Plenty ofNintendo Switchesare out in the world, and a lot of those are for kids who got the system from their parents or older family members. Anybody reading this might be looking for games to buy for a kid on the Nintendo Switch.
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Every kid is different, however, and enjoys different genres, or the particular kid might have eclectic tastes. Regardless of the reason,the games below are all good for kids and cross a wide range of styles. Some of these are first-party titles while others are third-party games that still play well on Nintendo’s impressive hybrid console.
Updated on February 15th, 2022, by Jason Wojnar:Even though the Nintendo Switch is about five years old, Nintendo has stated the console isonly about halfway through its lifecycle. There is still plenty of time for people to pick one up and enjoy many hits from its massive library.
This means kids who were born in 2017 when it first came out are almost reaching the age where they are old enough to play games and have a Switch of their own. With this in mind, it is a good idea to visit a list like this andfind out what kids between 5 and 10might like on the console.
13Party Game - Mario Party Superstars
The Nintendo Switch has a variety of incredibly entertaining party games.Mario Party Superstarsis better than most for kids because of its aesthetic and how quick it is to understand. Even if one is losing, they are still able to remain in the fight and are constantly engaged.
The variety of minigamesalso means kids won’t get bored. Because this game is made up of boards and minigames from the series' past, parents who enjoyedMario Partyin their youth will also get a kick out of this release.
12Metroidvania - Metroid Dread
The Metroidvania is an immensely popular genre with numerous entries. For kids, however, there isno better introduction to the genre thanMetroid Dread.The science-fiction setting will appeal to the sensibilities of a generation who grew up onGuardians of the Galaxyand the newStar Warsfilms.
Even thoughMetroid Dreadis difficult, a new update added a Rookie Mode, perfect for newcomers to both the genre and gaming in general.
112D Platformer - Rayman Legends
RaymanLegendsis available for many consoles. Many see it as one of the finest 2D platformers of the last 10 years, making it a must-play for newer gamers. Though it offers a significant challenge, the cooperative gameplay and the earlier levels are breezy enough to let younger gamers enjoy it.
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Kids should play it with friends and it makes the game a little easier. When one person dies, there is an opportunity for others to revive them and continue without having to start from a prior checkpoint.
10RPG - Pokemon Franchise
It is hard to go wrong with any mainlinePokemongame, and there is a lot to choose from for Switch owners. One can go for remakes likePokemon Let’s GoandBrilliant Diamond and Shining Pearlor opt for newer entries likeSun and Moon.
For a largerPokemonexperience, play the recentPokemon Legacy: Arceus, which significantly expands upon the formula with a more open design.It has received rave reviews, though many feel the technical limitations of the console hold back its true potential.
9Strategy - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
This crossover betweenSuper Marioand the Rabbidsplays a lot like the recentXCOMtitles.Fortunately, it is not nearly as difficult so kids won’t throw their Switch against the wall if they fail.
Not only is it a great game, but it might spark a kid’s interest in more complicated video games. There is more than enough time to playKingdom Battlebefore the sequel,Sparks of Hopecomes out in 2022.
83D Platformer - Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odysseycame out early in the Nintendo Switch’s life and shows that theSuper Mariogames still have so much to offer the medium. It is great for kids becausereaching the first ending is a relatively breezy experience.
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The challenge only escalates once players start to try the side content. With this structure, it is easy to feel accomplished while never feeling like the game is a pushover. Considering it came out in 2017, fans are expecting anew mainlineSuper Marioto be announced in the near future.
7Life Simulation - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Many Nintendo Switch owners creditAnimal Crossing: New Horizonswith helping them through the early days of the pandemic of 2020.Nintendo recently released a huge update, so now is as good a time as ever to jump into the popular title.
The game theoretically goes on forever. On a single Switch, many family members can interact with each other and contribute to a single island’s design.
6Action/Adventure - Lego Franchise
Lego licensed games have been going strong sinceLego Star Warsin 2005. Numerous franchises have been transformed into the Lego aesthetic to mostly satisfactory results, and a large handful of them are available on the Nintendo Switch.
It is not a licensed game, butLego City Undercoveris a standout game utilizing the Lego brand.It has a pleasantly surprising comedic storyline.Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Sagawill come outsoon. This new release looks to be the most ambitious Lego game yet.
5Racing - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Even though it technically came out on the Wii U, the absolute best version ofMario Kart 8is on the Nintendo Switch in the form ofMario Kart 8 Deluxe. The franchise’s strength has always been its easy-to-understand controls and focus on collecting weapons on the tracks over precise driving.
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Crash Team Racing:Nitro-Fueledis also a good idea, but the racing is a little more advanced with its drifting and boost mechanic.Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on the other hand, has simple controls for a racing game. It is also possible to play the game with almost any controller setup the console provides.
Though fans were expecting aMario Kart 9, Nintendo recently announced a roadmap of DLC forMario Kart 8 Deluxe.48 tracks will be added to the game until the end of 2023.These will be remasters of tracks from the series' history.
4Shooter - Splatoon 2
A lot of parents might not want their kids to touch any game with guns. This makes finding shooters for young ones tricky. Fortunately, Nintendo’s ownSplatoonfranchise is a shooter without bullets.
Paint is the method of attack here and it works excellently.Splatoon 2still has an active community, andSplatoon 3is currently in the works and is set to have a story mode.
