Every year, the gaming industry ushers in new generations of players. While some are old enough to dive right into the nefarious world of Grand Theft Autoor the tense firefights ofCall of Duty: Warzone, some are at the point where they just barely understand how the controller works to manipulate the characters on the TV. For those players and the parents and siblings who inevitably have to guide them along, there are droves of family-friendly experiences.
Unfortunately, like your average video game genre, even family-friendly games can be duds. So everyone enjoys their time gaming together, you should stick to a verified selection of entertaining and well-made titles. Having grown up surrounded by games for all ages, the Wealth of Geeks hivemind worked together to establish games that virtually anyone could enjoy.
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Platform: iOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Disney Dreamlight Valley features several characters from both the Disney and Pixar universes. It takes place in Dreamlight Valley and is a “life simulation” experience with nonlinear gameplay that allows the player to explore the world, gather resources, interact with some of their favorite characters, and more.
Building friendships becomes essential, and that can happen by giving your friends gifts, regularly interacting with them, and helping them solve a problem. Disney Dreamlight Valley also features a story to follow which will allow the whole family to get immersed in the world.
Disney Speedstorm
Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Disney Speedstorm features kart racing action with some of the conglomerate's most iconic characters. Like the Mario Kart series, Disney Speedstorm sees players racing on Disney-inspired tracks with powerups available along the way, giving the lucky recipient an advantage. Some of the characters in the game include Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Ariel, Mike Wazowski, Beast, and more.
Disney Speedstorm features single and multiplayer action, allowing the whole family to play together. Different types of races include “Classic,” “Single Skill,” “Fog Challenge,” and more.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Platform: Switch
Super Mario Bros. Wonder brings whimsy and joy to the platforming scene. Unlike Super Mario Odyssey, Wonder features side-scrolling gameplay with a twist. New powerups dot the landscape, such as a fruit that will transport Mario into an elephant. Each level also features a “Wonder Flower,” which unexpectedly changes the stage. For example, the iconic green pipes can come to life and start moving with the music.
Nintendo let their creativity come out in full force here, transforming Mario's newest adventure in ways no one has seen before. Super Mario Bros. Wonder also features some multiplayer action, but not in the traditional sense, where players can run through levels simultaneously, h helping one another along the way.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
Platform: PS5
The newest adventure in the Ratchet & Clank franchise, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart , brought some new ideas to the table. Newcomer Rivet joins Ratchet on his dimension-jumping adventure, which utilizes the power of the PS5 for a seamless experience. The game opens up with everyone celebrating Ratchet and Clank's accomplishments, but it doesn't take long before everything goes wrong.
A device called the Dimensionator accidentally gets used, opening dimensional rifts, and it doesn't take long before Ratchet and his crew get sucked into an alternate dimension. The gameplay may be a little too much for brand-new players, but Ratchet & Clank has always had a family-friendly aesthetic that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play. The bright and vibrant color palette and heartwarming story of friendship and family make this an ideal game to experience with the whole family.
Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Platform:PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Rather than box everyLego Star Warsgame into one compilation, everyone's favorite brick-builders crafted a whole new experience to chronicle the Skywalker saga. That means someone can start the game and play Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace or jump ahead and play Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens.
Players will visit iconic locations, including Naboo, Hoth, Endor, Dagobah, and more. With the cute Lego aesthetic and a lighthearted approach to the Skywalker story, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga can be the perfect game to play with young aspiring Jedi.
Super Mario Odyssey
Platform: Switch
Super Mario Odyssey takes place in a 3D environment, giving players more freedom than the series' staple side-scrolling games. In this adventure, Mario travels across kingdoms to prevent Bowser from marrying Princess Peach. Mario's hat also gets in on the fun and functions asa platform or weapon by throwing it at enemies.
At times, Mario can even “possess” enemies to use their powers to solve puzzles and find hidden moons. A great example of this involves capturing a “Bullet Bill” to be able to fly across a big gap. Mario games will always be an excellent choice for family-friendly entertainment, and the new concepts utilized here, such as using Mario's hat and a rudimentary multiplayer mode, ensure a fun time for all ages.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Spyro started as a PlayStation franchise on the original PS1 console. The first three games make up this collection, which means a whole new generation can experience the purple dragon's adventures for the first time.
This trilogy of games features platforming action as the titular dragon battles it out with the villainous Ritpo's forces. Players also have a sidekick named Sparx, who makes it easy to keep track of health. Sparx also has a limited number of attacks to help defend our favorite purple dragon when things get dicey. The colorful worlds and family-friendly cast of characters make this trilogy a great addition to the list.
Stardew Valley
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
Stardew Valley features family-friendly gameplay as the player tries to run a farm and build relationships with other villagers. Everyday tasks such as cooking, fishing, and more need to be completed for the farm to prosper. Stardew Valley also has procedurally generated caves full of resources to help the town and your overall goals.
Developing relationships will also be key, potentially leading to your character falling in love with someone, getting married, and starting a family of their own. Learning what it takes to run a virtual family farm and work together with your community makes Stardew Valley a great way to spend time with family.
Sackboy: A Big Adventure
Platform: PC, PS4, PS5
A cute platformer featuring Sackboy from the LittleBigPlanet franchise, Sackboy: A Big Adventure transitions from 2.5D platforming to a full 3D game. This game features a world map that allows players to decide what to do next. As players complete stages and locate collectibles, new areas will become available.
This game also features powerups for certain traversal, such as a grappling hook and a boomerang. Unlike the LittleBigPlanet franchise, Sackboy: A Big Adventure does not include a creation mode. With a cute cast of characters, colorful worlds, and some musical stages that will get everyone in the groove, Sackboy: A Big Adventure will always be a great addition to any family-friendly lineup.
Forza Horizon 5
Platform: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Forza Horizon 5 involves racing through Mexico in an open-world setting. Players can explore many different environments, including the tropical coast, a jungle, a swamp, a canyon, the urban city of Guanajuato, and much more. Forza Horizon 5 controls like an arcade racer, allowing gamers to do almost anything. Being involved in a race doesn't mean the player must stay on the road with the open-world setting allowing shortcuts.
Many different collectibles and secrets dot the landscape as well. Forza Horizon 5 does feature a story the player can go through, but once the opening act finishes, the player can go off and explore the world if that seems more important. The Forza Horizon series remains an excellent choice for family-friendly content, so even if you have an older Xbox model, like the 360, you can find the series.
Costume Quest
Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Costume Quest takes place on Halloween and revolves around two kids who have moved into a new neighborhood. Their parents want the kids to make new friends, so the two kids figure dressing up for Halloween might be a great way to do that.
The player chooses which of the two kids to control. It doesn't take long before the remaining kid gets taken, and now the player must save him and get back home before curfew. The kids' costumes have an effect in battle, allowing them to transform while fighting. Wearing Halloween costumes, going trick or treating, and trying to get everyone home by curfew make for quite a fun game for the whole family.
Minecraft Dungeons
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
A bit different than the traditional Minecraft experience, Minecraft Dungeons features dungeon-crawling action with a hack-and-slash style of combat. The building and mining aspects of standard Minecraft do not exist in this game.Instead, players explore procedurally-generated dungeons with randomly generated monsters while trying to look for secrets and solve puzzles simultaneously.
Minecraft Dungeons offers both online multiplayer and four-player local gameplay, which means a family can have a blast exploring these dungeons together.
Rocket League
Platform: PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One
The concept of Rocket League revolves around something that should be very familiar to virtually anyone: a friendly game of soccer. The twist in Rocket League is that the players are replaced by cars on the field. Players drive all over the field, “kicking” the ball, trying to score a point in the goal. The idea sounds crazy, but it works really well.
The cars in Rocket League can also jump, boost, and fly a bit to either score that goal or prevent your opponent from getting a point. Matches usually last around five minutes, making it the perfect game to pick up and play with your family for a few minutes.
Overcooked 2
Platform:PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Overcooked 2 has solo gameplay, but the real fun begins with having too many cooks in the kitchen in the multiplayer mode. Up to four people can team up to prepare, cook, and serve food in some wacky restaurants. Gameplay involves chopping vegetables, cooking meat, combining them in a particular order to make different dishes, serving those dishes, and more.
All of it must get done with a clock ticking down so the pressure mounts in the kitchen. It can be easy to mess up by burning the food or grabbing the wrong ingredients for the next order, so everyone has to stay on their toes. Overcooked 2 showcases how that old saying about having too many cooks in the kitchen can lead to funny and entertaining results.
Rayman Legends
Platform: PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
A fun platformer for all ages, up to four players can play Rayman Legends at a time and go through levels simultaneously. While going through these levels, players will want to free Teensies. By doing so, new worlds will become available. Rayman Legends features over 120 levels, which includes 40 from Rayman Origins.
Some of these levels include remixed versions of the original. Rayman Legends also features challenges, such as collecting a certain number of something within a specified time period. The colorful palette, cast of characters, and the ability for multiple people to play at once make this an easy game to recommend for families.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Platform: Switch
The most recent entry in the popular Mario Kart franchise, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, includes all the content from Mario Kart 8 with some new material to sweeten the pot. New characters not found in the original Wii U version show up in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, such as King Boo, Bowser Jr., and the Inklings from Splatoon. In addition to the traditional gameplay, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe features an updated battle mode.
If someone has family members who don't live in the same house, everyone can play together using the game's multiplayer mode. Additionally, members of the Nintendo Switch Online Membership + Expansion Pack tier receive free downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Kingdom Hearts
Platform: 3DS, DS, Game Boy Advance, PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, PSP, Switch, Xbox One
A collaboration between Disney and Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts does a great job of combining those two universes. The first title in the Kingdom Hearts series has Final Fantasy characters interacting with iconic Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Donald, Minnie, and more. Players travel through different Disney worlds throughout the game to find King Mickey and stop Disney villains from achieving their collective goal.
When Square Enix and Disney unveiled this project, it took fans by surprise but it's turned into an entertaining franchise for all ages. While it is as family-friendly as Disney gets, it's worth noting that it is a difficult and sometimes tedious experience.Kingdom Heartsis less for younger gamers and more for older players looking for a deep, engaging adventure.
Just Dance Series
Platform: Android, iOS, PS3, PS4, PS5, Switch Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Wii, Wii U
It's hard to recommend a specific Just Dance game, as the entertainment value may lie in the song list. Each offers fairly identical gameplay, charging players with following on-screen dance prompts to everything from pop culture hits to obscure indies. Just Dance's biggest strength is that it gets you off the couch, making it easy to manipulate into a fun party game with friends and family.
A new Just Dance game arrives on the market every year, featuring current songs topping the charts that year and some classics that never go out of style. Multiple people can play at once to try and complete songs and determine the best dancer in the family.
Splatoon 3
Platform: Switch
Nintendo's answer to the popular third-person shooter genre has existed for a while. Splatoon 3 features family-friendly action with a cute aesthetic and paint, which was first introduced in 2015 on the Wii U. Instead of shooting the opposition with bullets or some other kind of explosive, players not only shoot their opponents with paint but also need to cover the arena in their team's color.
The way to victory revolves around scoring more points than the other team, so be sure to paint over your enemy's territory as much as possible while defending your turf. If someone in your family has shown interest in shooters but a violent game isn't appropriate, Splatoon 3 will be the answer to satisfy everyone.
Tetris Effect: Connected
Platform: Meta Quest, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Tetris has been around for a long time. One of the newest iterations in this popular franchise, Tetris Effect, puts a modern twist on the original formula. A few years back, Tetris Effect: Connected arrived on consoles and PC with a new cooperative multiplayer mode and a competitive mode.
This new era of Tetris adds themes and music across 30 different stages. This allows the gameplay in each level to be in sync with the beat of the music, adding an additional challenge.
Mario Party Superstars
Platform: Switch
Mario Party Superstars combines some of the best boards from the original trilogy and 100 minigames to play. Each game features four characters on a digital game board, with either four people playing or a combination of people and bots. The game's objective revolves around collecting stars, but that becomes much easier said than done.
Even when someone has collected a star, it can still get stolen later, so strategy (and some luck) can be important in this game. A turn consists of rolling virtual dice and then moving the appropriate amount of spots. Once everyone has had a turn, a mini-game starts where everyone competes to win. The entire adventure can be fun for families to play as everyone tries to ensure victory.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Platform: Switch
Animal Crossing: New Horizons starts the player out on their own island. It becomes your responsibility to build a life and turn the island into somewhere people want to live. Tom Nook provides the player with a tent to start, but eventually, players can earn enough to purchase a house and decorate it.
Players must learn how to live off the land by planting fruit, gathering and crafting items, and working with others to achieve their goals. To have a successful island where others want to live, the player must also establish relationships with current residents, hopefully leading to more moving in. Along with a real-world calendar that alters the in-game environment, players can visit one another's islands for inspiration or to show off.
Lego 2K Drive
Platform:PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
A cart racing game utilizing the Lego license, Lego 2K Drive features racing from the third-person perspective. The game has many different regions to explore and even some environmental destructibility. Players can create their vehicles utilizing Lego blocks, customizing them to their heart's content.
If customizing to that extent isn't your cup of tea, other options also exist. Vehicles in the game can also transform depending on the terrain of the race. Lego 2K Drive features normal types of gameplay such as split screen, online, and more.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Platform: Switch
One of the biggest crossover fighting games ever developed, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate features fighters from Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Square Enix, Capcom, Sega, and more. Fighters include Mario, Link, Mega Man, Sonic, Pikachu, Solid Snake, Sora, Sephiroth, and many more. Up to eight people can go toe-to-toe on platforms inspired by each fighter.
The primary objective revolves around trying to be the last person standing while knocking your opponents out of the fighting area, often launching them off the screen. Different items, such as a fire flower, a green shell, or a super scope, pop up for use throughout the round. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate provides a lot of family-friendly fun utilizing some of the biggest franchises in the industry.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
Platform: Switch
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening on the Nintendo Switch features a colorful and cute aesthetic for all ages. Link gets stranded on an island after his ship gets caught in a storm. An island resident named Marin rescues Link and sets him on a journey to collect eight instruments. Like other games in this franchise, the adventure occurs in a semi-open world.
Throughout the adventure, players will find numerous dungeons to go through and fun side quests to complete. Players will even see some characters from the Mario franchise make an appearance. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, with its puzzle-based gameplay and fun cast of characters, makes it a fun adventure for all ages.
