The Nintendo Switch has a lot of games to choose from, both physically and digitally. But which Switch games are the best for kids? We’ve rounded up the best of the best when it comes to Switch games for kids. Whether you’re looking for a great educational Switch game for your kid or a game you can play with your kid, we’ve got you covered. This list has something for everyone!
Best Nintendo Switch games for kids:
Best educational Switch games:
Best Switch games for little kids:
Best Switch games for older kids:
Best educational Switch games
Did you know that the Nintendo Switch has quite a few educational games to choose from? These games will keep your child’s attention while teaching them useful information! Check out the best education Switch games you can buy right now.
It’s Spring Again
It’s Spring Again is an educational game that’s designed for children ages two and up. In this game, children can learn about the seasons and why they change. They’ll learn the order of the seasons with songs and stories to help them easily remember the facts. It’s available as a digital-only download for $1.99.
Numbala
Numbala is one of the best educational Switch games because it combines a gripping story with math skills. The overall mission of the game is to save your dog while chasing after a mysterious space whale. This kind of crazy story keeps the game entertaining for your child, while at the same time teaching him or her math.
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In order to progress in the game, children must answer math questions correctly. Various introductory math skills are taught in this game. This game is only available digitally on the Switch eShop for $7.99.
Letter Quest Remastered
Letter Quest Remastered is a fantastic educational game that will teach your kid how to spell and expand their vocabulary. In the game, you help grim reapers Grimm and Rose to defeat monsters, ghosts, and evil bunnies through the use of words.
By spelling words, you can defeat monsters and earn gems that will help you purchase upgrades, books, special items, and more! There are a whopping 40 different stages to play through and they can all be played 4 different ways. Plus, there are 60 achievements in the game, so there’s an end goal for your child to work towards. Currently, you can download the game from the Switch eShop for $11.99.
MathLand
MathLand is a great educational game for the Switch because it has different levels of educational content depending on how old your child is. The content is divided out into ages 5-6, 7-8, and 9+. For only $5.99 from the eShop, MathLand provides excellent educational content that will grow with your child.
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In the game, you play as a pirate named Ray who is trying to find gems stolen by an evil pirate named Max and break the curses he enacted. The game will help develop skills with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. There are over 25 different levels, and therefore, tons to learn!
Best Switch games for little kids
All of the games listed below are ESRB rated E for everyone. While I think that some of the games listed under the ‘older kid’ category are acceptable for younger kids as well, those games are rated E10+ (everyone 10 and up). All the games below are all great fun. Plus, a lot of the games listed allow for a two-player or multi-player option so you can play with your kid or kids!
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is such a breath of fresh air. This is one of the best games for 3-4 year olds, and especially older kids too! There’s no combat in this game – only wholesome island fun! You are on a deserted island with only two other villagers to start, but as you play, you can invite more villagers and organize your island the way you want to.
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You can gather materials, use those materials to craft items, search for fossils, and decorate your entire island to your liking. Also, you can catch bugs and fish until you find them all. There’s a ton to do in this game and it’s all family-friendly. You can purchase this game right now for $59.99.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Of all the Mario Kart games, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best. Nintendo has pulled tracks from previous Mario Kart games and remade them to look amazing. With so many different trophies to earn and different speeds to master, it’s hard to get sick of this game.
If you have younger kids, you can turn on the assists in the game, like Smart Steering and Auto Acceleration. Assists like these will help your younger child still have loads of fun in the game without being frustrated that they can’t keep up or they keep flying off the map. That being said, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a pretty easy game to get the hang of, so your kid might be an expert racer in no time.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
Yoshi’s Crafted World is another one of Nintendo’s $59.99 games. The animation style is super fun to look at and the gameplay is easy to get the hang of.
This is easily going to be one of the best Switch games for your 3 year old or 4 year old. Especially if you have an extra controller and you play alongside your kid. This is a classic side scrolling adventure game where your main moves are to walk, jump, and eat enemies.
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Pokémon: Let’s Go!
Any of the Pokémon games are going to be a great game for your kid to play on the Switch. For younger kids, I think Pokémon: Let’s Go (Pikachu or Eevee) is going to be the better choice as opposed to Pokémon Sword or Shield.
Pokémon: Let’s Go is more like the Pokémon GO app. You can collect pokémon in the wild using motion controls to throw the Poké Ball. The game helps you find which area you need to be in next while also letting you explore at your own pace. Pokémon: Let’s Go, either the Pikachu version or the Eevee version, is $59.99.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a fun puzzle adventure game that’s only $39.99. This is another one of those games you can play two-player. So if you have more than one child or you want to play with your child, you can easily do that with this game.
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In the game, you’ll search for treasures stolen by a greedy bird named Wingo and solve puzzles along the way. Eventually, the game even lets you play as Toadette!
PAW Patrol: On a Roll!
If your kid is a fan of PAW Patrol, there’s no doubt they’re going to love this game. In this game, you can play as different PAW Patrol pups and each one has unique abilities.
There are 16 unique rescue missions to experience and beat in the game, across eight Adventure Bay locations. This cute PAW Patrol game is only $39.99 from the Switch eShop.
Super Mario Party
If you’re looking for a great game to play as a family, this is it. Super Mario Party is essentially a virtual board game with lots of fun twists and turns. In addition to the mini games you play during the board game part, you can also play mini games separately. There are over 80 mini games packed into Super Mario Party.
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Super Mario Party is $59.99, but for all the laughs, it’s worth every penny! You can play with up to four players at a time.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Mario might be the star of this famous brother duo, but I think Luigi’s pretty dang awesome. After playing Luigi’s Mansion 3, I actually prefer Luigi to Mario, but that’s just me.
In this game, you are a ghost hunter and it’s your job to rid the hotel of the ghosts that have taken over. You have to save your friends along the way and can earn unique achievements if you come across special ghosts. On top of the base game, there are also tons of mini games you can play in the ScareScraper.
Plus, if you want to play with your kid, you can! One of you can play as Luigi and one of you can play as Gooigi. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is currently $59.99 right now.
Best Switch games for older kids
For the most part, all of the games below have an ESRB rating of E10+, or Everyone 10 and up. While this may be the official rating, a lot of the games listed below are frequently played by children younger than ten. A few, like Minecraft and Super Mario Odyssey, are still great options for younger kids as well.
Minecraft
Minecraft is such a great game to play on Switch as well as pretty much any other console. Plus, it’s fun for both kids and adults! In Minecraft, your world is what you make it. (And bonus – it’s only $29.99!)
In a randomly generated world, you can build your world up however you want to. You can choose to make your house super simple or make it the grandest, biggest house anyone’s ever seen.
Depending on what your gaming skill level is, you can play the game in an easier mode or a harder mode. In the easier mode, you have unlimited resources. In the harder mode, you’re in survival mode, constantly needing to be aware of your surroundings and your circumstances.
Kirby Star Allies
In Kirby Star Allies, the classic character, Kirby, enlists help from his enemies. You can have up to three other players helping you at any time during your game.
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You can easily combine character abilities with elements like ice and fire to create brand new abilities. The combat in this game will require your kid to tap into the strategic-thinking part of their brain. This is one of those games that I think younger kids would also enjoy, but the ESRB rating is not E for everyone.
Lego City Undercover
In Lego City Undercover, you play as Chase McCain, a police officer who’s in charge of hunting down a criminal who has escaped from prison – Rex Fury. There’s even a two-player co-op option in this game, so you can play with your kid or they could play with a friend.
There are over 20 districts to investigate and plenty of side missions and vehicles to drive around. Lego games are pretty iconic, and this is another great one. Plus, it’s only $29.99.
Splatoon 2
Splatoon 2 is a 4 player versus 4 player shooting – er, painting – game. This is one of the best Switch games for older kids, especially those wanting to play online with friends or just online in general. There is also a handy local multiplayer option as well, but you’ll need to have enough controllers for that.
There is so much to love about this game. Your goal is to cover the ground with as much of your team’s color paint as you can by the end of the round. As you play more, you’ll earn cooler items, like new weapons and gears, as well as fun perks. You can snag Splatoon 2 either physically or digitally for $59.99.
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Odyssey is one of the most inventive Mario games to date. It combines modern-looking play styles and a unique combat style. Throughout the game, you sometimes have to utilize your hat to take control of enemies or you can even use it to attack enemies.
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What I love about this game is that although parts of the game play is modern, other parts are an ode to retro Mario games. This could be a cool blast to the past to experience with your kid if you’re looking for games to play together. Super Mario Odyssey is available for $59.99 right now.
Untitled Goose Game
Untitled Goose Game is just pure fun. It’s one of the best Switch games for kids because they just get to destroy everything as a goose. The game is only $19.99 and it is incredibly entertaining.
You get to play as an awful goose whose sole job is to just annoy people. You can honk at people, play pranks on them, and ruin their days in countless other ways.
Super Mario Maker 2
What I love most about this game is its range. For $59.99, Super Mario Maker 2 comes with a story mode and a creator mode. Plus, if you have a Nintendo Switch Online membership, you can also share the levels you create and also play other people’s uniquely designed levels.
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So if your kid prefers to just play the side scrolling story platformer, there’s a ton of content to get through. Or, if your kid is creative and wants to design their own levels, they can easily spend hours tweaking their level to perfection. Getting to see and play other people’s levels is really cool too and often inspires new ideas!
Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield
This game is rated E for everyone, but I decided to split the Pokémon games between which one would be better for younger kids as opposed to older kids. Although Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield are still easy to get the hang of, they are a little more intensive than Pokémon: Let’s Go!
You still run around and catch new pokémon, building up your collection. The combat is a little different in this game, but for the most part, fairly similar. This game introduces new generation pokémon as well as the ability to Gigantamax and increase in size and strength.
Super Smash Brothers Ultimate
Super Smash Bros Ultimate is Nintendo’s classic fighting game. Legendary Nintendo characters go head to head in different battle modes across various stages. There are 74 fighters that come with the base game, plus more you can buy in DLCs. Then, there are over 100 stages to play on, so the game is really customizable.
Your kid can choose to play locally against a friend or four. Or, they can also participate in 8-player battles online or tournaments between even bigger groups of people.
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