Video games are once again topping holiday wish lists, according to the Entertainment Software Association. And not just the games themselves, but who’s playing with them.
In a new report released Monday, the video game industry advocacy group revealed that 58% of children ages 5 to 17 will be asking for something video game-related — and just as many say they want to play more video games with their parents.
“Kids are hopeful that mom and dad will sit down next to them, pick up the controller, and turn game time into family time,” said Aubrey Quinn, senior vice president at the ESA.
This Veterans Day, the Kraft family and the New England Patriots Foundation hosted a gaming night.
The report breaks down the most requested video game items, with the No. 1 request being in-game currency.
“Think of this as, the game your kid loves to play already, they want to be able to spend money within that game, and there are really safe and practical ways to do that,” said Quinn. “Parental controls exist on virtually every device.”
The second and third most-requested items are video game consoles and video game accessories. According to the report, parents will spend an average of $736 on video game gifts.
But if you ask Jamie York, owner of Game Underground in Waltham, you don’t have to break the bank to buy something your children will love.
“Sometimes it’s okay to get an older thing. Like, you could get the first Switch and save a whole bunch of money and if it’s their first system, they’re 6 or 7, they might not mind,” York said.
He said the Nintendo Switch 2 is the hottest device right now. For kids, the new Kirby game, “Mario Kart” and Pokémon will be the most popular games this holiday season.
It’s also important to check a game’s rating when shopping to make sure it is age appropriate. The Entertainment Software Rating Board assigns age and content ratings to video games as follows: E for Everyone, E10+ for ages 10 and older, T for Teen, M for Mature for ages 17 and older or AO for Adults Only.
When it comes time to play, Quinn also encourages parents to take advantage of parental controls.
“Every device you can play games on has parental controls. Use them, set them up and use actual birthdays, because a lot of systems have default setting that assume safety controls for younger players,” Quinn added.
Parents can learn more about ratings, parental controls, and how to keep kids safe while still having fun by visiting parentaltools.org.