My 9yo daughter has a tablet with family link, so I can monitor what apps she wants to install. As the garbage games are mostly at the top free, she keeps asking for games that I reject, in most cases because it’s riddled with ads.
The Play Store has a section for kids, which seems to have better quality apps and games. Also thinking to subscribe to Play Pass so she can try out paid games.
Any other tips? Especially how to find good free / paid games. I don’t mind paying for good games.
Also I’m aware I can block ads using eg Pi Hole (already doing that) or sometimes putting it on airplane mode, but that’s not my point. I want to find and support quality games.
RetroArch
Netflix offers free Android games with no ads too. If you have ad subscription it might work
Sorry, no Netflix here. Thanks anyways.
Private DNS server. Blocks most ads even in games.
Here’s what I posted in another thread:
Private DNS FTW!
On Android:
- Swipe down and select settings (the gear)
- Search for: DNS
- Select Private DNS.
- Select Private DNS again.
- Select Private DNS provider hostname.
- Enter: dns.adguard.com
- Select Save
- Enjoy most ads being blocked in apps.
- Might work poorly on public wifi (Walmart wifi for example doesn’t work with a private DNS set).
On Apple:
- Fuck if I know.
Thanks, I already have set up pi hole. See the last paragraph in my post as well.
My bad. I did miss that final paragraph but hopefully the private DNS can help someone else. Cheers!
It helped me a lot! I already knew about adguard but didn’t know how to set it up. You explained it in such simple words, bravo
Mullvad DNS works well for this too: https://mullvad.net/en/help/dns-over-https-and-dns-over-tls/
Using DoH (DNS over HTTPS) means it should work on networks that try to block usage of private DNS servers.
You could try installing gamesnacks.com as a pwa on their phone. They have a bunch of little games that I assume children would like.
“Shattered pixel dungeon” is a rouge-like top down rpg with no ads and is quite fun. You can only pay if you choose to support the dev.
As much as I like that game, the learning curve is steep af! Unless the little one handles frustration well, it will be a hard sell.
Yeah you are probably right.
My 9yo daughter has a tablet with family link, so I can monitor what apps she wants to install. As the garbage games are mostly at the top free, she keeps asking for games that I reject, in most cases because it’s riddled with ads.
Did you ever consider using this as opportunity to educate your daughter about ads in general, how some games try to push adds to get you to do something, and also how some games have game mechanics trying to push you to do specific things, and then just let her figure out if those games are worth playing, or not?
She’s definitely old enough - I had that discussion with my daughter when she was 5, we have an agreement that we limit the number of games installed on her phone - and the kind of shitty game you’re talking about typically gets uninstalled again pretty quickly.
In a few years she’ll be able to install stuff by herself - if you never explained to her what and why games/apps are doing she’ll not be ready to deal with that, and it’ll be out of your control.
Thanks for the insights. Totally agree with you. Yep, I’m having those conversations and she understands it more and more.
Play pass is a fantastic idea, made me discover a lot of awesome small little experiences
Yeah I like it so far. We also have xb gamepass which made me appreciate indie games much more.
How do you find apps included in play Pass though, do you know? Can only find lists on random websites, not on play store itself.
Once you’re a member it shows you a section in the app store. Unfortunately I’m not sure where to find a list before subscribing.
I’ve subscribed, and that section shows up. However it only shows games, not apps. Eg Tasker is included.
Emulation, geometry dash, Minecraft.
https://www.darkpattern.games/
I have not extensively used this site but it seems to have some good pointers
So maybe check with them there first, then install
Thanks, interesting site! Bookmarked.
I loved that this one explain each of these dark patterns too
My kid has this problem too. So many games interrupt him mid level to force ads, its ridiculous.
But we’ve found a few games that arent total popup nightmares (that he enjoys):
-Two Dots, a beautiful puzzle game, very kid friendly
-Bad Piggies - a spin off of angry birds, Physics based building/puzzle game, very cartoony and fun gameplay. My kid loves this game, probably his favourite (its older so the ads arent too obnoxious. You can pay to disable them, also)
-Stumble Guys - massive multiplayer platformer like fallguys, loves this one (there are ads but you can pay to disable for 4.99)
We have the ios equivalent to play pass and it helped a lot, too.
Thanks! Going to look into those games.
This is probably not a terribly helpful answer, but on the iOS side, there is Apple Arcade, which is a huge library of “free” (aka included with the subscription) games that don’t have any ads or microtransactions. If there’s an Android equivalent, just give her that as her app store. You’d spend a set amount per month and keep her away from the predatory business models.
I guess Play Pass for Android is similar. Thanks.
Play pass is surprisingly not terrible.
Yeah just subscribed, so far pretty good. It’s annoying you can’t see easily what non games are included (like Tasker)
Exactly where I landed after giving them a fire tablet.
Fire tablet is Android, right? Or am I mistaken.
It is, but by default it’s locked to Amazon’s App Store. With this tool, a computer and a few minutes, you can sideload Google play and Google services. It also has lots of other customization options, like installing different launchers. I’d imagine that “Google Play Pass” would work then.
Yes I have that Amazon subscription think for kids apps it’s mostly junk games
It’s not easy finding good game, harder for young kid :
- Andor’s trail
- Room
- Mindustry
- Mindtest, control may not be good
- Milo milo, can’t recall its name but its a puzzle
- Dragon quest
- Broken age
- Machinarium (and all anamita game)
Thanks, will look them up!
Usually, I find ports of PC Games best. I don’t know if they are suited for 9 year olds, but broken sword, baba is you or papers please are really good on mobile devices. Point and click in general is a very portable genre for mobiles.
The play pass might be the way to go, since the paid games are a lot better. There are also a lot of guides online for which games are good.
You can also look into games that are ports of old PC games, as well as emulators (which open up a whole new world of games)
Thanks, yes play Pass looks cool so far.
Also going to look at emulators. Thanks.
Play pass is really good for games but my kids still constantly want shitty ad filled ones tbh.
Setting up adguard DNS worked really well but it can break games if they’re dependent on ads. Which isn’t a bad thing in my opinion.
Yeah agreed, my kids have accepted that stuff doesn’t work if they rely on ads, and they are fine with it (after some initial batyles).
