10 Best Games To Prepare You For Parenthood

by

Video games are known for letting you escape into fantastical worlds – you can often play as a powerful god, a futuristic soldier, or even someone who achieves incredible things at a young age. However, many games also focus on realistic and relatable situations.

Because these ideas don’t clash – they can actually work together, even in made-up worlds – it’s often seen in stories and games that explore what it means to be human. This helps me understand people from all different backgrounds, like parents, by letting me experience life from their perspectives.

Okay, so I’m not a dad myself, but my dad is a lifelong gamer – he’s been playing for over forty years! Because of that, he’s been a huge help in picking out the stuff I’m sharing with you. I wanted to make sure everything really spoke to what it’s like to be a gaming parent, and his experience was key to making that happen.

So, I’ll share the wisdom I’ve gained from years of playing games, and I’ve picked out what I think are the ten best games to help you get ready for the adventure of becoming a parent.

10. GRIS

Learning to Cope with Grief

As a parent, honestly, one of my biggest worries is something happening to my kids, but it’s also terrifying thinking about them having to navigate this world on their own. It feels like nobody really prepares you for that – for letting them face all the challenges out there.

GRIS is a standout video game that powerfully conveys a sense of universal fear. This gorgeous platformer, lasting around three hours, is incredibly memorable thanks to its stunning visuals and music, and will likely stay with you long after you finish playing.

What truly connects everything is the story itself. It powerfully communicates themes of pain and grief, and shows us how remembering loved ones can help us heal and keep going, even when things are hard—all without needing a single word.

GRIS isn’t about becoming a parent; it’s about accepting that parenthood, like all things, eventually ends. Recognizing our own mortality and equipping the next generation with the strength to cope with loss is a profoundly compassionate act.

9. Nier

Giving It Your All Is The Only Option

I didn’t fully appreciate how much my parents would always do for my siblings and me, even as we’ve gotten older, but playing the original Nier with them really helped me see it.

This story centers on a father’s struggle to help his daughter overcome a serious illness. It’s a situation many families face worldwide, and highlights the deep sacrifices fathers often make for their children.

I think this game touches on a lot of things, but what really stands out to me is how it handles parenthood. It’s powerful because it connects with people on so many levels. As a parent, you really feel for Nier and his never-ending fight, even when things seem hopeless – it’s like seeing your own struggles reflected back at you. And as a child, it gives you a new appreciation for everything your parents do. It’s just beautifully done.

Despite somewhat awkward controls (the game has you play as the brother from the original version as part of the remaster), Nier delivers one of the most deeply moving, heartbreaking, and emotionally resonant stories in gaming.

If a story could bring tears to a 58-year-old man who experienced life under oppressive regimes in two different countries, I believe it has the power to affect anyone. Even though the gameplay involves repetitive tasks like searching for weapons and defeating the same enemies over and over, the emotional impact is undeniable.

8. Red Dead Redemption

A Life of Sacrifices

You know, whenever my dad tells me stories about all he did to support us – the weeks he spent traveling, the late nights he worked – it suddenly makes so much sense why he loved playing Red Dead Redemption. He really connected with John Marston, and now I get why. It wasn’t just a game to him; it felt like something he understood.

He managed to avoid the tragic fate of harming old friends, despite a troubled past. However, I noticed a flicker of understanding in his expression when the main character gave up his own happiness for his son’s future.

We shouldn’t glorify criminals, but Red Dead Redemption powerfully portrays the difficult choices parents face and the resulting strained relationships with their children, who often struggle to understand those choices.

John Marston isn’t a perfect father, and shouldn’t be held up as a role model. However, his flaws highlight a relatable truth about parenting: everyone makes mistakes and falls short sometimes. The important thing is to try your best to fix those mistakes and make things right.

7. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Father Above All

As a longtime fan, I’ve talked to so many parents who feel like they lose a bit of themselves while raising their kids, and honestly, I see that struggle reflected really powerfully in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. It’s like the game really gets that sacrifice and what it can mean.

Nathan Drake, after trying to live a quiet life, finds himself pulled back into the world of adventure. This time, however, his choices are driven by personal desire, leading him to risk everything – including his family – for selfish reasons.

This is another terrible example of fatherhood, but it clearly shows why it’s crucial to remember that parents are individuals too, even while prioritizing their duties.

Of all the games here, Uncharted 4 probably has the most straightforward father-daughter dynamic, and that’s what makes it special. It’s a good reminder that it’s important to take care of yourself, but also that finding a balance between self-care and family is key.

6. It Takes Two

A Shared Responsibility

Video games often show fathers as just one type of parent, but It Takes Two stands out by portraying both parents in a more complete way.

Parents are partners first and foremost, and damaging your relationship with your child’s other parent can have lasting, negative effects – something this game depicts very well.

Even if a marriage is struggling, It Takes Two highlights how crucial it is to maintain a healthy relationship for the sake of the whole family, and to work through disagreements before they become bigger problems.

Completing all the levels together will likely help you both build the patience, understanding, and teamwork needed to be great parents, and that’s a really good thing.

5. Venba

Inherited Cultures

Even though parents usually want what’s best for their children, they don’t always get it right. The game Venba tells a deeply moving story that resonates with many cultures, perhaps more than you’d expect.

The game tells the story of a family facing prejudice, as well as the challenges of raising a child who’s navigating a new culture. The child sees firsthand how his traditions, like what he believes, wears, and eats, are different from those around him.

Growing up in an immigrant family, I quickly connected with the game’s themes. It captured that feeling of being caught between two worlds, which was very real for me as a child. It’s challenging to hold onto your heritage while also adapting to a new life, especially when things are changing quickly, but it is possible.

As a fan, I really connected with the idea that being a good parent means accepting that kids change and grow, and helping them with that instead of fighting it. I was fortunate to have parents who got what the game Venba was saying about this, because I’ve seen how tough it can be when parents don’t understand, and it’s not a good situation for anyone involved.

4. The Last of Us

Family is Everything

Like the game Nier, but with a more realistic setting, The Last of Us is a frequent recommendation in articles like this one.

The connection between Joel and Ellie is one of the most memorable and believable relationships in recent video game history. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a story that really highlights the importance of family.

My father and I both think Nier portrays the difficult choices between saving loved ones and the world in a more nuanced way. However, The Last of Us is easier to connect with and understand, which makes it even more impactful.

Also, if you experienced the game when it first came out, trust me, revisiting it later really changes how you see the story. Playing it as a teenager was a completely different experience than playing it as an adult, and I was surprised by how my feelings about certain events had evolved over time.

3. Wednesdays

The Dangers Nobody Wants to Talk About

Look, “Wednesdays” is a tough game to recommend. It deals with really heavy stuff – child abuse – and it’s emotionally draining to play. But honestly, I always find myself telling people about it because it’s one of the most powerful indie games I’ve ever experienced. It really sticks with you.

These conversations are always difficult, and as parents, it’s tempting to avoid tough topics. However, ignoring difficult realities doesn’t make them go away—it actually allows them to continue. Addressing these issues, however uncomfortable, is essential to breaking the cycle.

Though emotionally challenging, Wednesdays feels deeply human because of its honest and heartfelt portrayal of family—parents, children, and close friends—in a way that’s rare for independent films.

This isn’t necessarily something to do with kids, or a complete expert guide, but it’s a really good way to start understanding a serious issue – how to prevent it, and how to cope if the worst happens. That kind of knowledge is incredibly valuable.

2. God of War

Inevitable Ups and Downs

Kratos is well-known as a brutally violent and ruthless character in video games, but the emotional story about his relationship with his son is truly exceptional.

Like many parents, Kratos has faced the challenges of raising a child – teaching them to be self-sufficient, shielding them from the world’s harsh realities, and trying to steer them towards the best possible future. This parental struggle is powerfully portrayed in his Norse saga, more so than in many other games.

Over the course of the story, he evolves not only as a father, but as a person, learning to acknowledge and come to terms with his past errors. This allows him to become a stronger father to Atreus, and it’s a journey that feels particularly meaningful for those who have been following his story since his adventures in Greece.

Putting aside the fact that Kratos is a god being hunted by other gods during a world-ending event, he’s remarkably relatable as a father. My own dad, even close to retirement age, finished the game and immediately wanted the iconic mark painted on his face – that’s how powerful the story is.

1. Night in the Woods

The Best Way to Empathize

I remember talking to my dad about how he’d lost touch with what it felt like to be young. It wasn’t about what he did when he was younger, but the actual feeling of being young – the struggles, the worries, and everything that came with it – that he’d forgotten.

I decided to recommend Night in the Woods to him. I’d just finished playing it and was struck by how much I connected with the story, so I thought it might be exactly what he was looking for – and it turned out I was right!

Growing up today is very different than it used to be, and I don’t think any other video game does a better job of showing the uncertainty and stress that many young people around the world are feeling right now.

Parenting isn’t about knowing everything, and that’s okay. But being able to understand what someone else is going through, even if your own experiences are different, is incredibly helpful for navigating the challenges of modern life.

Night in the Woods feels like a message to a new generation, and it’s incredibly insightful for anyone wanting to understand the challenges young people face today. It’s a game that will not only evoke your own past feelings, but also make you think about what kind of support you wished you’d received when you were younger.

Read More

2025-11-05 19:42