My four children all love robots; it doesn’t matter if they’re in movie form, at children’s discovery museums, or elsewhere. If there’s a robot, they’ll stop to talk about it. As a gaming family, we also play many games with robot-based elements.
This list of the best games for kids and teens who love robots includes everything from major AAA titles to charming indies that may have flown under your radar. These games span a wide variety of genres, themes, and difficulty levels, but they all revolve around robots in one way or another.
In some of these games, kids get to play as robots directly. In others, they team up with robotic companions, explore mechanical worlds, build robot helpers, battle robot enemies, or solve puzzles inside strange machine-controlled environments.
I also included a few games centered around robot dinosaurs, steam-powered automatons, and other mechanical creatures.
Because this list is aimed at both kids and teens, not every game will be the right fit for every age group. Some of our picks are colorful and approachable enough for younger players, while others are better suited to older kids who enjoy tougher platformers, strategy games, or bombastic sci-fi adventures.
As always, parents can find the ESRB rating, content descriptors, platforms, and player count underneath each entry. But whether your child loves cute robot mascots, giant machines, puzzle-solving androids, or futuristic worlds full of mechanical characters, there’s a little something for everyone here.
If you’ve been following along over the years, you know that we’re a gaming family, and I spent years working in the space, so in this list, you’ll find some industry favorites, but also some titles you haven’t heard of if you’re not a gamer and have turned to this list to find something for your children to play.
Astro Bot Is The Easiest Recommendation For Kids Who Love Robots
Astro Bot, 2024’s Game of the Year, is an obvious choice for this list because the whole game is built around an adorable robot hero. Players get to guide Astro across colorful planets while rescuing other bots, collecting puzzle pieces, defeating enemies, and making use of creative gadgets that keep the platforming fresh from one stage to the next.
Astro Bot is a polished and imaginative game that doesn’t play like it was made exclusively for children, though they are likely to enjoy it most. Every new world players unlock introduces new ideas quickly, so players are always seeing a new mechanic, environment, or robot-themed surprise. If you own a PS5 and want to give it a shot, we recommend trying Astro’s Playroom first since it comes preinstalled on the console and works as an introduction to Astro’s world.
Why Kids Will Love Astro Bot: Astro has the appeal of a mascot character, but the game around him is comprehensive enough for older players, too. Kids get bright worlds, fun robot designs, and plenty of secrets to discover, while teens will appreciate the clever platforming sections. It’s one of the best games for kids who love robots because the robot theme is baked into both the hero and the world around him.
My 8-year-old plays Astro Bot at least once a week. She says the various levels with their own unique challenges are what keep her engaged, and honestly, it’s what keeps me engaged too.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence
Platforms: PS5
Players: Single-player only
Portal 2 Turns Robot-Filled Test Chambers Into Brilliant Puzzle Solving
Both Portal games are heavily centered around robots, but the sequel is a better fit for this list since it actually lets you play as one. Portal 2 is a puzzle game set inside Aperture Science, a bizarre underground facility featuring malfunctioning machines, sarcastic AI systems, and deadly test chambers. Players use a portal gun to create linked doorways, allowing them to solve physics-based puzzles by redirecting momentum, lasers, cubes, and other testing equipment.
The main campaign is already packed with memorable robot characters, including GLaDOS and Wheatley, but the co-op campaign also introduces robotic protagonists. In co-op, two players control Atlas and P-Body, a pair of testing robots built for cooperative puzzle-solving. The puzzles are pretty simple at first, but gradually ramp up in difficulty as players progress through the various levels. Overall, Portal 2 is best suited for older kids and teens, as some of the puzzles demand patience, spatial reasoning, and trial-and-error thinking.
Why Older Kids And Teens Will Love Portal 2: This is a dream game for anyone who enjoys puzzle-solving. The robot humor is sharp, the co-op campaign is excellent, and the testing facility has a strange personality that sticks with players long after they’ve finished the game. For kids and teens who love robots, science-fiction settings, and brain-teasing challenges, Portal 2 is still hard to beat.
My 14-year-old daughter loves moody games and puzzles, and Portal 2 meets both. It’s fun to start off simple and then progress to more challenging levels, and she and I are both fans of co-op games. Having mastered It Takes Two, Split Fictions, and others, we turned to Portal 2 rather recently to fulfill our co-op itch, and we both fell in love with the game.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Online Interactions Not Rated by the ESRB
Platforms: PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Switch
Players: Single-player. 2-player co-op available
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart Combines Robot Companions With Fast Sci-Fi Action
Ratchet & Clank is the series that gave us one of gaming’s most iconic robotic companions. It’s also a series that some of the parents reading this may have fond memories of, given it’s been around for decades now. Rift Apart, the most recent installment, sends Ratchet, Clank, Rivet, and Kit across dimensions where they battle alien enemies, repair broken realities, and jump between futuristic worlds full of gadgets, ships, robots, and strange technology.
In many ways, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart feels more like a high-budget movie than a traditional video game. The environments are absolutely stunning, and you can spend hours just looking around, admiring the sights. Meanwhile, the main characters are as lovable as always and there are, of course, plenty of robots to look forward to. This is a bigger and more action-heavy game than something like Astro Bot and is better suited to older kids who are comfortable with shooting mechanics and fast platforming.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart: The game is flashy, funny, and constantly moving, with new planets, weapons, enemies, and set pieces arriving at a steady pace. Robot-loving players will enjoy Clank, Kit, and the broader sci-fi world, while action fans get a polished adventure that looks and feels exciting from start to finish.
The entire Ratchet & Clank franchise is my 11-year-old son’s domain. He says he likes fast-paced action, awesome graphics (in newer titles), and the ongoing storyline. This is also among my favorite franchises of all time and to anyone new to gaming I would also recommend giving it a try.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, In-Game Purchases
Platforms: PS5, PC
Players: Single-player only
LEGO Horizon Adventures Makes Robot Dinosaurs More Kid-Friendly
LEGO Horizon Adventures takes the robot-dinosaur world of Horizon and turns it into a bright and goofy action-adventure game. Players follow Aloy as she protects her home from invaders, fights robotic creatures, breaks enemies into LEGO pieces, and explores a more playful version of the post-apocalyptic setting from the main Horizon games. The main games are all about robots as well, but they’re aimed at a slightly older audience, hence why they’re missing from this list.
LEGO Horizon Adventures includes the coolest part of the series, i.e., the robots, but skips the challenging combat encounters and heavy sociopolitical themes. This simplified version of Horizon is probably not going to seem very appealing to teens, but younger players will get a kick out of it. You’ve got robot dinosaurs, and you’ve got LEGO. That’s a match made in heaven right there.
Why Kids Will Love LEGO Horizon Adventures: You’ll be hard-pressed to find a kid who doesn’t love robot dinosaurs. Kids can battle machines, smash LEGO objects, collect rewards, and play through a sci-fi adventure that feels built for family audiences. Admittedly, the game is a bit short for the price, so maybe grab this one when it’s on sale.
My entire family loves this game, and LEGO video games in general. I even wrote a list of the best LEGO games to play with kids that I recommend checking out.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence, Language
Platforms: PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC
Players: Single-player. 2-player co-op available
Biped And Biped 2 Are Built With Co-Op In Mind
Biped and Biped 2 are puzzle-platforming games about small two-legged robots working together to solve all sorts of fun puzzles. It has some of that Portal-style charm and gameplay, but with a broader sense of humor. The first game follows Aku and Sila as they travel through colorful environments and solve movement-based puzzles, while the sequel expands upon the original formula with new planets and mechanics, as well as more cooperative challenges.
The gist of these games is that each robot’s legs are controlled in a deliberately unusual way, making walking, climbing, sliding, and puzzle-solving integral parts of the challenge. That makes the games funny and sometimes a little chaotic, especially in co-op, but the focus is still on communication and teamwork rather than competition. Biped and its sequel are especially good for siblings, friends, or parent-child pairs who want a robot game that encourages players to coordinate and work as a team.
Why Families Will Love Biped: The robots are cute, the puzzles are simple enough, and the co-op design gives players plenty of chances to laugh when things go wrong. Kids who enjoy robots will get attached to Aku and Sila right away. Meanwhile, parents may appreciate that the games reward patience, problem-solving, and cooperation.
This game often falls back into my 8-year-old daughter’s hands, and she loves playing local co-op with me, following in the footsteps of her older sister. It’s an adorable game with plenty of problem-solving elements that make it great for young minds to play with.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Content Descriptors: No Descriptors for Biped. Mild Fantasy Violence for Biped 2
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Players: Single-player. Local and online co-op available
Mega Man 11 Keeps One Of Gaming’s Most Famous Robot Heroes In The Spotlight
We couldn’t have a list of games for kids and teens who love robots without including Mega Man. The long-running series has plenty of good titles to offer, but Mega Man 11 is our top choice for this particular list. In Mega Man 11, the titular hero is tasked with defeating Robot Masters and acquiring their powerful weapons for himself, gaining new abilities in the process. Each stage is built around a different mechanical boss and theme, giving the game a clear structure and progression system.
Despite being newer than a lot of the other games in the series, Mega Man 11 is still an old-school action-platformer at heart, so players should be prepared for a bit of a challenge. Among other things, players need to learn enemy patterns, manage jumps carefully, and figure out which weapons work best in different situations. Having said that, the game does have difficulty options and can be toned down if needed.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love Mega Man 11: Pretty much everything in Mega Man 11 is connected to robots in one way or another. You’ve got robotic heroes, robotic enemies, upgrades, futuristic-looking levels, and more. The progression system is very satisfying, as Mega Man changes visually and becomes more powerful upon acquiring new weapons. This gives players a sense that they’re accomplishing something meaningful instead of just going through the motions.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Players: Single-player only
SteamWorld Dig 2 Sends You On An Underground Adventure
SteamWorld Dig 2 follows Dorothy, a robot miner searching for her missing friend in a world filled with machinery and buried secrets. The game blends platforming, digging, exploration, and upgrades into a Metroidvania-style loop in which players head underground, collect resources, return to town, upgrade their tools, and then dig deeper than before. The original is also worth checking out, but the sequel is better in pretty much every way.
SteamWorld Dig 2 stands out from other games in this genre by focusing more on exploration and puzzle-solving than combat. Better gear opens new paths, hidden areas reward curiosity, and the robot-western setting gives the game a unique personality. It can get a little tricky in later sections, but the challenge builds gradually enough that players have time to learn how everything works.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love SteamWorld Dig 2: Dorothy is a charming robot hero and digging through the world makes exploration feel active and rewarding. Players can decide where to tunnel, what resources to collect, and which upgrades to prioritize, giving them complete control over their adventure. For robot-loving kids who enjoy platformers with solid exploration and progression, SteamWorld Dig 2 is one of the best indie games on the list.
This is another relatively moody game and one that all three of my older children have enjoyed. They are all puzzle-loving gamers, and as Minecraft fans, they all have a love of digging. It’s a simple but fun game, and it’s available across a ton of gaming platforms.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS
Players: Single-player only
SteamWorld Heist II Turns Robot Pirates Into A Smart Strategy Game
Whereas the SteamWorld Dig series is more about exploration and puzzle-solving, SteamWorld Heist II and its predecessor are very much centered around combat. More specifically, turn-based tactical battles. Players get to take command of a crew of steam-powered robot pirates and sail across the seven seas, looting and plundering as they go. The naval battles take place in real time, but things switch to turn-based once your bots start fighting other pirate crews.
SteamWorld Heist II requires a fair amount of tactical thinking, making it better suited to older kids and teens. The success of your crew in battle depends on multiple factors, including positioning and pre-planning. It’s also important to understand each robot’s strengths and weaknesses before getting into a brawl. This isn’t a hardcore strategy game, but it is a bit more involved than many of the other titles on this list.
Why Older Kids And Teens Will Love SteamWorld Heist II: This is a good choice for robot-loving players who want something more thoughtful than a platformer or an action game. Building a crew, choosing jobs, upgrading abilities, and pulling off difficult shots can be very satisfying, provided everything goes according to plan, of course.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Players: Single-player only
Machinarium Is A Hand-Drawn Puzzle Adventure Set In A Robot City
Machinarium is a point-and-click puzzle adventure about a small robot named Josef trying to rescue his girlfriend and stop a group of troublemakers in a strange mechanical city. The whole game is built around robots, from the main character to the citizens, the puzzles, and even the environments. There is no spoken dialogue, so players have to pay attention to visual clues, character expressions, and the world itself in order to get a sense of what’s going on.
Some of the puzzles in Machinarium can be a bit challenging, but the game is still a good fit for kids and teens of all ages. The unique hand-drawn art style and oddball humor hold up almost two decades after the game came out and are reason enough to give this one a try. Since it’s a slightly older game at this point, you can usually find it on sale for only a couple of bucks, which is an absolute steal.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love Machinarium: The robot city is full of personality, and Josef is easy to root for even without dialogue. Players who enjoy puzzles, hidden details, and strange little worlds will have plenty to discover here. Machinarium is especially appealing to kids and teens who love robots but prefer brain teasers and visual storytelling over combat.
My 14-year-old loves the puzzles in this game, especially the more challenging ones, and so far she’s the only kid in our house to really dive in deep. I played for maybe 20 minutes, and so far I’ve really enjoyed the start of the game.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Comic Mischief, Use of Tobacco
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, iOS, Android
Players: Single-player only
Stray Explores A Post-Human City Filled With Robotic Residents
Stray may feature a cat in the leading role, but it absolutely belongs on a list of games for kids and teens who love robots. The game takes place in a forgotten underground city where humans are gone, and robotic residents have built their own society to replace the old one. As the stray cat explores the city, players will get the chance to meet a whole range of charming and quirky robotic residents.
Stray works best for older kids and teens, partly because the setting is moodier than most of the list and partly because there are moments of danger. However, Stray is also thoughtful, memorable, and far less intense than many other sci-fi games. The robot society is the heart of the experience and the cat’s perspective makes the world feel mysterious without needing much exposition.
Why Older Kids And Teens Will Love Stray: The contrast between a very believable cat and a city full of robots gives the game a unique identity. Players can engage in all sorts of classic cat-like activities while exploring a world where machines have become the main characters. It’s a must-play for kids and teens looking for a robot-themed game with atmosphere, exploration, and a more mature sense of wonder. It’s also one of the best animal games out there.
All of my kids, even my four-year-old, love this game. We have three cats at home, and we’re all cat lovers, so this was a no-brainer. While the cat is the main attraction, some of the title’s best elements are its interactions with the world’s robots.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Players: Single-player only
Autonauts Makes Robot Helpers The Center Of A Creative Building Game
Autonauts is a building and automation game where players create robot helpers to gather materials, craft items, plant crops, build structures, and keep a growing settlement running. The end goal is to gradually build an efficient little world where robots do most of the work. But to get there, players must first teach the robots how to perform every task as efficiently as possible.
That focus on automation makes Autonauts a great choice for kids and teens who enjoy creative problem-solving. The game introduces basic programming concepts in a friendly way, asking players to think through steps, routines, and cause-and-effect relationships. It’s not really a coding game per se, but it does encourage the same kind of logical thinking that helps kids understand how systems work.
Why Kids Will Love Autonauts: Training robots to do jobs can feel like building a tiny machine out of instructions. Kids can watch their robot workers organize and perform tasks while the settlement becomes more capable over time. For those interested in something a little more action-focused, there’s a follow-up called Autonauts vs Piratebots that revolves around building an army of bots to defend a base against a pirate invasion.
Minecraft, as previously mentioned, is a huge hit among even our youngest children, so it’s no surprise that they love the cozy world-building game.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Content Descriptors: No Descriptors
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Players: Single-player only
Grow Home Stars A Wobbly Robot On A Mission To Climb An Alien Plant
Grow Home follows BUD, a small robot sent to grow and climb a giant alien plant so he can collect seeds and help his home planet. You can sort of look at it as a reimagining of the classic fairy tale about Jack and the Beanstalk, with a modern robot twist. The game is simple in concept, but the unusual way the character moves gives it a playful, unpredictable feel.
BUD (Botanical Utility Droid) doesn’t move around like a typical platforming hero. He stumbles, stretches, grabs, and climbs in a way that makes every ascent feel a little risky, but that’s part of the fun. Grow Home is mostly about curiosity and vertical exploration, making it a nice robot-themed option for players looking for something more lighthearted and relaxing.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love Grow Home: BUD is charming because he feels both useful and clumsy, like a little robot figuring out the world as he goes. Players can climb higher and higher, discover strange plants and creatures, and enjoy the satisfaction of looking down at how far they have traveled. Grow Home is a good pick for robot fans interested in exploration, physics-based movement, and games with a clear sense of upward progress.
My 11-year-old son is obsessed with robots and aliens. He took to this game quickly and beat it equally as fast, but while it was a short-lived experience for him, he said he loves every element of the game.
ESRB Rating: E for Everyone
Content Descriptors: No Descriptors
Platforms: PC, PS4
Players: Single-player only
Transformers: EarthSpark – Expedition Gives Young Robot Fans A Familiar Heroic Adventure
Considering the popularity of the franchise, a lot of you might be surprised to learn that there aren’t all that many Transformers games out there. Most of the good ones were discontinued years ago, and new releases have been few and far between since. Transformers: EarthSpark – Expedition is among the last remaining licensed games that’s still worth checking out. It’s not as flashy and action-packed as the old War for Cyberton series, though, so this one’s for the kids.
In EarthSpark – Expedition, players control Bumblebee as he explores different areas, battles enemy robots, unlocks upgrades, and works to stop Mandroid from becoming a larger threat. The game’s structure is simple enough for kids to understand, while the robot battles and transformation mechanics give it the kind of wish-fulfillment that makes Transformers appealing in the first place.
Why Young Transformers Fans Will Love EarthSpark – Expedition: Getting to play as Bumblebee is the main draw here. Kids can switch between robot and vehicle forms, fight robotic enemies, explore open areas, and step into a world they may already know from the show. Optimus Prime is also featured in the game, but this is primarily a Bumblebee adventure.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Players: Single-player only
SteamWorld Build Turns A Robot Town Into A Building And Mining Project
SteamWorld Build takes the robot-filled SteamWorld universe and turns it into a city-building and management game. Players help a town of steam-powered robots gather resources, construct buildings, and dig beneath the surface in search of valuable materials and ancient technology. It has some of the same robot-western personality as the rest of the series, but the gameplay is much more about planning than platforming or combat.
Kids and teens who enjoy building games can focus on laying out their town, managing production chains, and expanding underground mines. It’s more systems-driven than some of the other robot games on here, so younger players may need help at first. On the other hand, older kids who like organizing, upgrading, and watching a settlement grow will find plenty to enjoy here.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love SteamWorld Build: The appeal lies in watching a dusty little robot town slowly become more active and efficient. Players can build above ground, mine below ground, and make decisions that help the whole community function better. It’s a great choice for robot fans who prefer construction, management, and strategy over combat and exploration.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Players: Single-player only
Cave Story+ Is A Classic Indie Adventure With A Strong Robot Connection
Cave Story+ is a classic indie action-platformer about a small amnesiac hero who wakes up in a cave system full of strange creatures, hidden dangers, and mysterious technology. The robot angle is part of the story rather than something the game explains immediately, but it becomes important as players learn more about the protagonist, the world, and the forces threatening its inhabitants.
This is one of the more retro-feeling games on the list, with side-scrolling action, boss fights, upgrades, secrets, and multiple endings. The game is more challenging than it may appear at first glance, so it’s a better fit for older kids and teens who enjoy old-school platformers. Players should expect a game that feels simple on the surface but has more story, difficulty, and emotional weight than its cute visuals might suggest.
Why Older Kids And Teens Will Love Cave Story+: Cave Story+ is a good pick for players who like discovering a strange world piece by piece. The action is fast, the weapons are fun to experiment with, and the story gives the robot connection more meaning as the adventure unfolds. The visuals of the game do look a bit dated by today’s standards, but some kids may find that sort of retro aesthetic pretty cool.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
Players: Single-player only
Haiku, The Robot Puts A Small Mechanical Hero In A Broken Machine World
Haiku, the Robot is a 2D exploration game starring a tiny robot as it travels through a world of corrupted machines and broken systems. Players move through interconnected areas, fight mechanical enemies, unlock upgrades, and gradually gain new abilities that open paths they could not reach before. It follows the familiar Metroidvania structure, but brings a couple of unique things to the table as well, such as the customization system and Game Boy-inspired pixel art.
Haiku, the Robot is aimed at older kids and teens who are comfortable with exploration-based platformers. Players will often need to backtrack, remember blocked paths, and figure out where to go after gaining new abilities. Haiku itself is a charming little protagonist, and the ruined mechanical world makes the game a natural fit for robot-loving players who want something indie, stylish, and a bit more challenging.
Why Kids And Teens Will Love Haiku, The Robot: Haiku has the appeal of a small hero making their way through a huge, broken world. The upgrades provide a steady sense of progress while the mechanical setting keeps the robot theme front and center. It’s a strong choice for players who like exploring, fighting bosses, and uncovering secrets.
I’m proud of all four of my kids for still enjoying 2D games. We play a lot of retro games on my older gaming consoles, and my two oldest have really enjoyed this fun exploration game. My two youngest, however, have shown no interest in it, at least not yet.
ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10+
Content Descriptors: Mild Fantasy Violence
Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch
Players: Single-player only
