Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Switch)

The beauty of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is that it caters to everybody, from the deep-diving series stalwarts who analyse each frame and peruse patch notes to the novice button-masher. It can be a little tough to follow all the action onscreen with lots of characters, but the premise is simple enough for anyone to understand. Button-mashers can still have huge amounts of fun kicking seven shades out of each other and the game's huge (and ever-growing) roster of famous fighters offers something for everyone. With support for up to 8 players, it's a frantic and fantastic family game, provided you can keep up with it. Fight!

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Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)

Nintendo's slow-life sim appeals to the creative part of everyone and gives the whole family the chance to express themselves through their decoration, attire and even their horticultural skills. Yes, Animal Crossing: New Horizons fosters a wonderful spirit of optimism and togetherness that anyone can benefit from, and this newest entry features Party Play, a mode where up to four island inhabitants can play at the same time with one taking on the role of leader.

The only real problem we can see with just one Switch in the house is everyone fighting over it in order to sell their turnips, collect their resources and go fishing. Yes, the optimum way to play would involve everyone under one roof having their own Switch with their own copy of Animal Crossing containing their own island. Wily Nintendo, eh? However you choose to enjoy it, though, New Horizons is the definition of 'fun for the whole family' and worth diving into.

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (Switch)

With split-screen co-op, and incredibly gentle expectations as far as the gameplay is concerned, LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is a fantastic, low-stakes game for parents and kids to play together, but also for adults who are looking for something that pleasantly whiles away the hours without beating you over the head with difficulty. You know what you're getting with Lego games, and this is one of the best. Excelsior!

If it's more Lego brick-blasting content you want, then LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga has plenty more of that.

Mario Strikers: Battle League (Switch)

The Mario Strikers series finally returned in 2022, and with it came chaotic multiplayer soccer action on Switch. Mario Strikers: Battle League has been updated numerous times since its release, bringing new characters onto the pitch, but the game is just pure fun as it is and full of character — and everyone in the family loves character and personality. It's perhaps not the place for wholesome family fun, but if you're looking for something a little bit more competitive to take on the kids with, Battle League is the perfect answer.

Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Switch)

The 'classics' part in the title of Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics won't ring true for everybody, but with over 50 on offer there's bound to be a good handful of them that please everyone in the family. With board games, card games and even action games like bowling to choose from, there's oodles of charming content to enjoy here, all presented in a friendly Wii Sports or Wii Play-esque manner. Wholesome, and more importantly, fun.

Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (Switch)

A beautiful little game, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker is a winner whether you're after puzzling or jump button-less platforming. With beautiful visuals and an upbeat soundtrack, it's is a real gem; a wonderful and gorgeous 3D platform puzzler fit for all ages with slow-paced gameplay which is well-suited to being played as a family with onlookers suggesting solutions to the gentle puzzles.

The two-player co-op Nintendo added makes this offering even tastier, with Toadette joining the Captain as an optional second player on all levels. And there's even a nice little nugget of DLC for once you've polished off the main game.

Let's Sing ABBA (Switch)

Is there any other band more timeless than ABBA? No matter what kind of music you like, how old you are, or what generation of music you grew up with, everyone loves a bit of ABBA. But what's better than just listening to the Swedish supergroup's back catalogue? Singing it, of course! C'mon, who doesn't like watching their grandparents sing to 'SOS' after a few too many?

Well, Let's Sing ABBA will let you do just that — let your hair down with your nearest and dearest. You can sing your heart out to 'Thank You For The Music', or challenge your cousin to a 'Super Trouper' sing-off. It's not about how good you are at singing at all, and that's the best part. Definitely one for a good ol' family celebration.

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (Switch)

Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain is a great little local co-op game for the family, with brain-teasers that are tailored for the age of each player in such a way as to address the the age-old dilemma of whether you should let your kids win. If Dr. Kawashima's friendly but sterile style is a little too staid, the snappily-acronymed BBABVB is just the brain-matter tickler you're after for the holidays, or any other family-focused time for that matter.

Nintendo Switch Sports (Switch)

We've been waiting patiently for the day when we can relive all of the family feuds we had in Wii Sports on Switch again, and this spring, Nintendo Switch Sports delivered. There's nothing better than setting the youngest member of your family and one of the oldest in front of the TV, giving them a Joy-Con each, and letting them go at it at whatever sport they want.

Bowling is, of course, the first and best option, but there's Chambara for those who want a one-on-one sword-fighting duel. Football is compatible with the Leg Strap so you can make fun of each other as you attempt to kick the ball into the goal. And Golf is also now part of the package! Even if this is missing some of the bells and whistles of Wii Sports Club, Nintendo Switch Sports is the perfect game for the sheer amount of laughs you can have with the entire family.


We hope this selection of games helps get your family gaming on the right track. Our competitiveness used to get the better of us — giving lil' Timmy a sound thrashing on the digital racetrack would be a healthy life lesson, right?

The above games helped us become better guardians. Hopefully, they'll help you strike the perfect balance that ensures everyone with a controller in their hands, old or young, is having a great time gaming on Switch. There are more games, of course, but the ones above are the most accessible to the most people. Let us know what other games have gone down a treat with your entire family below.

This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.

Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!

If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.