Though childhood is not a mainstream part of your typical video game, it is definitely much more than just a tool to show a character's past—it is these early years that shape a lot of the why behind what they do.
With Children's Day 2025 just behind us, we look at video games that captured the sense of wonder, fear, and the fragile clarity of childhood.
Here are 7 video games that treat childhood not as a cutscene, but a perspective worth honouring:
The Last of Us (2013)
Being a child shaped by crisis upon crisis, Ellie's attempts to make sense of the world she lives in are quite authentic.
This makes her reactions—the sardonic humour and a panic that shoots up from time to time—and her memories feel disarmingly genuine.
God of War (2018)
Kratos' son Atreus is at once joyful, arrogant, and wistful, often touted as one of the better-written child characters in a video game.
His growing pains, questions, and missteps make his character very layered, and add to the emotional spine of the story.
The Walking Dead (2012)
Like Ellie from 'The Last of Us', 8-year-old Clementine's story is told with a lot of honesty.
One can see her trust, empathy, and fear evolve over time, as she navigates the zombie-infested world she is in—growing from a sheltered girl into a resilient survivor.
Limbo (2010)
This psychological horror mobile game from Playdead, narrated entirely using gorgeous silhouettes, captures childhood fear and turns it into nightmare fuel.
But it also shows the extent of bravery that children possess, as the unnamed protagonist (a little boy) tackles his deepest fears in a journey through a dystopian world to rescue his sister.
Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End (2016)
Nathan Drake’s childhood flashbacks perfectly capture the curiosity that comes with those years, and how it drives the way children think and feel about the world about them.
The game also deftly shows how his circumstances merely unlocked the adventurer already inside him, shaped by his childlike sense of wonder.
Tomb Raider (2013)
Despite getting a privileged life that sparked her love for archaeology, Lara Croft's childhood still gave her the courage and mental fortitude that shaped the survival skills she needed for her calling in life.
Clever, resourceful and determined, when push comes to shove, it is her loyalty, passion, and sense of wonder as a child that takes her far across the world.
Sky: Children of the Light (2019)
This offering from That Game Company is so cinematic that one often doubts if it can be called a game at all, or an interactive movie.
The non-verbal communication, shared exploration, and emphasis on light as memory are a very creative way of showing how children connect in ways that they do not even grasp until they grow older.
According to one of the developers, the Children of Light are meant to be free of labels and boundaries, becoming part of a childhood story that is worth being nostalgic about.
