17 Best Family Games For All Ages

If you’re tired of choosing from the same selection of board games when you and the family want some quality time together at home, a family video game night might be just what you need. The best family games are multiplayer and allow for at least two players at a time, with some up to 6 or 8. They also don’t require a high amount of skill, so you don’t necessarily have to bring your A-game, just an enthusiastic attitude.

Since these games are meant to bring the family together, they’re appropriate for everyone from ages 8 to 80, preventing any potentially awkward moments and keeping everyone happy. Whether competitive or co-op, you’ll find games that promote an environment of positivity and hilarity among those playing as well as those just watching on this list of the best family games. Bear in mind that any games listed for PS4 and Xbox One will also work on PS5 and Xbox Series X respectively thanks to backwards compatibility.

 

The Best Family Games

17. Untitled Goose Game

Developer: House House
Publisher: Panic Inc.
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

The wholesome, giddy fun that Untitled Goose Game brings is absolutely universal. Gamers and observers of all ages can enjoy watching the adorable goose (or geese, in multiplayer) wreak havoc on a poor, unsuspecting English village.

The gameplay itself is relatively straightforward, but some of the puzzles do require creative thinking which is great for families to work together to help the geese accomplish their list of mischievous tasks.

 

16. Gang Beasts

Developer: Boneloaf
Publisher: Boneloaf
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

As ridiculous as it may sound, Gang Beasts is best described as a gelatinous beat ‘em up party game set in the heart of a metropolis called Beef City. Gang Beasts has been called one of the silliest beat-’em-ups ever and is generally regarded as a good time for everyone involved.

It makes a great party game because it’s exciting and savage while still maintaining a good-time vibe for everyone playing. The floppy, jelly-like characters keep fight scenes unrealistic and silly rather than scary or violent.

 

15. Heave Ho

Developer: Le Cartel Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform(s): PC, Switch

Heave Ho seems like a pretty straightforward game where your one mission is to try not to fall. But when you add the elements of team communication and physics platformer-type controls, chaos tends to ensue. You play as what are essentially round heads with long arms, Geodude style, and you have to hold onto each other in order to swing and grapple your way across a stage to victory.

Heave Ho is a party game built for pure amusement and, with a $10 price tag, it shows us that sometimes less is more when it comes to family games.

 

14. Human: Fall Flat

Developer: No Brakes Games
Publisher: Curve Digital
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

For the family that relishes in laughing at themselves and each other, Human: Fall Flat is a hilariously good time. This appropriately-named physics platformer tasks you with trying to find your way out of various dream-like stages while playing as a super clumsy “human” character named Bob.

Human: Fall Flat allows for two players in split-screen mode and the developers are constantly releasing new levels that have more than one solution, which means there’s no end in sight to the falling and failing.

 

13. Rayman Legends

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Wii U, Vita

As its title suggests, cooperative platformer Rayman Legends is a legendary amount of fun for up to four players. The fifth title in the Rayman series and sequel to the beloved Rayman Origins, Rayman Legends gives fans even more to enjoy with its vibrant art style and quirky characters

Rayman Legends is silly enough to interest kids while providing a challenge to draw in more experienced gamers. Plus, its catchy rhythm-based music levels feature popular classic songs from the 70s and 80s that all generations will love.

 

12. Sonic Mania

Developer: Christian “Taxman” Whitehead, PagodaWest Games, Headcannon
Publisher: Sega
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails are back in an all-new adventure that showcases the spirit of the original series while somehow making it even more awesome. In addition to the original three playable characters, this time you can also play as Mighty the armadillo and Ray the flying squirrel.

Sonic Mania has two different multiplayer modes for family game night, one cooperative with two players and one head-to-head competitive mode with up to four. The game runs at a stunning 60 FPS with pixel-perfect art, sure to please fans of the original series while also hyping up new players.

 

11. Super Mario Maker 2

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch

Super Mario Maker 2 is a level-building game that’s bound to impress fans of the Super Mario franchise, especially those who always dreamed of being able to create their own levels to play through and challenge friends. As a sequel to the original Super Mario Maker, this one also gave players assets from Super Mario 3D World to play with.

Although watching somebody build a level may not be the most exciting thing in the world, Super Mario Maker 2 is a great family game because it’s cross-generational and it gives you a chance to challenge the Mario fanatics in your family.

 

10. Snipperclips Plus

Developer: SFB Games
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch

Snipperclips is a charmingly innovative multiplayer puzzle game where up to four players control cute little cut-out paper characters who must work together to solve various puzzles. Snipperclips’ gameplay mechanics are unique in that you have to cut your paper characters into different shapes depending on where you need to fit to solve the puzzles.

Snipperclips Plus added 30 new levels and a competitive multiplayer “Blitz” mode. There’s a fair amount of teamwork and outside-the-box thinking required from all parties, but it’s super satisfying when you finally figure out how to beat a perplexing level.

 

9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch

The most recent installment of Nintendo’s beloved crossover fighting game reigns supreme as the best-selling fighting game of all time. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate boasts an impressive 103 different stages and 89 playable characters from a huge variety of franchises, including Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, and more.

As with the previous games in the series, Ultimate really prioritizes the local multiplayer experience and allows you to throw down with up to 4 players on the same screen. You can decide how to divide up the teams based on players’ skill level to ensure that it’s a fair fight, or try parents versus kids or girls versus boys.

 

8. Rocket League

Developer: Psyonix
Publisher: Psyonix
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Switch

For families who need some quality time on a budget, free-to-play car soccer game Rocket League is an outstanding choice. And in case some people feel intimidated by the idea of having to score goals and drive at the same time, Rocket League is actually really lowkey and simple to play even for gamers who aren’t great at driving or sports games.

In fact, a lot of your success is based on dumb luck and accidentally pulling off insane moves that win you the game. As far as fast-paced multiplayer games go, it’s easy to see how Rocket League became an instant classic with gamers of all kinds and across all platforms. Oh, and it’s totally free.

 

7. Minecraft

Developer: Mojang Studios
Publisher: Mojang Studios
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Switch, Vita, Wii U

Although Minecraft is now over 10 years old, it’s still as magical and delightful as ever. For families who opt to play games together regularly, Minecraft is still a must-play. Whether you choose survival or creative mode, it provides hours of cooperative fun and you’ll wonder where the time went.

One of the reasons Minecraft ranks among the best family games is that there are so many different things to do that there’s something for everyone. Minecraft’s creative mode also encourages skills-building in children, which makes it a great activity to engage in together. Minecraft is a cultural phenomenon to the point where you can be sure that even grandma and grandpa must have heard of it.

 

6. Overcooked! All You Can Eat

Developer: Team17 Digital
Publisher: Team17 Digital
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Switch

The Overcooked! series is famous for testing the absolute limits of its players’ communication skills, teamwork, and patience as they cook together in a restaurant kitchen trying to fill as many meal orders as possible within the time limit. The term “kitchen” should be interpreted pretty loosely here, as some of Overcooked!’s levels include cooking inside an erupting volcano or using magic portals to travel from the chopping board to the deep fryer.

And while this is a couch co-op game, be forewarned that Overcooked! is known to cause arguments and blaming between players. It’s all fun and games until the pizza gets burnt to a crisp or a sushi roll falls into a pit of slime.

 

5. WarioWare: Get It Together!

Developer: Nintendo, Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch

Going a step further than minigames, the WarioWare series is entirely based on microgames, or very short tasks you have to complete in mere seconds in order to move on in the game. WarioWare: Get It Together! is the 10th installment in the franchise and hands-down the most creative and imaginative so far. The sheer diversity of its admittedly-strange selection of microgames is enough to ensure that players never get bored or find the game too easy.

With multiplayer modes for up to 2 or 4 players, if you’re short on time but have a lot of energy to spend on concentration and quick thinking, WarioWare is the ideal choice for your next family video game night.

 

4. Just Dance 2022

Developer: Ubisoft Paris/Pune/Shanghai
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Switch

Yes, as you might have guessed, your sole objective in this game is to dance. You don’t need to worry about how you look or whether everyone is laughing at you, you just need to feel the music and do your best. That’s what everybody does while playing Just Dance and a great time will be had by all, plus you might even get some exercise without realizing you’re working out.

For those energetic families who really love to get up and get down, Just Dance is the game for you. The franchise’s most recent release, Just Dance 2022, has approximately 50 songs to dance to, most of which are relatively new but there are a few classics like Mr. Blue Sky, to encourage dancers of all ages to get their groove on.

 

3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch

Where can we possibly start with Mario Kart? This is the best game for competitive families who really just like to play to win. If you can’t remember whose turn it is to do the dishes after dinner, you can always hash it out over a round of Mario Kart. And Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has so many different tracks to choose from that it’ll be a while before you have to play the same track twice.

You can even take the family competition online and play together against racers around the world at the same time. With the Deluxe add-on, they’ve added remastered versions of classic tracks from the previous Mario Kart installments such as Coconut Mall and Sky Garden which are a great option to play with family for those who remember these tracks as well as younger gamers playing them for the very first time.

 

2. Jackbox Party Pack 3

Developer: Jackbox Games
Publisher: Jackbox Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch

Everyone’s favorite inappropriate party game now has kid-friendly options that make it perfect for family game night with players of all ages. And Jackbox Party Pack 3 is the series’ best overall selection, with all of the games supporting 6-8 players at once, by using their mobile phones to draw, write, or select the answer.

Jackbox Party Pack 3 gives you four games that are family-friendly by design or by selecting that mode under settings. This includes Tee K.O., a t-shirt drawing and slogan-writing game that will have you laughing until your sides hurt. Also, Guesspionage is one of the few trivia games that’s relatively easy for non-trivia people and even for kids. And Fakin’ It is especially funny when played with family members who know each other extremely well and can easily call each other out for lying.

 

1. Mario Party Superstars

Developer: NDcube
Publisher: Nintendo
Platform(s): Switch

Mario Party has given us more than 10 games over the last 25 years. From the original Mario Party all the way to Mario Party Superstars, the franchise maintains its status as a perfect video game-board game hybrid. You and up to three other players choose to either compete or team up as you try your best to land on the space with a star and win the minigames in between each turn.

Superstars is like “Mario Party’s Greatest Hits”, bringing together some of the most iconic boards and minigames from the previous 11 installments, all remastered in HD. For families familiar with the Mario Party series, Superstars is definitely one of the best options for you because it’s both nostalgic and refreshing at the same time. All the different gameplay options ensure that you can design exactly the experience you want for who is participating, making Mario Party Superstars the best family game that you can play together.

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