Finding the right video game for families is like finding a movie everyone agrees on. It sounds simple. It is not simple. This list fixes that.
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15 Best Video Games for Families [Kids, Teens, All Ages]
Game night just got a whole lot louder. Whether you want the little ones in charge, the parents running the show, or the whole squad on equal footing, this list has a controller for everyone.
Finding the right video game for your family is like finding a movie everyone agrees on. It sounds simple. It is not simple. One person wants action. One person wants animals. One person just wants to watch and eat snacks. This list solves that problem. Fifteen games. No M-rated picks. Three sections based on who is running the show.
Kid Led: Let Them Cook
These are the games where the kids know what they are doing and the parents are just along for the ride. Expect confident ten year olds explaining mechanics you have never heard of. That is fine. Let them have this one.
Game 01
Roblox
Roblox is not really one game. It is an entire universe of games made by other players. Your kid is probably already here. The trick is jumping in with them. Let them be the guide. You will be surprised how creative some of these worlds are.
Parental tip: use the parental controls. Roblox has good ones and they make a big difference for younger players.
Game 02
Minecraft
The GOAT. Minecraft has been pulling families together since 2011. Build a house. Explore a cave. Get eaten by a creeper at the worst possible time. There is no wrong way to play. Younger kids lean creative mode. Older kids and teens love survival. Play both.
Pro move: start a family server. Everyone builds in the same world. You will check on it every day.
Game 03
Kirby and the Forgotten Land
Kirby is small, pink, floaty, and completely invincible energy. This game is set in a post apocalyptic world that somehow still feels adorable. One player controls Kirby. The other rides along as a helper. Perfect entry point for younger kids who want to be included but are not ready to lead.
Mouthful Mode where Kirby swallows a car or a vending machine is genuinely one of the funniest things in recent gaming.
Game 04
A Hat in Time
This one flew under the radar but it belongs on every family list. A Hat in Time is a 3D platformer made by a tiny team that somehow captured the magic of 90s Nintendo games. The main character Hat Kid is immediately lovable and the levels are clever and funny.
Older kids will get every reference. Younger kids will just enjoy running around with a cute hat girl. Both are correct.
Game 05
Sonic Superstars
Sonic is back in 2D and this time up to four players can run through stages at the same time. That sounds like chaos. It is chaos. It is the good kind. Each character has a unique ability so everyone gets to feel special even when they fall into a pit every thirty seconds.
The nostalgia hits for the adults. The speed hits for the kids. Everybody wins.
Parent Led: You Are Technically in Charge
These games lean toward older players controlling the action while younger ones enjoy the ride. The kids can still help. They just may not understand why Pikmin are so important yet. They will.
Every family has that one game that becomes the reference point for everything. These are the candidates.
Blerd.com / Family Game NightGame 06
Pikmin 4
You crash land on a strange planet and use tiny plant creatures called Pikmin to survive. It sounds complicated. It is actually gentle, beautiful, and completely stress free. Kids will want to pet Oatchi the dog. You will want to optimize your Pikmin deployment. Both goals can coexist.
This is the rare strategy game that feels cozy. High praise.
Game 07
Rayman Legends
Rayman Legends is one of the best platformers ever made and most families have never heard of it. That is a crime. Up to four players run, jump, and glide through gorgeous hand drawn levels. The music stages where the levels sync to a song are some of the most joyful moments in gaming history.
The Back to the Glaciers level set to a Mexican rendition of Black Betty is the greatest thing Ubisoft ever made. No notes.
Game 08
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Nintendo woke up and remembered how to make a 2D Mario game that actually surprises you. Wonder Flowers change the rules of every level in unexpected ways. Elephant Mario is real. Drill Mario is real. A talking flower that runs commentary on your performance is real and it is incredible.
Up to four players online or local. Everyone can jump in at any time. This is the definition of accessible.
Game 09
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
All nine Star Wars films. LEGO humor. 300 playable characters. This game understands the assignment. Parents who grew up with A New Hope get to watch their kids discover the same galaxy they fell in love with, except now everything is a LEGO brick and someone made a joke about the Millennium Falcon’s parking job.
It is very long. That is not a complaint. That is a feature.
Bring the Family to Lore Con
If your family games together, they belong at Lore Con. Panels, cosplay, vendors, and a community that actually gets it. September 26 and 27 at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, NC.
Get Your Lore Con TicketsGame 10
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
The open world Pokemon game families have been asking for since forever. You can explore Paldea in any direction and battle gyms in any order. Kids pick their favorite starter and run wild. Parents who played the originals will feel right at home except now you can auto battle and that is a relief.
Four player online raids are where the family teamwork really clicks.
Everyone Equal: Nobody Is Losing on Purpose
These are the games where skill gaps close fast and everyone at the table has a real shot at winning or at least a real shot at yelling at someone who is winning. Family memories get made here.
Blerd Pro Tip
The chaotic co-op games on this list will test relationships. Make a snack rule. Nobody can throw a controller if there are still chips on the table. House rules save friendships.
Game 11
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
There is nothing to explain. Everyone knows Mario Kart. The blue shell is still a war crime. Smart steering helps younger players stay on the track without ruining the fun for everyone else. 48 courses means you will never run out of reasons to play one more race.
This is the most essential game on Nintendo Switch. Period.
Game 12
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
You run a kitchen. Orders come in. Things catch fire. Someone puts the soup in the wrong pot. Your family will learn a lot about each other playing Overcooked. Most of it will be screamed across the living room. All of it is hilarious in retrospect.
All You Can Eat packs both games plus all the DLC into one. That is over 200 levels of controlled chaos for one price.
Game 13
Super Mario Party Jamboree
The biggest Mario Party ever made. Seven boards. Over 110 minigames. Online support for up to 20 players if you want to invite the extended family without anyone leaving the house. The boards are excellent and the minigames range from brilliant to absurdly chaotic.
The Bowser Kaboom Squad mode is specifically designed to make adults feel humbled by their children. Just a heads up.
Game 14
Snipperclips Plus: Cut It Out, Together!
Two paper characters named Snip and Clip have to cut each other into shapes to solve puzzles. This sounds weird. It is weird. It is also one of the most clever and laugh out loud co-op experiences on Switch. There is no competition. Just two people figuring out how to become a key or a basketball together.
Perfect for younger kids who need a low pressure option that still rewards teamwork.
Game 15
Moving Out
You are a professional furniture mover. The laws of physics do not apply to you. You can throw a couch through a window and that is actually the correct strategy. Moving Out is a physics based co-op game that turns household objects into comedy props and makes relocation look like an extreme sport.
The accessibility options in this game are exceptional. Younger or less experienced players can turn on assists so they still contribute without slowing anyone down.
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