My kids were supposed to share a Nintendo Switch with my husband. That lasted about a week. Now I’m the one who occasionally gets bumped from Mario Kart by teenagers who have somehow gotten very good at video games, and my husband snags it to play Zelda if he is up late at night while we are all trying to sleep in the same hotel room.
We’ve had a Switch in our house since the early days. My boys are teenagers now, but I’ve spent enough years watching them grow up with this console to have a pretty solid sense of what holds up, what’s worth skipping, and what games keep both a toddler, grade school kid, tween, and even a teenager and his embarrassing mom engaged at the same time.
Here’s the thing about how our family actually uses the Switch, though. At home, we’re mostly a PlayStation and Steam household, sometimes an Xbox family.
The boys game on their laptops, my husband has his setup, and the Switch mostly lives in the travel bag.
Every trip we take, it comes with us. It’s small, it doesn’t require a TV, and when someone needs a few minutes of quiet on a long travel day, you can just hand it over without a second thought. My husband still plays on planes and hotel nights, passing it back and forth with whichever kid wants a turn.
My teenagers mostly use their phones on flights now, having graduated out of the Kindle Fire games they played when little, but they’ll take over the Switch the second a new Zelda drops.
If you’re shopping for a kid of any age, or trying to figure out which games are worth downloading before a long flight, this is the list I’d send my friends.
Do I Need the Switch 2?
Nintendo released the Switch 2 in June 2025 (find the latest price here, as it does drop). We upgraded when it came out, and the thing that made us feel best about spending the money was that almost every game we already owned carried over.
Both physically (the Switch 2 reads original cartridges) and digitally (your eShop library follows you when you log in). We didn’t have to rebuy a single game, which, given how expensive Switch games are, mattered.
A small number of games have compatibility issues. Nintendo maintains an updated list at nintendo.com, but the major titles, including everything on this list, play on the Switch 2 without a problem.
Some first-party games, like Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Party Jamboree, have paid Switch 2 upgrades with better performance. Whether that’s worth it depends on how much you play them.
Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids
Minecraft
If your kid doesn’t already play this, it’s basically digital LEGOs. In creative mode, you can build anything: roller coasters, castles, entire cities. In survival mode, you gather resources, fight off monsters, and explore a world that has no visible end. My boys started playing this with their dad when they were little and they still play it now, which tells you everything about the shelf life.
For younger kids, you can disable hostile mobs entirely for a more relaxed experience. For older kids and adults, survival mode is a real challenge. It’s one of the few games where everyone in the family can play at their own level in the same world at the same time.
Check current prices on Amazon
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
One of the best games ever made, and I say that as someone who didn’t grow up a serious gamer. The open world is enormous. Link has been in some kind of magical sleep for 100 years and wakes up to find the kingdom in ruins. What you do from there is largely up to you: cook food over campfires, climb mountains, wander into a forest and forget what you were originally supposed to be doing.
My youngest used to spend entire sessions just cooking meals by the campfire when he was small. My oldest wanted to complete every mission. Now that they’re teenagers, they’ve both gone back to finish the things they missed the first time around. The game rewards curiosity at any age, which is why it keeps coming back out of the bag on every trip.
A paid Switch 2 upgrade is available if you want better performance on the new console.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The follow-up to Breath of the Wild, released in 2023, and it’s just as good. Tears of the Kingdom adds a building mechanic that lets you construct vehicles, flying machines, and contraptions using pieces you find throughout the world. My kids spent more time building elaborate inventions than actually progressing the story, and I considered that a win.
This is the one my boys are currently trying to catch up on during travel. They’ll hand it back and forth with my husband on longer flights and pick it up again in hotel rooms when everyone needs to decompress. Best for kids who have already played Breath of the Wild, or older kids who can handle a big, complex open world.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Released in 2023, this is the best 2D Mario game in years, and I’d put it near the top of this list for families. The Wonder Flowers change the rules of each level in completely unpredictable ways. You might suddenly become an elephant, or the pipes start marching around. It’s funny and strange and keeps you surprised, which is hard to pull off in a franchise this old.
Up to four players can play together locally, which makes it a strong pick for family game nights. Younger kids can still participate, and there’s no penalty when someone falls behind.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
The most-played game in our house, especially when the grandparents come for a visit and the boys want to play something with them.
This is a racing game featuring every Mario character imaginable, a large selection of tracks, and a setting that keeps slower players in the race rather than three laps behind. That last feature kept our family from complete chaos when the kids were young.
It’s not a new game, but it’s still the best party game on the Switch and the first one I’d recommend for families with a range of ages and skill levels. The DLC added 48 additional tracks, so there’s a lot of content here.
Super Mario Odyssey
A 3D Mario adventure where you travel through different worlds collecting Moons to power up your airship and rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The mechanic where Mario throws his hat at enemies to take control of them is as fun as it sounds. You can briefly become a Goomba, a Bullet Bill, even a T-Rex.
A second player can jump in and control Mario’s hat, which is a low-pressure way to include a younger sibling who isn’t quite ready for a full controller.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
You move to a deserted island and turn it into whatever you want. Fish, farm, decorate your house, befriend animal villagers. Up to four players can share an island locally, or visit friends’ islands online.
This one was everywhere during the early pandemic years, and for good reason. It’s calming in a way most video games aren’t. Younger kids love the collecting and decorating. Older kids and adults get pulled into the design side of it. A Switch 2 edition with major updates is coming in 2026, so if you haven’t bought it yet, it might be worth waiting to see what changes.
Splatoon 3
Nintendo’s ink-based multiplayer shooter, where teams compete to cover more of the map in their color. You play as squid-human hybrids who can transform and swim through their own ink, which gives the movement a style unlike most other games. It sounds chaotic, and it is, but in a way that’s fun rather than overwhelming.
There’s also a single-player story mode and a cooperative mode for up to four players. Rated E10+. My teenagers played the previous version for years and the online community for Splatoon 3 is still active.
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
An arcade fighting game with over 80 playable characters from across gaming history: Mario, Link, Pikachu, Sonic, even Solid Snake. Up to four players battle at once, and the match settings let you adjust difficulty and rules to whatever keeps the room competitive without turning into a blowout.
My boys still play this with their friends, which is about as strong an endorsement as I can offer.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
Ghostbusters for kids, essentially. Luigi explores a haunted hotel, vacuuming up ghosts to rescue his friends. It’s spooky without being actually frightening, cartoony and funny throughout. A second player can join as Gooigi (a goo version of Luigi), which makes it a good co-op option for younger kids playing alongside an older sibling or a parent.
Pikmin 4
Released in 2023, Pikmin 4 is a strategy-adventure game where you crash-land on a planet and lead small plant-creatures to help you survive and rescue others. It’s completely charming and one of the more creative things Nintendo has put out in recent years. The difficulty scales well, and there’s a dog companion named Oatchi who can carry you around, which my kids found unreasonably delightful.
My teenagers thought they were too old for this and then played it for 30 hours. Recommended for kids comfortable with some light strategy.
Overcooked 2
A cooking game where you and up to three other players try to prepare meals in increasingly impossible kitchens: conveyor belts, moving platforms, kitchens split across two hot air balloons. Communication and patience are required. This game is either hilarious or ends in a mild family disagreement, depending on the night.
We are mostly in the hilarious camp.
Yoshi’s Crafted World
A gentle side-scrolling platformer where everything looks like it’s made from cardboard, felt, and tape. Yoshi searches for gems hidden throughout levels, which can also be played in reverse to find new secrets. There’s a Mellow Mode that gives younger players wings and makes the game far more forgiving.
I’d put this on the younger end of the list. It’s a strong pick for kids under 8.
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Classic Mario side-scrolling with up to four players. Different character choices change the difficulty, and Toadette is significantly easier to control, which is useful for younger kids who want to play without frustrating everyone else. Includes two full games ported from the Wii U, so there’s a lot of content.
LEGO Harry Potter Collection
All seven years of the Harry Potter story, in LEGO form. A good introduction to the wizarding world for kids who aren’t quite ready for the books, and a fun revisit for older kids who already love them. The LEGO format softens some of the darker moments in the later stories, which I appreciated when my boys were younger and less prepared for whatever Voldemort was doing.
Nintendo Switch Sports
Tennis, bowling, soccer, volleyball, badminton, and sword fighting, all controlled through Joy-Con motion. If you played Wii Sports, this is the successor to that. It’s great for younger kids, great for burning off energy indoors, and great for tricking grandparents into thinking they’re coordinated.
Ring Fit Adventure
A fitness game structured as an RPG. You battle enemies by doing actual physical activity: squats, overhead presses, running in place, using a resistance ring that comes with the game. Intensity is adjustable and the game tracks your progress over time.
My kids initially treated this like a punishment and then got invested in leveling up their character. Worth it for families who want a reason to move, especially on rainy travel days stuck in a hotel room.
Snipperclips Plus
A puzzle game where you and a partner cut pieces out of each other’s paper-doll shapes to solve increasingly tricky challenges. Sounds simple, actually requires creative problem-solving. It works well for adults and kids playing together because neither person has an obvious experience advantage. You both just have to figure it out.
Nintendo Switch Games for Younger Kids (Under 6)
Before you hand a toddler a Switch, remember that young kids always need supervision, they will find your more intense titles if you don’t set parental controls, and they will absolutely throw the controller and/or console when they’re frustrated.
Also, the Switch is not cheap, so think carefully before handing it to a three-year-old who will definitely lose.
Good starting points for young players:
- Minecraft (creative mode, mobs disabled) — Amazon
- Just Dance (any recent edition) — Amazon
- Snipperclips — Amazon
- Nintendo Switch Sports — motion-based, low pressure, easy to pick up – Amazon
Nintendo Switch Games for Girls
This category is a little ridiculous, and I say that as a woman who grew up playing video games. I polled friends with daughters of all ages, and the majority are playing the exact same games as my boys: Zelda, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Splatoon, Smash Bros., etc.
That said, if you’re searching for games that skew toward creative, low-conflict, design-heavy gameplay, here are a few that fit that description:
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Amazon
- Yoshi’s Crafted World — Amazon
- Nintendo Switch Sports — good across all ages — Amazon
- Just Dance (any edition) — Amazon
- Kirby: Star Allies — cooperative, low-stakes, charming — Amazon
- Disney Illusion Island — four-player co-op platformer, combat-free, great for younger kids — Amazon
What the girls I know are actually playing, per my unscientific polling: Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 3, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros., and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Basically the same list as everyone else, or the latest release.
Best Multiplayer Nintendo Switch Games for Families
For family game nights or long travel days where everyone’s sharing one screen, these are the ones that work well across different ages and skill levels:
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe — Amazon
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder — Amazon
- New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe — Amazon
- Overcooked 2 — Amazon
- Super Smash Bros. Ultimate — Amazon
- Minecraft — Amazon
- Nintendo Switch Sports — Amazon
- Snipperclips Plus — Amazon
To play multiplayer locally, you’ll need extra Joy-Cons. Buy them in different colors so nobody argues about whose is whose.
Also Worth Checking Out
- Dragon Quest Builders 2 — Minecraft meets RPG, better for older kids
- Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening — smaller and more accessible than the open-world Zelda games
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land — good for younger kids, enjoyable for adults too
- Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope — turn-based strategy for kids ready for something more complex
- Pokémon Scarlet/Violet — the most recent mainline Pokémon games; some technical roughness but kids love them
- Super Mario Party Jamboree — updated party game with a paid Switch 2 upgrade available
- Disney Illusion Island — cooperative platformer, great for younger kids
Educational Games on the Nintendo Switch
There’s no Switch equivalent of a language-learning app. What there are, though, are games that require problem-solving and skill, which is a reasonable consolation prize:
- Minecraft (creative mode) — spatial reasoning, design, construction logic
- Snipperclips — collaborative puzzle-solving
- Ring Fit Adventure — physical fitness
- Pikmin 4 — resource management and light strategy
The goal isn’t to trick your kids into learning. It’s more that these games require thought, which is more than you can say for a lot of what’s out there.
Which Switch Should You Buy?
If you’re on the original Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite, both are still fine. The Switch Lite is handheld-only and can’t connect to a TV, which limits family multiplayer.
If you’re considering upgrading, the Switch 2 launched at $449.99 in the US, which is a significant price jump from the original.
It’s a real improvement in screen quality and performance, and the backward compatibility means your existing game library carries over. For our family it made sense, partly because the Switch 2 travels even better than the original, and the Switch is fundamentally a travel console for us.
A few things to know before buying:
- The Switch 2 is larger than the original, so your current carrying case probably won’t fit
- Original Switch Joy-Cons work as controllers on the Switch 2 but lose some of the new features
- Digital games transfer through your Nintendo Account; physical games work as long as you have the cartridges
Nintendo Switch Accessories Worth Having for Travel
You don’t need much, but a few things will make a difference:
- Tempered glass screen protector — do this immediately — Amazon
- Carrying case — this one fits the Switch 2, or this one if you want to bring a full controller
- Extra Joy-Cons — in different colors — Amazon
- MicroSD card — necessary if you’re downloading games — Amazon
digital Downloads versus cartridges
We’ve gone almost entirely digital at this point. We have fewer tiny game cards to lose in an airport, and everything lives on the console. The tradeoff is that you can’t resell or swap digital games, which matters more for some families than others.
The Switch has been in the bag on every trip we’ve taken for years, and at this point it’s the one piece of travel gear I’d never leave behind.
If you’re planning a road trip, my road trip planning guide covers the entertainment logistics of long drives. And if you’re heading somewhere with the kids by plane, my flying with kids guide has everything I’ve picked up from 17 years of doing it. I hate to admit it, but the Switch makes both significantly more manageable.
