Topic: Is it wierd that I like kids games?

The games I prefer playing are non-realistic cartoony games, like Mario and Sonic. I can branch out a bit into games like the Wonderful 101 and Zelda, and something over the top and arcadey like Bayonetta, but I can't get into complex, gritty realistic games. They just don't appeal to me, and the drab colors/complex learning curve mean I can never get into them. Is this wierd for a 19 year old guy? Am I just too simple-minded to enjoy complex games, or does it take the same amount of gaming knowledge/skill to master a game with simple and or forgiving mechanics?

nope. play what you want.

It's kinda sad that you define the likes of Mario, Sonic and most likely Donkey Kong (right?) as kids games, they can be quite challenging.

Kids games are more Viva Piñata, Hello Kitty and Dora the Explorer..

Nope nothing wrong with it, just play what you like and enjoy and don't worry about what other people think, games are meant to be fun/entertaining which is subjective..

also when you talk about learning curve then: W101 > most gritty games

Those aren't kids' games. They're intended for all audiences. There's no such thing as being too old for Mario.

And those grim, gritty games really aren't particularly complex either. The Last of Us, for example, has extremely basic mechanics. It's not any more complex than a PS1 game. What makes it a current (or last) gen game is its presentation and focus on story (that's not a knock on TLOU by the way, simple gameplay and strong storytelling is what made that game great).

Fading all the colours and making the whole thing so damn grim and depressing isn't really mature. It's designed to appeal to adolescents. Honestly, most Shin Megami Tensei games are more mature than any of the "adult" games that dominate the top seller lists today.

Here's one of my favorite quotes:

“Critics who treat 'adult' as a term of approval, instead of as a merely descriptive term, cannot be adult themselves. To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence. And in childhood and adolescence they are, in moderation, healthy symptoms. Young things ought to want to grow. But to carry on into middle life or even into early manhood this concern about being adult is a mark of really arrested development. When I was ten, I read fairy tales in secret and would have been ashamed if I had been found doing so. Now that I am fifty I read them openly. When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.”

-C.S. Lewis

All the games you mentioned as "for kids" are not for kids, they are only kids' friendly >.>;
They don't have contenent like sex and violence rising the age restriction, but that's all and I wouldn't define a game only for kids by such standard.
Even the challange doesn't work that way, the final level of Mario Galaxy 2 is still defined by many one of the most challanging experiences in recent gaming, another example is the weird-kid looking Yumi Oddissey for 3DS which have some of the most unforgiving cruel challanges I ever seen in recent years.
On the other hand many "adult" games can be much more forgiving, ack... most military games nowaday have automatic health restoration instead than the old fashioned health bar. I don't say it's wrong as mechanic, but there is definitely a forgiving aspect there.

All that said... who cares? Everyone should play what they enjoy, be it for kids or not, challanging or easy. It's gaming, as long as you have fun than you are playing the right games ^o^ What would be really REALLY weird would be to play games you don't like XP

@CaviarMeths I never read that quote before, Lewis totally exposed the matter wisely and clearly. Thanks for sharing his words with us

_{If you spell "weird" like that, then I don't really see the problem.}

As others stated, those are kid-FRIENDLY games, not specifically kid's games. I cringe in pain whenever people call Mario and Sonic that. They've got some real thought put into them. They're simple and just fun to play for more casual audiences. You don't have to be an elitist core gamer if you don't want to.

So if somebody only likes games stuffed with violence, sex, gore, blood, misogynist, hate and thinks like that (applies also for movies, books and clubs)....well I could find that is something really really wrong in this persons head.

If your game collection consists of mostly Disney, Nickelodeon, or Lego games, and a bit of casual (Just Dance) and crappy tv adaptions plus a new copy of Jett Tailfin, then yes you most definately like kids games.

However the games you mentioned: Mario and Sonic, Wonderful 101 and Zelda are core games for quality gamers.
Only a kid can assume that these are kids games.

Well most elitist core gamers mostly play games with a dark tone or dudebro games and they bash most games like Mario because they don't have that same tone. So calling Kid games is a lie because of that or that kids are play rated M games.

That's awesome.

Viva Pinata is no more for children than Mario and Pikmin are.

Unless you're a child who needs gritty games to feel mature, there is no reason to be concerned about whether or not your hobby is childish.

The sheer fact that the term "Kids games" exists bothers me a bit. Its the same with television companys thinking "hey, its drawn, it must be for kids" when it comes to anime.
But it doesnt go the other way around, as there are definitla things that are NOT for kids. But in general, once youre out of being "a protected child" EVERYTHING is for you, should you like it.
Dont let yourself be fooled by stereotypes and idiotic namecallers and dudebros out there.

@kukabuksilaks Well, Ralizah beat me to it! Looks like someone else here knows about that series! Viva Piñata isn't cheaply made drek. The cartoon series might make you think so, but the games are addictive and fun. I actually started playing Trouble in Paradise again last week.

If you like the Wonderful 101, there is nothing weird with you. On the contrary, you are doing it right

In any case, don't force yourself to like something you don't like just for being accepted or praised by others. I am 35 and most of my game collection consists of colorful, cartoony games. If I like a game I buy it, regardless of its ESRB rating.

Embrace the man-child lol

One of the few reasons I don't consider the 360 to be a complete waste. The two Viva Pinata games are, far and away, the best exclusives on that system. They're creative, strategic, adorable, and oddly dark. It's a pity that there seems to be no interest in continuing the series. I hope they at least provide decent ports of the 360 games for Steam one day. The PC version that was released is impossible to find and absurdly out of date, and the series seems perfect for a Mouse/Keyboard set-up.

I never bothered with the party game collection. Is it any good?

I think it was better like that other stuff that is not that popular is better for the people who like it.

Like if you want to get into making robots for example there is probably about three skill levels but everything is catered towards people willing to put in the effort to work out how to do it. They don't try and cater to people who want it as a replacement for watching TV.

All video games are for kids, even the murder sims that kids shouldn't really be playing like GTAV and CoD.

I don't believe we should define games as "kids" games. I played DOOM as a kid does that make it a kid's game series? I played Mario as a kid too. Games can be enjoyed by people of all ages, just like tv shows and movies.

What does it matter what others think, play what you like.