From the beginning, video games have been vilified as being bad for children. Parents are now coming around on this idea, as they reach the more logical conclusion that not all games are created with the same maturity level or intended for all audiences. This is also true of all other forms of media, including comics, music and movies. Many parents have the daunting task of choosing games that their children will enjoy without having to expose them to mature themes or content.
The Nintendo Switch has been out for over three years and it has seen thousands of games released on its platform. No, really, it has over 2,400 games to choose from at the time of this writing, with many more coming out every week. These games vary from Nintendo’s own bestselling first party games to big-name remakes and lesser-known indie games. Trying to navigate the Switch eshop is daunting enough but due to its interface and the vast library it contains, it is no wonder that new Switch owners have hard choices ahead of them when it comes to which games they should buy for their children.
Ever since Mario first broke out on the gaming scene in the early 80’s, Nintendo has had a strong image of being a kid-friendly alternative to the more mature games you could find on Playstation and Xbox consoles. Nintendo has fought to break down that stereotype by allowing more mature content to trickle into its eshop.
This has come at the expense of having a more robust online infrastructure to ‘protect’ its younger players from the inevitable trash-talking and overall toxic behavior from a very vocal minority of players found online these days. As a result, Switch is now home to a wider variety of quality games for both the young and old, making it a very appealing alternative to the more power-centric competition.
Here are my personal picks for the 15 best family-friendly games that kids can enjoy on the Nintendo Switch. In no particular order, they are:
1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe [MSRP: $60]
2. Animal Crossing: New Horizons [MSRP: $60]
3. Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics [MSRP: $40]
4. Mario Odyssey [MSRP: $60]
5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild [MSRP: $60]
6. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate [MSRP: $60]
7. Stardew Valley [MSRP: $15]
8. Fortnite [Free to Play]
9. Minecraft [MSRP: $30]
10. Rocket League [MSRP: $20]
11. Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu (or Eevee) [MSRP: $60]
12. Pokémon: Sword (or Shield) [MSRP: $60]
13. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening [MSRP: $60]
14. Yoshi’s Crafted World [MSRP: $60]
15. Splatoon 2 [MSRP: $60]
By no means is this a final list but I think it is an excellent selection of games for younger Switch players. These games will provide hours of family-friendly fun. If you are shopping for your child, remember that the $20 yearly online plan comes with access to a great selection of classic NES and SNES games that you might want to experience again for the first time.
The Nintendo Switch is a great hybrid console that can play many amazing games for the whole family to enjoy. Pick a game from my list or sift through the thousands of others on the eshop. Either way, your child is sure to thank you.
Flavio Huitron is a freelance writer. He is currently working on his first novel and picking weeds on an island populated by anthropomorphic animals. You can follow him on Instagram and Twitter.
Leave a comment below. Like and subscribe for more gaming news.
FLAVIO HUITRON 