics of the game, too - she's beaten most of them since then.
My oldest son learned to read at about the same age because of Zelda Wind Waker. I couldn't be bothered having to read everything to him so I told him he couldn't play it until he could read it. Didn't take long for him to be able to read it.
My oldest son learned to read at about the same age because of Zelda Wind Waker. I couldn't be bothered having to read everything to him so I told him he couldn't play it until he could read it. Didn't take long for him to be able to read it.
Doominated
Member
Get her the newest pokemon game and a dictionary to help with reading issues. Most kids at that age aren't actually having trouble reading the words, they're having a hard time figuring out how to say them and figuring out what they mean.
20 minutes teaching a young kid how to use a dictionary goes a surprisingly long way toward them becoming better readers.
I was playing Pokemon at 5 or 6 years old and didn't really have any trouble with it. Granted that was back in the R/B/Y days where I'm sure the "reading" was a little simpler, but the same concept generally applies with the newer games.
20 minutes teaching a young kid how to use a dictionary goes a surprisingly long way toward them becoming better readers.
I was playing Pokemon at 5 or 6 years old and didn't really have any trouble with it. Granted that was back in the R/B/Y days where I'm sure the "reading" was a little simpler, but the same concept generally applies with the newer games.
Totally depends on her reading level. My 8-year-old daughter is bilingual but a slightly stronger reader in Japanese. The pokemon games are really easy in Japanese because they are written entirely in the phonetic alphabet (or at least the old ones were). She is playing Pokemon yellow right now on an old GBA SP and really enjoys it.
Before that she was trying to play Pokemon X in English but found the reading too hard. After she get tired of Yellow we will probably try Sun/Moon in Japanese. Or switch X to Japanese.
But I will say, kids like a challenge as long as they are into it. Don't force her if it is frustrating, but it's a great way to learn reading, if she's into it.
Before that she was trying to play Pokemon X in English but found the reading too hard. After she get tired of Yellow we will probably try Sun/Moon in Japanese. Or switch X to Japanese.
But I will say, kids like a challenge as long as they are into it. Don't force her if it is frustrating, but it's a great way to learn reading, if she's into it.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
My mom taught me to read with the I See Sam readers when I was 3. It's not like I was reading novels or anything, but I knew my ABCs and could identify basic words by the time I was 4. Not saying that everyone should be expected to be able to read at that age, but it's certainly not unheard of.
DragonGirl
Member
I would wait until she's starting to read before trying Pokemon. I would suggest either of the Kirby games or Mario 3D Land. Once she can read well enough is when lots of stuff will open up, like Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Fantasy Life, or Forever Oasis as my suggestions.
It should be fine, good thing about x and y is they are mostly still grid-based with movement, so its easier to navigate for someone young. It should be fine, x and y are a little more hand/holdy than previous ones(except for navigating the awkwardness of the main city). I played and beat sapphire, emerald, and ruby when I was a little younger than that age so it should be good for her.
She will get stumped in a few places so just tell her what potions do and turn xp-share on and it will be quite a bit easier
She will get stumped in a few places so just tell her what potions do and turn xp-share on and it will be quite a bit easier
shoryukens
Member
Pokemon Blue helped me with reading comprehension when I was around that age so I say go for it. Kids are sponges for information so as I long as she likes the game she'll be fine. If she doesn't then at least she has 2 more games to play with.
KojiKnight
Member
I'm just getting my 7 year old into pokemon... but Dragon Quest (Warrior) 1 was how I started to learn to read at age 3. It's going to very kid to kid.
I would wait until she can read more fluently. Got a nephew who's 7 and loves the Pokemon IP however he gets bored very quickly with the games as he doesn't read well yet. He enjoys fighting for some minutes then gives up or asks me to read for him. But he's a bit lazy and got poor attention skill.
I would still get her something else unless you know she's gonna enjoy it enough to make the effort to read and learn.
I would still get her something else unless you know she's gonna enjoy it enough to make the effort to read and learn.
chicken_pasta
Banned
Got my first Pokemon game (Blue, or Edición Azul, to be precise) when I was 6 and i loved it. It's of course easier if the game is in the kid's native language, but I also used to play OoT in English and I loved it (and learned some English).
Yeah if she can even kind of read then she should be good.
This can be a fun way for her to practice reading. My son taught himself to read at 4 because he wanted to play Dragon Quest and my wife and I were tired of reading everything (especially since hed advance the dialog faster than we could read it).
This can be a fun way for her to practice reading. My son taught himself to read at 4 because he wanted to play Dragon Quest and my wife and I were tired of reading everything (especially since hed advance the dialog faster than we could read it).
Pokemon was the obsession back in those days.
Nowadays kids grew up with instant gratification games, YouTubers and iPad for entertainment.
It will be very hard to hold their attention if they can't handle the text. Patience is the other key here.
SuperBlank
Member
I played my first Pokemon game at ~7 and couldn't read all the words, but I still made my way through the game pretty well. If you can't understand all the important words you learn the actions by trial and error.
So I'd say give it a shot for a six-year-old. If it's a no-go, only need wait a year or two. Kids are pretty adaptive.
So I'd say give it a shot for a six-year-old. If it's a no-go, only need wait a year or two. Kids are pretty adaptive.
Martylepiaf
Member
I got Blue when I was 5 or 6 so I would say yes
For sure. I was playing Ghosts n Goblins at 5.
I guess the reading could be a problem, but most 5 or 6 year olds can read right?
I mean you pretty much learn to read at 5, and by six most kids should be able to sound out the words even if they do not necessarily know their meaning. Kid should be fine.
I guess the reading could be a problem, but most 5 or 6 year olds can read right?
I mean you pretty much learn to read at 5, and by six most kids should be able to sound out the words even if they do not necessarily know their meaning. Kid should be fine.
The1stOfHisName
Member
I got my then 5 year old a 2DS plus Pokemon Sun for Christmas last year and she loves it. She doesn't necessarily play the storyline but has a great time wandering around catching Pokemon, and trading for them on DTS.
That said, she was a very early reader, and so could follow everything that was going on. Without that, I doubt she would have enjoyed it half as much.
Now she's graduated to Earthbound on our new SNES Mini.
That said, she was a very early reader, and so could follow everything that was going on. Without that, I doubt she would have enjoyed it half as much.
Now she's graduated to Earthbound on our new SNES Mini.