For more on Octodad: Dadliest Catch, check out our full Octodad: Dadliest Catch review. Or, for more of the best Playstation 4 games for a 10 year old, why not try our Family Game Finder
Octodad: Dadliest Catch is a game that puts you in the role of an octopus trying to lead an ordinary family life. That's one of the strangest sentences we've ever had to write, but if you think that's weird, you haven't seen anything of Octodad yet.
Each level revolves around a seemingly simple, ordinary task. Whether it's doing the weekly shop at a supermarket, chopping wood in the back garden, or trying to win your annoyed wife some cuddly toys at an amusement arcade, they're all tasks a normal human would be able to accomplish easily - but Octodad is no ordinary human. For starters, he doesn't even have any bones in his body, which means he flops around like no-one's business - and for seconds, he has a rather unusual control scheme that's been designed to cause chaos.
Using L2 and R2 to lift each of Octodad's legs, before using the control sticks to move them forward or backward, Octodad isn't designed to be easy to control - it's designed to be funny to control. Whether you're "succeeding" at the levels or not, you're having fun either way, as the slapstick comedy plays out at your fingertips. Better yet, if you have several controllers, up to four people can join in on the fun, each taking control of a specific limb of your wobbly friend, as you attempt to climb stairs, navigate an adventure playground, or simply avoid the sights of the marine biologists, who would see straight through your (admittedly terrible) disguise.
While it may have a (deliberately) awkward control scheme that's probably best suited to older players, then, even littler ones will be able to have fun with this, as failing is part of the fun. What younger children may not be able to do, however, is actually progress through the levels, as it is easily possible to fail. Crash into too many people, destroy too many things, or get spotted by the aforementioned biologist, and the whole charade will come crashing down.
While it's certainly best suited to older children, it's nevertheless a game that should have an almost universal appeal, and that even little ones can have a laugh with.
As a game about an octopus trying to lead an everyday family life, there's little for parents to be concerned with here - there's no swearing, no violence, and no sex.
Age Ratings
Format Reviewed: Playstation 4
