Best Family Games for Nintendo Switch in 2021

Pokemon has always been a social game, but only for people trading and battling each other. With the launch of Pokemon: Let's Go, those games let you and your loved ones catch them all together.

Few games are as synonymous with "family fun" as Mario Kart is. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe delivers the fun kart-racing experience we all know and love with updated visuals and a windfall of new content.

This is the ultimate family game. Super Mario Party is back with over 80 game modes that up to four people can enjoy. You can play 1 vs. 3, 2 vs. 2, or have a full-on 4-player battle royale in a collection of mini-games that never seem to get old.

Super Mario Odyssey isn't a family game in the same sense as most other games on this list. It has limited co-operative gameplay for up to two people but is mostly a single-player affair. That doesn't stop it from being perfect for the family, though, with plenty of puzzles and levels that your loved ones can help each other through.

Yoshi's Crafted World is an adorable puzzle platformer adventure that's friendly enough for the entire family to enjoy. Take control of Yoshi and friends as they search a beautiful world made of everyday crafting materials, such as cardboard boxes and paper cups, for clues to a fabled artefact. There is even a two-player co-op mode, so two people in the family can play and enjoy together.

Have some spare Joy-Cons laying around? Then up to four other people can join the fun in New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe! There are over 164 classic platforming stages to get through in two main game modes, and the replay value is high with even more game modes to unlock. Pick your favourite Mario character and use their unique abilities and traits that affect gameplay to make it to the end of each level. It's perfect family fun for everyone.

Up to four people can play Kirby Star Allies at a time, so this is a great game for the entire family to play together. Control Kirby and use friend hearts to charm foes, and they'll fight alongside you, giving you access to their own unique Copy abilities too. You can even combine some abilities with elements, giving you an edge in battle against some bosses who are weak to certain elements. It's up to you and your friends to find out what those weaknesses are!

Splatoon 2 is a family-friendly shooter that will even appeal to people who don't like shooters. Rather than have the objective be getting as many kills as possible, it's mostly about inking your turf. Whichever team paints in the most turf in a match will win, and the kills on the other team are just a bonus. There is also a single-player campaign and other game modes to check out. Splatoon 2 is a family-friendly shooter that is super cute and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of age.