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Introducing child to RPG genre
- Thread starter Fxp
- Start date
Forsaken82
Member
He's been watching his father play The Witcher 3... and Divinity is the "lunatic suggestion"?
Huge Succeeded
Banned
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions for Nintendo 3DS is what you're looking for.
It's an upcoming 3DS remake of -
- the best Mario RPG ever made
- one of the most kid-friendly RPGs ever made
- a video game that is genuinely hysterical and full of chuckles
- an RPG with an easy to understand action battle systems where Mario and Luigi fight enemies by literally throwing each other at them, in increasingly creative ways
It's not as text-heavy as other Mario RPGs, and the writing is pretty simple anyway.
images from the OG GBA version:
Believe me, this is the one.
It's an upcoming 3DS remake of -
- the best Mario RPG ever made
- one of the most kid-friendly RPGs ever made
- a video game that is genuinely hysterical and full of chuckles
- an RPG with an easy to understand action battle systems where Mario and Luigi fight enemies by literally throwing each other at them, in increasingly creative ways
It's not as text-heavy as other Mario RPGs, and the writing is pretty simple anyway.
images from the OG GBA version:
Believe me, this is the one.
Didn't think of that...but probably the best answer.
I'd throw in Ubisoft's Child of Light, which is basically a cute fairy tale story with rhyming + Grandia combat. It's pretty easy to play, and you can also co-op assist by controlling the fairy partner thing if I remember right.
Bastion and Transistor would also be good choices, though Bastion is probably more accessible, and the one to play first.
My three picks for a child's introduction to RPGs are:
Pokemon - Expressly designed to be easy to get into, the core concept is simple, designs are colorful and diverse, and that's a lot of content here for them to enjoy.
Mario & Luigi (specifically Superstar Saga and Bowser's Inside Story) - Much like Pokemon, it's colorful, relatively simple in both controls and writing, and it's very easy to get into.
I'd also recommend Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, but I don't think that's available on the platforms you listed.
Pokemon - Expressly designed to be easy to get into, the core concept is simple, designs are colorful and diverse, and that's a lot of content here for them to enjoy.
Mario & Luigi (specifically Superstar Saga and Bowser's Inside Story) - Much like Pokemon, it's colorful, relatively simple in both controls and writing, and it's very easy to get into.
I'd also recommend Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door, but I don't think that's available on the platforms you listed.
Lol that's a legitimately terrible choice for a 9 year olds first RPG.
Pokemon makes the most sense, if you want to leave him play on his own. If you are willing to play with him, you can probably guide him through Chrono Trigger, Blue Dragon, or Paper Mario.
depths20XX
Member
Pokemon and Costume Quest are both great suggestions.
Tarextherex
Banned
Whatever game he finds appealing that happens to be an RPG really. Common entry points would be Pokemon and the Mario RPGs, maybe even something like Chrono Trigger
This was my first at that age too! Still my favorite really. That area in Xenoblade was not very interesting indeed
This was my first at that age too! Still my favorite really. That area in Xenoblade was not very interesting indeed
This is a terrible recommendation. The kid is way too young to enjoy Divinity and the start beyond the tutorial dungeon is extremely tedious for some.
As for the OP: My vote go to Chrono Trigger or Super Mario RPG, short game which gives him a better shot at finishing one of those.
Wolf Akela
Member
He'll be fine with classic JRPGs.
I already clocked FFVII at that age and I'm pretty sure I was already working on FFVII. Like a lot of kids those days, I was also into Pokemon. I didn't get the details of the story (nor a few of the obvious parts) but I had a lot of fun anyway.
Kingdom Hearts 1 is probably the easiest choice though. Lots of familiar Disney characters, action packed, doesn't look dated. New Pokemon games are text heavy compared to the earlier entries.
I already clocked FFVII at that age and I'm pretty sure I was already working on FFVII. Like a lot of kids those days, I was also into Pokemon. I didn't get the details of the story (nor a few of the obvious parts) but I had a lot of fun anyway.
Kingdom Hearts 1 is probably the easiest choice though. Lots of familiar Disney characters, action packed, doesn't look dated. New Pokemon games are text heavy compared to the earlier entries.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions for Nintendo 3DS is what you're looking for.
It's an upcoming 3DS remake of -
- the best Mario RPG ever made
- one of the most kid-friendly RPGs ever made
- a video game that is genuinely hysterical and full of chuckles
- an RPG with an easy to understand action battle systems where Mario and Luigi fight enemies by literally throwing each other at them, in increasingly creative ways
It's not as text-heavy as other Mario RPGs, and the writing is pretty simple anyway.
images from the OG GBA version:
Believe me, this is the one.
It is really hard tough, I think I played it when I was 12. My sister tried to play it when she was 10 and she got stuck in the bowser+the thief boss fight.
Pokemon is definitely the best choice.
Equanimity
Member
You can't go wrong with this if you can even get your hands on one of these
Swimmer9800
Member
Any answer other than Pokémon is wrong, and I don't even like Pokémon games.
Anyone suggesting old school RPGs are so out of touch. I'm 18 and had a hard time going back to even Earthbound.
Anyone suggesting old school RPGs are so out of touch. I'm 18 and had a hard time going back to even Earthbound.
At 9 years old, your kid doesn't need that much of a hand-holding.
Personally I throw him to Souls games or one of those prominent, newer turn-based wrpgs. Pokemon is a great entry too because it's still "in" but I will recommend you play it with him or check if his friends play that too.
Personally I throw him to Souls games or one of those prominent, newer turn-based wrpgs. Pokemon is a great entry too because it's still "in" but I will recommend you play it with him or check if his friends play that too.
Pokemon, the latest one, because of social factors, assuming his friends play Pokemon too.
Otherwise, some sort of co-op RPG could be good, since you, or him and his friends, can play together. I was going to suggest Secret of Mana, but I noticed you don't have a Switch, and game being Japanese only doesn't help.
My first experience with RPG was Secret of Mana with my brother... Ok, it was Dragon Quest 5 and Final Fantasy 5, but it wasn't until Secret of Mana that I started liking the genre.
Otherwise, some sort of co-op RPG could be good, since you, or him and his friends, can play together. I was going to suggest Secret of Mana, but I noticed you don't have a Switch, and game being Japanese only doesn't help.
My first experience with RPG was Secret of Mana with my brother... Ok, it was Dragon Quest 5 and Final Fantasy 5, but it wasn't until Secret of Mana that I started liking the genre.
Elfforkusu
Member
Pokemon.
Chrono trigger when he's ready to become a man.
Chrono trigger when he's ready to become a man.
Psychoward
Banned
Child of Light, Pokemon, Paper Mario.
neurosisxeno
Member
Dwarf Fortress of course.
HelloNewman
Member
Final Fantasy 7 was my first RPG back in the late 90s when I was 9 and it was amazing changed my gaming tastes.
thetrin
Hail, peons, for I have come as ambassador from the great and bountiful Blueberry Butt Explosion
Dragon Quest. That's how I got into RPGs.
Keep in mind a lot of us were already in ours teens when Pokemon first came out, which is why we're suggesting other RPGs.
Keep in mind a lot of us were already in ours teens when Pokemon first came out, which is why we're suggesting other RPGs.
neurosisxeno
Member
That was back then, things are different now. I think Pokemon is probably the best starting place when it comes to RPG's, because it has the most accessibility of any game I can think of. The stories are pretty mediocre, but it allows people to get a feel for things like inventory management and using stats and a basic strong against/weak against dynamic. It's by no means a perfect starting point, but what kid doesn't love Pokemon???
ProgenitorCastle
Banned
For some reason, I misread the thread title as "Child of Light" and now that's my actual answer for this thread haha!
NiteChylde
Neo Member
I'd recommend any of the following:
- Mario RPGs on any platform
- Eternal Sonata (coop in battles, not too hard gameplay-relevant, though the story could be quite heavy for a Kid)
- Chrono Trigger
- Secret of Mana (great couch coop with dad and maybe even Mom!)
- Dragon Quest Builders (RPG with Minecraft-style gameplay)
As much as I love Final Fantasy, Pokemon and other JRPGs, most of them could be too grindy for a 9 year old, I guess.
- Mario RPGs on any platform
- Eternal Sonata (coop in battles, not too hard gameplay-relevant, though the story could be quite heavy for a Kid)
- Chrono Trigger
- Secret of Mana (great couch coop with dad and maybe even Mom!)
- Dragon Quest Builders (RPG with Minecraft-style gameplay)
As much as I love Final Fantasy, Pokemon and other JRPGs, most of them could be too grindy for a 9 year old, I guess.
ProgenitorCastle
Banned
Haha, I got beaten to the Child of Light answer :[...then again, it goes to show imo that it is indeed a great choice for an RPG for a child to play
It's true, there is a 2 player co-op mode in which the 2nd player controls the light-shining guy, helping slow down the enemies for player 1 to combat them better!
Reminds me...oughta get around to beating it :[...got stuck on I think the final boss
Also reminds me...I still wanna get, play, and possibly beat Transistor! Loved the shit out of the demo I played...made a thread about it as well haha! Just waiting for it to go on sale on Steam...one day
TheWasTheJoke
Member
Skyrim/Bethesda (Ok maybe he's a little young but F3 was what got me into gaming as a kid
ResourcefulStar
Neo Member
Don't underestimate kids. The original Fallout was my entry point when I was 10 or 11, and that's hardly the most player friendly game by modern standards.
My suggestion is to pick something with a setting that interests him. It's easier to get past the learning curve if the world fascinates you and makes you want to press on.
My suggestion is to pick something with a setting that interests him. It's easier to get past the learning curve if the world fascinates you and makes you want to press on.
I wish the Lord would take me now