The Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids | PCMag
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Editors' Note, May 27, 2025: With this update, we added Big Hops and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. Our remaining picks have been vetted for currency and availability.As blockbuster video games continue to trend toward gritty maturity, Nintendo remains committed to the radical idea that kids should enjoy them too. Mario isn't taking care of his daughter in a post-apocalyptic wasteland; he’s just jumping on turtles, as usual. Don’t get us wrong, the Nintendo Switch arguably has Nintendo’s strongest library of adult-oriented games to date, and the Nintendo Switch 2 currently feels targeted toward more sophisticated tastes (and deeper pockets). Still, the console/handheld hybrid shines regarding Nintendo's traditional, family-friendly catalog. PCMag's staff is filled with gaming experts who've reviewed Nintendo games for more than 20 years. Some of us are parents, and many have been playing video games since we were kids. That means we know which games are suitable for little ones and will spark their imaginations. If you can't tell Kirby from Bayonetta, rest assured knowing that our expert opinions will guide your family down the right entertainment path. Confused parents should also know that the vast majority of these games will play just fine on the Switch 2 if your youngster insists on upgrading. Recommended by Our Editors Nintendo Switch 2 vs. Switch 1: Should You Buy the Switch 2 Before the Price Hike Kicks In? The Best Nintendo Switch Accessories 9 Simple Tips to Make Your Switch 2 Games Really Pop on Your 4K TV
Nintendo Switch 2: The Switch Just Got Better
A Boy and His Blob
$14.99 at Nintendo See It
Forget everything you think you know about blobs. Instead of a man-eating monster, this blob is a helpful companion who turns into various shapes if you feed it jellybeans. Bounce on trampolines. Drop a blob anvil on enemies. Or just hug the blob when you feel like it. Stunning hand-drawn animation elevates this charming and gentle puzzle-platformer remake into a work of art. Rated: E for Everyone
Animal Crossing: New Horizons 4.0
$59.99 at Target See It
Animal Crossing: New Horizons strips out life's stress and leaves behind everyday pleasures. That’s something anyone can appreciate. It might be a little too chatty and ultimately mundane to hold some young attention spans and reading levels, but then again this is a game where puppies and kitties move in next door. What kid wouldn’t love that?Rated: E for Everyone
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (for Nintendo Switch) Review Ball x Pit
$14.99 at Nintendo See It
Ball x Pit takes Breakout's fast-paced, block-busting gameplay and infuses it with roguelike elements. As foes fill the screen, you upgrade your ball weapons with useful abilities, such as powerful lasers and chain lightning. Between runs, build a town to improve your stats, or test drive new characters that come with their own perks.Rated: T for Teen
Big Hops 4.0
$19.99 at Nintendo See It
Nintendo isn't the only studio that makes awesome 3D platformers in the style of classic Mario games. Take Big Hops, a huge and ambitious game starring a little frog. You jump around giant sandbox levels using a variety of physics-powered abilities, including swinging across gaps with an elongated tongue and creating new platforms to bounce off of. Big Hops is a fun world that's crafted with love and care. Rated: E for Everyone
Big Hops Review Burnout Paradise Remastered
$18.00 at Walmart See It
We’ve seen many open-world racing games since the original Burnout Paradise arrived over a decade ago. Arguably, none have come close to topping Burnout’s blistering speed, sheer arcade thrills, and wondrous sense of discovery as you stumble across Paradise City's many challenges. The lack of licensed cars also means Burnout is free to make crashes as gnarly as possible. It’s the ultimate toy car simulator, now available to take on the road. Rated: E10+ for Everyone 10 and Up
Chicory: A Colorful Tale