These Video Games Are Fun for the Whole Family (2024)

An adorable puzzle game that you can play with your kids

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Our pick

Pikmin 4

Weird and wonderful for parents and kids

This strange and amazing puzzle game is appropriate for kids but still offers an engaging experience for adults.

Buying Options

$60 from Nintendo

You don’t need any experience with the previous Pikmin games to jump into Pikmin 4, which is one of the best games on the Switch for parents and kids to play together. In this action-puzzle game, you command cute, tiny, plant-like creatures called Pikmin to help the stranded intergalactic Rescue Corps rebuild their ship and rescue the lost Captain Olimar. You can play alone or with another person, and both children and adults will find plenty to appreciate. Though there’s nothing particularly inappropriate for small children in Pikmin 4, it might be hard for them to read the subtitles necessary to understand the Rescue Corps’ alien language, and they may need help navigating the menus and tutorials before they can play it alone.

A cozy game for Disney lovers

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Our pick

Disney Dreamlight Valley

Disney magic for all ages

No matter your age, this Disney-themed cozy game is fun, lighthearted, and entertaining for months.

Buying Options

$40 from Nintendo

$40 from Steam

$40 from PlayStation

$40 from Xbox

This cozy game for Disney fans is appropriate for all ages, and you can play it on just about any device you own. In Dreamlight Valley, your goal is to find familiar Disney characters who have lost their memories, and rebuild the village they once called home. To bring the valley back to its former glory, you have to garden, fish, and smash rocks to collect resources that you then use to restore buildings and spruce the place up with new decorations. You then explore whimsical realms straight out of Disney’s films to track down different characters and convince them to come home. Although Disney Dreamlight Valley has an online multiplayer mode, it’s too limited, and it requires all members of your family to have their own copy of the game, so we think the game is best enjoyed solo. But if anyone in your family is a Disney lover who enjoys titles such as Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, Dreamlight Valley should keep them busy for the next few months.

A family game night must-have

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Our pick

Mario Party Superstars

A crowd-pleaser for all ages

With this game’s easy controls and straightforward gameplay, any combination of people can come together and enjoy—or at least survive—family game night.

Buying Options

$60 from Nintendo

Mario Party Superstars is one of the few ways we’ve found to entertain a group of people whose attention spans, tempers, and experience levels don’t mesh at all. Superstars is a compilation of the best boards and minigames the Mario Party series has offered since the ’90s. Up to four people roll dice to race around a board and compete in different minigames between turns, using controls that are basic enough for even the most fumbling players to get the hang of them. Fortunately, there’s no guarantee that the most experienced player will win every time—plenty of unpredictable events pop up throughout the game, and players may be awarded bonus points for random accolades such as landing on the most red spaces or traveling the least distance. You can also customize the minigame selection, the rules, and even the match length to fit your family’s preference. As long as all of your players can use a controller for side-to-side movements and locate each directional button and trigger, you can all enjoy Superstars together.

The perfect game for any group

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Our pick

Nintendo Switch Sports

Intuitive, motion-based fun

If you played Wii Sports back in the day, this version is better and more responsive, with a diverse selection of sports to choose from.

Buying Options

$40 $28 from GameStop

You save $12 (30%)

$40 $28 from Nintendo

You save $12 (30%)

$46 from Amazon

Any family with a Switch in the house should own a copy of Nintendo Switch Sports. Whether you’re having a family game night, entertaining visitors, or looking for something that kids of varying ages or skill levels can play together, this game is simple enough for everyone to get the hang of and enjoy. Up to four players on a single screen can compete in motion-based sports such as volleyball, soccer, golf, bowling, tennis, badminton, and chambara. Later this summer, Nintendo will release a free update that introduces basketball into the mix. No matter how many times you play, Switch Sports always feels fresh and fun with every match, and mimicking movements like swinging a tennis racket or golf club feels natural and satisfying. If anyone in your family has a more limited range of motion, you can also play just as well by sitting down and using subtle wrist flicks.

Fast-paced racing for up to four people

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Our pick

Dirt 5

An addicting split-screen racing game

This arcade racing game supports split-screen play for up to four people.

Buying Options

$60 from Xbox

$60 from Steam

$60 from PlayStation

Split-screen racing games aren’t as abundant as they used to be, but every set of siblings needs a good racing game to funnel their competitive energy into from time to time. Up to four players can race together on one screen in Dirt 5, which is accessible for players of all ages and skill levels. The controls are easy, the handling is smooth, and you have tons of different cars and courses to choose from. It’s also currently available on Xbox Game Pass, as well as on PlayStation with an EA Play subscription. Keep in mind that if you buy this game on PlayStation, all players must complete the tutorial before the co-op mode can be accessed.

A hilarious game of hide-and-seek

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Our pick

Unspottable

An all-ages party game for two to four players

This party game about punching robots and hiding in plain sight is accessible and absurd.

Buying Options

$6 from Nintendo

$5 from Steam

$12 from Xbox

$17 from PlayStation

Unspottable requires a minimum of two people to play, but up to four members of your family can hop on the same screen to play this ridiculous game of hide-and-seek. In Unspottable, the goal is to blend into a crowd of identical people and punch other players out of the game before they punch you. You have to try to match the movements of the other NPCs (who are actually robots in disguise) to not give yourself away, while detecting any other characters that look suspicious. It’s hilarious and extremely simple, and most important, it’s unlikely to start any family fights. Although the premise does involve punching, the game is rated E, and children and adults of all ages can play together as long as they know the basics of using a controller.

Chaotic and cooperative, for groups of any size

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Our pick

Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes

A cooperative game that calls for communication

Teamwork makes the dream work. More specifically, it keeps you from getting virtually blown up by a ticking bomb.

Buying Options

$15 from Xbox

$15 from Nintendo

$10 from Apple App Store

$10 from Google Play

If your relationships are strong enough to withstand a little stress, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes is a great cooperative game that feels similar to a fast-paced tabletop game. To defuse a bomb primed to explode, you and your team work together by choosing one player to examine and interact with the bomb, while everyone else frantically scrolls through a digital booklet on their mobile device or laptop. Because only one player can examine the bomb in question, they have to verbally call out the images they see on screen to help the other players locate the right answers in the manual. Trying to describe puzzles that contain strange shapes and symbols is challenging and hilarious, and interactions can quickly get heated as time runs out or wrong attempts are made. The best way to play this game is on a VR headset or laptop, as it’s easier to hide the screen from the players tasked with rifling through the manual, but it’s also available on any console you might have.

A rhythmic VR game for all ages

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Our pick

Beat Saber

A kid-friendly, VR favorite

There’s no bigger crowd-pleaser than this game, which pumps music while you swing lightsabers through blocks.

Buying Options

$30 from Steam

$30 from Meta Quest

$30 from PlayStation

Beat Saber is one of our favorite VR games for kids and adults alike, and it doesn’t require any established skill to play—simply swing your arms to slice through blocks with virtual lightsabers as popular songs pump in the background. The experience is exhilarating on its own, and the game is also a fun way for players to exercise without even realizing it. We recommend this game for solo players or groups of people taking turns, but if you happen to have multiple headsets and copies of the game, you can play together in Party Mode or compete against one another for the highest score.

A game for the adults

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Our pick

The Jackbox Party Trilogy

A set to break out once the kids are asleep

These hysterical minigames can support up to eight players in the same room, and all you need to join in is a mobile device.

Buying Options

$75 from Steam

$60 from PlayStation

$60 from Xbox

If you want something that the grown-ups can indulge in after the kids go to sleep, or if you don’t have any kids at your family gatherings at all, we recommend breaking out one of the Jackbox party packs. They’re full of hilarious minigames that prompt players to chime in on their own mobile devices by drawing silly pictures, typing in random phrases, or answering trivia questions. Ten different party packs are available, but we like The Jackbox Party Trilogy because it bundles three great packs together for a wide variety of minigames. These minigames can accommodate up to eight players at the same time, but if you need space for a couple more, some of the newer packs can host up to 10 people. And if the bundle is overkill for you, note that some of our favorite games, such as Drawful and Fibbage, are also available for purchase as standalone titles. Although these games are rated for teens and older, the content isn’t so scandalous that you need to consider hiding it from kids—but we do think it’s more fun when you’re not worried about whether the contents are appropriate for younger ears.

This article was edited by Arthur Gies and Signe Brewster.

These Video Games Are Fun for the Whole Family (2024)

FAQs

Are video games good or bad for families Why? ›

Studies show playing video games can contribute to poor sleep and impact attention, academic performance, mood, and wellbeing. Exposure to violent video games can contribute to aggressive behaviors in kids. Playing video games for long periods of time has also been linked with developing obesity.

Why video games are fun to play? ›

Gaming is highly stimulating and heightened sensory experience. Gamers actively participate and drive the action, unlike more passive activities like watching TV. Video games are designed to be as engrossing as possible. This is what keeps people wanting to play.

How many parents think video games are bad for kids? ›

64% of parents believed video games caused addiction development, while more than half were also worried about eye damage. Cyberbullying, which can have repercussions well beyond childhood, was also not an uncommon concern. More than 1 in 5 parents were worried about it happening to their child.

What are the positive and negative effects of video games on students? ›

Video games can be used to help improve test scores, teach life and job skills, improve brain function, and encourage physical exercise. Because video game addiction can negatively impact social and physical health, parents should be aware of the symptoms. Kids have been wild about video games for decades.

Do video games help kids? ›

The three studies found that games can support children's senses of autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity, as well as help them regulate emotions and build relationships. But in order to support one or more of these aspects of well-being, games should consider certain features.

How does gaming affect families? ›

Impact on Family Dynamics

Parents may feel helpless as they watch their child prioritize gaming over essential activities such as homework, chores, and family time. They may experience frustration and resentment, especially when their attempts to limit gaming are met with resistance or hostility.

Do video games have benefits? ›

However, the benefits of videogames include improved powers of concentration, creativity, memory, languages and teamwork. Videogames can make it easier to learn educational contents and develop cognitive skills.

Are video games good for your brain? ›

Gamers have shown better problem-solving skills, decision-making abilities, and multitasking capacity. Moreover, video games can improve reaction times, hand-eye coordination, and spatial awareness. These enhanced cognitive abilities can be beneficial in everyday life, as well as in professional and academic settings.

Why do video games make us happy? ›

In other words, due to reward systems and an increase in dopamine, people who play video games at “just the right amount” are happier than those who do not play video games at all and those who spend too much time playing video games.

Is it OK to let kids play video games? ›

It's good to set video game time limits by age. For kids over the age of 6, the American Academy of Pediatrics says no more than 60 minutes on school days and 2 hours on non-school days. Kids under 6 should spend closer to 30 minutes.

Is gaming good or bad? ›

It's true that some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information. But too much video game playing may cause problems. It's hard to get enough active play and exercise if you're always inside playing video games.

What age is OK for video games? ›

For kids and teens 5 to 18 years old, experts recommend that parents think about how much their child uses any media. This includes playing video games on gaming consoles, tablets, or smartphones. Using media should not take the place of getting enough sleep or being physically active.

Can gaming affect school? ›

When gaming takes over a student's life, and the line is crossed between intentional and compulsive use, it can have serious consequences: Lack of motivation and poor focus. Missed learning opportunities through skipping class. Lower grades, games affecting learning.

Why are video games addictive? ›

The reward center in the brain releases dopamine in response to a pleasurable experience or hyperarousal. If a person experiences hyperarousal while playing video games, the brain associates the activity with dopamine. The person develops a strong drive to seek out that same pleasure again and again.

Why are video games popular with children? ›

Video games can be a refuge for them to find people to connect with in positive way. In our busy lives, games offer virtual playdates with real-life friends. Video games also give kids something to talk about at school. These days, games are a mainstream topic of conversation for kids, just like sports and music.

Are video games good or bad why? ›

It's true that some studies have shown certain video games can improve hand–eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and the mind's ability to process information. But too much video game playing may cause problems. It's hard to get enough active play and exercise if you're always inside playing video games.

Are video games good or bad kids brains? ›

Positive Effects of Video Games on Children's Brains

Studies have shown that playing video games can improve cognitive function, including memory, attention, and decision-making skills. In addition, video games can also enhance problem-solving abilities and promote creativity.

Why are parents worried about video games? ›

Many parents worry about the time their children spend on video games, and debates concerning the impact of video games on, e.g., mental wellbeing, behavior, and cognitive functioning have become stables in societal conversations.

Are video games bad for kids with ADHD? ›

Researchers interpreted the findings to suggest that video game playing can “compound kids' existing attention problems.” But the study results don't offer supporting evidence that the games cause or worsen the attention problems — they just suggest that kids who play the most have more severe ADHD symptoms.

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