If you're like us, you've been playing games for decades. But as time marches on, and we have kids of our own, we must pass the torch on to them and keep the passion for gaming alive. But just as we've matured, so too has the mobile game market, and developers have become more savvy at using psychological tricks to exploit us (and our kids!) into playing one more game or spending one more dollar. We get it: everyone needs to make a living, but when it comes to games for children, a higher standard must be set. To that end, we've put together a list of some of the best kid-friendly games on the Play Store. Whether you're looking for Android games appropriate for four-year-olds or want to dig up a few tablet games worthy of your Fire Tab, Android Police has you covered.

Regardless of your child's age (or yours), there's sure to be a game on our list to scratch that gaming itch. From hypnotic town-building games like Townscaper to get-out-and-move games like Pikmin Bloom, there's something on this list for everyone. So get comfy, grab your favorite Android tablet, and prepare to download some incredibly fun games for kids.

1 Townscaper

Townscaper is a sandbox game about building beautiful Italian cities in the middle of the ocean. Building these gorgeous towns is as simple as tapping the screen; that's it. It's so easy that a young child can do it, which is why Townscaper is an excellent game for children. There's nothing to read, and there are no goals. The game looks great, and it plays great. It's a perfect game for all ages, and it's a hoot to boot, so don't miss out. This one's a classic in waiting.

Townscaper kids game roundup

2 SpongeBob: Get Cooking

Netflix Games has been making waves by offering monetization-free titles on Android and iOS. The beauty is that all titles through Netflix don't contain monetization, as they are part of a regular Netflix subscription. So for games like SpongeBob: Get Cooking, titles that once used to offer awful monetization now have a second chance, free of abusive in-app purchases. This means SpongeBob: Get Cooking is a perfect game for children because of its inviting and familiar theme and because this title won't nag your child to spend your money. Plus, the food-building gameplay is easy to grasp, so children of reading age can pick this up and play without any issues. All around, it's a solid title for kids. But you need a Netflix subscription for access.

3 Spelling & Phonics: Kids Games

It's rare to find a well-made kids game that isn't loaded up with ads or in-app purchases, so when you find a title like Spelling & Phonics: Kids Games you treasure it, even if the name is a bit generic. SPKG has a bunch of game modes for your budding reader to dig into, all of them built around simple CVC words. The games offer a gentle progression as well, meaning kids can start playing the easiest games once they can differentiate letters.

4 Hidden Through Time

Hidden object games, like Where's Waldo, are great for children. Hidden Through Time offers similar, but with slick animations where you'll hunt down several objects in each stage. The art is fantastic, the puzzles are challenging (enough to keep kids of all ages interested), and since this is a premium release, it can be had for a single purchase of $3, which is fair for a game that offers three to four hours of gameplay straight through.

5 PBS Kids Games

PBS Kids is unique because out of nearly all other collections of kids games, it doesn't hit you with ads or microtransactions. On top of that, many of the games are as entertaining as they are educational. The icing on the cake is the games are based on PBS's incredible library of children's content. Your child can learn numbers with Curious George or just explore with Daniel Tiger. There are currently over 200 games in its library, all of which you can download for offline play. Thanks PBS!

6 Minecraft

Even though you can play Minecraft as a game and go on to slay the Ender Dragon, it's really so much more than that. The beauty of Minecraft — and the reason it's considered a classic — is that there is no right or wrong way to play it. It's all about learning what you can do, and then playing the game however you want. The open world and endless creativity is perfect for young minds to explore. What's better is that in many ways, Minecraft has rarely plumbed depths of complexity that your child can dive into if they want. Your kids may start out building huts to survive the nocturnal zombie apocalypse, but they'll soon be mastering redstone and making custom roller coasters.

7 Pokémon Playhouse

Unlike most Pokémon games on Android, Pokémon Playhouse is free and designed to appeal to children. Kids can interact with several Pokémon while exploring various locations. There's even a grooming aspect that's similar to what you would find in a Tamagotchi game. This casual exploration game offers a few mini-games designed to target kids between the ages of 3 and 5, so it is the perfect introduction to the property for children that can't read.

8 Molly of Denali: Learn About Nature and Community

Molly of Denali - Go on an Alaskan Adventure comes from PBS Kids, and it's a tie-in product for the station's TV show of the same name. This is a kids game that targets children ages 4 to 8, and it offers mini-games themed around the show where the player explores nature. It's a free release that does not contain in-app purchases or advertisements. If you're looking for a fair game for children between the ages of 4 and 8, Molly of Denali is a safe choice.

9 Pet Bingo by Duck Duck Moose

Pet Bingo by Duck Duck Moose is an educational math game for children between the ages of 5 and 10. This title is free to download and use, plus it contains a slew of math skills to learn, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, measurements, and geometry. This way, your child should be covered no matter their current learning level. If you would like more content, check out the rest of Duck Duck Moose's excellent catalog.

10 Little Inferno

Tomorrow Corporation offers several quirky games for mobile, and the quirkiest is Little Inferno, a game about burning toys in a fireplace. Trial and error is often the key to success, so anyone can play, including small children. After all, who doesn't get a kick out of lighting stuff on fire, especially kids? So instead of letting little Jimmy burn your house down as he experiments with real matches, let the little devil live out his destructive fantasies through this quirky and enjoyable game.

Little Inferno best games for kids roundup

11 Toca Boca Jr

Toca Boca is one of those publishers that stick to their guns. Its games are free of in-app purchases, open-ended, and gender-neutral. Its most popular release, Toca Kitchen 2, is, in our opinion, a perfect example of its ethical design. In the same vein as Cooking Mama, it is a fun cooking game that allows kids to explore any wacky combination of food they can think of and serves it to an NPC for humorous results.

12 Tornado Time Free

Tornado Time Free is an older game but a good one. It's simple in scope, as there's only one stage, and you only have one goal, destroy as much of the town as possible. It's your job to get the highest score by demolishing a small town. While this type of setup is repetitive, we doubt many children will notice the lack of variety. Plus, it's super fun to destroy the town over and over again. What kid wouldn't enjoy that?

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13 Starfall.com

Starfall is an educational app that offers simple content for pre-K users through third grade. The app provides many games that delve into popular subjects like reading, math, and singing. An internet connection is required to play, so this is a title best played at home. If your child is just learning their ABCs and 123s, Starfall is a quality choice that won't break the bank.

14 Pikmin Bloom

Niantic is well known for its augmented reality collection game Pokémon GO and is at the forefront of AR tech. Even though most of the studio's games follow a similar design, Pikmin Bloom is a little different from the rest. This is a game about walking, and the goal, always, is to walk, so think of it as a fun step counter. What makes it fun is that the entire thing is themed around Nintendo's Pikmin franchise, and you'll grow Pikmin from seedlings with every step you take.

Yes, the game contains in-app purchases, but the shortcuts Niantic sells aren't necessary if your goal is to walk. If you'd like to get your kid out and about with an app that encourages healthy activity, perhaps Pikmin Bloom is what you're looking for.

Pikmin Bloom kids game roundup (2)

15 Thinkrolls Space

Avokiddo is a well-known developer of children's games. Even though the developer isn't as active as it once was, Thinkrolls Space is still a standout title few have heard of. This is a puzzle game where you use colorful heroes as gap fillers to roll your way to the end of each stage. It's a simple maze-like setup any child should enjoy, and thanks to simple controls, children can play this game without help. If you're looking for something quirky and entertaining for your youngster, Thinkrolls Space is a gem in the rough that shouldn't be missed.

Thinkrolls Space kids game roundup

16 KIDS

Kids is an odd little game that only lasts up to thirty minutes of playtime, so be aware that this title is more about the experience than the long-lasting gameplay. Still, what's beneath the surface is worth the asking price. The black-and-white art is probably the first thing most people notice, which is simple yet striking.

The gameplay, if you can call it that, revolves around moving with and against crowds to see which choices empty the stage first. The mechanics are intuitive, and the black-and-white cartoony design should appeal to children, making this a fun little title to play around with just to see what happens.

17 Teach Your Monster to Read

If you're looking for something educational and centered around phonics and reading for children between the ages of 3 and 6, Teach Your Monster to Read is a game to check out. It's monetized appropriately as a premium release, the art is slick, and the gameplay is enjoyable. Plus, your kid might learn a few things, which is always a bonus. If encouraging your child's reading comprehension is a top priority, Teach Your Monster to Read is a great way for them to enjoy the process.

Teach Your Monster to Read kids game roundup

18 Hidden Folks

Similar to Hidden Through Time, Hidden Folks is a hidden object game. This game is presented in black and white, making the puzzles more challenging since everything offers the same colors. What's slick about this release is that each puzzle is interactive, where you'll poke and prod to change the landscapes and uncover what you're looking for. Any age can enjoy this title, and children will assuredly be delighted by the excellent sound design.

19 Daily Dadish

If your child grows bored with games quickly, a title that offers a new level each day may appeal better. This is what you get with Daily Dadish. The platforming series has seen a good bit of success over the years, and this fresh release offers plenty more of what makes the previous great, with the hook that you'll be able to play one new level each day to compete for the high score. The controls are simple enough for any child familiar with platforming titles, and the theme is appropriate for all ages. So no matter how you slice it, Daily Dadish is perfect for those who prefer bite-sized doses stretched over long periods.

20 LEGO Star Wars: TCS

Sure, the Lego Star Wars series was recently remastered, but this older collection offers the original graphics and storylines, and it still holds up. That's right, this is a full-fledged console port available on Android, and since it's a kid-friendly series, it's a perfect title for today's roundup. While there's nothing educational about this release, it offers plenty of fun that's appropriate for a child of any age as long as they have the dexterity for touch controls.

LEGO Star Wars TCS kids game roundup

Keep your child's screen time in check with Android

No matter how much you like games (and we like them a lot), there's a limit to what's good for you, especially so for kids. Too much screen time is bad, especially for children whose brains are still developing. That's why we recommend you take some time to set up Android's Digital Wellbeing feature to rein in excessive screen use. Even though we're all gamers, responsible gaming and screen time are vital to ensure a healthy mind.