7 Best Video Games for Kids that Adults Will Love Too

Every parent knows this–children love playing video games. They are fun, often tell a captivating story, and provide something to talk about in school. But as much as kids like video games, so do adults. We just play different games.

Being a dad, I feel responsible for the kind of games my son plays (along with the screen time) and the games he watches me play on my Xbox or Nintendo Switch. So it’s often a trade-off for me between choosing something safe for children and, at the same time, enjoyable for parents.

As it turns out, you don’t need to sacrifice the quality of your gaming experience when playing with kids. There are many great video games for kids out there, but in this article, we will look into some of the best titles for children that you will love too.

Best Video Games for Kids in 2022

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
2. Just Dance 2022
3. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
4. Pokémon Legends: Arceus
5. Mario Party Superstars
6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons
7. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

1. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Among all Nintendo games, the Mario Kart series is probably one of the most recognizable franchises on the gaming market. The latest installment in the series for Nintendo consoles, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, was released in 2017, but it hasn’t lost its freshness and fun. Besides, the game receives regular updates, including the most recent Booster Course Pass (with more expansions promised until the end of 2023), so you don’t have to worry that the game will become boring anytime soon.

You can play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in single mode, but unlike other racing games, Mario Kart is more fun when played with friends and family, so make sure you have a spare Joy-Con controller. Besides, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers an online multiplayer mode, and it seems that whenever you connect, someone is playing, so it’s a perfect game when you want to play against real enemies. Just make sure you have enough time because this game is incredibly addictive!

2. Just Dance 2022

Just Dance 2022 is the thirteenth main installment of the game series from Ubisoft and one of the most popular video games for kids nowadays. Just Dance is all about dancing, rhythm, and great music, as the name suggests. All you need is a willingness to engage in physical activity and some space around your console where you, your kids, or your friends can dance.

The game’s goal is to repeat the dance moves you see on the screen as accurately as possible. You can play Just Dance with a Nintendo controller or a phone (when playing from other consoles) in your hand. The algorithm tracking your movements then calculates a score for each player depending on how accurate and timely each movement is. The player with the bigger score wins. Sounds easy? Don’t be so sure! The game is a real challenge when you try to do your best, and it will take only a couple of songs for you to want to grab a glass of water and get some rest (because you’re that old).

You don’t believe me? Then you should check out how “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish is performed in the game–the dance is quite spectacular!

3. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga

Lego games are among the best video games for kids and are fun for all ages and players. The latest installment in the Star Wars series, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, takes you on a journey in a far-away, albeit familiar, galaxy. Selling more than three million copies in just a couple of weeks since its launch, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is one of the most popular games right now!

With nine episodes making up the game, the players can relive their favorite scenes and iconic dialogues from the Star Wars movies, assuming roles of the legendary characters. The game features an almost fully destructible Lego world, populated with thousands of NPCs, aliens, space ships, and, of course, stormtroopers that do all sorts of stupid and funny things.

All in all, Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is one of the most family-friendly games available and one of the funniest at that. So if you’re up for a bit of Lego fun, you should check out this title (your kids will also say thank you if you get them this game).

4. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Several things come to mind when you say Nintendo, and Pokémon is one of them. Since its launch in 1996, the Pokémon series has been one of the best-selling on Nintendo consoles, including GameBoy, owing to the popularity of the original anime series. With over 300 million game copies sold worldwide, Pokémon games are popular both among younger and older kids and their parents.

The most recently released game in the series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus, is an action RPG that allows players to roam freely across the game map, exploring the territory, collecting Pokémon, and taking part in battles. Retaining most of the gameplay mechanics from previous titles, Pokémon Legends: Arceus allows players to experience a childlike spirit of discovery. However, unlike the last Pokémon games, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is more about exploration and catching Pokémon than it is about battles with other trainers (although it is still a big part of the game).

With simple but rewarding gameplay, Pokémon Legends: Arceus is probably one of the best video games for kids available on Nintendo Switch today and is one of the best Pokémon games in years. So if you or your kid loves Pokémon (and who doesn’t?), you should check out Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

5. Mario Party Superstars

Do you like board game parties? If so, then Mario Party Superstars could be your next party. A twelfth installment in the series and a sequel to Super Mario Party, released for Nintendo Switch in October 2021 and selling more than five million copies worldwide, Mario Party Superstars is one of the best Mario Party games that will light up any party.

Mario Party Superstars is a perfect game for family and friends, featuring 100 of the best minigames and classic game boards cherry-picked from previous installments in the series. You only need good company and lots of time because the game is addictive, especially when played with friends. But even if you run out of time, the game has a mid-game save feature, which allows you and your friends to resume the game when the time is convenient.

Not radically different from the previous titles, Mario Party Superstars, however, borrows the best gameplay elements from them and adds some new elements and game types, making the game incredibly fun and hilarious. And as with other Mario Party games, it’s not about winning or losing. It’s about having fun and fun only.

6. Animal Crossing: New Horizons

No other game stirred up as much talk in the spring of 2020 as Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Released at the height of the pandemic, New Horizons quickly became everyone’s favorite and sold more than 37 million copies worldwide.

Although New Horizons is considered by some people one of the best video games for kids and families, the success of the game primarily comes from adults who were stuck at home due to partial lockdowns across the globe and suddenly didn’t know what to do with their lives. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is an incredibly cozy game that allows you to escape reality, i.e., four walls, and embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The game’s premise is simple: you move to a deserted island. Everything that happens next is limited only by your imagination. You can build and expand your house, explore the surroundings, interact with adorable villagers, catch bugs, go fishing, and even design your fashion.

New Horizons is exceptionally relaxing and family-friendly, and the E rating makes it safe for even the youngest players! However, the game has so much to offer that even adults will find their gaming experience with New Horizons pleasant and rewarding.

7. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

The Crash Bandicoot franchise spans a long period, with the first entry released in 1996 for Sony Playstation. Since then, the game has been released on multiple platforms, selling more than 49 million copies.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time is indeed about time. To stop the main villains, Doctors Neo Cortex and Nefarious Tropy, who escaped from their interdimensional prison ripping the fabric of space and time, Crash and his sister Coco have to travel between dimensions and time and recover the all-powerful Quantum Masks. The masks are scattered around the game and can be used to alter the levels and traverse some obstacles, enriching the classic gameplay with new possibilities for players.

It’s About Time has all the classic gameplay elements of the platformer but adds new challenges and ways to play through levels, making the gameplay even more enjoyable. The game also features a cooperative mode, making it one of the best games for kids who want to engage their parents in gaming (or vice versa).

What Other Video Games for Kids Can You Play?

The list above is just the tip of the iceberg. There are so many more video games that kids and adults will love that it’s impossible to talk about all of them. However, there are more games in this category that are worth mentioning. Some other notable titles include:

• 1.   Overcooked 2
• 2.   The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
• 3.   The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
• 4.   Minecraft
• 5.   Super Mario Odyssey

Are there other games for kids that adults will love and you think are worth mentioning? Let us know in the comments!

Final Thoughts

It doesn’t matter whether you play with kids–the games from the list above will click with everyone. But keep in mind that most of these games emphasize cooperative play and are pretty dull when played alone.

So make sure you are in good company when playing some of these titles. Whether it’s your kids or just your friends is totally up to you. But it’s also up to your kids. Because more often than not, they already have online friends to play with, who tend to be so much cooler than their moms and dads.

But don’t let that discourage you. Just make sure that next time you and your kid sit together for a match in Mario Kart or Mario Party Superstars, you know how to beat them, as it could be the only time you beat your kid in a video game. Because, frankly, you won’t stand a chance with them when they grow up. And isn’t that beautiful?