![任天堂马里奥赛车8豪华and Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet displayed on a two-tone blue patterned background](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/zxjaxUrLK2wnUGKESbRQ3rlsg04=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Best-Nintendo-Switch-Games-for-Kids-VWF-tout-8c05968053b64db9bc84c13c77924a5b.jpg)
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It used to be that parents let kids play video gamesdespitetheir assumptions that it would somehow turn them into mindless potatoes. But now we have evidence to the contrary—both from living through a pandemic and from studies that showgaming may actually give children aboost in cognitive developmentand impulse control.That means even the skeptics can begin to feel good about searching for thebest Nintendo Switch games for kids.
Of course, we’re not suggesting that your 5-year-old take up the latest realistic war game. This is asafe and fun pastime only with certain parameters in place.One of the best things about the Nintendo Switch is that a great deal of the games developed for thisportable deviceareappropriate for children.
We narrowed down the options for this list using the games’ ratings from the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and considering theireducational benefits and entertainment value.Then we got some hot tips from children and their parents. In addition, a pediatric psychologist on ourMedical Review Boardreviewed our article to ensure the quality and reliability of our content.
Types of Games
There are too many different genres and subgenres of video games to list in this space, but if you’re not a gamer and are about to start shopping, you may want to familiarize yourself with some common terms used to describe them.
- Platform Game:The old-fashioned style of game, likeSuper Mario, where players move from one platform to the next in a set order, usually after they’ve completed certain tasks or defeated a “boss” (bad guy).
- Role-Playing Game (RPG):These are adventure games in which the player’s character is part of a story and gains power and abilities as they move through a world, often trying to complete some kind of quest.The Legend of ZeldaandPokémon Scarletand Violet fall into this category. Many of these games involve a lot of reading, so they can be difficult for younger kids to get into, but they also wind up encouraging kids to read more.
- First-Person Shooter (FPS):Exactly what it sounds like, a game in which the player sees everything through the eyes of their avatar and has to shoot enemies to survive. There are also third-person shooters, likeSplatoon 3, in which the player’s perspective is slightly removed from their avatar, and can see their whole body as they control it.
- Battle Royale:Games likeFortnite, in which every player has to fight for survival and kill their opponents, and the last person standing wins.
- Sandbox:This is a term for games likeMinecraftandAnimal Crossing, where the player has freedom and creative control, and there’s no set goal. There are consequences to their actions, but they can simply hang out, build, and interact with elements of the game in whatever way is most fun to them.
- Open World:A style of adventure game in which players can move in any direction and do things in any order. Unlike sandbox games, an open world game may still have stories and goals, but they’re not necessarily linear. TheLegend of ZeldaandPokémon Scarletand Violet have open worlds.
Best Overall
任天堂马里奥赛车8豪华
![Mario Kart 8 Deluxe](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/PhjZxb-wWyZE-cJxumUa_FIExOY=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Mario-Kart-8-Deluxe-084c906058934d64bd52dc60c3b5c050.jpg)
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Easy to play
Fun for multiple generations
Can be played by up to 12 online
Limited number of courses do grow old eventually
Just about anyone can take to theMario Kart racetrackand enjoy themselves, from 5-year-olds just getting the hang of those motor skills to older siblings who’ve been at this for years, not to mention their parents who haven’t picked up a controller since their Gameboy days. TheJoy-Con controller actsas your steering wheelthrough the outlandish racecourses where you compete against various characters from the Mario and Nintendo universe, collecting coins that increase your speed and blasting through blocks that contain power-ups that can be used for more speed or sabotaging the others on the course.
This game is great for kids becausebeginners can use smart steering, so they don’t have to be frustrated by veering off the track. But it won’t get boring later on because the latest Deluxe version offers somany levels and creative ways for experienced gamersto compete with each other. If you have additional controllers,up to eight players can race together locally.And if you have a Nintendo Switch Online account,up to 12 people can connect to compete.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E (Everyone)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best for the Whole Family
Ubisoft Just Dance 2023
![Ubisoft Just Dance 2023](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/wlBMOMRfeW4b66OJLLO-LIbsii4=/fit-in/1500x999/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Just-Dance-2023-d6bb26b23d0c4281b229778febc84e1b.jpg)
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Encourages physical activity
伟大的组织
Allows private online multiplayer modes
Limited number of songs without subscription
Even non-gamers agree thatJust Dance, in any iteration since the days of Wii, is a highly effective way toget the whole family (multiple generations included) to gather around, dance, compete, and wind up in a pile of giggles on the floor.Joy-Cons, with their wrist straps firmly attached, are your new dance partner as you follow the moves of your onscreen “coach,” choreographed to the hits of today mixed in with some select oldies. The scoring is based solely on what your right hand does, but it’s a whole lot more fun when you get into it and learn that fancy footwork, too.
The 2023 edition has an updated look that’s been called more realistic, though we think it’s actually more cartoonish compared to the classic style that didn’t show the dancers’ faces. Another addition is a kind ofstory mode, a playlist with a vague plot woven into the dance videos.Really, most people are here to dance, though, and it becomes quite aworkout.The best part about this for kids is that the competition doesn’t have to be the focus: You’ll have just as much fun earning a handful of points as you do getting thousands, no one is ever “out,” and there areno confusing buttons or commands involved.There are also songs with veryeasy choreography that allow beginners to get the hang of it.
Just Dance 2023, which is adigital-only game, comes with44 songs, which you’ll be able to dance to while connected to the internet or if you’ve chosen to download all of the songs for offline play. With a Ubisoft account, you can also play along with strangers online or create private groups to compete with friends in their homes.To access more songs, you’ll also need a newJust Dance+ account(free trial month included, then $4 a month or $25 a year), and that will get you 150 songs to start, plus many more promised in the future.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E (Everyone)
- Format:Digital only
Price at time of publication: $60
Best Creative
Mojang Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition
![Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/ERX3qHw-eAe8wc9D3kVfI_f9QAc=/fit-in/1500x1600/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/71dIHv1zh7L._SL1500_1-ade5062aa5ef41a7899f3ac3f1005aa1.jpg)
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Encourages creativity
Nonviolent mode available
Requires problem-solving skills
Lack of goals/storyline isn’t for everyone
While many adults may scratch their heads wondering why kids find it more fun to build with virtual blocks of rock and metal than, say, building things in the real world, we can at least be happy that this game has some educational value. Players can mine and build in“creative” mode, meaning their characters face no real dangers in their pixelated world.Or they can play in生存模式, where they’ll have to create weapons and shelter to protect themselves from angry mobs. Either way, thisgame encourages creativity and problem-solving, and players gradually learn a lot about three-dimensional design.
Minecraft is alsoavailable on various platforms beyond Nintendo Switchand in a number of variations, such as theDungeons Ultimate Edition.在同一个游戏允许多人模式Switch, or you can sign up for a Microsoft account to connect to friends elsewhere and play with them.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E 10+ (for fantasy violence and interactive options)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $30
Best Non-Competitive
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
![Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo Switch](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/vQHIBWTXYT2rzJ2qJo5nybGh9dY=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/animal-crossing-new-horizons---nintendo-switch-2773238e89c244609e470dd4cac93158.jpg)
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Family-friendly
教关于动物和植物
Safe multiplayer mode
Requires a lot of reading
Animal Crossing allows for a friendlier—not to mentionrounder—type of world building than Minecraft.Players get to craft their own island from scratch, doing everything from building homes and planting gardens to designing textiles. You can interact with the happy animal residents within the game, as well as with up to four players locally. With a connection to Nintendo Switch Online, you can alsoconnect to other players and visit their islands—but only by sharing a special individual code, so no kids will be accidentally visiting with strangers. This game has been around for decades, but New Horizons really gained fame in the early days of the pandemic, when adults were using it as much as their kids were to escape the confines of their homes.
Rachel, a mom of two, shares that New Horizons has had a benefit far beyond escapism for her eldest daughter Lucy, who is 8 now. “I got the newest Animal Crossing before Lucy could read, and she would watch me play,” Rachel says. “I told her I would make a character for her once she could read, so she could play it on her own, and that was actually a big motivator for her to learn to read. She’s picked up the bug and fish species so well that she was able to correctly identify a beetle to a park ranger once, just from her knowledge from the game.”
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E (Everyone)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best for Soccer Fans
EA Sports FIFA 23 - Nintendo Switch
![EA Sports FIFA 23 for Nintendo Switch](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/6zRrFW3a7FRnvy2PVR5H7D2hcw8=/fit-in/1500x1024/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/71HpUvg8L._SY445_-7ac1c30dae17488a9577470ef2868eb6.jpg)
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Amazingly realistic graphics
Multiple modes to play
Includes women’s teams
Similar gameplay from previous editions
Soccer fans familiar with the FIFA Switch games will notice some fun and exciting cosmetic updates to this year’s competition. The amazingly realistic graphics showcase this year'slatest soccer kits, clubs, teams, and players.Also new this year–the game includes some of the top women’s teams andshowcases some of the world’s most famous stadiums.The graphics are so good that you’ll almost feel like you are watching a live game.
The gameplay stays the same as in previous editions, but players have many more options. We love that there are bothsingle-player and multiplayer options, so this game is fun alone or with a buddy. Online, gamers can play with two to eight others. Along with standard soccer games, there are squad-building challenges, tournaments, skills games, and more. For soccer fans, the updated teams and familiar tasks are likely a fun update.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $40
Best for Mario Fans
Nintendo Super Mario Bros Wonder
![Super Mario Bros. Wonder](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/d_1Fm57IyhhNi2Mmni5KQjIBNGc=/fit-in/1500x1014/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Wonder-860a4b4141424698809998c219fc4550.jpg)
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Familiar characters
Options for beginners
Online play with up to 12 players
Limited characters
Fans of Mario and Luigi will love getting the gang back together to play this new game. A classic“side-scrolling” game, this new version will be familiar until players interact with the Wonder Flowers that cause game-changing excitement. We love that this game takes all thefamiliar charactersthat players love and still can add challenges and twists to the gameplay.
Besides loving the familiar cast, we appreciate the array of options with this game.Beginnerscan be Yoshis or Nabbit,characters that won’t transform but can’t get damaged.Moreadvanced playerswill love thePower Up optionsthat’ll mix things up, including an all-new Elephant Mario and his mighty trunk. Play at home with up to four players or go online, and the online gameplay opens up to 12 players at a time.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E (Everyone)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best for Kids 6 Years Old and Younger
Nintendo Switch Pokémon Snap
![New Pokémon Snap](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/R4_QzMt4w-YTSOzTpw6Q_Uez_QQ=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/New-Pokemon-Snap-2fbd1cdeac0040be98170a4cd2c8ea9b.jpg)
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Appropriate for younger kids
Easy to learn
Encourages exploration
Not very challenging
Rather than letting very young kids play shoot-’em-up style video games, you can let them enjoy the satisfaction of pointing and shooting virtual cameras. The object of this game (which originated on Nintendo 64) is to“snap” images of the Pokémon crittersthey encounter while exploring various worlds, gradually creating their own Photodex collection. Each image is then scored based on the rarity of the Pokémon behavior they captured.
Anthony Bean, PhD, a Texas-based licensed clinical depth psychologist who works with gamers, says that the best Nintendo games for kids ages 6 and under are “cartoon-styled games that can help them to bring a sense of accomplishmentbut [are] not heavily competitive.” Based on the praise we’ve heard from young kids, New Pokémon Snap fits the bill.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E (Everyone)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best for Kids 8 Years Old and Up
Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land
![Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/SrXsmQkmAn0dtrsB_WE1I7a515s=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Nintendo-Kirby-and-the-Forgotten-Land-8398490a8e10416b81d89dd3637adf8d.jpg)
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Easy to learn
Requires strategic thinking
Violence is not graphic
Involves shooting and explosions
Another character with his origins in the ‘90s, Kirby is a delightful alien blob who also happens to be a pretty effective hero—mostly because he can inhale other creatures and inanimate objects like cars to take on their powers. In his latest adventure, his home, Dream Land, has been sucked into a dystopian world where the mean Beast Pack has kidnapped Dream Land’s innocent little Waddle Dees.
Players move Kirby through various levels trying to find their way around, rescue Waddle Dees, and obtain the powersnecessary to battle the Beast Pack. This isall about problem-solving, with some slightly violent elements but nothing too scary for elementary school-age kids.
Key Specs:
ESRB Rating:E 10+ (for cartoon violence)
Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best for Active Kids
Nintendo Switch Sports
![Nintendo Switch Sports](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/sjMqohrRtQdnZCZkyhPr0umu33I=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/nintendo-switch-sports-e5437750ea0f4f0db65774ba606b94f2.jpg)
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Gets players off the couch
Fun for groups
Online multiplayer mode gets competitive
Not a replacement for real sports
If you ever played Nintendo’s Wii Sports back in the day, you already know how much fun thishybrid of real-life motion and virtual sports可以。玩家持有Joy-Cons (writ straps on, for the safety of everyoneand电视)和swing来控制他们on-screen avatarscompeting in tennis, badminton, bowling, soccer, volleyball, golf, and chambara (a type of sword fighting). Themovements are simple enoughto pick up after some in-game instructions, but it will take some time to master them—which is a good thing for gamers who need a little challenge.
Though you canplay any of these games alone, they’re a lot more fun with a group.Friends or family can either compete against each other (one-on-one or four against four) or team up against strangers in online multiplayer mode (Nintendo Switch Online membership required). For soccer games, the physical version of the game comes with a strap to attach a Joy-Con to your thigh for shoot-out modes, but most of the other motions are still controlled by your hands.
By no means is this sort of game supposed to take the place of real sports and other forms of physical activity kids need, but it does get players off the couch. “Some activity indoors is better than nothing,” Dr. Garbi tells us of the more active Nintendo games. “And even though it's screen time, they can be fun and good for exercise.”
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E 10+ (for mild violence, in-game purchasing, interactions with other gamers)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $50
Best Problem-Solving
Nintendo Switch Pikmin 4
![Pikmin 4 - Nintendo Switch](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/24lO2ipSm34FFhpKQ-j8G2Cd_c4=/fit-in/1500x1036/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/918BfFOKtIL._SY445_-bcefaa5e6c7c4a7c92bbe2474aa43e0a.jpg)
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Easy to learn
Nonviolent
The tutorial teaches how to play
Tutorials may be time-consuming for returning players
Pikman are small and versatile plant-like creatures, and this game challenges players togrow, gather, and guide these little guys on an expedition.In this 4th version of the popular game, experienced players will appreciate the new features, while newbies will have no issue jumping right in. The non-violent game has an extensivetutorial to teach new playershow to play. Newbies will appreciate the education, but it could be time-consuming for returning players.
Once gameplay begins, there are afew ways to play.The ongoing expedition challenges the skills and attributes of your various Pikman. Players can also participate in battles against other characters in the game or with friends on the system, leading to multiple stages as your expedition story proceeds. If it sounds confusing, that’s why the game is recommended for 10-year-olds and up, but older kids should have no issues jumping right in and playing this nonviolent problem-solving game.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E 10+
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication:$60
Best for Young Collectors
Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet
![Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/puUSdYfkJ_GG_OE2B1W3b1O2FmU=/fit-in/1500x1001/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Pokemon-Scarlet-1abff5fda4be4d1d976f2049d4e2eea9.jpg)
Game Stop
Open world encourages exploration
Requires strategy
Appeals to Pokémon fans
Many glitches found in game
Thenewest Pokémon role-playing game(RPG) has the traditional elements of catching, training, and battling Pokémon, plus the extra adventure of exploring the land of Paldea, taking unexpected detours, and even having impromptu picnics along the way. Unlike previous games, which required players to complete levels in order, this latest one is anopen world, so you can choose to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
The differences between Scarlet and Violet (sold separately for $60 ortogether for $120) are going to seem minimal to anyone uninitiated in the Pokémon universe. You’ll get different exclusive Pokémon in each game, and the appearance of Paldea is different, with Scarlet looking old-timey and Violet in a futuristic setting. (Check with your kid before buying one or the other if they seem to be picky about this sort of thing.) But the gameplay is essentially identical:Travel through the land and collect Pokémon that you’ll send into battle on the road or in a gym.You’ll earn money to buy ingredients for picnics (and those meals, along with potions and other objects, help heal the Pokémon) and to customize your avatar. Eventually, you’ll make your way to the academy, where you’ll take your training to the next level with classes.
While this may feel like a very solitary game, there is a multiplayer option, which two to four players can engage in either locally or online with a Nintendo Switch Online subscription.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E (some mild cartoon violence, in-game purchases, and interactions with other gamers)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best Nonviolent Battles
Nintendo Splatoon 3
![Nintendo Splatoon 3](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/vs4rZKoxbn-1jDCFXwyT1uN8H2k=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Nintendo-Splatoon-3-11262baae5e84b1ebdd46b58391a02b7.jpg)
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Replaces guns with painting tools
Safe online multiplayer competition
Many opportunities for personalizing
Long dialogue and cutscenes
Many of us are determined to keep every kind of toy gun out of our kids’ hands, even the virtual kind that’s always been so prevalent in gaming. And yet, how do we fulfill children’s seemingly inherent desire to aim at things and shoot them? “Splatoon” manages to come up with a very satisfying alternative, asthe object of the game is to paint—shooting, rolling, and squirting swaths of color across the ground and wallsas your human-squid/octopus avatar. Instead of bloody battles, you have a riot of color to show for your efforts.
“Splatoon 3” has anoffline story-driven gamein which you use your inky skills to help fight an underground crime network that has stolen Splatville’s Great Zapfish, which powers the town. Butyou can also choose to skip the storyand go straight to battles and turf wars. In these, you’ll team up in real-time with other players (with a Switch Online membership) and compete to cover the most ground with your team’s ink color. Thebattles last only three exhilarating minutes, which is very convenient for parents who have heard a whole lot of, “Let me just finish this level,” every time we say gaming time is up.
作为a reward for your hard work, you can use experience points to purchase new outfits as well as new painting tools. Often in these games, we’ve found that kids’ absolute favorite thing to do is customize the look of their avatars, sometimes spending as much time fiddling with them as they do in any actual gameplay.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E 10+ (cartoon violence, in-game purchases, user interaction)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best for Solo Play
Ubisoft Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
![Ubisoft Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/Lg0JY7kf7QlDoKBGt_wPha-cfmw=/fit-in/1500x1001/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Mario--Rabbids-Sparks-of-Hope-582d7ba2ad5c41a288dd5cef571c6f62.jpg)
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Combines strategy and storytelling
Players control multiple characters
Visually appealing
Kids may grow impatient with long cutscenes
To many parents, the descriptions of games like this can sound like pure gibberish: Mario and Luigi team up with Rabbids (rabbit-human-type creatures that are dressed like Mario characters, including Mario, Luigi, and Peach), Sparks (which are Rabbids mixed with a star-like creature called Luma, from the Mario galaxy), and a couple of very smart robots to save the universe from an evil force called Cursa that keeps spreading oozing moodiness called the Darkmess everywhere it goes. What this really means is that this isa game involving strategy and storytelling.
There are a whole lot ofanimated cutscenes and speeches players need to read and watch to understand this whole plot,但当谈到时间玩,你actu什么ally doing is figuring out which three characters to place into battle based on their different strengths and weaponry. Then it’s all about taking aim at the enemy with the knowledge that once you shoot, you’re paralyzed and potentially vulnerable to attack as the enemy takes their turn.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E 10+ (for cartoon violence, in-game purchasing)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best Open-World Adventure
Nintendo Switch The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
![Nintendo Switch The Legends of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/A4nuJAI9j9A6HU-79yG7tE1g-bs=/fit-in/1500x1036/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/91hNjG7LL._SY445_-1231bf0f2615424e9dfe691d0e62305b.jpg)
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Stunning graphics
Players design their game path
Encourages creative problem-solving
Lack of guidance may frustrate younger players
A sequel toLegend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this expanded open-world adventure game takes us back to Hyrule but features new spaces (The Great Sky and The Depths), abilities, devices, and resources, which Link can use tobuild contraptions and solve puzzles.The ultimate goal is to prevent the Demon King from destroying the world. In the process, playerslearn about exploration and experimentation.It helps to have some familiarity with the previous Zelda games, but it’s not a necessity.
Everything about thisgame is beautiful, but it can be very frustrating for younger players, so it'sbest for kids 10 years old and up.Nate, who had saved up his allowance money to buy a previous version of this game, wound up giving up after a couple of weeks. It’s a good one for an older tween or teen to work up to—and for their parents to borrow when they’re done. The game takes hours—it’s best to be aware before you begin—, but it’s reassuring thatplayers design their own game path, so there’s not just one way to beat this game. Fans of Zelda will enjoy many of the new game functions that keep the game exciting and fresh while maintaining familiarity.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:E 10+ (for mild suggestive themes and fantasy violence)
- Format:Digital and physical
Price at time of publication: $60
Best Social Game
Epic Games Fortnite V-Bucks Gift Card
![Epic Games Fortnite V-Bucks Gift Card](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/oGqYA_m5a95DqLuNbbT2onHrxH4=/fit-in/1500x1000/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Fortnite-V-Bucks-Gift-Card-6de1a1d2db564d7393480a279e5bf7d1.jpg)
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Exciting
Players can team up with friends online
Free to download
Violent
In-app spending encouraged
While we are loath to recommend a violent game full of non-stop gun battles, we also know that for gaming tweens and teens, these inevitably become a dominant genre. If the kid you’re shopping for is heading in this direction, you may as well steer them toward something thatrequires strategic thinking and teamwork rather than mindless shooting.The battle royale-style game means players are competing against others (up to 100 players in each battle) to be the last person standing. You canplay solo or team up with friendsvirtually. You’re dropped from a flying bus into a city-turned-battlefield and then must immediately find weapons. There’s also a Minecraft element to this game because you need tomine your surroundings and build structures while fighting to survive.
The game isfree to download and play but then requires in-game purchases(using something called Vbucks) for new skins (your avatar’s appearance), specialized gliders, pickaxes, and dance moves. And these customizations often wind up being kids’ absolute favorite part of the game.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:T for teens (for violence, in-game purchases, and user interaction)
- Format:Digital only
Price at time of publication: Free to download, but there are in-app purchases
Best for Two Players
Electronic Arts It Takes Two
![Electronic Arts It Takes Two](http://www.dreamhomedepot.com/thmb/ug7wG-jp4CQwyTzP1vvaDv0yPUA=/fit-in/1500x999/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/It-Takes-Two-a54e89fdc88848d082a661c45c082098.jpg)
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Imaginative storyline
Cooperative play
Beautiful graphics
Subject may be too mature for some
Can’t play solo
作为the title suggests, this is a game that requires the cooperation of two players, and that’s what makes it as fascinating as it ischallenging for older kids, teens, and adults.The premise reads like an ‘80s movie: A little girl named Rose sees her parents, Cody and May, fighting and planning a divorce, and somehow, she turns them into miniature doll versions of themselves. Now, Cody and May have to work together to survive their suddenly hazardous house under the guidance of a marriage counselor who is a literal “Book of Love.”
We don’t think many tweens and teens would jump at the idea of learning about how to mend the long-term relationships of middle-aged folks, but when that involves blasting wasps with special sap guns developed by squirrels or swinging through obstacles with the help of giant magnets, it’s much more appealing. In fact, this is anexciting and magical adventure that’s filled with little puzzles and beautiful scenes.
If you’re considering this for a kid who doesn’t have a sibling old enough to play along, It Takes Two has a very special bonus:You can invite another player to join you free with a “friend pass”and play online together or side by side.
Key Specs:
- ESRB Rating:T for teens (for animated blood, comic mischief, fantasy violence, language, and some user interaction)
- Format:Digital only
Price at time of publication: $40
How We Selected the Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids
We looked at the many, many games available for this kid-friendly console and then narrowed down the list by looking at their ESRB ratings as well as competitor reviews. We asked all the young gamers we know for their recommendations, interviewing several of them for their expert insight. We sat down with publicists from Nintendo and a handful of gaming publishers to learn about the very latest releases, which we tried out, too. We also spoke to experts and asked them for tips and recommendations for finding the best and most appropriate games for kids
Our Experts
- Lyndsey Garbi, MD, chief medical officer of Blueberry Pediatrics and pediatrician at Northwell Health in New York.
- Anthony Bean, PhD, Texas-based licensed clinical depth psychologist who works with gamers and author ofCheckpoints and Autosaves: Parenting Geeks to Thrive in the Age of Geekdom.
什么to Look for in Nintendo Switch Games for Kids
- Age Level:This is not just about whether a game is violent—which we’ll get to below—but about whether the game is easy enough, but not too easy, for a child to play. “The elements that make any game fun and engaging are easy-to-learn controls, based learning which helps to allow the player to acquire a sense of accomplishment, and playing with parents,” says Bean. “Elements that should be avoided are tasks that are not developmentally appropriate for the child... I would not put a 3-year-old in a game where you have to have high reflexes to continue on, but an easy matching game that is more their speed.”
You may have to do a bit of trial and error to find the games that engage your child the most, but don’t worry too much if a game is frustrating for them at first. Bean says thatsomefrustration is good for kids “to develop abilities to manage themselves appropriately, and this is a key indicator for any child to continue to grow [by] failing in a safe space.”
- ESRB Rating:The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has given adults the best tool for judging whether a video game is appropriate for children. Though it’s technically a voluntary system, all gaming console companies require games to have an ESRB rating to be licensed for their systems, so you won’t be able to buy a game without a rating.
The board judges games based on whether they contain elements of concern, such as violence, blood/gore, substance use, sexual themes, and gambling. It also takes into account interactive elements, including whether players are encouraged or required to make in-app purchases, whether the game might share their location, and whether they might wind up interacting with other players remotely, resulting in exposure to uncensored content or communication. The ratings range from E for Everyone up to A for Adults Only (18 and up). All the games listed here are E, E 10+, or T for Teens.
- Violence:We wish we could tell you precisely how much, if any,violence in video gamesis okay for your kid. But the truth is, there are still no hard and fast rules, and everything will be based on the individual. “Studies have shown that violent video games can increase a person's aggressive thoughts, feelings, and behavior. However, it's debatable whether this correlates with real-world violence,” says Dr. Garbi.
You’ll have to judge what’s best for your family and your values, and consider having ongoing conversations with your child about the kind of violence that’s occurring in games, whether they’re allowed to play them or they’re wondering why you’re banning something their friends are playing.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Sabrina Rojas Weissis the senior commerce editor for Verywell Family and Parents.com. She’s been a parenting and lifestyle editor and writer for nine years, following an earlier career as an entertainment journalist. She finally got her son a Nintendo Switch for his ninth birthday, leading to a whole lot of heated, hilarious family games ofMario KartandJust Dance.