The popularity of video games is increasing. More games are sold to children and teenagers these days than any other form of entertainment. Video games can be positive and fun, while others are darker, more gritty and edgy, and definitely more adult. As with any new media, parents have become concerned about the time 
children are spending on these games and the possible effects these games will have on them. There are no easy answers to this question, due to the range and variety of games on offer, but it is possible to break down some broad genres types and look at the most popular games available.
Super Mario Galaxy
This game is a fun adventure platformer, and an excellent example of the genre. Indeed, the original Super Mario kickstarted the genre some twenty years ago. It is rated for E for Everyone, and is suitable for children of all ages. The game is filled with bright colors and shapes, beloved characters such as Mario and Luigi, Peach, and Bowser, and happy sound effects. The game dynamics are heavily based on spatial awareness, basic problem solving, and plain having fun.
In general, the platformer genre trends towards games for children. The heavy emphasis on spatial awareness and movement of the game character can be very beneficial to a developing child.
Grand Theft Auto
The Grand Theft Auto series has been under media fire for years now, especially since the release of GTA III in 2001. GTA is a rated M series that features adult content, including some nudity, drug usage, and swearing. The question of whether such violent video games adversely affect children is still being debated, with the games industry claiming that they are no worse than violent content in movies and on TV, and parent activist groups claiming that their immersive nature sets them apart. (One balanced analysis of this issue can be found in the book ‘Grand Theft Childhood’, based on a Harvard study.)
GTA is representative of the open world sandbox style of gameplay. Whereas platformers may be linear, these games give the player freedom to do anything inside the limits of the game world, with multiple tasks or objectives that can be completed in any order. While these games are considered to be excellent entertainment, those that contain adult content are not appropriate for younger children. Teenagers (who are by and large exposed to adult content elsewhere with no ill effects) may play them as normal, but parent discretion is advised.
World Of Warcraft
World of Warcraft, also abbreviated to WoW, is an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Role Playing Game). Targeted towards teens, WoW can easily become absorbing and immersive. In WoW, the player takes on the role of an in-game character and connects to external servers that host the game world. There, they can meet and 
engage with players from around the world, teaming up with them to complete quests and conquer monsters. The gameplay is heavily focused on using teamwork and cooperation to complete goals, as well as tactics, strategy, and creative problem-solving. This kind of gameplay has proven to be compelling to players of all ages, leading to some accusations that the game encourages addictive behaviour.
MMORPGs are an unusual genre. Their teamwork aspect is a powerful tool to help children learn social interaction and how to effectively work in a group with others, and make great improvements in their communication skills and typing (the vast majority of communication in such games is by text chat). Parental controls are a must, however, as MMMORPGs are well known for being quite time-consuming and may interfere with study or schoolwork. Although World of Warcraft is rated PG-13, other MMORPGs may be rated higher and contain inappropriate material.
The greatest concern with MMORPGs these days is the fact that they inevitably bring children into contact with strangers, albeit in a controlled way. Parents have become rightly concerned by this, and by the possibility that their children may be giving out personal information. For the vast majority of interations, however, there is nothing to worry about. If parents are careful to monitor their child’s playing – or, indeed, play with them on their own game account – MMORPGs such as WoW are quite interesting and valuable.
Splinter Cell: Conviction
Splinter Cell is a popular series that is an action-adventure stealth game. While it is targeted towards Mature audiences, many children under age 17 still get involved in the game. Based off Tom Clancy’s style of novel writing, these games incorporate a lot of “mystery”, problem solving, and require a higher level of thinking to beat. The themes are often inappropriate for children, but can enhance their analytical thinking ability.
Action adventure games frequently focus heavily on story-telling, and creating an emotional bond between the player and the game character. In many ways, they are like interactive movies, and run the same gamut of themes and content.
Katamari Series
Katamari is a cutesy Japanese style puzzle game suitable for all ages. The gameplay is based on the concept of rolling a large ball around a gameworld, picking up items and increasing the size of the ball in the process. The gameplay is again focused on spatial awareness, with an emphasis on working out the order in which items can be collected.
Puzzle games are very hard to define, as they are hugely varied in type and size. Virtually all of them are suitable for children, although younger children may simply find them too hard to play on occasion. Puzzle games frequently test the limits of even an adult’s intelligence, and they are a very powerful and attractive method of teaching all kinds of problem solving skills.
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