I skippe the first question, because I didn't have an answer to it (I don't even know if I ever came across a character like that, would you happen to have an example??), however, I can tell you my favourite video game kid: it's Krato's son Atreus. He's a badass, just as his dad :)

what's your favourite video game kid? Specifically ones you're the parental figure/care for.

Boring answer, but probably Ellie from TLoU.

Favourite video game kid: Kirby

Ok, it's unclear if Kirby is actually a kid. Only in the anime he is stated as a baby, but he is definitely a little guy ;)
He would be kind of the perfect kid. You don't have to worry about him getting hurt, he eats bullies literally for breakfast. He is very good at making friends, has no problem with cleaning a room, saves whole worlds and planets regularly and is not a picky eater. He even loves vegetables like tomatoes. Oh and of course he is a great dancer.

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Clementine from The Walking Dead, she is just a sweetheart and you want to protect her at all costs! Following her through the series was pretty emotional. <3

Skipped the rest of the questions as I don't have a proper answer for them. ^_^

Hrm. I have to agree with you about the Stardew kid. Needs something. I wonder if there's a mod for making them less boring...

I haven't played many of the more modern "take care of kid" games with sad stories and such. I'm gonna go with Yoshi and Baby Mario, in Yoshi's Island. The pass off between worlds is adorable. Having to carry baby Mario makes a different kind of stressful platforming..

Same as Kyrrelin.
Clementine from Telltale's The Walking Dead.
She wasn't annoying or stupid (like that other kid 😃) but she really made you feel like a parent.
She was "your" child, your responsibilty.
And later you were her and carried the weight of the decisions you made.
Played tnearly all episodes on Xbox, never got around to the final one though.

Favorite video game kid ? I'd say Arabella from BG3.

Didn't finish the game yet, so something atrocious might still happen but she gets her own character development and becomes actually worth remembering. I mean, those eyes, don't they show compassion and tenderness ?

Thanks for the GA Conti!

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Taking away children who you don't care much for and spoilers, I think I'll go with Haruka from Yakuza!

Not sure if this counts: Amelia from This War of Mine: Stories - Father's Promise. You don't actually see this kid but the story is about her. You start to care for her and trying to help Adam as much as you can, and then the ending... hits so hard...

I found the overall driving plot to be pretty interesting really, some nice cosmic Marvel fare enhanced by the backstory often only referenced by some of the other characters and the different notes you can find. But yeah, I loved the kid.
As for favorite kid, however... oof tough choice. I'm going to refrain.

In BioShock 2 the main character is a Big Daddy and acts as a protector for the Little Sisters. The relationship between the Little Sisters and the Big Daddies embodies a caretaking dynamic that really influenced my experience ... if you don't choose to ... kill them and take all of their "Adam".

I'm totally with Kyrrelin and LittleBibo1 on this: our precious Clem! :D

In Overlord 2, you play in the tutorial as the kid whose destiny is to become an evil lord.

I loved this kid . And I often feel that many of us kids would have loved to become an evil lord once grown up.

Besides the ones already mentioned, one I really liked and whose story I got very emotionally involved with was Amber in Bear With Me. Technically you're not a parent in charge of her, you're a teddy bear who feels responsible for her. The story gets pretty dark though but you can't help but feel like you're in charge of her well being and she's a great character.

Hey
Andy
from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_of_Darkness_(video_game)

In the old Firaxis, The Sims gaves to a couple a baby to raise it. The animation when the baby "just pop up" was hilarious, and well, taking care of him/her until growing up was very fun.

I also skipped the first b/c I didn't have an answer :p This one I can answer though, it's definitely Clementine from The Walking Dead Season 1. Both Clem and Lee are so well-written and I ended up caring much more for them than I expected.

Quick edit: I thought this would be a popular answer and as expected, I was the third one that picked Clementine haha.

I've been playing Life is Strange 2 and so far I really like Daniel and his bond with the playable character, his older brother. Their relationship is basically the main focus of the game and it does a good job making you care for him. Also, from a gameplay perspective, it's pretty neat that his personality and actions are both directly and indirectly affected by the choices you make in the game.

Sorry, I don't remember even really taking care of a kid in games... being a kid, yeah, so if those counts, I'd say the kids from Doraemon Story of Seasons. Otherwise, it'd be my Tamagochi pet when I was young haha.

Your younger brother in Submerged. He spends the entire game lying silently in the boat. Perfection! ;)

Brothers- the tale of two sons. Both kids. 😢
But wait.....have you been to Sakurajima?

Oh my, i generally take some time thinking 'whats my favourite X' - favourite game kid and youre the parental figure? I could pratically see him crying inside a floating bubble when i read the question

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jimmy hopkins from bully

Ellie is high on the list from The Last of Us... but I think I'll go with Elizabeth from Bioshock Infinite
Mood music

I have 3:
Ciri from Witcher 3: probably cz the protectiveness I felt as I played Geralt.
The boy from Limbo: A small kid facing messed up puzzles to save his sister. Yes!
Hugo from A Plague Tale: Protective feeling, and how he holds my hand as I play Amicia. That felt very precious and innocent.

I cant recall anymore.