Last year’s Black Friday brought an exciting surprise for me and our 6-year-old daughter—Daddy ordered a Nintendo Switch console along with some family-friendly games. With most of our time spent at home due to the pandemic—working from home and our daughter occasionally attending online classes—the Nintendo Switch turned out to be a fun and entertaining addition to our lives.
Here’s a brief overview of Nintendo:
Nintendo is a renowned Japanese video game company known for its innovative games and consoles. The Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, features a versatile tablet design with two detachable controllers called Joy-Cons. You can use it as a portable gaming device or connect it to your TV for a larger screen experience. The Joy-Cons can be combined into a single controller or used separately for multiplayer fun. Games for the Nintendo Switch are available for download from the Nintendo store or can be purchased physically on cards.
What we absolutely love about the Nintendo Switch is its extensive selection of family-friendly games and the option to play some of them with motion controls, allowing for a fun, interactive experience that combines gaming with exercise.
Our favorite Nintendo Switch family friendly games:
Mario Party Superstars
Mario Party Superstars is the ideal game for family fun. This engaging party board game supports 1 to 4 players. Roll the dice to move around the board and compete in random mini-games after each turn. The game concludes after a set number of turns, and the player with the most stars wins. Featuring 10 beloved characters from the Mario series—like Mario, Luigi, Wario, Waluigi, Peach, Rosalina, and Yoshi—the game is free from inappropriate content. While it includes cartoonish violence, there’s no blood or graphic imagery.
Mario Party Superstars is a fantastic family game that offers fun, entertainment, and plenty of surprises. It helps develop hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and logical thinking, while also teaching kids how to handle losing with grace. Give it a try—you won’t be disappointed!
Just Dance 2022
Just Dance 2022 brought a whole new level of fun to our family. Kids love to dance, and this game delivers hours of enjoyment with a variety of songs and vibrant visual effects. The goal is to mimic the choreography of on-screen dancers. The song library ranges from Easy to Extreme, but there’s also a Kids Mode featuring adorable characters and slower-paced songs perfect for young children.
Just Dance 2022 includes a free library of 41 songs, and you can access over 700 additional tracks with the Just Dance Unlimited Subscription, which comes with a 1-month free trial when you purchase the game. The game supports up to 6 players and offers both competitive and co-op modes.
For the best experience, consider using wristbands for the Nintendo Switch while playing Just Dance 2022.
We had a blast trying out the game for the first time—our daughter’s favorites quickly became “Levitating” by Dua Lipa, “Chandelier” by Sia, “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra, “Black Mamba” by aespa, and the hilariously catchy “Chacarron” by El Chombo.
Get ready to dance, exercise, and kick off an epic party!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a blast for the whole family with its easy-to-learn controls: accelerate, brake, jump, and use items. For younger kids who struggle to stay on track, the Smart Steering option helps prevent falls and crashes. You can steer using either the Joy-Con stick or motion controls, and we highly recommend using the Joy-Con Controller Grip and Steering Wheel for added comfort and an enhanced gaming experience.
The game features 42 characters, 32 tracks spread across eight cups (Mushroom, Flower, Star, Special, Shell, Banana, Leaf, and Lightning), plus 16 additional tracks available as downloadable content (Egg, Triforce, Crossing, and Belland). With four difficulty levels ranging from 50cc to 200cc, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers something for everyone. It supports local multiplayer for 2-4 players and online racing for up to 12 players.
We have a great time racing together, especially competing in 50cc cups with our 6-year-old daughter. It’s a fun challenge for us all—she hasn’t beaten us yet, but she’s improving quickly.
Start your engines and get ready for an exhilarating ride!
Jump Rope Challenge
Jump Rope Challenge is a delightful video game developed by a small team of Nintendo developers working from home in Japan during the 2020 lockdown. Its purpose was to encourage people to stay active and add some movement to their daily routines during those challenging times.
The game is simple yet engaging: you control a charming little rabbit who jumps rope along with you. You can even change the bunny’s costumes for added fun. Using your Joy-Cons as handles, you keep track of your jumps with a built-in counter. After reaching 100 jumps, the game’s background changes, but you can set your Daily Challenge goal to any number you prefer. For an extra layer of fun, the game offers a co-op mode so two players can tackle the challenge together.
Jump like no one is watching and get moving!
Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
We recently ordered Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. and can’t wait for it to arrive! We’re excited to see if it lives up to the fun we’ve had with our other Nintendo Switch games.
Our collection of Nintendo Switch family-friendly games brings us endless laughter and enjoyment. It’s all about having fun, staying active, and cherishing quality time together as a family.
What are your favorite Nintendo Switch family-friendly games? We’d love to hear your recommendations!
