Video games have been proven to be a perfect activity for all ages. Not only are they fun, but they can be challenging and thought-provoking, forcing the player to solve various problems and learn different ways to achieve their goals. (Plus it is a great, totally consuming indoor activity for rainy days or the snowy months.) So! Here is a Top 10 list of games perfect for kids:
Top Ten Nintendo Switch Games For Kids
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Also featured in our Top 10 Switch Games For Beginners, Animal Crossing is a game that has challenges and a long list of achievements without fighting any bad guys or defeating major bosses. You get to customize your villagers, decorate your house, interact with neighboring animals, collect bugs and fish and art for the museum, fully design your island from the ground up, and so much more! There are endless combinations and possibilities, almost all with single-button controls. And with the new DLC Happy Home Academy, where you get to design vacation homes and new buildings – like a school, restaurant, and cafe, there is so much to do that a kid could play this for years and years (much like I did with Animal Crossing 2001).
Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain
Maybe this wouldn’t be a kid’s first choice, but once they start playing they’ll find that mental challenges and learning can actually be quite fun! Big Brain Academy has been a series of games that focus on the youngest video game players, helping them learn the most basic of tasks like memorizing numbers and identifying animals, it also has the fun feature of seeing who gets the highest score!
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Kids who originally grew up on video games have now come full circle, either having kids themselves or nieces and nephews to introduce into the wonderful world of gaming! This is one of the many titles on this list that will be a throwback for the adults and a great way to have new players get to know some iconic characters. The beloved game of Donkey Kong Country has brand new features in the Tropical Freeze addition while still staying true to its origin, with the same easy-to-learn and use game controls. Play as Donkey Kong and partner up with Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, or Cranky Kong to help defeat the Artic foes that have turned everything into a frozen fortress!
Kirby And The Forgotten Land
Also featured in our Top 10 Switch Games For Beginners, Kirby is another Nintendo icon with a franchise going back to the 1990’s. But! With the brand new Kirby And The Forgotten Land, this is the first Kirby game with a 3D platform! As you adventure through the Forgotten Land to not only save Dreamland, but also the Waddle Dees from the evil Beast Pack, you still have the unique to Kirby feature of sucking up bad guys and copying their abilities. With simple controls (and even a in-game video of how to) anyone can play this game regardless of skill level. So, with cop-op play available, this is a great way for you and the kids to be (re)introduced to one of the all-time classics!
Mario Kart 8 Delux
Also featured in our Top 10 Switch Games For Beginners and Top 10 Party Games For All Ages, Mario Kart is an extremely well-known and beloved Nintendo staple. With this re-issue of number 8, the Switch brings a whole new way of gameplay because you can use the hand-held mode to play any time and anywhere! (So, not only can a kid play while the tv is being used for other things, it can be played in the car or in a doctor’s waiting room.) And, not only can it be played with up to 4 players locally, but up to 12 online. With completely customizable vehicles and the Smart Steering feature, this game is a fun and competitive game for anyone at any age!
Mario Party Superstars
(Super Mario Party making it on the Top 10 Switch Games For Beginners and Top 10 Party Games For All Ages.)
What makes Mario Party Superstars absolutely unique, wonderful, and perfect for kids is the ability to just play the massive list of mini-games! Yes, of course, the four board game-style maps can be played (with rounds between 10 and 30 rounds), but it is not needed to access and play as many mini-games as wanted. Plus, a unique feature to this edition of this Mario Party is that if you do want to play on a map, with up to 4 players online or locally, you can save the progress of the game and either start a new game, just play mini-games, or use the Switch for something else!
New Pokemon Snap
Even if you weren’t a fan of Pokemon as a kid in the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the original Pokemon Snap was not something to be missed! Anyone who had an N64 had this game and it become an all-time favorite. The only real difference in this game? The map and Pokedex is way bigger! But also, you can save your photos to a personal album to be able to edit and personalize them (like one might with Snapchat or Instagram). So, go forth, and click and shoot to catch (an image of) them all!
Overcooked 2
Also featured in our Top 10 Party Games For All Ages, is a fun and chaotic kitchen game where you must save the world from the hungry and evil Unbread! Not only does it have extremely easy controls, it actually provides images of what you must cook, therefore making it a really easy but exciting game for even the youngest of players. Plus, it’s a perfect game for working as a team, so you can play with them!
The Legend Of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
Just as Mario, Kirby, Donkey Kong, and even Pokemon are synonymous with Nintendo, so is Link from the Legend Of Zelda series. Another throwback character, in this game you awake as Link (as normal) – but in a strange land that is far away and far different from Hyrule! In this new version of the 1993 game, there are some new features and charming new graphics, but also simple and easy-to-do gameplay, perfect for kids. So anyone (including you) can play and have fun on this adventure!
Yoshi’s Crafted World
For those who recognize and love Mario, they tend to recognize and love Yoshi too – so here’s another game perfect for them! With this new Yoshi-driven adventure, you can leap high and gulp down enemies and treasure hunt in this crafted world filled with familiar everyday objects! Stages can also be played backward, providing new ways of play, new places to explore, and new hidden items to locate. Plus you can pass a Joy-con to team up with other Yoshis – meaning it can be fun for the whole family!
Whether it’s actually educational or just for fun, it’s never too early or too late to become a gamer!
Published: Jul 7, 2022 09:38 am