The toolkit
Books, supplies and software I'd recommend to any parent who wants to make games with their kids.
Some links go to Amazon. If you buy something, Game Design Dad may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The free tools are simply free; there's nothing in it for us.
Books on game design
The books game designers recommend to each other again and again.
The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses
Jesse Schell
The best all-round introduction. Each chapter gives you questions ("lenses") to look at your game through.
See it on AmazonA Theory of Fun for Game Design
Raph Koster
Short, illustrated and thoughtful: why games are fun at all. A great first read.
See it on AmazonChallenges for Game Designers
Brenda Romero & Ian Schreiber
Hands-on exercises, many of them non-digital. Perfect for working through with older kids.
See it on AmazonRules of Play
Katie Salen & Eric Zimmerman
The deep textbook. Dense, but it will change how you think about every game.
See it on AmazonBlood, Sweat, and Pixels
Jason Schreier
Not a how-to: stories of how real video games got made. Inspiring and honest.
See it on AmazonPrototyping supplies
Everything you need to make a playable board game prototype in an afternoon.
Index cards and sleeves
The classic prototyping kit. Sleeve them over real cards so they shuffle.
See it on AmazonFree tools for making video games
All free to start, roughly from youngest to oldest.
Scratch
The best first game-making tool for ages 8 and up. Huge community of shared games to remix.
Visit site (free)GDevelop
No-code game engine for real 2D games that can be published to the web and phones.
Visit site (free)Godot
A free, open-source engine used by professional indies. A great next step for teens.
Visit site (free)