Player Two Co

The Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids, Sorted by Age

Every game here is rated E or E10+ and chosen for a specific age band — so you can match the game to the child instead of guessing at the shop.

By Stephen V.Last updated How we pick

The Nintendo Switch is the best console for children by a wide margin, and it’s not close. Its biggest games are built for mixed ages, they’re almost all rated E or E10+, and it works both on the TV and as a handheld in the back of a car. If you’re buying for a child and they have a Switch, you’re in the easiest possible position.

The one thing worth getting right is matching the game to the age. “Kids” covers a five-year-old and a twelve-year-old, and those are very different players — a game that delights one will bore or frustrate the other. So this list is organized by age band, and every pick carries its official ESRB rating so you can check for yourself.

A note for anyone buying for someone else’s child: the ratings here are genuinely useful. E means suitable for everyone; E10+ means roughly ten and up, usually because of mild cartoon action. Nothing on this page is rated Teen or above, so you can buy from it without needing to check with a parent first — which is exactly why we built it this way.

How this is funded: Player Two Co earns a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which gift we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked for who they suit and how safe a gift they are. Tap a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t hands-on-tested these — here’s exactly what we do instead.

#GiftBest forPrice
1
Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds, and almost no Switch owner will be sad to get a second copy for parties.

Best for any age
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land

Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land

An adorable, forgiving 3D adventure that's perfect for a younger kid or a nervous newcomer — gentle enough to never frustrate, with a two-player mode a parent can jump into.

Best for ages 5-8
$58.50 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

3
Nintendo New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Nintendo New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Classic side-scrolling Mario with a built-in easy mode — you can play as characters who simply can't die, which is exactly what a nervous beginner or a small child needs to enjoy themselves.

Best for a nervous player
$52.75 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

4
Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder

Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder

The newest, freshest Mario platformer and one of the most joyful games on the Switch. Instantly familiar to anyone who's touched a Mario game, and a delight solo or with the family.

Best for ages 7-12
$53.90 · See it on Amazon

$59.9910% off

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

5
Mojang Minecraft

Mojang Minecraft

The most-owned game on earth for a reason: it's a creative sandbox with no rules, endlessly playable, and beloved across every age. A safe, affordable win for a kid who talks about it constantly.

Best for creative kids
$29.82 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

6
Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree

Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree

The newest and biggest Mario Party — a board game crossed with dozens of quick minigames, built for four people in the same room. If the gift is really 'something the family can all play', this is the current best answer.

Best for a group
$52.78 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

7
Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

If the kid (or kid-at-heart) on your list is into Pokémon at all, a mainline Pokémon adventure is a guaranteed hit. Scarlet is the modern open-world entry they can explore at their own pace.

Best for Pokémon fans
$53.80 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

8
Nintendo Luigi's Mansion 3

Nintendo Luigi's Mansion 3

A charming, funny ghost-hunting adventure in a haunted hotel — spooky in a cartoon way rather than a scary one. It has a drop-in second player, which makes it a lovely parent-and-child game.

Best gentle spooky pick
$59.88 · See it on Amazon

Price as of September 9, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

Every pick, explained

#1Best for any age

Nintendo Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

The single safest game gift there is. Everyone from a 6-year-old to a grandparent can pick up a controller and have fun in ten seconds, and almost no Switch owner will be sad to get a second copy for parties.

Great because

  • Zero learning curve — pick up and play in seconds
  • Up to four people on one Switch, so it's an instant party
  • The best-selling Switch game ever; it's beloved for a reason

Keep in mind

  • A very online player may already own it
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if you know for certain they already have it (most Switch owners do eventually).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#2Best for ages 5-8

Nintendo Kirby and the Forgotten Land

An adorable, forgiving 3D adventure that's perfect for a younger kid or a nervous newcomer — gentle enough to never frustrate, with a two-player mode a parent can jump into.

Great because

  • Very approachable and low-stress
  • A second player can help out, ideal for a parent + child
  • Charming and genuinely fun for adults too

Keep in mind

  • Not much challenge for a seasoned player
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 6 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip for a hardcore gamer looking for a tough challenge.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#3Best for a nervous player

Nintendo New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Classic side-scrolling Mario with a built-in easy mode — you can play as characters who simply can't die, which is exactly what a nervous beginner or a small child needs to enjoy themselves.

Great because

  • Includes characters designed so a beginner can't lose
  • Four players together on one screen
  • The most familiar, comfortable style of Mario game

Keep in mind

  • An older title, so it's less flashy than the newest Mario
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they want the newest Mario — Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the fresher pick.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#4Best for ages 7-12

Nintendo Super Mario Bros. Wonder

The newest, freshest Mario platformer and one of the most joyful games on the Switch. Instantly familiar to anyone who's touched a Mario game, and a delight solo or with the family.

Great because

  • Bright, joyful and genuinely funny
  • Up to four players together on one screen
  • Easy to start, with enough challenge to keep going

Keep in mind

  • Full price — it's a recent flagship release
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they only play on PlayStation, Xbox or PC — this is Switch-only.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#5Best for creative kids

Mojang Minecraft

The most-owned game on earth for a reason: it's a creative sandbox with no rules, endlessly playable, and beloved across every age. A safe, affordable win for a kid who talks about it constantly.

Great because

  • Bottomless creativity — build anything
  • Affordable and universally loved
  • Play alone or together with friends

Keep in mind

  • Check which platform they play on — many kids already have it on a tablet
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Also on Xbox, PlayStation, PC & mobile (buy for their device)
Good for
Ages 7 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip if they already play Minecraft on another device (progress doesn't always carry over).

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#6Best for a group

Nintendo Super Mario Party Jamboree

The newest and biggest Mario Party — a board game crossed with dozens of quick minigames, built for four people in the same room. If the gift is really 'something the family can all play', this is the current best answer.

Great because

  • The largest Mario Party yet — huge amount of content
  • Four players on one Switch, no extra consoles needed
  • Mixed ages compete on genuinely even terms

Keep in mind

  • Much less fun played alone
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
All ages
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they mostly play solo — this needs company to shine.

Details read from the product listing on August 10, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#7Best for Pokémon fans

Nintendo Pokémon Scarlet

If the kid (or kid-at-heart) on your list is into Pokémon at all, a mainline Pokémon adventure is a guaranteed hit. Scarlet is the modern open-world entry they can explore at their own pace.

Great because

  • Instant excitement for anyone who likes Pokémon
  • Open-world and beginner-friendly
  • Huge replay value catching and battling

Keep in mind

  • Choose Scarlet vs Violet — a few exclusive creatures differ between them
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Game
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 7 & up
Age rating
E (Everyone)

Skip it if: Skip if they already own Scarlet or Violet — check first, they're a matched pair.

Details read from the product listing on July 22, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

#8Best gentle spooky pick

Nintendo Luigi's Mansion 3

A charming, funny ghost-hunting adventure in a haunted hotel — spooky in a cartoon way rather than a scary one. It has a drop-in second player, which makes it a lovely parent-and-child game.

Great because

  • Genuinely funny and beautifully made
  • A second player can drop in to help at any point
  • Delivered as a download code

Keep in mind

  • The ghost theme may still be a bit much for a very young child
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Type
Digital game (download code)
Works with
Switch, Switch Lite, Switch OLED
Good for
Ages 8 & up
Age rating
E10+ (Everyone 10+)

Skip it if: Skip for a child who's easily spooked, even by cartoon ghosts.

Details read from the product listing on August 14, 2026. Price is live from Amazon.

By age band

Ages 4–7. Look for forgiving games with no real failure. Kirby is the standout — adorable, very gentle, and with a second-player mode a parent can drop into to help. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is the other strong pick here, because it includes characters designed so a struggling young player effectively can’t die. Mario Kart works from about five upward too, since the game can steer and accelerate for them.

Ages 8–11. The sweet spot for most of the library. Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Minecraft and Pokémon all land perfectly here — enough challenge to feel real, nothing frustrating, and plenty of depth to keep going for months.

Ages 12 and up. Pokémon and Minecraft still work, and Luigi’s Mansion 3 suits an older child who enjoys a cartoon-spooky theme. At this age many children also want what their friends are playing, which is worth asking about.

The best gift for a household rather than a child

If there are siblings, or if the game will be played when relatives visit, buy a multiplayer title. Mario Kart and Mario Party Jamboree both support four players on one console with no extra hardware beyond controllers, and they level the field across ages in a way that stops the youngest constantly losing. It’s often the better gift than another single-player adventure.

Two practical things to check

Do they already own it? Popular Switch games are extremely widely owned, and Mario Kart in particular is in most Switch households already. A quick word with a parent avoids the duplicate. Do they have the right controllers? Four-player party games need enough controllers to go round, and Nintendo Switch Sports needs the detachable kind, so it doesn’t suit a handheld-only Switch Lite. If in doubt, a Nintendo eShop gift card lets the family sort it out themselves.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best Nintendo Switch game for a young child?

Kirby and the Forgotten Land for roughly ages 5–8 — it's gentle, forgiving and has a drop-in second player so a parent can help. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is the other strong pick, with characters designed so a struggling player can't die.

What Switch game is best for a 10 or 12 year old?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Minecraft or a mainline Pokémon game all suit that age well — enough challenge to feel real, plenty of depth, and all rated E or E10+.

Are all these games appropriate for children?

Yes. Every game on this page is rated E (Everyone) or E10+ (Everyone 10+) by the ESRB — nothing here is rated Teen or above, so you can buy from this list for someone else's child without checking first.

What's the best Switch game if several kids will play together?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Super Mario Party Jamboree. Both support four players on one console and level the playing field across different ages, so the youngest isn't constantly losing.

Will these games work on a Switch Lite?

Nearly all of them, yes. The exception is anything needing detachable motion controllers — Nintendo Switch Sports, for instance — which doesn't suit the handheld-only Lite. Everything on this page works on a standard Switch or OLED.

Sources

  • ESRB — Ratings Guide — The Entertainment Software Rating Board's official age-rating definitions: E (Everyone), E10+ (Everyone 10+), T (Teen), M (Mature 17+) and the content descriptors printed on every game box (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • ESRB — Ratings Search — ESRB's official database for looking up any game's age rating and content descriptors before you buy (accessed July 22, 2026)
  • Nintendo — Nintendo eShop Cards — Nintendo's own page on eShop cards: funds add to a Nintendo Account balance to spend on games and DLC in the eShop; cards are sold in fixed amounts (accessed July 22, 2026)

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