A reader has described how his children, who once spent their time on Fortnite and Roblox, have developed an unexpected preference for the Nintendo 3DS and cosy games. The father of a 13-year-old daughter and a 10-year-old son explains that, despite his efforts, traditional games were a constant battle until a dramatic change in recent months.
A shift away from Roblox and Fortnite
The reader, who previously wrote about his kids getting into video games, notes that Fortnite and Roblox were prevalent among his children and their friends. His daughter had veered away from Animal Crossing because her friends were playing Roblox, which served as a communication system. Games like Grow A Garden and 99 Nights were staples, but in January, his son reported that Fortnite was done and none of his friends were playing it anymore.
Despite some traction with Mario Kart, Wii Sports, and watching him play Final Fantasy 7, Donkey Kong Bananza, and F-Zero 99, there was little interest in consoles. The reader felt bereft, missing the chirrups of Animal Crossing and the constant firing of weaponry in Fortnite. He admits that Fortnite, while not his ideal from a gamer's perspective, is better than the 'slop' he sees on Roblox, which he has locked down and refuses to download to a console.
A surprising turn to the 3DS
In the last couple of months, things changed dramatically. The new season of Fortnite commenced and was deemed 'sick' by the kids, leading to battles over PlayStation screen time. The reader bought Pokémon Pokopia hoping to reignite his daughter's interest in cosy games, but neither child played it; instead, he found himself 20 hours in and loving it. His daughter asked about Tomodachi Life, which he purchased for a holiday journey, and she loved it.
The biggest surprise came on return from holiday when his son asked to use his 3DS because he was interested in having a Game Boy. Now, his son is obsessed with Mario Kart 7 and Pocket Jockey, and has said twice that he thinks the 3DS is the best gaming system ever. The reader reflects that Fortnite continues to attract new waves of players, like a great HBO series, and that cosy games allow his daughter to explore her imagination and create a world she is proud of.
As graphical fidelity improves, it is clear that it is not the be all and end all for younger players. His son noted that the 3DS can be closed and put in your pocket, the graphics are as decent as Roblox, and the games are way cooler. The reader concludes with a sigh of contentment and hope for the future of gaming as they swing back towards console gaming.
