With the Nintendo Switch in its third year of sales and still highly popular, the family-friendly console hosts plenty of games that are fantastic for parents or other adults to play with their children. Kids and video games have gone together since the late 1970s when the Atari debuted. Now, as the baton is passed to yet another generation, gaming has become more of a family activity than ever before.

Many recent Nintendo games have brought back or continued to revive beloved characters from games that were highly popular in the 1990s. These games, like Kirby's Dream LandMario Golf, and Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow were the highlight of many childhoods. As those same children have grown up into adults, many are having children of their own and are passing on their love of gaming. Nintendo has - whether intentionally or not - taken advantage of this by reviving classic Nintendo characters and games from the 90s.

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With so many games to choose from, it can be difficult for parents to find out which games are best to play with their children. Obviously, this choice varies depending on age and interests, but Nintendo offers a wide variety of games that are family-friendly and fun for adults and children alike. Some have been around for a few years and others have just been or soon will be released.

Kirby And The Forgotten Land Is A Great Game For Parents And Kids

Bandana Waddle Dee has a much lesser role in Kirby and the Forgotten Land because they don't have the abilities to engage with the game's primary mechanics

Released in 2022, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is a perfect game for parents to play with their children. The characters, even the enemies, are adorable. The game offers a co-op mode and offers two levels of difficulty. The "Spring Breeze Mode" gives players more health and easier enemies which is perfect for younger children who are just starting out their gaming adventure. The co-op mode is also perfect for parents who want to enjoy the game as well. Player two plays as the Bandana Waddle Dee who joins Kirby on his adventure with his trusty spear.

While Bandana Waddle Dee doesn't have Kirby's copy ability, it still can fight enemies and bosses, help solve puzzles, save other Waddle Dees, and collect coins and collectibles. If Kirby moves too far ahead, Bandana Waddle Dee is teleported next to Kirby. Bandana Waddle Dee also adorably will ride on the Kirby Car and Kirby Coaster. Player two truly is a part of the game. However, for completionists, the death or fall of Bandana Waddle Dee does not count against player one for certain goals. Bandana Waddle Dee is also easily revived after a minute or two of gameplay. The two players can share health with one another as well. For parents with younger children who they want to introduce to a classic character, Kirby and the Forgotten Land is an easy game that won't crush a kid's spirit with constant deaths and frustratingly hard enemies.

Nintendo Switch Sports Is Great For Parents And Children

Characters playing chambara in Nintendo Switch Sports

Releasing on April 29, 2022, Nintendo Switch Sports is a callback to the original Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort. Using motion controls, players will be able to play soccer, bowling, volleyball, tennis, badminton, and chambara. Nintendo plans to also add golf to the game in a free update slated for Fall 2022. Players can play with each other against the computer or other players to foster teamwork, or against each other if competition is more their style.

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While missing a few sports from Wii Sports, Nintendo Switch Sports is a great game to introduce children of any age to gaming. The motion controls are intuitive, there are tutorials to teach players the motions, and it will get them moving. On a rainy day when kids can't go outside to play, this is the perfect game for them to pick up with their parents.

Family-Friendly Nintendo Switch Co-Op Games - Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain

Big Brain Academy Brain vs. Brain Cover

Big Brain Academy: Brain Vs. Brain is fun and educational for adults and children alike. One of the less expensive games listed here, it is definitely worth the price considering the amount of content and customization available. Players can play solo or compete against one other in matches of up to four players. The best part about these matches in the well-reviewed Big Brain Academy is that each player can customize their difficulty, from Sprout to Super Elite. There is even a support function for pre-school-aged children that will filter out the harder challenges. Not only can children take on their parents in this game, but there is also a good chance that they will win. It's a confidence booster for younger kids and a challenge for older kids and adults alike.

Mario Tennis Aces & Mario Golf: Super Rush Can Be Enjoyed By Kids

A Koopa Troopa in Mario Tennis Aces

Both Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf: Super Rush can be difficult depending on the type of gameplay. When playing using button controls, the timing and button combinations can be hard to master, even for adults. The saving grace for these games, when directed at parents with children, is the motion controls. Both Mario Tennis Aces and Mario Golf: Super Rush have motion control modes that are significantly easier to master.

Mario Tennis Aces, in motion control mode, has a few different options for parents and children to play together. There is a standard game of tennis, either one versus one or doubles, where players can play against each other or on the same team. There are also two challenge modes where the players can team up or compete to hit the most Shy Guys or Boos. The motion controls are fairly simple, with little button-pushing involved. Kids will have a blast swinging the controller around (definitely use a wrist strap) and playing as their favorite Mario character and parents will get quite the workout as well.

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Mario Golf: Super Rush also provides a motion control option, with a few different ways to play. Parents with younger children may want to wait on this game for a few years, as the motion controls and Shift mechanics of Mario Golf: Super Rush are more advanced and the outcome of a few bad swings can frustrate younger players. However, for those with older kids, it is a great way to spend time together. Settings like course difficulty and weather conditions can be set to make the game easier or more difficult and games can be anywhere from three to 18 holes.

Kid-Friendly Nintendo Switch Co-Op Games - Mario Party Superstars

While the actual board games in Mario Party Superstars can be long, repetitive, and lacking in variety, the mini-games are wonderful for adults and children alike. Parents can choose to focus on family-friendly games only that are easier for younger kids. The controls are simple with usually only one or two buttons or directions needed and a practice round can be played before each game. Players can play as many or as few of the over 100 Mario Party Superstars mini-games as they want, allowing for quick matches as opposed to 30 to 90-minute games. Once children get older, parents can introduce them to the games and slowly progress from the easier to the more difficult boards.

Pokémon: Let's Go Pikachu & Let's Go Eevee Are Great For Children

Pokemon Lets Go Pikachu Eevee How To Catch Charmander Squirtle Bulbasaur

If parents want a game where their child takes the lead and is introduced to the wonderful world of Pokémon, Pokémon Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee are the perfect fit. Made to be easier versions of the standard Pokémon games, these two titles allow for co-op modes where player two takes more of a back seat to the action. Player one is in charge of where the party is going, who they are talking to, and even whether to catch or run from a Pokémon. Player one can help catch wild Pokémon and assist in battles, using player one's team.

Let's Go Pikachu and Let's Go Eevee introduce the next generation to an easier-to-play Pokémon game and all of the classic Pokémon that the millennial generation grew up loving. There is no battling of wild Pokémon, just catching, and the controls are easy and fun, even using motion controls to throw the Poké Balls. Parents as player 2 can help guide their child through the essential remake of Pokémon Yellow, which many may have played as children themselves.

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There is a multitude of family-friendly games for those with children of all ages on the Nintendo Switch. These games are a great way to introduce the next generation to characters and games that their parents may have loved. With the possibility of even more beloved characters returning to Nintendo soon, including a new Sonic the Hedgehog game, Sonic Frontiers, releasing toward the end of 2022, the current generation is bound to find a game to play with their parents that everyone will enjoy.

Next: All Co-Op Games Releasing In 2022