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Family friendly video games for the holidays

December 16, 2022

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Family friendly video games

Family friendly video games are becoming more and more common as the last generation of gamers gets older, and begins passing on these hobbies to their children. What makes a good family friendly video game? There are a few signs that point to a game being appropriate for the whole family, and it begins with the ESRB rating.

You’ll find this rating on the digital store page, or on the front of the physical game case. If it reads E (Everyone) or E10+ (Everyone 10+) it is a safe bet that it will be appropriate for the entire family! Second, games that offer strong multiplayer components are also often more family friendly, Being able to play with a wide variety of folks makes gaming as a family much more enjoyable.

Finally, simple to understand controls and mechanics makes family friendly games more accessible for people of all ages, and can get you going on an evening of fun without having to spend too much time teaching controls and strategies! There are tons of great family friendly video games to purchase this holiday season, but these are our favourites!

PAW Patrol: Grand Prix

Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC
Developer(s): 3D Clouds
Publisher(s): Outright Games
Genre: Kart Racer
Modes: Single player, multiplayer (1-4 local multiplayer via split-screen)
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

PAW Patrol: Grand Prix gives players the chance to race as their favourite pups from the popular preschool show. The game features 10 playable characters, including Chase, Ryder, Skye, Marshall, and Rex from Dino Rescue. Players can customize their karts with 20 stickers and 20 topper items inspired by the show and race on 11 tracks across 3 locations in Adventure Bay, Jake’s Snowboarding Resort, and the Jungle. Up to 4 players can race together locally on the same TV using split screen. The game also includes an easy control option with auto-acceleration for younger players, as well as a harder mode for more experienced racers.

Buy PAW Patrol: Grand Prix on PS5, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One

Rabbids: Party of Legends

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC
Developer(s): Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft, Ubisoft Shanghai
Publisher(s): Ubisoft
Genre: Action game
Modes: Single player, multiplayer (1-4 local multiplayer)
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Join the Rabbids on an epic journey in this party game, filled with hilarious moments and colorful characters. Gather with friends and family to play a variety of mini-games in multiplayer with up to four players locally.

Customize the playlist of your favourite mini-games to create the perfect party night, and adjust the difficulty and controls to accommodate players of all skill levels. Explore a legendary story with fun games, hilarious moments, and amazing characters across four chapters.

Get Rabbids: Party of Legends for Nintendo Switch, PS4 or Xbox One

The Addams Family: Mansion Mayhem

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC
Developer(s): PHL Collective
Publisher(s): Outright Games
Genre:Family Multiplayer
Modes: Single player, multiplayer (1-4 local multiplayer)
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

In The Addams Family: Mansion Mayhem, you must help Wednesday, Pugsley, Gomez, and Morticia save the Addams Family Mansion from an unexpected threat. Up to four players can explore the mansion, uncover its secrets, and solve puzzles by using the special abilities of each character.

The game also includes competitive minigames that are fully unlocked from the start, which you can access from the main menu and play against each other.

Get The Adams Family: Mansion Mayhem on Nintendo Switch or Xbox One digital download

DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of the Nine Realms

Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC
Developer(s):A Heartful of Games
Publisher(s): Outright Games
Genre: Action-Adventure RPG
Modes: Single player
ESRB Rating: E10+ (Everyone 10+)

In DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of the Nine Realms, you embark on an action-adventure journey inspired by the hit TV series DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms. Set 1300 years after the events of How to Train Your Dragon, the game features four playable dragons: Plowhorn, Wu & Wei, Feathers, and Thunder.

You must fly beyond the Hidden World to rescue Thunder’s family and save the legendary dragon kingdoms. During the adventure, players will soar and dive through uncharted realms of fire and ice, using their speed, tail, and claws to defeat enemies and giant bosses. As they progress, players can level up Thunder and choose which new powers to unlock.

Get DreamWorks Dragons: Legends of the Nine Realms on Nintendo Switch

Blaze and the Monster Machines

Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One and PC
Developer(s): 3D Clouds
Publisher(s): Outright Games
Genre: Kart Racer
Modes: Single player, multiplayer (1-4 local multiplayer via split-screen)
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

In Blaze and the Monster Machines, you’ll join Blaze and his friends as they race through a world brought to life from the TV series. The game features tracks from Axle City and the Monster Dome stunt track, and allows the entire family to control their favourite characters from the show, including Blaze, Pickle, Darington, Zeg, Starla, Stripes, and even cheating Crusher.

You can boost, drift, jump, and perform stunts with ease, and can use the Wrench power-up to activate their character’s unique skill. The game also has a garage where you can customize your characters, and includes STEM education features and accessible control options like Auto-Drive Helper to make it accessible for younger players.

Buy Blaze and the Monster Machines for Nintendo Switch