Family Friendly Online Games That Are Free

I remember the first video game I ever played. Aged 10, my foster game gave me a Nintendo 64. Grey, boxy, so pixelated I could barely make out the characters. But I was infatuated. Super Mario 64, guiding him through paintings to collect power stars and rescue Princess Peach. From there, my gaming obsession was unlocked. A silver PSP, playing Sims 2 non-stop. Navigating my way around StrangeTown, running away from zombies, ghosts and aliens. Giggling sadistically at SIMS who were in low hunger mode, watching myself ‘play God’. I had a pink Nintendo DS as well, Professor Layton and The Last Specter one of my favourites. A puzzle adventure game taking place in Misthallery. Controlling three Protagonists as I solved brain teasers, and sliding puzzles. It wasn’t just video games that had me enthralled. I was a 90’s baby, and a 2000’s kid. The era of Tamagotchi’s, Twister and Bop It. Ah yes, my Tamagotchi; I watched it hatch from an egg, to potty-feeding, training and eventually death. What a time to be alive. From video games, to family friendly online games, the noughties was something else.

As a teenager, I saved up for my first laptop, and became obsessed with playing video games online. Cooking games like Papa’s Freezeria (2011), captured my attention for hours on end. A welcome respite from school, I’d come home, and build sundaes for customers. I’d correctly follow their instructions and earn points to advance in the game. I also enjoyed brain teasers like Snakes And Ladders (classic), Impossible Quiz and Ludo. It might have sounded strange playing ‘Educational Games’, after a full day at School but I loved learning. As someone who is Neurodivergent, playing games helped me deal with stress, focus, and improve my problem-solving skills, spatial reasoning, and cognitive flexibility.

As an adult, I play games less than I used to. But it dosen’t mean I don’t love it as much. As adults we often lose sight of our inner child, and fixate on work, with little time for play. However, when I do play, it is a mixture of free online games, Nintendo DS games, Xbox Games, and Mobile Games. I used to have an obsession with playing Sims Freeplay as a teenager, and during lockdown I started playing it again. I loved the idea of building my own home, worlds and customizing my Sims. Now? I play Spyro (Remastered), Fall Guys, Mario Kart on the DS. It’s not just paid games. In the last few years, I have been playing free online games from puzzles, to arcade games. Some of my favourites include Papas Freezeria, Fruit Cubes,  Golf Mania and Frogtastic. They just happen to be family friendly online games that are free too.

 

So, if you are looking for games that both adults and kids can enjoy, you’ve come to the right place. These are all games that I personally enjoy, and have played regularly. But which one will you choose to play? Let the virtual games night begin!

Food & Cooking Games For Kids 

 

Idle Egg Farmer  l

Have you ever wondered what you’d be like as a farmer? You can keep up to 8 different types of animals that unlock as you progress through the game. From Chickens, to Bears (!?) discover golden eggs, collect coins, boost x 2 and even increase farm speed for 3 minutes. What I love about this game is that they are low-effort, yet have a rewarding gameplay loop. They offer a sense of continuous progress and accomplishment, even when you are not actively engaged. As far as family friendly online games go, this is one that both kids and adults can enjoy together. Take it in turns with a casual game, and watch your coins go from 0-1 Billion in a hot minute. You can level up as many times as you can, until level 30. After level 30, you can reset and do it again, up to 3 more times for each pen.

You click on the egg, so that your new pet goes into the pen. Each pen can hold up to 15 animals, with the star upgrade doubling the quantity to 30. Make sure you click on the level button near your processing plant to upgrade your egg profit, farm speed and truck capacitty. The more pets you unlock, the higher the income you make. Don’t worry if you need to take a break either. Your animals collect money in the background, leaving you very money satisfied! There’s nothing ‘idle’ about this egg farmer!

 

Papa’s Freezeria 

What could be better than managing your own ice cream shop in Papa’s Freezeria? Make the perfect sundaes for customers who want to beat the heat. If you don’t Papa Louie won’t be happy! The game starts with a simple tutorial to ease you into your management role. It teaches kids and adults how to manage their time effectively, with a ‘summer job’ that is demanding. As the days pass the shop gets busier and busier. You’ll juggle multiple sundae orders simultaneously, so time management is critical. Your topping, mixing, building and waiting score is added up at the end of each level.

Brain Teasers For Families

 

Fruit Cubes

Looking for family friendly online games that test your brain? Fruit Cubes is a timed 60-stage spatial puzzle game where players need to fill in all cells of the grid using Tetris-inspired block sets. Whether you are 5, 20, 50, or 100, you’ll enjoy problem solving with colourful fruit cubes. Tap on a fruit cube along the bottom to rotate it clockwise 90 degrees as needed. When the cube has the orientation you want, drag it into a grid in the puzzle. Although you can complete the puzzle with one empty space, it will deduct 100 points. On the right you have three credits for tools to fill in a square or break a square. These can help you complete puzzles faster. Think that’s good? You’ll earn 100 extra points for each unused power at the end of the stage. If you complete stages quickly, you’ll earn ten points for each second you have remaining.

The great thing about a Tetris-style game, is it is educational as well as fun. From learning how to make strategic placements, to learning to cope under pressure, these are life lessons that all ages can learn from. It will also improve your spatial reasoning, engaging the brain’s visuospatial working memory. It also plays into the Zeigarnik effect (where incomplete tasks are remembered more vividly than completed ones). This contributes to the games addictive nature. I love it because it allows me to tap into my inner child, where the feeling of progression helps me feel ‘satisfied and happy’. For families, it is a game that is fast-moving, has high-pressure stakes, while keeping the brain engaged.

 

The Impossible Quiz 

This isn’t your typical brain teaser. Have you ever wondered how many holes a polo has? What the square root of an onion is? Or whether a match can box? Great news. The Impossible Quiz is the ultimate family friendly online game that just happens to be free. With 110 questions, the quiz mixes multiple choice trick questions, with challenges, and puzzles. Many of the questions are abstract and unconventional, challenging you to think outside the box. You have three lives, and everytime you get a question wrong you lose a life. Some questions have a time limit ranging from one to ten seconds.

You can even skip a question, although I wouldn’t reccomend doing that as you have to use them all in the last question. The game is almost impossible to beat, but I managed to do it. How? Well, whenever it was gameover, I memorized my answers at each step until I remembered all 110 questions. I’m actually impressed as I don’t have the best memory. This game is addictive. Why? It encourages out of the box thinking, as many of the questions have double meaning, tricks and puns. Look carefully at your screen so you are not missing out on the bigger picture. Sometimes i’ve found that the answer isn’t in the boxes, but somewhere else on the screen. My favourite question? What Is The Answer To Life, The Universe, To Everything? Hint it is 42.

 

Family Friendly Sports Games 

 

Golf Mania 

Fancy yourself the next Rory Mcilroy? Think you can get more holes in ones than Nelly Korda? Golf Mania will take you from amateur to professional in a heartbeat. Stay on par with a 50-stage golfing game that is simple to play. Tap anywhere on the screen or select anywhere with your mouse, and left click. Then drag your finger or mouse to set your shot aim. You have 5 strokes to beat each hole and can even swing again while the ball is still in motion or in midair.  As someone who would stroke out 18 times on 18 holes, I found that this was the game for me. The golf simulator challenges you through the greens, the rough and bunker. But can you make it all the way to level 50?

While there are tonnes of sports games out there, nothing beats the simplicity of playing golf that looks like it was made in the 2000’s. Deliciously retro, colourful, and surprisingly addictive, you’ll never get bored. If you are looking for family friendly online fun, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you are an adult who misses playing ‘ Mini Putt’, a kid who wants to beat your mum at playing golf, or a couple on a date night, the focus on relaxed gameplay is perfect. With pixelated graphics, simplified 3D models and fun courses, who knew golfing could be this much fun?

Ping Pong Go

Looking for an exciting free sports game that will test your reaction skills? Ping Pong Go is an easy table tennis game, where you’ll earn gems everytime you win a match. These will unlock paddles and help you unlock new rewards! Hone your skills by progressing through levels in Arcade mode, and try and beat your rival. If you miss a shot, you get an earned star taken away from you. If you get a shot, you earn a star. This is my favourite mode, because it is satisfying to see the stars increase, rewarding you for your excellent gameplay. You also can level up on paddles, whether it is plain coloured, rainbow, or pattermed.

If you are looking for a fun family friendly online game, Bug Hunt Mode will tickle your fancy. Test your precision and squash the bugs as fast as you can. I might be a vegetarian and an animal lover, but even I can admit it is a load of fun. There is also a challenge mode, where you have to hit a target, as the robot moves. The game stops when you miss a target. If you want to play against your family, the VS mode, allows you to play online with others. Want to play against people around the world? Career rank allows you to choose players that have a similar ranking to you. For example if I have a rank of 500, other players might have 550 or 470. You play until you get to 10, and then it changes to 0. You have three rounds. If you win, you get points added to your rank as well as gems towards buying more pedals. It is a simple but surprisingly addictive game!

 

Fun Arcade Games For Kids

Dennis & Gnasher Defend The Den

Hands up, if you read the Beano comics? High five if you watched the TV show (original and new)?! I used to spend hours pouring over the comics, as I imagined Dennis skateboarding, watching Grizzly Griller, and playing in his band. I’d laugh as he’d get into trouble, and smile at his pet dog Gnasher who never left his side. Later there was a TV show, but it would never beat the comics which I still have today. Imagine my surprise when I found Dennis And Gnasher‘s family friendly online game. A Plants vs Zombies inspired video game, you help Dennis set up gadget towers to fight waves of zompeas. The first level acts as a tutorail, and you have six waves of zombies to fight. Each level you play, you unlock new gadgets that will help protect the bunker from the zombies. From sticky splatter that slows the zombies down to a super slop bomb, learn how to target your enemies.

Make sure they don’t get too close to the bunker otherwise Dennis and Gnasher won’t be safe! The more you progress, the more you’ll learn which gadgets to use, what order to use them in and where to place your weapons. As you unlock levels, go back to levels that need extra stars to achieve a higher rating. You can also tear down existing towers and build more powerful ones in their place as you earn more experiences throughout later waves of a level.

 

Crazy Office: Slap And Smash 

Ever got frustrated in the office? Wished you could fight the bullies, and take down evil bosses? Or are you a kid that wants to get rewarded for fighting, even though mummy told you you’re not allowed? Whatever your motives Crazy Office is the family friendly online game for you. A dull office full of suits gets turned into a dull office with a hilarious battlefield. Channel your inner slapstick diva, and throw chairs, swing golf clubs, and even rubber chickens. Fight your way past co-workers and unhinged bosses. You’ll smash through glass floors, break cardboard boxes and unleash chaos. Drag to swing your weapon to fight, and use the left mouse button to interact with in-game buttons. Press space or left-click during boss fights to unleash a powerful attack.

Want to beat the boss? Get ready to deliver your final smackdown to the CEO in true cubicle conquering style. Some co-workers have helmets which you have to smash first, before defeating them. You’ll get the chance to earn points, money and laugh along the way. The more you progress, the harder it gets. You’ll have co-workers who throw cans at you, have bats of their own, or helmets. Some co-workers need a few hits to get defeated. You get three hits, and then you have to start the game again.

 

 

What’s Your Favourite Family Friendly Online Game?