Crossplay

A Father and Daughter's Review of Pokémon Pokopia In which Patrick and his nine-year-old daughter put on their critic hats for Nintendo's cozy new Pokémon video game that's all about, well, tasks.

In which @patrickklepek.bsky.social and his nine-year-old daughter put on their critic hats for Nintendo's cozy new Pokémon video game that's all about, well, tasks. www.crossplay.news/p/pokemon-po...

AI Has Come to Roblox Roblox is promoting its new "4D" AI tools inside an experience called Wish Master—and I've spent time figuring out what it can (and can't) do.

Roblox is promoting its new "4D" AI tools inside an experience called Wish Master—and Crossplay has spent time figuring out what it can (and can't) do. www.crossplay.news/p/how-kids-c...

What My Family Is Watching, Playing, and Listening to It's a Stranger Things-packed installment for the Klepek family.

It's a Stranger Things-packed installment for the Klepek family. www.crossplay.news/p/what-my-fa...

my 4 year old has put ~200 hours into astro bot over the last year and is starting to crave something new. we tried out kirby and the forgotten land, but it's little text heavy (& combat focused) for him.

are there other text-light platforming games he might enjoy?

cc @crossplayblog.bsky.social

Should Developers Let You Mute Swear Words in Video Games? Every family has a different approach to swearing. Should games help?

Every family has a different approach to swearing. Should games help? Should video games let you mute swearing? www.crossplay.news/p/should-vid...

Minecraft And Animal Crossing? Pokémon Pokopia Seems Extremely Promising For Families An hour with Nintendo's cozy Pokémon game shows a loop that might work for younger kids, older kids—and their parents.

An hour playing Nintendo's cozy Pokémon game shows a loop that might work for younger kids, older kids—and their parents. www.crossplay.news/p/pokemon-po...

Will Nintendo Finally Let Your Kids Be the Same Character in Super Mario Bros. Wonder? Plus, fresh off a Nintendo event in New York, some family-centric observations about Resident Evil 9, Pragmata, Mario Tennis Fever, and the Virtual Boy.

Can your kids *both* be Princess Peach or Mario in Nintendo's big update to Super Mario Bros. Wonder? The answer will not shock you. www.crossplay.news/p/can-you-be...

I guested on a podcast today talking about neurodivergent kids and video games and strongly recommended @patrickklepek.bsky.social and Crossplay @crossplayblog.bsky.social
If you have kids or work with kids it’s an absolutely invaluable resource!

Your Guide to February's Family Friendly Video Games Another sleepy month, unless you're into Apple's offerings, some teen-centric horror, or Mario and friends playing tennis.

Another sleepy month, unless you're into Apple's offerings, some teen-centric horror, or Mario and friends playing tennis. www.crossplay.news/p/video-game...

Nintendo Is Massively (!!) Improving Super Mario Bros. Wonder For Families Your child is not longer banished to Nabbit Jail, if they're bad at platformers.

Thank you, Nintendo. Your child is not longer banished to Nabbit Jail, if they're bad at platformers! www.crossplay.news/p/mario-bros...

My Kids Can’t Avoid AI Slop Anymore AI videos used to be obviously fake. We made fun of them. That's no longer true, and it's scary.

AI videos used to be obviously fake. We made fun of them. That's no longer true, and it's scary. www.crossplay.news/p/my-kids-ca...

We Wanted to Be Serious About Screen Time. We Changed Our Minds—And Everyone Was Fine Everyone wants to be the "responsible" parent who follows all the "guidelines." Then, reality sets in. Or, more accurately, a cuddly tanuki by the name of Tom Nook.

Everyone wants to be the "responsible" parent who follows all the "guidelines." Then, reality sets in. Or, more accurately, a cuddly tanuki by the name of Tom Nook. www.crossplay.news/p/why-we-cha...

How Parents and Kids Are Dealing With Roblox's Messy New Age Requirements If you can put on an "adult face" and trick Roblox's AI, is it really doing much? It depends.

If you can put on an "adult face" and trick Roblox's AI, is it really doing much? It depends. www.crossplay.news/p/new-chat-r...

It's Irresponsible How Easy Children Can Make New Accounts on Roblox What is the point of parental controls if they can just sign out and bypass them?

What is the point of Roblox having parental controls if kids can just sign out and bypass them?
www.crossplay.news/p/its-too-ea...

Your Guide to January's Family Friendly Video Games Onward to 2026. Whose kids are ready to use some gift cards?

Onward to 2026. Whose kids are ready to use some gift cards?
www.crossplay.news/p/video-game...

A Bluey's Quest for the Gold Pen Review For Adults, Five-Year-Olds, And Nine-Year-Olds Bluey finally has a good video game, but how good is it? It depends how old you are—and if you can read.

Bluey finally has a good video game, but how good is it? It depends how old you are—and if you can read. www.crossplay.news/p/bluey-ques...

What It's Like to Make a Bluey Video Game Bluey is the biggest thing in the world for most children. Halfbrick was tasked with turning the beloved television show into a video game. No pressure, right?

Bluey is the biggest thing in the world for most children. Halfbrick was tasked with turning the beloved television show into a video game. No pressure, right? www.crossplay.news/p/the-story-...

Sick Days Are For Video Games and Letting Go Control is an illusion, even before children. Sometimes, a sick day flips the script.

Control is an illusion, even before children. Sometimes, a sick day flips the script. Which is why sick days are for video games—and letting go, a new piece by @katyar.bsky.social www.crossplay.news/p/sick-days-...

What Has Roblox's Teen Council Accomplished? Today, I've Got Some Answers An actual conversation with the Roblox executive behind the company's "Teen Council" initiative and how it's changing the platform.

An actual conversation with the Roblox executive behind the company's "Teen Council" initiative and how it's changing the platform. www.crossplay.news/p/roblox-tee...

Your Guide to December's Family Friendly Video Games With holidays around the corner, there's not much coming over the next month. But hey, who's up for some mobile PowerWash Simulator?

With holidays around the corner, there's not much coming over the next month. But hey, who's up for some mobile PowerWash Simulator? www.crossplay.news/p/family-fri...

My Daughter Broke Her Phone. Should I Repair It? She was repeatedly warned to be careful. For months, we've left the broken phone out as a reminder of consequences.

She was repeatedly warned to be careful. For months, we've left the broken phone out as a reminder of consequences. www.crossplay.news/p/my-daughte...

What Parents Should Know About the Big Changes to How Children Will Be Chatting in Roblox Soon, everyone on Roblox be asked to verify their age and will, in theory, only chat with other people in and around their age. In the future, they might only play with them, too.

Soon, everyone on Roblox be asked to verify their age and will, in theory, only chat with other people in and around their age. In the future, they might only play with them, too. www.crossplay.news/p/what-to-kn...

What Parents Should Know About the Loot Box Changes Coming to Fortnite For now, "Battle Royale" mode seems off limits. But within other "Island" experiences, you should be aware of what you can and cannot control for your children.

For now, "Battle Royale" mode seems off limits for Fortnite's loot boxes. But within other "Island" experiences, you should be aware of what you can and cannot control for your children.
www.crossplay.news/p/fortnite-i...

A Glorious Video Game Utopia For Parents Is Nearly Here New announcements from Valve and Sony suggest a world where it's even easier to fit video games into your busy life.

New announcements from Valve and Sony suggest a world where it's even easier to fit video games into your busy life. Is a glorious video game utopia for parents nearly here? www.crossplay.news/p/i-want-to-...

Even My Nine-Year-Old Can Tell Fortnite’s Gone Too Far Criticism over customizations (or lack thereof) for the game's new "Sidekicks" feature was egregious enough that even my kid picked up on it.

Speaking of Epic, over at @crossplayblog.bsky.social is a post about my 9yo, who's played Fortnite for all of two weeks, immediately recognizing the game's monetization is going too far. If a 9yo can clock that something's unfair, maybe it is. www.crossplay.news/p/fortnite-s...

The Quiet Sadness of Playing Lego Voyagers With a Five-Year-Old Making it to the end of a video game, even one meant for families, is often a journey all its own.

Making it to the end of a video game, even one meant for families, is often a journey all its own. www.crossplay.news/p/lego-voyag...

Your Guide to November’s Family Friendly Video Games Another Zelda beat 'em up spin-off, a slew of Apple Arcade highlights, and more.

Another Zelda beat 'em up spin-off, a slew of Apple Arcade highlights, and more games lead the most interesting family friendly video games arriving this month www.crossplay.news/p/video-game...

Oh No, My Kid Is Starting to Complain About Frame Rates Fortnite is raising dangerous questions in the house that I'm not prepared to answer.

Fortnite is raising dangerous questions in the house that @patrickklepek.bsky.social is not prepare to answer, such as: "Daddy, why does Fortnite load faster on your Switch"? www.crossplay.news/p/oh-no-my-k...

Welcome to The Rant In today's edition, a father of two kids is upset about the monetization changes coming to Fortnite, a game that's otherwise been a fun and exciting space for his children.

In today's edition of The Rant, a father of two kids is upset about the monetization changes coming to Fortnite, a game that's otherwise been a fun and exciting space for his children. www.crossplay.news/p/welcome-to...

PlayStation's New App For Parental Controls Is Excellent It's about trying to "build trust between parents and kids," the company tells Crossplay.

Sony's new mobile app for parental controls is excellent—more companies should have something like this. www.crossplay.news/p/playstatio...