Best Kids Games on Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Gift Guide

Some of the best family-friendly gaming experiences are on Nintendo systems, so it only makes sense to tell you about the best kids games on Nintendo Switch. From the vibrant Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time to an old staple like Super Mario Odyssey, here are the best kids games on Nintendo Switch we recommend.

You can also check out the Nintendo eShop Black Friday deals that are still live at the time of writing.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

If your kids have run through all of the Nintendo platformers like Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Odyssey, you may want to look outward to Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. It has incredible level design, imaginative visuals, and tonnes of personality that will keep your kid hooked. The slapstick Dreamworks-like comedy is also on point, and it’s nice that you can switch between Crash and his sister Coco as the main playable characters.

You can also utilize the power of time and other abilities to proceed through each stage. It provides a bit more of a challenge for players than regular Nintendo games, so if your kid is blasting through each title in a matter of hours, give them this. It’s one of the best kids games on Nintendo Switch.

Currently on offer: $25 at GameStop

Kirby and the Forgotten Land

The pink puffball Kirby is absolutely adorable and took his first plunge into 3D platforming this year. The gameplay is always fresh throughout Kirby and the Forgotten Land because Kirby gets all sorts of powers by gulping down enemies. He can turn into a swordsman, a drill, and a tornado to solve puzzles and beat epic bosses.

The cute visuals are colourful and will keep kids entertained for hours on end. “The main story takes roughly 9 hours, but if you want to tackle everything (And I mean everything), Kirby and the Forgotten Land will take up about 20 hours of your time, if not way more,” Jason Capp said in Nintendo Link’s review.

Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

There have been many Pokemon games to have released on the Switch so far, but Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl are some of the best. While the newest entry Pokemon Scarlet & Violet does have some charms, I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it due to its technical issues, one of them is the game save getting corrupted.

Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl is one of the best kids games on Nintendo Switch, however, as it’s a super solid remaster that runs well and plays great. It has a cute chibi art style, a simpler gameplay system than most of its contemporaries on Switch, and an easy-to-understand but charming story throughout.

Currently on offer: $39 at GameStop

Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition

Like Crash Bandicoot, Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition is another break from the tradition on the Nintendo Switch. With the ability to play up to four players in co-op, this 2D platformer, Rayman Legends offers many creative levels that bounce off personality, bombastic art, and overall satisfying gameplay that anyone can get into, making it one of the best kids games on Nintendo Switch for children and adults alike.

If your kids are getting tired of the general fire or ice-based levels, Rayman Legends: Definitive Edition offers more creative avenues like an undercover spy-like underwater level where you have to sneak through guards. There’s also a medieval theme, which adds to the over-the-top personality of this game. The levels based on well-known music are a delight too.

Super Mario Odyssey is one of, if not, the best kids games on Nintendo Switch

Super Mario Odyssey is likely going to stay in the heart and mind of your child for many years to come like us with Super Mario 64 or Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Nintendo implemented a stunning adventure across multiple exciting realms. There’s a tonne of whimsy within its level design, plenty of interesting puzzles that will get your kid’s mind running, and a gorgeous graphical style to boot.

Super Mario Odyssey has the whole package and carries a magical amount of polish and shine that your child will likely love. It has some surprising narrative moments we won’t spoil here. It is one of the best kids games on Nintendo Switch, if not the best.