Today, we’re sharing out list of the best Nintendo Switch games for kids. Nintendo titles in particular have just about always been friendly for all ages, which also means a big portion of the system’s library is also accessible for gamers starting out.
Below are a few games that would be perfect for anyone looking to get into video games for the first time. We’re mostly sticking with Nintendo, but we’ll also throw in a couple of extras.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
Yoshi’s Crafted World might just be the best Nintendo Switch game for kids – it’s a 2D platformer that’s easy to understand and has a cutesy aesthetic. It’s also got a demo, so you can try it out before you decide to buy it – and since it’s an older game, it would be easier to find a cheap used copy if you’re not in the market for a new one. In addition to being relatively easy, Yoshi’s Crafted World has a ton of collectibles and even lets you play stages in reverse. It’s also got Mellow Mode, an even easier game mode that lets you flutter jump forever and reduces the damage you take from enemies. Furthermore, it also supports co-op, allowing two players to control different Yoshis and play through all of the levels together.
This game is a particularly good choice for someone who’s just seen The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and really loves Yoshi, too. It’s available to order right now on Amazon here.
Any Kirby game
The Kirby series is known for being extremely friendly to beginners. The main games available on Nintendo Switch are Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe, and Kirby Star Allies – the others are spin-offs and are generally shorter with less content.
Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe and Kirby Star Allies are 2D platformers with an emphasis on multiplayer, and both support up to four players at once. The controls are fairly simple and easy to learn, making them perfect as someone’s first Kirby game. Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an excellent 3D platformer that supports two players – it’s generally considered a little better than the 2D entries in the series, but it might take a little longer to get used to for someone who hasn’t played many video games before. Still, Forgotten Land is rather easy generally speaking, with most of the tough challenges only becoming available in the postgame. It normally doesn’t matter much what order you play Kirby games in, but we would personally recommend playing Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe first and Kirby Star Allies last, out of the three Switch games currently available. Kirby Super Star on Nintendo Switch Online is another fantastic Kirby game, and it’s probably best to play it first if possible.
Kirby Star Allies and Kirby and the Forgotten Land also have free demos, if you’d like to try them out. You can purchase all of these games on Amazon here.
Mainline Super Mario games
There are a huge number of Mario games available on Nintendo Switch, and just about all of them are good for kids. The mainline Super Mario games are generally considered the best, though, so we’ll go through a whole bunch of options.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a whimsical 2D platformer with plenty of accessibility options, including the option to play as an invincible character to make the game easier. Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 are 3D platformers that take place in outer space, though both are pretty much exclusively single-player – they do have multiplayer options, but player 2 is relegated to a little cursor in Galaxy 1 and an assist Luma in Galaxy 2. Super Mario Odyssey is a fantastic 3D platformer with accessibility options and colorful graphics, making this a good option as well – though player 2 is once again relegated to an assist character. Super Mario Maker 2 lets you create and play your own 2D Mario levels, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is another 2D platformer with accessibility options to make the game easier, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury supports 4 players and is another great 3D platformer.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Paper Mario: The Origami King, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and Super Mario RPG are great too, but they’re all much more text-heavy than your average Mario game. So if a kid is too young to read much, they’re not really going to understand anything going on in the games.
Donkey Kong Country Returns HD and Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze are good games as well, but they’re actually going to be way too difficult for a kid to get through. They do have options to make the levels easier, but 2D DK games are generally extremely challenging, so keep that in mind.
You have a ton of options here, of course, but if it were up to me I would probably pick Super Mario 3D World and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. On another note: 3D games might be tougher for a kid to get into depending on their age. However, something that works in Super Mario 3D World’s favor is its multiplayer support.
You can buy any of the games we just mentioned on Amazon here – some are even available at a slight discount. Also, if you want to explore the franchise further, check out our ranking of the top 10 Super Mario games here.
Princess Peach Showtime
This is Peach’s second solo adventure game, and it’s definitely geared towards kids, which is why it’s on our list as one of Nintendo Switch’s best. Levels take the form of stage plays, which see Peach using a bunch of different costumes to fit the theme and save the Sparkle Theater from an evil sorceress. The gameplay is simplistic enough to be accessible for everyone, making this a really good choice for someone who saw one of the Mario movies and loves Peach.
Princess Peach Showtime is currently available on Amazon here. At the time of publishing, you can save $9 on the game.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can get technical at times for top-level players, but it’s still a perfect choices for any age thanks to its accessibility options. The game features smart steering as an optional setting, and this prevents the player in question from falling off of courses. There’s also an option to auto-accelerate, and with these two settings combined, anyone can enjoy.
There’s a reason why Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold over 70 million copies. At the end of the day, it’s a lot of fun and easy to get into.
Amazon currently has Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in stock here.
Minecraft
Although not a Nintendo-made game, Minecraft is extremely popular these days, and it’s one of the best-selling games of all time. It’s easy to understand and accessible, and it’s also very easy to engage with because there are quite literally millions of videos and articles about the game. Minecraft is a hit with just about every kid, and with all of the different skins and world packs available from the marketplace, there’s plenty to do even beyond making your own world in either survival or creative world. Minecraft also supports online multiplayer, local wireless play, and even local split-screen multiplayer.
Minecraft is currently available to purchase on Amazon here.
Pokemon games
As the biggest media franchise in the world, just about every kid is going to know about Pokemon at some point or another. All of the Pokemon games are beginner-friendly and include tutorials, but it’s worth noting that none of them currently include voice acting. That means a basic reading ability is required to play; without it, it’ll be very difficult for a younger player to figure out what’s going on in battles. Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee are the simplest Pokemon titles, but Sword and Shield and Scarlet and Violet are good choices too even though their gameplay is a bit more complex. You can’t go wrong with any of the mainline Pokemon games, to be honest.
Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu and Let’s Go, Eevee do have a free demo available on Nintendo eShop if you want to give it a try first. You can also find the selection of these games on Nintendo Switch to buy right here – the Let’s Go games currently have a slight sale at the time of writing.
Outright Games
We did also want to give a quick mention to Outright Games. Their releases are geared more towards kids and are based on popular IPs. Outright has made titles based on Bluey, Paw Patrol, SpongeBob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more. You can check out their selection of Nintendo Switch games right here – really any of them would be good for kids, especially if they’re a fan of these franchises.
Did we miss any Nintendo Switch games that would be good for kids? If so, let us know in the comments down below.
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