{"id":16521,"date":"2026-07-25T06:48:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-25T01:48:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16521"},"modified":"2026-07-25T06:48:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-25T01:48:37","slug":"kids-dont-like-video-games-and-thats-a-massive-problem-readers-feature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=16521","title":{"rendered":"Kids don\u2019t like video games and that\u2019s a massive problem &#8211; Reader&#8217;s Feature"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"466\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_306285401-0549.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29217885\" alt=\"Roblox characters standing and smiling\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Kids love it (Roblox Corporation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A reader describes his experience of what kind of <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/games-news\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">video games<\/a> his kids, and their friends, are playing, and he doesn\u2019t consider it healthy for the future of the industry.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been a video game fan pretty much all my life. It\u2019s not my only hobby; I don\u2019t base my personality around being a gamer, as some people seem to online, but I think video games are pretty cool and I play them quite a lot. When bringing up my kids I made a conscious effort not to push games, or any of my other interests or beliefs, onto them but inevitably they were influenced, especially by my love of <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/nintendo\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Nintendo<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That meant they grew up playing a lot of <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/super-mario\/\">Mario<\/a> and <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/pokemon\/\">Pok\u00e9mon<\/a>, and more recently <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/zelda\/\">Zelda<\/a>, and it\u2019s been great to see them get the same sort of enjoyment out of them as I always did. Like me, they\u2019re not superfans, and have plenty of other things they like, including things I\u2019d barely qualify as a video game, like <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/minecraft\/\">Minecraft<\/a> and Roblox.<\/p>\n<p>What I have noticed though, or realised by talking to fellow parents, is that most kids are not like mine. Most don\u2019t seem to have their own console and instead their knowledge of gaming is based on using phones, tablets, and laptops, to play Minecraft, Roblox, and other no-name rubbish that I can\u2019t believe holds their attention. What\u2019s strange to me is that none of them even seem that interested in <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/fortnite-battle-royale\/\">Fortnite<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Since I\u2019m not using any real names here, I will say that I think some of those parents act very oddly when the subject of games come up. Most of them do actually own a console, or even a gaming PC, but it doesn\u2019t seem as if their children are encouraged to use them. There\u2019s no attempt to introduce them to child friendly fare, like I did with Nintendo, and instead they\u2019re just given the phone or tablet to shut them up.<\/p>\n<p>Ironically, some of these same people have now started to complain that \u2018kids\u2019 (kids in general, somehow never their kids specifically) aren\u2019t interested in video games and that they\u2019re worried that it\u2019s having a negative effect on gaming and what publishers prioritise.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Sign up to the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/newsletters\/game-central\/\"><strong>GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I have been surprised that they were insightful enough to realise this, while at the same time it never dawned on them that they were the problem. That because they hogged the gaming machines and didn\u2019t ensure access to age appropriate games, their kids just gravitated towards low rent, and usually free-to-play, rubbish.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s like a parent complaining that their children don\u2019t eat well enough and yet all they feed them is junk food. Not only that, they don\u2019t seem to realise that it\u2019s their job <em>not<\/em> to feed their kids junk.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Welcome to Roblox: Discover a World of Imagination\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DZo6u0c7DWk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Obviously, video games aren\u2019t as important as basic nutrition but some of the absolute mindless rubbish I\u2019ve seen kids play on Roblox, in particular, blows my mind. I try not to be a monster, and I do let my kids play it too, especially when friends come round, but I feel very proud that they eventually always return to their Switch.<\/p>\n<p>My point is that we are creating a generation of children that do not play traditional games and associate the concept of video games with things that are free and only played as a joke or as a kind of social experience \u2013 the infamous \u2018friendslop\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not suggesting that Mario and co. are essential for young minds but I know for a fact that Pok\u00e9mon has been very helpful with reading, with my kids, and Zelda for puzzle-solving and critical thinking. Playing the average Roblox game just seems to be the mental equivalent of eating a bag of Haribo in one go and immediately starting on another.<\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t help that <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/sony\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Sony<\/a> and <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/microsoft\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Microsoft<\/a> make almost no effort to appeal to kids, with games they\u2019ll like, and when you look at what they\u2019re playing it\u2019s very obvious why publishers are currently obsessed with live service games and other things we veteran games would consider beneath them.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been obvious for a while now that big budget single-player games are largely only being bought and played by older fans, but one of the main reasons for this, I believe, is because kids are not being introduced to the joys of it from a young age. Maybe they\u2019ll grow into it when they get older, but I wouldn\u2019t bet on it. For many kids, traditional video games are just one of many old-fashioned things their parents do and are not for them, and I think that\u2019s a real issue.<\/p>\n<p><strong>By reader Kane<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/SEI_297142854-d89e.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-28371508\" alt=\"Minecraft gameplay of player character defending their house from zombies during night time\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Minecraft has been a childhood favourite for over a decade now (Mojang)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>The reader\u2019s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><em>You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><em>Just contact us at <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/25\/kids-dont-like-video-games-a-massive-problem-readers-feature-29217650\/mailto:gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk\">gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a> or use our <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff page<\/a> and you won\u2019t need to send an email.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/19\/nintendo-will-beat-playstation-xbox-win-console-wars-readers-feature-29166364\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Nintendo will beat PlayStation and Xbox to win the console wars \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/19\/become-a-golden-age-arcade-machine-collector-repairman-readers-feature-29166149\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">How to become a golden age arcade machine collector and repairman &#8211; Reader&#8217;s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/18\/odyssey-badly-needs-a-big-budget-video-game-adaptation-readers-feature-29166540\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">The Odyssey badly needs a big budget video game adaptation &#8211; Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--gaming\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>GameCentral<\/h4>\n<p>Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kids love it (Roblox Corporation) A reader describes his experience of what kind of video games his kids, and their friends, are playing, and he doesn\u2019t consider it healthy for the future of the industry. I\u2019ve been a video game fan pretty much all my life. It\u2019s not my only hobby; I don\u2019t base my&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_306285401-0549_1784920675.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=630&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16521","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16521","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16521"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16521\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16521"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16521"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16521"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}