General
**editor’s note: this is part 1 in a series of helping parents understand video games and the gaming world
The year was 1987. I excitedly climbed the stairs that led to my friend’s tiny second-story bedroom. Opening the door, I beheld a mysterious black box that looked like a VCR. It was an Atari, and it was like a portal to a new world. We gleefully swapped out plastic game cartridges, played pong as if it were an Olympic sport, and felt a sense of awe when we were finished.
A few weeks later, my parents and I were standing under the overly bright lights of a department store, staring at a display for the Sega video game system. My friend’s Atari was actually out of date by 1987. The original Nintendo Entertainment System had released in the U.S. two years earlier, and its rivalry with Sega was heating up.
Fast forward to 2025. According to marketwatch.com, “The video game industry has grown to be bigger than the sports and movie industry combined.”
Gaming is not just an after-school diversion. It’s a global force. According to the Motley Fool, the average U.S. household spent $435 on video games and video game related tech in 2023. The majority of households have some type of gaming device, and most parents are navigating the world of gaming alongside their children - it’s a big world to navigate. If you feel overwhelmed as a parent, you are not alone. This article is meant to be a primer for understanding today’s gaming landscape.
Like music, movies and television, video games are mostly streamed online today. 49% of games are played on mobile devices such as phones and tablets. The remaining 51% is split between personal computers and video game consoles such as X-Box, Playstation and Nintendo Switch. Virtual Reality headsets have also become popular in recent years. They stream games directly from the internet or from a nearby PC.
I remember going to slumber parties as a kid. We would stay up until the small hours of the morning playing video games and devouring potato chips together. In 2025, kids are still staying up late to play games together, but they’re not sharing their chips. They’re using web cams and headset microphones to connect, sometimes from across the world.
Online gameplay transformed video games, as developers invented new ways to leverage the power of the internet. Here are a few examples. Sports games like Madden and FC25 allow gamers to play against their computer offline, or players can go online to be matched up with a person to play against.
Games like Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto are referred to as sandbox games. They feature huge open worlds where players can roam and do as they please. The story and goals are totally determined by the players. In Minecraft, players can invite their friends to join their custom-made world, allowing for cooperation and collaboration.
Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) are another class of video games. They are similar to sandbox games, but they feature more specific objectives and stories that are created by the developers. In the game World of Warcraft, players form teams and work together to complete quests. The missions are often time sensitive and require teams to coordinate their play around a specific window of time.
Video games were once thought of as a hobby for kids, but that has changed. As video games became more technologically sophisticated and gamers grew up, companies began to release games for teens and adults. Storylines became complex and emotionally rich. Game genres became as varied as movie genres, and the content grew less suitable for children. If a video game is labeled MA (mature) in 2025, it’s no joke. Any content found in an R-rated movie can also be found in video games with an MA content rating. Fortunately, there is strong demand for high-quality games that are clean and family friendly.
If you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed by the task of helping your kids navigate the world of gaming, take heart. You have a resource to help you: your kids. Ask open-ended questions, listen closely and watch the games they play. Engaging in things they care about is a great way to connect and learn why certain games interest them.
Once you know what your kids are interested in, prayerfully do some research to help you decide if a game is a good option for your child.
James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God will give you wisdom for your family! There are lots of useful websites like ign.com and Common Sense Media that review video games. Their reviews provide age ratings and general overviews for most new and popular games.
Another resource you can use is YouTube. Lots of channels review video games and a shocking number of people record and post their gameplay. You can literally see the game for yourself! To hear what other parents are saying about certain games, search for discussion threads on sites like Reddit or Substack.
Last but not least, there are specific Christian influencers in the gaming space such as Gaming and God, Christian Gamer, and Love Thy Nerd that have a lot of godly advice to glean from.
The world of gaming presents huge challenges and amazing opportunities for parents. Believe God for His wisdom. Don’t be daunted. Take the advice of Star Trek’s Jean Luc Picard - Engage!
The History of Gaming
The article explains how video games have grown from simple consoles like Atari in the 1980s to a massive global industry in 2025, bigger than sports and movies combined. It highlights how online play, mobile gaming, and new genres have transformed the experience, while also noting the rise of mature content. For parents, it offers guidance: talk with kids about their games, research age ratings and reviews, and seek wisdom to help children navigate the gaming world in healthy ways.
The year was 1987. I excitedly climbed the stairs that led to my friend’s tiny second-story bedroom. Opening the door, I beheld a mysterious black box that looked like a VCR. It was an Atari, and it was like a portal to a new world. We gleefully swapped out plastic game cartridges, played pong as if it were an Olympic sport, and felt a sense of awe when we were finished.
A few weeks later, my parents and I were standing under the overly bright lights of a department store, staring at a display for the Sega video game system. My friend’s Atari was actually out of date by 1987. The original Nintendo Entertainment System had released in the U.S. two years earlier, and its rivalry with Sega was heating up.
Fast forward to 2025. According to marketwatch.com, “The video game industry has grown to be bigger than the sports and movie industry combined.”
Gaming is not just an after-school diversion. It’s a global force. According to the Motley Fool, the average U.S. household spent $435 on video games and video game related tech in 2023. The majority of households have some type of gaming device, and most parents are navigating the world of gaming alongside their children - it’s a big world to navigate. If you feel overwhelmed as a parent, you are not alone. This article is meant to be a primer for understanding today’s gaming landscape.
Like music, movies and television, video games are mostly streamed online today. 49% of games are played on mobile devices such as phones and tablets. The remaining 51% is split between personal computers and video game consoles such as X-Box, Playstation and Nintendo Switch. Virtual Reality headsets have also become popular in recent years. They stream games directly from the internet or from a nearby PC.
I remember going to slumber parties as a kid. We would stay up until the small hours of the morning playing video games and devouring potato chips together. In 2025, kids are still staying up late to play games together, but they’re not sharing their chips. They’re using web cams and headset microphones to connect, sometimes from across the world.
Online gameplay transformed video games, as developers invented new ways to leverage the power of the internet. Here are a few examples. Sports games like Madden and FC25 allow gamers to play against their computer offline, or players can go online to be matched up with a person to play against.
Games like Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto are referred to as sandbox games. They feature huge open worlds where players can roam and do as they please. The story and goals are totally determined by the players. In Minecraft, players can invite their friends to join their custom-made world, allowing for cooperation and collaboration.
Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs) are another class of video games. They are similar to sandbox games, but they feature more specific objectives and stories that are created by the developers. In the game World of Warcraft, players form teams and work together to complete quests. The missions are often time sensitive and require teams to coordinate their play around a specific window of time.
Video games were once thought of as a hobby for kids, but that has changed. As video games became more technologically sophisticated and gamers grew up, companies began to release games for teens and adults. Storylines became complex and emotionally rich. Game genres became as varied as movie genres, and the content grew less suitable for children. If a video game is labeled MA (mature) in 2025, it’s no joke. Any content found in an R-rated movie can also be found in video games with an MA content rating. Fortunately, there is strong demand for high-quality games that are clean and family friendly.
If you’re a parent feeling overwhelmed by the task of helping your kids navigate the world of gaming, take heart. You have a resource to help you: your kids. Ask open-ended questions, listen closely and watch the games they play. Engaging in things they care about is a great way to connect and learn why certain games interest them.
Once you know what your kids are interested in, prayerfully do some research to help you decide if a game is a good option for your child.
James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God will give you wisdom for your family! There are lots of useful websites like ign.com and Common Sense Media that review video games. Their reviews provide age ratings and general overviews for most new and popular games.
Another resource you can use is YouTube. Lots of channels review video games and a shocking number of people record and post their gameplay. You can literally see the game for yourself! To hear what other parents are saying about certain games, search for discussion threads on sites like Reddit or Substack.
Last but not least, there are specific Christian influencers in the gaming space such as Gaming and God, Christian Gamer, and Love Thy Nerd that have a lot of godly advice to glean from.
The world of gaming presents huge challenges and amazing opportunities for parents. Believe God for His wisdom. Don’t be daunted. Take the advice of Star Trek’s Jean Luc Picard - Engage!
