Best Video Games for Teens of 2025
The best video games for high schoolers (ages 13–18) — ranked for gameplay quality, age-appropriateness, social value, and cognitive benefit. Vetted by a games and learning researcher.
5 items ranked · Last reviewed January 2025
Minecraft (Java + Bedrock Edition)
The most played game in history — endlessly creative, genuinely educational, and still evolving.
Minecraft is the rare game that parents and educators genuinely celebrate — the creative mode is effectively a 3D spatial design tool, the survival mode teaches resource management and planning, and the multiplayer experience builds real friendships. At $30 with no subscription required, it remains the best value in gaming. Teens who grow up with it often cite it as the reason they got into engineering, architecture, or programming.
PROS
- ✓The most creative digital medium a teen can engage with — effectively a 3D spatial design tool with infinite scope
- ✓Multiplayer builds genuine collaboration, communication, and shared problem-solving across platforms
- ✓Constant free updates — biomes, mobs, and mechanics added regularly — mean it never gets stale
CONS
- ✕Can become a significant time sink without parental screen time boundaries in place
- ✕Public online servers expose kids to strangers and unmoderated chat — use private servers or Realms for younger teens
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / Tears of the Kingdom
The open-world masterpiece that redefined what a single-player game could be.
Breath of the Wild and its sequel Tears of the Kingdom are two of the most acclaimed games ever made — and unlike most critically lauded titles, they're genuinely appropriate for all teens. The physics-based puzzle design consistently rewards teens who think instead of grind, making it one of the most cognitively rich games on this list. The only downside is that it locks you into the Nintendo ecosystem.
PROS
- ✓Teaches genuine problem-solving — every puzzle has multiple valid solutions, rewarding creative lateral thinking
- ✓Completely clean content with no gratuitous violence, mature themes, or online exposure — total parent peace of mind
- ✓Tears of the Kingdom adds 100+ hours of new content that iterates brilliantly on the original's formula
CONS
- ✕Requires a Nintendo Switch — no PC or PlayStation version means a hardware investment if you don't already own one
- ✕Single-player only with no co-op or multiplayer component whatsoever
Stardew Valley
A farming and life sim with surprising emotional depth — the antidote to high school stress.
Stardew Valley is a $15 game that routinely appears on lists of the most meaningful gaming experiences people have ever had — which tells you everything you need to know about its value. The farming loop teaches patience and long-term planning; the NPC relationship system develops genuine empathy; and the whole thing was built by one person, which inspires teens more than any career guidance counselor ever could. Arguably the best dollar-per-hour of any game on this list.
PROS
- ✓One of the most calming, anxiety-reducing games ever made — perfect for high schoolers dealing with academic pressure
- ✓Built by a single developer over four years, making it an inspiring story of creative persistence for teen players
- ✓Co-op mode up to 4 players is a genuinely wholesome shared experience, including with parents or siblings
CONS
- ✕The slow, deliberate pace may frustrate teens accustomed to action-heavy games — it's a long burn
- ✕Contains mild content around alcohol (saloon scenes) and can address grief and relationship themes
It Takes Two
A co-op masterpiece designed for exactly two people — the best gaming experience you can share with your teen.
It Takes Two won every Game of the Year award in 2021 for a reason — it's a technical and creative marvel that also happens to be the best two-player experience in gaming history. For parents looking for a way to connect with a teen who has drifted toward solo screen time, this is your best tool. The Friend's Pass means one purchase covers both of you, and the 10–12 hour runtime is genuinely paced to leave you both wanting more.
PROS
- ✓Requires genuine real-time communication and coordination — naturally generates the kind of conversation parents want to have with their teens
- ✓Wildly inventive mechanics that change completely every chapter, keeping both players constantly surprised and engaged
- ✓Friend's Pass included — only one copy needed for two players, making it effectively $20/person
CONS
- ✕Story deals with parental divorce in a way that could be emotionally loaded for some families — worth a heads-up before playing
- ✕Strictly two-player only; can't be played solo or with more than one other person
Civilization VI
A turn-based strategy epic spanning all of human history — endlessly replayable and genuinely educational.
Civilization VI is the highest-cognitive-value game on this list — the kind of strategy game that teaches teens to think three steps ahead, model complex systems, and understand historical cause and effect in an intuitive way. If your teen plays Civ, they will walk into their AP World History exam with an advantage. Watch for the frequent Steam sales where the full game plus expansions can be had for under $20.
PROS
- ✓Teaches systems thinking, long-range planning, and cause-and-effect reasoning at a level few games can match
- ✓Naturally inspires curiosity about history, geography, and world leaders — many history teachers use it as a classroom supplement
- ✓Hundreds of hours of replayable content — no two games play the same, which makes the base price exceptional value
CONS
- ✕The base game is deliberately sold cheap to upsell DLC expansion packs — full experience costs significantly more than $30
- ✕No quick-play option — a single game can run 10–20 hours, requiring real session management