What Video Games Are 12-14 Year-Olds Playing?

November 2, 2017 11:13 AM

I'm giving a presentation to Grade 7 & 8 students on writing fiction. I'd like to give some examples of storytelling techniques taken from video games. A couple of years ago, I struck a chord with older kids by referring to Fallout 4 -- but these kids are younger and Fallout 4 was so 2015.

What are some games that are popular today among kids aged 12-14?

posted by Prunesquallor to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Overwatch is hugely popular in the teen social circles I run in
posted by saucysault at 11:18 AM on November 2, 2017

yes, going by the very squeaky small voices i hear in team chat fairly often, many of them are indeed overwatching.

(pls ask them to stop screaming racial slurs)
posted by poffin boffin at 11:40 AM on November 2, 2017 [6 favorites]

A note: Overwatch doesn't have much direct storytelling in the actual game. Most of the story is from comics and animated shorts that are on the game's website. There are some hints to an overall setting in the voice lines of some of the characters, but this is completely different from a game like Fallout 4, which has a distinct narrative.
posted by demiurge at 11:47 AM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

My 12-year-old is currently all about Roblox. Also Cuphead. In terms of a more story-driven game, he also recently finished Zelda, Breath of the Wild.
posted by Otis at 11:50 AM on November 2, 2017 [1 favorite]

Seconding Roblox, especially Jailbreak. But there's not much of a storyline there... =)

Also Bed Wars on the Minecraft engine.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:51 AM on November 2, 2017

Best answer: I believe the story-heavy game the kids are into these days is Undertale.
posted by Rock Steady at 12:31 PM on November 2, 2017 [5 favorites]

Fallout 4 and Assassin's Creed are popular.
posted by a3matrix at 1:56 PM on November 2, 2017

My 11-year-old loves Zelda: Breath of the Wild (she asked for Amiibos for her birthday last week so she could play more), Roblox, and The Sims.

My 14-year-old son mostly plays GTA Online or Player Unknown's BattleGrounds.
posted by tacodave at 4:20 PM on November 3, 2017