Halloween is over, and it’s time to get started on holiday shopping. Whether you have a kid —or kid-at-heart — at home who loves playing on their Nintendo Switch (or perhaps Santa is bringing them one this year), there are tons of new releases and classic titles for you to pick from, which can seem overwhelming.
We took it to the toughest critics themselves, the kids and their parents, to see which Switch games were the best ones to wrap up and put under the tree this year.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
The newest addition to the Zelda line is a big deal in the franchise’s history: players can defeat bad guys, figure out puzzles, and be just all around epic as Princess Zelda herself for the very first time. “I like how it’s not just fighting monsters and there’s a logic side to it and that I get to play as Zelda, which I’ve never been able to do,” shares Sage, 10. “The animation style is so cute too!”
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Racing cars against each other or battling it out head to head, it doesn’t get more fun than the Mario Kart titles. “I used to not be good at the driving part and would always fall off the course, but still loved racing around the tracks with my friends and parents,” says Noah. “Now I’m pretty good at controlling the car and still have a lot of fun playing this game, especially when friends come over. Customizing the cars to find my favorite fit is fun, too.”
Princess Peach: Showtime!
One of the new Nintendo Switch releases of the year, Princess Peach: Showtime! lets kids play as various iterations of the popular princess — from baker to figure skater, ninja, cowgirl, and more — to save the day. Each “character” Peach embodies comes with their own special set of skills for them to engage in over and over again.
“My favorite Princess Peach is the bakery, I love making cakes and decorating them,” shares 6-year-old Ever. “I like how there’s all the different forms of Peach so there’s lots of different versions you can play depending on what you’re in the mood for,” chimes in her older 10-year-old sister Finley.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
This was the game everyone was playing during the pandemic, and it’s still just as engaging and popular today. My now older kids, then 7 and 9 got super into it during the stay-at-home years, and fast-forward to today, and my now 6-year-old is playing it alongside their siblings who still check up on their island and dig up bells.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In this bop ‘em, sock ‘em battle melee, players can battle each other — or together — as one of dozens of popular Nintendo characters from over the years including Link, Mario, Pikachu, Donkey Kong, and many more.
9-year-old Sean shares, “I like the variety of characters and the adventure mode. My friends love coming over to play this together, and we always have a good time. My sister and I like playing this together, too.”
Nintendo Switch Sports
A fun and active game for the entire family, Nintendo Switch Sports lets up to four players compete in pairs of teams or individually on various sports like tennis, bowling, volleyball, and more. Even my 80-year-old dad loves trying to crush his grandkids at bowling whenever he comes over. Kids clearly love the game, too.
“I love playing badminton with my friends or cousins, and the new basketball addition is super fun and funny, especially when you can’t make the basket,” says Scarlett.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
“We bust out a Mario Party game every extended family holiday and it’s a blast for everyone from the 5-year-old to Grandpa,” shares dad of three Eric. This newly released iteration of the popular group game has more new minigames than ever, new boards, and new characters.
“My favorite minigame is the one where you arm wrestle by using cars — I always beat my brother!” raves Grayson, 8. “I also like that I can play it by myself or with friends and family.”
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
For older kids, this gorgeous Zelda game will be one epic journey that’ll engage them for hours (within reason, of course.) One parent we spoke to said while the game was challenging for their 7-year-old, it was a great opportunity for them to play it together with their parents by handing the controller over at the especially tricky parts, making the conclusion that much more satisfying for multiple members of the family.
Kirby’s Dream Buffet
In this adorable party game, Kirby just grows bigger and rounder as he rolls around through various food-themed levels. Kids can play it alone or with friends, and it’s easy enough to grasp that even younger members of the family can join in on the fun.
“This game is so fun and cute! You can customize Kirby and I love dressing him up so he looks like a strawberry with whipped cream, and I like that you can play with other people,” praises Zoe, age 9.
Boomerang Fu
“We like to use the Switch as a fun way for kids to get screen time but also socialize with other kids,” says mom of three Christina. “Boomerang Fu is such a fun game for kids to play with friends. There’s teamwork involved, it’s easy enough to pick up, and the characters are adorable. Sure, you slash each other, but when you think about it, they’re just chopping tomatoes.”
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