The best video games for kids | Digital Trends (2024)

Recommended Videos

Super Mario Maker 2

A great choice for kids who love platforming games and those with more creative ambition, Super Mario Maker 2 is an improved version of the original Wii U game, complete with more building components, a full campaign mode, and online multiplayer options. With red and blue switches and sloped hills available to build, this game revolutionized the kinds of levels players could make, and we’ve seen some very creative courses thus far. Super Mario Maker 2 also is a great choice for kids to play while an adult uses the television, as it’s actually much easier to build courses while playing in the Switch’s handheld mode. Purchasing an optional touchscreen stylus will make the process even smoother.

Related

• The best Elden Ring mods
• Video game genres, explained
• The best Xbox Series X controllers for 2024

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe uses the classic sidescrolling orientation for its Mario platforming. A collection of two Wii U games — New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U — Deluxe is one of the best Nintendo Switch games around. The worlds are exceedingly colorful and vibrant, the platforming is excellent, and the Nintendo charm exudes with every jump. Deluxe introduces two new playable characters, Toadette and Nabbit, each of whom makes the levels more approachable for young kids. Nabbit cannot take damage from enemies, and Toadette can pick up a crown that turns her into Peachette, who can practically fly. Additionally, Deluxe supports co-op for up to four players so the whole family can partake in the Super Mario goodness together.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

As far as racing games go, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is both one of the easiest to play and the most fun. Featuring colorful, vibrant visuals, a simple control scheme, and all the Nintendo characters you could want in a game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the best multiplayer games on Switch. Its wide selection of themed tracks in combination with battle modes that make use of the game’s awesome items give it immense legs. This is the sort of game you and your family will come back to for years to come. It’s that good.

LEGO Marvel Collection

Since 2005, officially licensed Lego games have given kids and parents awesome ways to experience hugely popular intellectual properties such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and a slew of superhero franchises. Almost all of these lovingly crafted experiences have been worth playing cooperatively with kids both young and young at heart. Lego The Incredibles came out just in time for The Incredibles 2, and Lego DC Super-Villains arrived in late 2018. With simple action gameplay, cooperative puzzles, and storylines often mirroring the movies at hand, the Lego games are a great jumping-off point for young kids looking to get into games. The Lego Movie 2 Videogame came out in 2019, too.

Mario Golf: Super Rush

Mario is no stranger to sports, and while golf might seem like a bore to most kids, adding in these colorful characters make it instantly appealing. They all have their own special moves, and the act of timing your shots is addictive for all ages. There’s only the most minimal amount of combat if you choose the Battle Golf mode. Otherwise, there’s a nice long campaign, challenges, and regular multiplayer where you take turns hitting the links.

Rayman Legends

No arms, no legs, no problem. Ubisoft’s limb-impoverished hero, Rayman, has starred in a series of great platforming games, both 2D and 3D, but Rayman Legends is the hero’s absolute best outing. This 2D sidescroller is colorful, inventive, expertly designed, and brimming with excellent content. It’s perfect for fans of Mario. Rayman Legends is especially good for a family game night, as it features drop-in, drop-out cooperative play for up to four players. This is the type of multiplayer experience that can be enjoyed by young kids, teenagers, and parents all at the same time. It’s available on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Untitled Goose Game

A three-year-old playingUntitled Goose Gameis the definition of joy. Playing a game is different than playing within a game, andUntitled Goose Game showcases that. It’s a sandbox game about a self-described horrible goose set loose on the streets of a small town. No matter if it’s setting up pranks or honking at a resident down the street, UntitledGoose Gameis a blast to play (and watch, for that matter). It even won the BAFTA award for the best family and social game, beating out Nintendo’s Luigi’sMansion3.

Peggle 2

One of the simplest and most satisfying games ever made, Peggle 2 is a puzzle game masterpiece from PopCap Games. You simply aim your shot, press a button, and watch as the metal ball pings around blue, green, and orange pegs. The objective is to clear all of the orange pegs within 10 turns. You could call some of it luck, but aiming properly is the name of the game. We know this premise may sound boring, but it truly is one of the most addicting puzzle games around. Bright, colorful visuals, awesome sounds, and local multiplayer make this a great game for kids to play — no matter how young they are. It’s simple to pick up and incredibly hard to put down. Peggle 2 is available to download on Xbox One and PS4.

Mario Party Superstars

This isn’t just nostalgia talking, but Mario Party Superstars reviving the best levels and games from the original set of N64 titles is the best the series has been in years. For kids, they won’t know the difference, only that the charming levels, colorful characters, and always-enticing mini-games are a complete blast. It’s a simple board game at the core but with much more going on to keep kids hooked, especially when playing with friends.

Super Mario Odyssey

Super Mario Odyssey is one of the best 3D platformers ever made. While Mario games have always leaned to the accessible side, Super Mario Odyssey has a really great feature for kids: Assist mode. With Assist mode activated, Mario’s health doubles, falling off the map doesn’t lead to instant death, and a marker always guides you to your objective. Since Odyssey‘s planets are rather large and densely populated with stuff to look at and do, Assist mode removes some of the challenges and distractions for young players. You also can have one player control Mario while the other takes hold of Cappy, Mario’s sentient hat. Playing as Cappy is ideal for players 5 and younger who have little to no experience with controller-based video games. Or you could always swap the controller each time someone finds a moon. No matter how you play Super Mario Odyssey, it’s a pure delight for both young kids and parents.

Sackboy: A Big Adventure

If you just picked up a PS5 and want a game for your kids to play, look no further than Sackboy: A Big Adventure.It’s a PS5 exclusive from Sumo Digital, set in the world of LittleBigPlanet. Instead of a 2.5D puzzler, Sackboyis a full 3D platformer fit with the same charm as the LittleBigPlanet games. The game supports couch co-op for up to four players, too, and it’s a PS5 launch title, offering a full, child-friendly experience separate from Astro’s Playroom. AlthoughSackboy: A Big Adventureis a relatively short experience, it earns the “big” tag. Levels are fairly straightforward, balancing decently challenging platforming with light, cartoonish combat. Levels have a lot of replayability, however, littered with secrets and collectibles. Getting through the game is easy enough, but discovering all of the secrets will take some time.

Minecraft

By now, everyone has heard of Minecraft, the sandbox game that has become a worldwide phenomenon over the past decade. What’s particularly great about Minecraft is that it’s a game that evolves with you. Young kids may not be able to create elaborate worlds at first, but as they age and learn more, they can add to them, and see the fruits of their labor pay off. Whether you’re playing Creative mode to simply create your own world to hop around in or fighting off Creepers in Survival mode, Minecraft is a fun experience that gets both kids and adults to push their imaginations and ingenuity to the limit. Plus, it’s available on just about every device — home consoles, PC, smartphones, and tablets.

Rocket League

Rocket League is a mesmerizing mix of extreme sports, racing, and soccer. In practice, it’s just cars driving around a field hitting a large ball into a soccer net, but that neat, curious experiment has captivated millions, thanks to its consummate depth and penchant for surprising hilarity. It has an arcade-like feel, making it easy to pick up and play, and it’s ideal for both young kids (probably as young as 5) and parents. Seriously, try to play Rocket League without getting hooked. Rocket League is available on Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and it’s free to play.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

A complete remake of the original Game Boy game, with a new art style that turns Link into a little wooden figurine, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening is a simpler and easier-to-learn take on the series than Breath of the Wild. With several dungeons to explore, secrets to find, and items to unlock, it’s classic Zelda adventuring all wrapped up in an adorable package. The tranquil music is a huge bonus, too. Link’s Awakening isn’t an outright easy game, however, so we’d suggest keeping the very youngest players away from it to avoid frustration. Once you become accustomed to the controls, though, it isn’t tough to get the hang of it.

Luigi's Mansion 3

The sequel to one of the best games on 3DS, Luigi’s Mansion 3 sees the series return to home consoles, and it just might be the best one yet. Taking place in a massive hotel rather than an actual mansion, the game sees Luigi searching for Mario, Peach, and two Toad friends after they’re transformed into paintings and kidnapped. In addition to being a clever action and puzzle game, Luigi’s Mansion 3 is often laugh-out-loud hilarious, and it includes several multiplayer options for when more than one kid wants to get in on the fun.

Unravel Two

Unravel 2 is a gorgeous side-scroller published by Electronic Arts under the EA Originals indie umbrella. Starring Yarny, a sentient being that is, yes, made of yarn, Unravel 2 is meant to be played co-op. Each of its puzzles requires two Yarnys to solve, whether played solo or with another player. Unravel 2‘s puzzles are slightly more challenging than those seen in LittleBigPlanet 3, but it’s a very suitable game to play with your young kids. Its aesthetic is cute and cartoonish and the puzzles are clever and insightful. If you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge, Unravel 2 is a great co-op game fit for kids and parents alike. It’s available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Part puzzler, part platformer, Captain Toad: Treasure Trackerwas born from brief mini-games in Super Mario 3D World. The adorably dressed Toad and Toadette set off on an adventure. This isn’t a typical Mario platformer, though. Most levels take place on a small square platform that can be tilted or turned. Neither Toad nor Toadette can jump, so making your way to the end of each level requires manipulating the environment. Enemies and other obstacles make that simple objective harder. Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is great for fans of Mario games and puzzlers. Treasure Tracker is available on Switch, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U. A recent update for the Switch version added full couch co-op play for two people, and paid DLC was released in early 2019.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon RPGs have been going strong since 1996, and there really isn’t a better RPG for kids to start with than one of the many iterations available across Nintendo handhelds. These turn-based RPGs follow a young kid on a quest to become the very best Pokémon trainer in the world. Along the way, you capture Pokémon to train and use in battle against other trainers. On Nintendo 3DS, there are three sets of excellent Pokémon adventures to choose from: Pokémon X and Y, Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire, and Pokémon Sun and Moon. If you have two 3DS (or 2DS) handhelds, you can battle against each other to see who’s the best of the household (your kid will probably win). Arceus is a great choice. It’s a brand new experience that changes up the world and mechanics for Nintendo Switch.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a lot of things, but at its core, it’s a social simulation game (an incredibly cute one, at that). Like Minecraft,it’s a game that emphasizes creativity. More than that, though, New Horizonstasks players with setting goals and achieving them. From watering plants to keep them healthy to collecting rare materials to earn in-game rewards, New Horizonssets players in a loop of creating a goal and reaping the reward for completing it. It’s perfect for friends, too. Players can visit each other’s islandsto see what their friend group is up to.

Terraria

In broad strokes, Terraria is Minecraft but as a 2D sidescroller. Set in a randomly generated world, your job is to explore, gather resources, and defeat enemies both small and large. It’s more objective-based than Minecraft, though, as each task you complete, you can bring in new villagers to the buildings you have constructed. Since it’s randomly generated, Terraria plays out differently for each user. In terms of longevity, Terraria has enough here to keep you playing for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours. There’s always something to do in the pixelated world of Terraria, and it’s a constant pleasure. Terraria is available on PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, mobile devices, and legacy consoles.

Star Wars: Episode I - Racer

Star Wars Episode I: Racercame out in 1999, hot on the heels ofThe PhantomMenace.We normally wouldn’t recommend a 22-year-old game, butStar Wars Episode I: Raceris available on modern platforms including the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. An iconic game for the Nintendo 64,Racerexpands the podracing sequence fromThe Phantom Menaceand puts players in the center of the action. In addition to the course on Tatooine featured in the movie,Racerfeatures several other courses and different single-player modes. Players use podracers to skirt around a track as fast as possible. However, each pod is equipped with a boost function that will heat up the engine, and if it gets too hot, it will explode and force the player to respawn. Colliding with other players and obstacles also will damage the pod and force a respawn if there’s too much damage. It’s not the most complex racing game, and that’s why it’s great.Star Wars Episode I: Racerfeels like it was ripped straight from an arcade, offering dozens of hours of family-friendly competition.

Kirby Fighters 2

Kirby Fighters 2isSuper Smash Bros.with a roster of one: Kirby. Players take part in arena battles with up to three other Kirbys, duking it out until only one Kirby stands. Although everyone plays as Kirby, there are several copy abilities that change up the playstyle in battle. The Artist can create a painting to use as a shield, for example, while a Water attack lets you surf around the stage, damaging anyone in your path. Players can team up locally with a single Switch console or multiple consoles through local play, either battling in a free-for-all or in two teams.Kirby Fighters 2also has online battling and single-handed mode, which is a nine-stage tower battle where players can only use one hand. If you don’t want to spend the money forSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate,Kirby Fighters 2is for you.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy

Spyro Reignited Trilogybrings together the first three Spyro games in one package. It’s a remake of the original trilogy, developed by the same studio that created our next recommendation. Players take control of Spyro the dragon, and they’re tasked with traveling to five homeworlds in the Dragon Kingdom to defeat the banished Ghasty Gnorc. All three games are 3D platformers from the late 1990s, packed with collectibles and platforming challenges. Now, though, players don’t have to suffer through 90s-era graphics. TheReignited Trilogyis the best version for kids, too. In addition to updating the graphics and soundtrack, the remake brings minor adjustments to inappropriate elements from the original releases. Some enemies used to hold semi-automatic weapons, for example, and they now hold paintball guns. None of the differences change the core experience, but they help make the game accessible for kids of all ages.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Timecame out 12 years after the last traditional Crash game, so the name is fitting. Like other Crash Bandicoot games, It’s About Timeputs you in the shoes of the titular bandicoot as you dash, spin, and platform your way through multiple levels to defeat the evil Doctor Neo Cortex. You can freely ignore the story, butIt’s About Timeis a direct sequelCrash Bandicoot: Warped,which is the last numbered title in the series and was released in 1998. AlthoughCrash Bandicoot 4is great for kids, it’s not easy. The game maintains the difficulty level the series is known for, but with enough patience, anyone can get through. It’s not a very long game, but it’s highly replayable and rewards players with new skins and unlockables for completing challenges. Crash Bandicoot 4is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC, and Nintendo Switch. If you or your kids like the gameplay, consider picking up theCrash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy,which includes remakes of the first three games in the series.

Kingdom Hearts III

Kingdom Hearts IIIis a perfect game for a 10-year-old. What the series does so effectively for kids is bridge the gap between childhood and the pre-teen years. By mashing together popular Disney franchises with an over-the-top action RPG,Kingdom Hearts IIIis familiar without blatantly catering to younger children. The overarching story is pure nonsense without playing the other games, butKingdom Hearts IIIoffers enough of a narrative from moment to moment to keep players engaged throughout the campaign.

Overcooked! 2

Overcooked 2 is one of the most exhilarating and frustrating co-op party games around. The reason why we recommend this fast-paced cooking simulator for families is pretty simple. It requires constant communication and teamwork, essential skills for kids to master. Overcooked 2 also is just plain fun, with outrageous moving kitchens and hilarious hijinks. Its predecessor is also a great time, but Overcooked 2 is a more robust experience. Overcooked 2 works best with two to four players, so it’s a decidedly co-op experience tailor-made for the whole family.

Overwatch

Overwatch is rated Teen by the ESRB, so the popular hero shooter is recommended for kids 13 and up. It features some cartoon blood and, of course, violence, though it doesn’t have the realism and gore of Mature-rated first-person shooters. Overwatch‘s objective-based modes, diverse characters, and strategic gameplay make it a multiplayer shooter that parents can enjoy with their teenagers and tweens. It’s truly one of the best competitive shooters around. If you don’t want your kids playing Call of Duty or Battlefield just yet, Overwatch is a good substitute (many will tell you that it’s better than those franchises anyway).

Sea of Thieves

Sea of Thievesis rated Teen by the ESRB, likeOverwatch.IfPirates of the Caribbeanis OK, though, Sea of Thievesshould be, too. It’s an open-world pirate game that, above all else, emphasizes teamwork. Piloting a ship takes multiple sailors, each manning different stations to keep the vessel on its path and free of danger. It’s a social game, one that’s perfect for kids and their friends to team up to take on the high seas. Plus, there’s nearly an endless stream of content, offering dozens of hours of pirate-themed gameplay.

Fortnite

Fortnite: Battle Royale is a worldwide sensation. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re already well-aware of Fortnite‘s massive popularity. Perhaps your child has even played it. If you’re wondering what the buzz is about, we suggest playing duos or squad alongside them. This battle royale game has a great loop and uses cartoonish visuals that help it stay within the realm of a game that’s not too mature for your kids to play. Plus, the building aspect of the game helps teach creativity and who knows, maybe it will jump-start an interest in engineering or architecture in your young ones. Best of all, Fortnite is free-to-play on consoles, PC, and Android. DownloadingFortniteon Androidtakes a bit of work, though.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

We first got the reimagining of the 2002 PS2 classic, Ratchet & Clank,which became one of PlayStation 4’s best exclusives. If you happened to see the awful 2016 film adapted from this game, please don’t let its sheer terribleness deter you from playing the truly excellent game. The story of how a young Lombax and a robot became friends and saved the galaxy from certain destruction is both inspiring and, more importantly, incredibly fun to play. The sequel, a PS5 exclusive, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, takes that initial setup and makes one of the most enjoyable entries the series has seen yet. Using the power of the PS5’s SSD, this game’s main feature are the rifts, allowing Ratchet and friends to instantly warp between worlds without loading, and even across levels during combat. The graphics are second to none, surpassing even some of the best CGI films on the market, with a story that is heartwarming and carries a great message.

Splatoon 2

Splatoon 2, the sequel to the surprise Wii U hit, is easily one of the most engaging and charming multiplayer “shooters” around. Armed with a paint weapon — blaster, brush, roller, etc. — your main goal is to cover each map with as much paint as possible. Essentially, it’s all about territory control, which also leads to some paint firefights with the opposing team. This lighthearted Nintendo game stars squid-kids (Nintendo should really make a cartoon about Splatoon’s game world). There’s also a single-player campaign and a cooperative variant called Salmon Run. The unfortunate thing is that you need two Switch consoles to play local multiplayer, but it is a game that both parents and kids can get hooked on.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a delightful farming and management simulation with lots of heart and care. It’s a successor in the Harvest Moon franchise. At the very beginning, your character moves to their grandfather’s farm in Pelican Town in an effort to get away from some of the noise and fast-paced living in the big city. Similar to Animal Crossing, your character collects resources and interacts with people in the town. That said, don’t expect the monotony tied to Animal Cross; Stardew Valley is deeper and more complicated, and it features a bit of combat as well. If your child is a comfortable reader and is interested in management sims, Stardew Valley is one of the best independent gamesin recent years. It’s also budget-friendly at only $15 for PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.