40 of the Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids

The Nintendo Switch caters to all audiences and has many games in its library, but which are the best Nintendo Switch games for kids? We’ve compiled a list of 40 games that are perfect for children and for players of all ages. Here they are in alphabetical order…

1-2 Switch

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Rating E
Genre Party / Multiplayer
Players 1 – 2

1-2 Switch is a great way to utilise all of the Nintendo Switch features. With 28 different games that can be played in docked mode at home or in tabletop mode when camping, this party game is perfect for any occasion. Even after a few years since the console’s launch, we’re still impressed by the HD Rumble allowing you to guess how many balls are in the box… my theory is that there’s a little man inside every Joy-Con.

Astro Bears

Developed By SONKA
Published By SONKA
Rating E
Genre Action / Arcade / Multiplayer / Party
Players 1 – 4

A party game that features bears in space suits? Do we need to go on? … probably should explain the gameplay a little bit. With up to four players running around a small planet, each leaves ribbons behind themselves. With the ability to jump and hover over these ribbons, it becomes a game of last bear standing.

BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL!

Developed By HAL Laboratory
Published By Nintendo
Rating E
Genre Puzzle / Platformer
Players 1 – 2

BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! is an adorable 2D puzzle platformer about creating other boxes in order to traverse to the end of each level. There’s a single-player mode, a mode for co-op to be played with a friend and a brand new mode starring Qudy, a tall box (rectangle) who must do their part as well.

Bubble Bobble 4 Friends

Developed By Taito
Published By ININ Games
Rating E
Genre Action / Arcade / Party / Multiplayer
Players 1 – 4

The adorable little Bubble Bobble dragons are back in a brand new game exclusive to Nintendo Switch! Play with up to four players as a child’s bedroom comes to life and you, in traditional Bubble Bobble fashion, must save the day. Run around 2D platforming arcade levels blowing bubbles inside enemies to trap them and pop the bubble with your horn.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Rating E
Genre Party / Strategy
Players 1 – 2

In this bright and colourful puzzle game, Captain Toad must venture through rubik’s-cubelike levels to collect gems and get to the star at the end. As the captain’s backpack is a little too heavy for him, he is unable to jump, so use your wits and spin the camera around to find the best possible solution. The Nintendo Switch version of the game also features levels inspired from Super Mario Odyssey, as well as paid DLC that adds 18 new challenges for $5.99.

Color Zen Kids

Developed By Large Animal
Published By Cypronia
Rating E
Genre Puzzle / Education / Training / Study
Players 1

Color Zen Kids is a relaxing little puzzle game that requires you to moves shapes around in order to match the colours. The challenge, however, comes in needing to end the level with the same colour as the border, which becomes quite challenging as the game progresses.

Disney TSUM TSUM FESTIVAL

Published By BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Rating E
Genre Party / Puzzle
Players 1 – 4

Disney’s Tsum Tsum resemble little mouselike stuffed toys that were sold exclusively in Japan. Now, the Tsum Tsum are having a festival that contains ten party games for multiplayer fun. Some games are best played on the big screen, whilst others in handheld mode; Disney TSUM TSUM FESTIVAL takes full advantage of the Nintendo Switch hardware.

Doraemon: Story of Seasons

Developed By Undefined
Published By BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment
Rating E
Genre Simulation / RPG
Players 1

Doraemon and his friends have been transported to a brand new world and they must find their way back home. In the meantime, they must farm, interact with villagers and live out their day-to-day lives in this new world. Doraemon: Story of Seasons’ adorable animation and relaxing gameplay is fun for players of all ages.

Just Dance 2020

Developed By Ubisoft
Published By Ubisoft
Rating E10+
Genre Multiplayer / Music / Party
Players 1 – 64

Ubisoft’s Just Dance series has been a best seller across many consoles and after ten minutes of dancing, it’s easy to see why. Kids and parents alike love to get up and bust a move in front of the TV. And if the song list on Just Dance 2020, you can always try Just Dances 17-19.

Kirby Star Allies

Developed By HAL Laboratory
Published By Nintendo
Rating E10+
Genre Action / Platformer
Players 1 – 4

Who doesn’t love a good Kirby game? The pink puffball that we all know and love is on another adventure and must call on the help of enemies and allies alike. So who are going to play as these allies? Why, the whole family, of course! With up to four-player co-op, the only thing better than a Kirby game is a Kirby game with friends.

The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Rating E
Genre Action / Adventure
Players 1

Setting sail after his epic adventure in the SNES classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Link has found himself shipwrecked on a lone Koholint Island. His only hope of escape is to awaken the Wind Fish in an egg that is perched at the top of the mountain and to do this, he must find and collect all eight instruments to play the Ballad of the Wind Fish. But not all may be as it appears in this Game Boy classic reimagined for the Nintendo Switch.

LEGO City Undercover

Developed By TT Games
Published By Warner Bros. Entertainment
Rating E10+
Genre Action / Adventure
Players 1 – 2

Think of LEGO City Undercover as Grand Theft Auto with a colourful coat of plastic blocky paint. Chase McCain is a police officer undercover to put a stop to the crime lord, Rex Fury. Freely explore this blocky world and enjoy the lighthearted humour with plenty of 80s police movie reference that is aimed at a much more adult audience than you’d initially expect.

LEGO Harry Potter Collection

Developed By TT Games
Published By Warner Bros. Entertainment
Rating E10+
Genre Action / Adventure
Players 1 – 2

To say that the Harry Potter franchise is a cultural phenomenon would be an understatement, and the same could be said for LEGO. This collection covers all seven years of Hogwarts and takes the story that we all know and loves and places it in a bright, colourful and downright hilarious setting.

LEGO Worlds

Developed By TT Games
Published By Warner Bros. Entertainment
Rating E10+
Genre Puzzle / Adventure
Players 1 – 2

For those who have a fondness for LEGO and building blocks, LEGO Worlds allows you to build and create to your heart’s content. With additional features to building, the player has the option to either build one block at a time or landscaping tools. Some of your creations will even come to life, creating a world made and populated entirely by LEGO.

Little Dragons Café

Published By Aksys Games
Rating E10+
Genre RPG
Players 1

Little Dragons Café is a charming little adventure featuring a café and a dragon. Upon one morning, the twins soon realised that their mother wouldn’t awaken and it was then that a mysterious man with a dragon egg comes to visit. So it is up to you to raise the dragon and keep the café afloat whilst exploring the land, harvesting crops, collecting resources and keep feeding your dragon until he grows big and strong.

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Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

Developed By Sega
Published By Sega
Rating E10+
Genre Action / Multiplayer / Party / Sports
Players 1 – 8

It’s that time again; the Olympics are almost upon us and as is now tradition, a Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games title has released in anticipation. This being the first entry to release on the Nintendo Switch, the Italian plumber and the Blue Blur are set to compete in the biggest sporting event hosted in their country of origin.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Rating E
Genre Racing / Multiplayer
Players 1 – 12

Everyone knows how to play Mario Kart and with the sorely missed Battle Mode making a return, this kart racer has it all! There’s no better feeling than grabbing a few controllers, sitting around family and having players of all ages join in on the karting madness.

Mario Tennis Aces

Developed By Camelot
Published By Nintendo
Rating E
Genre Sports / Arcade
Players 1 – 4

For fans of tennis or just for fans of great video games, Mario Tennis Aces takes the series back to its wacky arcade gameplay with a wide range of courts and variety. This iteration also features an energy meter that allows you to leap for the ball, slow down time, aim shots from a first-person perspective, break your opponents’ rackets and KO them to claim victory.

Mimpi Dreams

Developed By doinksoft
Published By Devolver Digital
Genre Action / Adventure / Platformer
Rating E
Players 1

Mimpi is a lazy dog. He likes to sleep a lot but in his dreams, he can be whatever he wants to be and go wherever he wants to go. In his dreams, Mimpi can be the star of the show, the hero of the narrative, collecting dog bones and solving puzzles. Where does this lead to you might ask? Well back to his own bed, of course!

Minecraft: Nintendo Switch Edition

Developed By Mojang
Published By Mojang AB
Genre Action / Adventure / Strategy / Simulation
Rating E
Players 1

The cultural phenomenon requires next to no description or introduction, but I need to earn my paycheque regardless… In Minecraft, the entire world is at your disposal with the ability to ‘Create. Explore. Survive.”. In this Nintendo Switch edition, all Super Mario features are included in what can arguably be the best way to play Minecraft.

Minesweeper Genius

Developed By Level 77
Published By Blowfish Studios
Rating E
Players 1
Minesweeper Genius is the next evolution of Minesweeping. While the gameplay is similar enough for Minesweeper veterans will ease into it, it provides difficult, calculating puzzles that are satisfying to complete. If you’re looking for a simple puzzle game that caters bitesized play sessions, Minesweeper Genius may be for you.

My Time at Portia

Developed By Pathea Games
Published By Team17
Genre Adventure / RPG / Simulation
Rating E10+
Players 1
My Time at Portia is a vastly open life simulation game that takes inspiration from classic games of the like. As one who has just taken over their Pa’s old workshop and handbook, it is up to you to restore it to its former glory. Farm crops, craft in the workshop, tend to livestock and explore the expansive open world to gather the resources you’ll need during your time at Portia.

New Super Lucky’s Tale

Developed By Playful
Published By Playful
Genre Action / Adventure / Platformer / Arcade
Rating E
Players 1

New Super Lucky’s Tale is an adorable 3D platformer that takes it easy on the difficulty. It’s one of the perfect Nintendo Switch games for Kids as it takes the 3D platforming genre and places Lucky into all sorts of wacky scenarios. In New Super Lucky’s Tale, Jinx and the villainous Kitty Litter have taken pages from the Book of Ages, and it is up to Lucky to venture through whimsical worlds to get them back.

Nintendo Labo

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Genre Education
Rating E
Players 1

Nintendo Labo is quite possibly the most innovative video game in decades. By using nothing but cardboard, the Nintendo Switch and your crafting abilities, create many different objects and use them to play fun and interactive games. What kid doesn’t want to be a giant robot smashing their way through the city or to create a piano made of cardboard and learn music? Nintendo Labo is great fun and allows children to build and enjoy the fruits of their hard work.

Disclaimer: Nintendo Labo isn’t compatible with Nintendo Switch Lite.

Pikuniku

Developed By Sectordub
Published By Devolver Digital
Genre Puzzle / Platformer / Adventure
Rating E
Players 1 – 2

Pikuniku is a physics-based puzzle-platformer that takes place in a happy world riddled with sinister plots. As a red blob with legs, talk to interesting characters, undertake strange requests and explore a colourful world full of charm and personality.

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee!

Developed By Game Freak
Published By Nintendo
Genre Adventure / RPG
Rating E
Players 1 – 2

Pokemon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Pokemon: Let’s Go, Eevee! take players back to the region of Kanto, where it all began. In this remake of the original Pokemon Red and Blue games, Let’s Go takes these classic games and uses capture mechanics similar to the cultural phenomenon mobile game Pokemon GO; there’s nothing quite like traversing the region of Kanto on the big screen in glorious HD graphics.

Pokemon Quest

Developed By Game Freak
Published By Nintendo
Genre Adventure / Strategy
Rating E
Players 1

I bet you’ve never seen Pokemon like this before! Pokemon Quest takes the very first 151 Pokemon and cubifies them in a land known as Tumblecube. Explore, uncover loot and bring it all back to your base so that you can unlock and befriend more Pokemon. The game is free-to-start so if you or your child don’t like it… no harm done?

Pokemon Sword and Shield

Developed By Game Freak
Published By Nintendo
Genre Adventure / RPG
Rating E
Players 1 – 4

Generation 8 of the Pokemon series is here at last and now, you can explore the vast European inspired Galar region. Pick one of the three new starter Pokemon: Grookey, Scorbunny or Sobble and take it on the very first new generation that can be played on your home TV. Not only that, but the game’s Wild Area has you exploring a huge open area where wild Pokemon roam freely. I dreamed of this ever since I was a kid, and my life is now complete.

Snipperclips Plus: Cut it out – Together!

Developed By SFB Games
Published By Nintendo
Genre Action / Puzzle / Multiplayer / Party
Rating E
Players 1 – 4

When Snipperclips was announced to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch, media and fans instantly fell in love with its concept. Play with friends and family to cut each other into various shapes to solve physics-based puzzles, or let out your frustration on one another in the dojo. This game is fun for everyone.

Splatoon 2

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Genre Action / Multiplayer
Rating E10+
Players 1 – 8

Sure, the shooter genre has had some controversy in the past, but Nintendo have chucked their own spin on it with the release of Splatoon and its sequel on Nintendo Switch, Splatoon 2. Play as an inkling in online turf war matches with paintball guns, buckets, rollers and so many more wacky weapons, with the goal of the game to cover as much ground in your coloured ink as you can. But that’s not all! There are so many different online modes, a single-player campaign, DLC and hours (and I do mean HOURS) of ink-splatting fun to be had.

Squidgies Takeover

Developed By Giant Margarita
Published By Giant Margarita
Genre Puzzle / Platformer
Rating E
Players 1

Squidgies Takeover is a physics-based puzzle game where you’re tasked with guiding cute little blobs to warp holes so that they can escape their Momma’s tentacles and find new planets to inhabit. Use seven different power-ups to transform Squidgies in order to guide the others to freedom and unlock more levels. However don’t get too attached, not every Squidgy will have a fairy tale ending.

Super Mario Maker 2

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Genre Action / Platformer
Rating E
Players 1 – 4

Super Mario Bros. is arguably where the phenomena of home console gaming began to make gigantic strides forward. In Super Mario Maker 2, we can allow our imaginations to run wild in order to create the Super Mario levels of our dreams. When you’re done making levels, hop online and play an ever-growing well of unique levels.

Super Mario Odyssey

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Genre Action / Platformer
Rating E10+
Players 1 – 2

Let’s do the Odyssey! Super Mario Odyssey is Mario’s brand new 3D platforming adventure but this time, Mario isn’t alone. Teamed up with Cappy that encompasses the iconic cap, Mario can now take on the form of his enemies and explore open sandbox worlds in new and creative ways. There’s a reason that Super Mario Odyssey was nominated for Game of the Year in 2017 and won Best Family Game at that same event.

Super Mario Party

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Genre Party / Multiplayer
Rating E
Players 1 – 4

Super Mario Party is the first console entry that doesn’t have a number on the end since the original entry back in 1999… I guess they figured that they couldn’t keep doing the number thing. Super Mario Party takes the series back to its roots, getting rid of the controversial car and allowing each player to move around the boards independently.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz HD

Developed By Sega
Published By Sega
Genre Action / Arcade / Party / Platformer
Rating E10+
Players 1 – 4

Sometimes, all you want from a video game is mindless fun. That’s what Super Monkey Ball is, mindless fun involving a monkey in a ball trying to make his way through to the end of each level. And when you’re done with doing that by yourself, you can put up to three other family members in on the action, creating fun for everyone.

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido

Developed By Nintendo
Published By Nintendo
Genre Puzzle / Action
Rating E
Players 1 – 2

Sushi Striker: The Way of Sushido takes color-matching gameplay and throws it into a world that is still recovering from the effects of the Sushi War. In addition to its stellar gameplay, Sushi Striker boasts a high production value that will initially surprise you. It’s a shame that this game doesn’t get as much recognition as it deserves.

TumbleSeed

Developed By Team TumbleSeed
Published By aeiowu
Genre Action / Adventure
Rating E
Players 1

Tumbleseed is a colourful roguelike that has you play as a seed balancing on a rope as you make your way up a mountain. To move upwards, you’ll need to use both analogue sticks to move either the left or right side upward, having the seed roll left or right to avoid hazards and enemies. On top of this, there are over 30 powers that keeps the gameplay fresh across its five worlds. Tumbleseed is probably one of the more difficult games on this list, but the sense of satisfaction is all the more worth the challenge.

Unravel Two

Developed By ColdWood Interactive
Published By EA
Genre Platformer / Adventure / Puzzle
Rating E
Players 1 – 2

Unravel Two is a perfect game for cooperative gameplay where two Yarnies are tethered together and must travel across beautiful settings filled with deeply atmospheric aesthetics. But don’t worry, Unravel Two can be played in single-player mode, making it work well for any situation.

Untitled Goose Game

Developed By House House
Published By Panic
Genre Action / Puzzle
Rating E
Players 1

Ever wanted to be a mischievous goose and just be annoying? No? Well, now you can! From Australian developers House House, Untitled Goose Game is a wacky adventure of a goose that is simply out to cause as much mayhem as possible. It’s a simple concept, but it’s one that has resonated with fans around the world.

Yoshi’s Crafted World

Developed By Good-Feel
Published By Nintendo
Genre Action / Platformer
Rating E
Players 1 – 2

Yoshi is adorable. In this instalment, Yoshi is exploring a crafted world that has an incredibly creative aesthetic. At the end of each level, you can also play the ‘flip side’, allowing you to play the level backward that shows the creativity in 3D depth for a 2D platformer. Lastly, as is the theme of the Nintendo Switch, you can play Yoshi’s Crafted World in co-op mode, which equates to double the adorableness.

Thank you for checking out our Best Nintendo Switch games for kids list and thank you to our $5 and up Patreon Backers for their ongoing support:

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