Gaming

Minecraft

I recommend Astroneer - a solo / multiplayer survival game about collecting resources, refining stuff and building up bases on several planets. It's hecking fun in multiplayer and it doesn't have combat. There's a ton of things to do and if the kids are good at communicating with each other they can quickly conquer the game. The only microtransactiony stuff it has is cosmetics (but it's not being pushed upon you in any way), but you can unlock some of these through progression as well.

I dunno if you want him playing a true mmo at that age, but old school RuneScape is currently as popular as ever. Specifically old school though, RS3 has the same sort of problems with micro transactions etc.

Games my kids enjoy without paying one cent...

All the games they play

We spend zero dollars on video games and yet our kids seem to play a lot of them, my wife and I don't really play. They even had a friend give them an Xbox and there are computers and tablets and phones in our house. Games don't have to be a money pit.

Deep rock galactic

I don't think there's a problem with restricting internet access for your kids, especially if you can get other parents (of your kids friends) to do it too

Factorio provided you want a group of kids that you never see again that can all program their own PLC devices

Sniper Elite Five is fun. It only has gore when you are shooting Nazis and it is always morally good to shoot Nazis.

Golf with friends