Plenty of Nintendo Switches are out in the world, and a lot of those are for kids who got the system from their parents or older family members. Anybody reading this might be looking for games to buy for a kid on the Nintendo Switch.
Every kid is different, however, and enjoys different genres, or the particular kid might have eclectic tastes. Regardless of the reason, the games below are all good for kids and cross a wide range of styles. Some of these are first-party titles while others are third-party games that still play well on Nintendo's impressive hybrid console.
Updated on February 15th, 2022, by Jason Wojnar: Even though the Nintendo Switch is about five years old, Nintendo has stated the console is only about halfway through its lifecycle. There is still plenty of time for people to pick one up and enjoy many hits from its massive library.
This means kids who were born in 2017 when it first came out are almost reaching the age where they are old enough to play games and have a Switch of their own. With this in mind, it is a good idea to visit a list like this and find out what kids between 5 and 10 might like on the console.
13 Party Game - Mario Party Superstars
- Also Recommended: Jackbox Party Pack series, WarioWare: Get It Together, Super Bomberman R
The Nintendo Switch has a variety of incredibly entertaining party games. Mario Party Superstars is better than most for kids because of its aesthetic and how quick it is to understand. Even if one is losing, they are still able to remain in the fight and are constantly engaged.
The variety of minigames also means kids won't get bored. Because this game is made up of boards and minigames from the series' past, parents who enjoyed Mario Party in their youth will also get a kick out of this release.
12 Metroidvania - Metroid Dread
- Also Recommended: Hollow Knight, Steamworld Dig
The Metroidvania is an immensely popular genre with numerous entries. For kids, however, there is no better introduction to the genre than Metroid Dread. The science-fiction setting will appeal to the sensibilities of a generation who grew up on Guardians of the Galaxy and the new Star Wars films.
Even though Metroid Dread is difficult, a new update added a Rookie Mode, perfect for newcomers to both the genre and gaming in general.
11 2D Platformer - Rayman Legends
- Also Recommended: New Super Mario Bros. Wii U Deluxe, Yoshi's Woolly World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze
Rayman Legends is available for many consoles. Many see it as one of the finest 2D platformers of the last 10 years, making it a must-play for newer gamers. Though it offers a significant challenge, the cooperative gameplay and the earlier levels are breezy enough to let younger gamers enjoy it.
Kids should play it with friends and it makes the game a little easier. When one person dies, there is an opportunity for others to revive them and continue without having to start from a prior checkpoint.
10 RPG - Pokemon Franchise
- Also Recommended: Paper Mario: The Origami King, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch,
It is hard to go wrong with any mainline Pokemon game, and there is a lot to choose from for Switch owners. One can go for remakes like Pokemon Let's Go and Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl or opt for newer entries like Sun and Moon.
For a larger Pokemon experience, play the recent Pokemon Legacy: Arceus, which significantly expands upon the formula with a more open design. It has received rave reviews, though many feel the technical limitations of the console hold back its true potential.
9 Strategy - Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Also Recommended: Wargroove, Pikmin 3, Advanced Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (Out April 8, 2022)
This crossover between Super Mario and the Rabbids plays a lot like the recent XCOM titles. Fortunately, it is not nearly as difficult so kids won't throw their Switch against the wall if they fail.
Not only is it a great game, but it might spark a kid's interest in more complicated video games. There is more than enough time to play Kingdom Battle before the sequel, Sparks of Hope comes out in 2022.
8 3D Platformer - Super Mario Odyssey
- Also Recommended: Super Mario 3D All-Stars, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Super Mario Odyssey came out early in the Nintendo Switch's life and shows that the Super Mario games still have so much to offer the medium. It is great for kids because reaching the first ending is a relatively breezy experience.
The challenge only escalates once players start to try the side content. With this structure, it is easy to feel accomplished while never feeling like the game is a pushover. Considering it came out in 2017, fans are expecting a new mainline Super Mario to be announced in the near future.
7 Life Simulation - Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Also Recommended: Stardew Valley
Many Nintendo Switch owners credit Animal Crossing: New Horizons with helping them through the early days of the pandemic of 2020. Nintendo recently released a huge update, so now is as good a time as ever to jump into the popular title.
The game theoretically goes on forever. On a single Switch, many family members can interact with each other and contribute to a single island's design.
6 Action/Adventure - Lego Franchise
- Also Recommended: Shovel Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Lego licensed games have been going strong since Lego Star Wars in 2005. Numerous franchises have been transformed into the Lego aesthetic to mostly satisfactory results, and a large handful of them are available on the Nintendo Switch.
It is not a licensed game, but Lego City Undercover is a standout game utilizing the Lego brand. It has a pleasantly surprising comedic storyline. Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga will come out soon. This new release looks to be the most ambitious Lego game yet.
5 Racing - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Also Recommended: Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled
Even though it technically came out on the Wii U, the absolute best version of Mario Kart 8 is on the Nintendo Switch in the form of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The franchise's strength has always been its easy-to-understand controls and focus on collecting weapons on the tracks over precise driving.
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled is also a good idea, but the racing is a little more advanced with its drifting and boost mechanic. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, on the other hand, has simple controls for a racing game. It is also possible to play the game with almost any controller setup the console provides.
Though fans were expecting a Mario Kart 9, Nintendo recently announced a roadmap of DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. 48 tracks will be added to the game until the end of 2023. These will be remasters of tracks from the series' history.
4 Shooter - Splatoon 2
A lot of parents might not want their kids to touch any game with guns. This makes finding shooters for young ones tricky. Fortunately, Nintendo's own Splatoon franchise is a shooter without bullets.
Paint is the method of attack here and it works excellently. Splatoon 2 still has an active community, and Splatoon 3 is currently in the works and is set to have a story mode.
3 Puzzle - Puyo Puyo Tetris
- Also Recommended: Luigi's Mansion 3
There is a lot more inside Puyo Puyo Tetris than one might initially realize. In addition to numerous modes combining the two separate puzzle games, it also contains a full-fledged story mode. Games like these are good for kids for multiple reasons.
Both Puyo Puyo and Tetris are a game where players compete against falling objects and themselves. There's something addictive about seeing oneself get better and better.
2 Fighting Game - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
- Also Recommended: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, Towerfall
When it comes to fighting games that are easy to learn but difficult to master, it does not get much better than Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The roster is absolutely gigantic and includes characters from numerous franchises any kid is sure to know.
There is an extensive single-player mode in addition to the large multiplayer offerings. It is hard to know what the series' future holds, but if nothing happened after Ultimate, it would be a great ending for a franchise.
1 Open-World - Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
- Also Recommended: Minecraft,
Breath of the Wild is great not only because of how big the world is. There are so many systems in place and players can toy around with almost every aspect of the game world. This makes it great for kids since it rewards imaginative play.
Some have even referred to it as an immersive sim in this respect. Giving a kid Breath of the Wild might also encourage them to go back and experience the older games in the franchise. A sequel is in the works with a tentative release window of 2022, though there's no telling if that will stick.