B-Starbound
Starbound is a 2D extraterrestrial sandbox game where players explore a vast galaxy, mine resources, build settlements, and complete quests while survival crafting.
Parent verdict
Is Starbound good for kids?
Yes — a great pick for most kids
Rated Everyone 10+ (ESRB E10+). Best for teamwork, Creativity.
Reviewed by Hess Polanco, parent tester & co-founder · Updated April 20, 2026
The busy-parent summary
Time required
20-60 minutes
Safety level
Moderate
Best for
Teamwork, Creativity
Ages
Everyone 10+ (ESRB E10+)
Great for your child
It offers an infinite universe to explore where their imagination directly impacts the world.
Great for you
The cooperative mechanics allow you to support your child without taking over their experience.
Parent notes
Disable public matchmaking to prevent interactions with strangers. Talk about the 'pixelated' nature of combat to distinguish game fantasy from reality.
The Connection Grade™ breakdown
Four things we grade, each one judged on what this game actually does. Open any row to see why.
Shared spelunking and planetary base-building give you clear joint projects, though extensive inventory sorting and tiered crafting menus can leave one player idling while the other manages workbenches.
Skills this builds
- Dividing cave exploration between lighting dark tunnels and defending against alien creatures
- Planning and decorating a shared planetary colony to house automated tenant shops
- Coordinating planetary voyages by pooling collected erchius fuel to reach distant star systems
Try this together
When you beam down to an extreme-hazard planet, assign one person to place platforms and torches while the other handles weapon defense.
Parents also ask
Ready to play Starbound together?
Put it on the calendar and we'll send a reminder plus a conversation starter.