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[MasterShotgun]

My niece is turning 6 soon and her big gift is going to be a 2DS. Since I'm the gamer in the family, I've been put in charge of picking the games. I've decided that 3 should be enough to start with. The first two will definitely be Mario Kart 7 (which the 2DS should come with) and Scribblenauts. She had fun just playing on the title screen of that when I helped her spell words she thought of.

I'm asking about Pokemon because she's still learning to read and there is a lot of reading in those games. I'm specifically considering Pokemon X since that's the most recent physical version I own and won't cost me anything. It has most of the QoL changes that should help her out. I think she'll also enjoy dressing up her character, although it does take until Cyllage City before you can buy something other than hats.

She and her little brother are about the only kids I interact with regularly, so I don't really know how well other kids can play games like Pokemon. I didn't play my first Pokemon game until I was 8 or 9. I did let her try out my file in Sun and she seemed to enjoy herself. Mind you that was with a high level team, but she quickly figured out how to knock out wild Pokemon. She even remarked that what I had her test out was too easy. I know she didn't fully comprehend the mechanics at play, but that took me a while with my first game too. I obviously do not expect her to play in tournaments within the year.

I'm leaning towards yes. I believe a Pokemon game would be good for progressing her reading skills and maybe some general math concepts. I think given some time, she could surprise me. My brother (her dad) has basic knowledge of the games, so he can help her out on a more regular basis. This is all of course contingent her actually liking and sticking with the game. And if I should wait for Pokemon, I've got other game ideas for her.

GAF, what do you think?

 

[B-Dubs]

She'll be fine so long as she can read. If she's learning be available to help her sound out words and shit.

 

[robochimp]

I would say no, I have a simillarly aged kid. Text heavy games are unbearable because I have to sit there and read most things. Give it another year.

 

[samred]

I got excited about reading thanks to NES games at the age of 7. Make sure to buy strategy guides or instruction booklets that the kid can pore over repeatedly. Really helps reinforce basic word/sentence/grammar concepts. I say go for it.

 

[Surface of Me]

Isnt that Pokemon's main demographic?

 

[Iva Demilcol]

Why not a Kirby game?

 

[laoni]

I got my first Pokémon game (Pokémon Yellow!) when I was 5 and I loved it, so, I'd say go for it

 

[Neo-Ryudo]

erm yes? catching little cute things and then beating other people with it will be damn right amazing.

 

[nickgia]

Basic reading? You're good to go!

Spoiler

I got through blue at 7. It's all good.

 

[NoKisum]

If she can read, she can play.

Isnt that Pokemon's main demographic?

inb4 Pokémon/CoD comparison pic

 

[ClearMetal]

Should be fine if she can read a bit and/or you're around to help her out in the beginning of the game. I was 8, I think, when I played Red for the first time and I didn't speak a word of English at that age. Took me a while to discover how things worked (I had no idea there was a place where you could heal your pokémon, for example), but that's part of the charm. Not to mention Pokémon games these days are a lot better with introducing gameplay mechanics than they were 20 years ago.

 

[McBryBry]

I was like 3 when my parents got me a game boy and Blue. Its all good.

 

[Not Spaceghost]

I mean I got my first pokemon game when I was 6 so sure?

 

[mrkgoo]

every kid is different, you just need a surface to be appealing - the kid will figure out a lot more if they are keen on it.

Also try some puzzle games like picross 3D.

 

[RoadDogg]

My son is almost 6 and loves pokemon as an ip. He cant read yet though so the games end up boring him. He can manage through the combat, but only if I tell him which moves are attack moves. Any other stat based moves are over his head. The story parts drag on too long too and he loses instrest when I have to read to him for 5 min before he can just play again. The pikachu adventure games on wii are more entertaining to him, so is pokemon shuffle. I would switch to Mario 3D land instead. Next to no reading and a hand holding mode if needed.

 

[Lord of Ostia]

Only if she can read, I couldn't appreciate Pokemon games fully until I was able to read.

 

[Aaronrules380]

I feel like 6 year olds can vary a lot in reading ability so I don’t know if there’s a universal answer. That said i know a lot of kids can use these types of games to help improve reading ability. If you aren’t sure if she could read the game fully, then consider if she’ll typically have access to you or another adult who can help guide her through it, and how often these people would be willing to help get her through it

 

[Deleted member 17706]

My son isn't quite 4 yet and he has fun playing the 3DS Pokémon games despite not being able to read most of it. If kids are interested in playing, they will figure it out. I mean, they may not power their way to the elite four any time soon, but I'm sure it will still be a good time.

 

[Mr-Joker]

I'm asking about Pokemon because she's still learning to read and there is a lot of reading in those games. I'm specifically considering Pokemon X since that's the most recent physical version I own and won't cost me anything.

If it's Pokémon X you're giving her, then she will be fine as the game is pretty easy and very difficult to get lost as the game is designed for players like her in mind.

As for still learning to read, it has been proven that Pokémon actually helps kids to read so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

Isnt that Pokemon's main demographic?

While I view it more as an all-ages series but yeah it is pretty much it's aimed heavily towards the younger market.

 

[TheLostBigBoss]

yes

 

[Dylan Sexbang]

I started Pokémon at 5. No problems, but my reading skills were pretty good.

 

[BackwardCap]

If Twitch can do it, anyone can.

 

[Mediking]

Make sure the kid doesn't accidentally press B when evovling a Pokemon.

Make sure the kid knows to replace the lame moves when Pokemon evovles.

 

[Phu]

That's about how old I was when the original games came out in the west. Pokemon's actually pretty good for learning vocabulary.

 

[CrazyDude]

I was at that age when Pokemon Red came out, and I was fine.

 

[Collateral22]

I got a GBC and Pokemon Gold for my 6th birthday. Took me awhile to pick up on things but got a lot of time out of it and was a great learning experience.

 

[SinCityAssassin]

When I was 6, I didn't realize I could buy pokeballs from the mart and catch other pokemon that wasnt charizard.

I'm going to assume children are smarter by now.

 

[Theswweet]

Somehow I got to Kanto in Pokemon Silver when I was 4, so sure.

 

[PaulBizkit]

Yes, she'll handle it with no problem at all.

I played red/blue when I was 10 and my sister when she was 8, and we're from a spanish-speaking country. We beat those games several times.

Don't underestimate her

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

My sister got Yellow as a 5 year old and absolutely loved it.
(I was 8 or 9 so don't know personally)

 

[HawthorneKitty]

She might have trouble if logic and consistency in world-bulding is important to her.
Otherwise let her try it out and see how she likes it.

 

[badb0y]

I did it at 7 so she should be fine although it did take me pretty long.

 

[Alex Anderson]

Random suggestion. My niece got a DS lite around the same age and liked the game Animal Genius (DS) when she was still learning to read. Could cop a used one for a buck and change used on Amazon, I see.

 

[Aaronrules380]

Looking back at dates I would’ve been 5 or 6 when I first played blue version and I got through it fine (at least after I figured out the pink mat (I played on game boy color) was a doormat and learned how to get out of the house) that said I was always ahead of the curve in terms of reading ability as a kid and modern Pokémon is much more text heavy nowadays

 

[StrmSrg]

Sun and Moon are really beginner friendly with the first hour and a half being really tutorial heavy. Still, playing a text heavy game at 6 is a lot to ask for some kids. I remember playing Pokemon Gold at that age and it taking a long time to get my bearings. Also, recent games have more text than previous entries.

 

[squall23]

I was 8 when I played Red but my sister was 6 when she played Blue.

 

[lvl99 Pixel]

XY seems like a good start
got through that game mostly with 1 or 2 pokemon spamming 1 or 2 moves

 

[Fisty]

Yep, give her Red/Blue and watch her go. It's an amazing way to help them start reading more casually and I would recommend it for that specific reason. The repetion of words as well as familiar pictures/actions make it great for beginners, and there's nothing too advanced in there.

 

[yuoke]

I was the exact same age when I played blue, so...

 

[7Th]

SunMoon will hold her hand enough, don't worry about it.

 

[Aaronrules380]

Yep, give her Red/Blue and watch her go. It's an amazing way to help them start reading more casually and I would recommend it for that specific reason. The repetion of words as well as familiar pictures/actions make it great for beginners, and there's nothing too advanced in there.

Actually yeah, while i’d normally never advocate going back to older gena, they might be a better fit for a young kid because they’re significantly less story and by extension text heavy. They’re also significantly cheaper on the virtual console then buying the 3DS ones would be. Though i’d Recommend gold or silver over red or blue

 

[PSqueak]

I was like 3 when my parents got me a game boy and Blue. Its all good.

Im sorry, you could read at age 3?!!

 

[CelestialWolfZX]

I started with Pokemon back when I was five and three quarters with the OG Blue... and back then I didn't realise that Pokemon Centres were places you could go to heal your pokemon so getting through Viridian Forest didn't go all to well first time around.

For actual battling, they also colour each move type now, so if she can connect that blue border attacks = water type moves and similar she should be fine on the battle front. The main games aren't really that hard even with just your base starter pokemon (plus it's shockingly easy to over-level your team in X/Y due to the Exp. Share making things a little too easy in my experience)

If nothing else, Pokemon Amie will be enjoyable.

 

[Marker007]

I was about there when Red and Blue launched and I played both all the way through over a year's time. I think she'll be okay.

 

[JDdelphin]

My son is almost 6 and loves pokemon as an ip. He cant read yet though so the games end up boring him. He can manage through the combat, but only if I tell him which moves are attack moves. Any other stat based moves are over his head. The story parts drag on too long too and he loses instrest when I have to read to him for 5 min before he can just play again. The pikachu adventure games on wii are more entertaining to him, so is pokemon shuffle. I would switch to Mario 3D land instead. Next to no reading and a hand holding mode if needed.

Agreed

My 6yo son got a 2ds for christmas last year with mario and pokemon sapphire.

He loves pokemon, the cartoons and all that- but the game didn't hold his interest at all as he is only now starting to be able to read.
I'm sure he'd watch me play (kinda- it would get boring fast I think) but it defeated the purpose of getting a game for HIM.

Mario on the other hand was like a duck to water.
I ended up getting him smash bros and mario maker for his birthday later and hes happy as could be with those.

Pokemon will be there for him in a year or two, though

 

[GiantBreadbug]

I think playing Blue when I was four years old actually helped me learn new words and accelerated the rate at which I learned to read. I would always ask my parents what new words I saw in the games meant.

 

[Mercador]

It depends if she enjoys reading. My daughter passed through pokemon y when she just got 6 and finished it.

 

[spazchicken]

I have an almost 6 year old as well and I'm wondering the same thing.

Guess it can't hurt to try.

 

[Forkball]

Im sorry, you could read at age 3?!!

I started being taught to read at age 2. I’m not sure when I could fully comprehend, but I could read well before kindergarten at least. It was all downhill after that.

I think a six year old could easily handle the games. There are many QoL changes that guide the player along.

 

[Mercador]

I started being taught to read at age 2. I’m not sure when I could fully comprehend, but I could read well before kindergarten at least. It was all downhill after that.

It looks like you are gifted.