The “2025 Family-Friendly Games Awards Ceremony,” guided by the Digital Industry Agency of the Ministry of Digital Development and hosted by the Digital Games Industry Self-Regulatory Promotion Committee, was held in grand style on January 27. The event brought together representatives from industry, government, and academia to jointly recognize game companies that have demonstrated outstanding performance in player protection, child and youth safety, and consumer rights. Through this institutionalized evaluation process, the event aims to set industry benchmarks and create a gaming environment that inspires greater trust among parents and players:
(Image source: Digital Entertainment Software Rating Inquiry Website)
Now in its fifth year, 19 games have stood out from the crowd
The “Child-Friendly Game Awards” have been held since 2021 and are now in their fifth year. A panel of experts—including representatives from the Executive Yuan’s Consumer Protection Division, local consumer protection officials, and children’s and youth advocacy groups—was invited to serve as judges. The panel evaluated entries based on four key criteria: “Basic Compliance,” “User-Friendly Interaction,” “User Protection,” and “User-Friendly Service.” A total of 19 games were ultimately selected, including several titles from major publishers and popular IPs, demonstrating the gaming industry’s growing commitment to social responsibility and a spirit of inclusivity.
The organizers stated that the government is committed to protecting the rights of consumers and children and adolescents, and supports the sustainable development of the industry. The “Player-Friendly Game” selection not only recognizes industry players but also guides the sector in establishing sustainable self-regulatory mechanisms. Going forward, the Digital Economy and Industrial Development Agency will continue to conduct spot checks on the appropriateness of ratings for popular games on the market and review standard form contracts to ensure industry compliance with the law. It will also encourage the adoption of a “player-protection” mindset, making this commitment to player welfare a key factor in enhancing the industry’s competitiveness.
However, I still find the idea of presenting the so-called “Friendly Game Awards” rather odd. Below, I’ll briefly introduce the list of games that made the shortlist—and after reading it, I’m sure you’ll be just as baffled as I am:
(Image source: Digital Entertainment Software Rating Inquiry Website)
Single-Player Game Categories
The Family-Friendly Game Awards presented this year are divided into single-player and multiplayer categories, and the games range from General to Parental Guidance to Restricted ratings:
- Elden Ring: Nightfall
- Atelier Yumiya: The Alchemist of Memories and the Land of Illusions~
- Welcome! Tamagotchi Happy Town
- True *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* *Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8* REMAKE
- Light and Shadow: Expedition No. 33
(Screenshot source: Digital Entertainment Software Rating Inquiry Website)
Let’s take *Elden Ring: Dark Night Descends* as an example. It’s a game with a hardcore single-player experience that requires a high level of skill and the right gear-upgrade strategy to really enjoy—the learning curve is incredibly steep. So, classifying it as a “player-friendly” game? Isn’t that a bit of a mistake? XD
Online Game Categories
The award-winning “Friendly Games” will be showcased at the upcoming “2026 Taipei International Game Show” (January 29–February 1). Through this in-person exhibition, the organizers hope to introduce more players to high-quality titles that combine entertainment with social responsibility, thereby fostering a healthy and positive gaming industry environment.
- Against the Current
- LINE Bubble 2: Bunny’s Adventure
- LINE Rangers: Galaxy Strike Force
- LINE Rangers: Idle War
- LINE Brown’s Farm
- LINE: Match 3 from Outer Space
- The World of Zuxian
- Deep in the Peach Blossom Spring, there is a home
- God’s Convenience Store
- Tales of All Souls
- A Chinese Ghost Story II
- Heaven’s Decree
- Egg Party
The Author’s Ramblings
After seeing this news today, to be honest, I’m still at a loss for words. When most people hear “family-friendly games,” they assume they’re “wholesome, non-violent, suitable for children, and have a positive gaming atmosphere” . But the list of award winners includes games like *Elden Ring* and *Dynasty Warriors*, which feature killing and violent scenes. Using the term “family-friendly games” for these titles is really odd—are you recommending them for children to play, or are you saying the games are user-friendly for players?
Personally, I think that if the Ministry of Digital Development is really going to hold an awards ceremony, it should select nominees from games developed by Taiwanese startups. It should also create various award categories to recognize them—only then can it truly stimulate the domestic gaming industry. Apart from providing a platform for officials to give speeches, associations to issue press releases, and companies to pick up a trophy, this kind of awards ceremony doesn’t seem to offer any tangible benefits to gamers. It doesn’t advance the domestic gaming industry, and gamers aren’t going to play a game just because it won this “Player-Friendly Game Award,” are they? Personally, I still hope the Ministry of Digital Development will focus on doing its job properly. Why not allocate some of the budget to try developing a major AAA game that’s uniquely Taiwanese? That would be what I call actually getting things done!
Source: KOCPC Chinese