It’s been another great year for gaming, from the release of the highly anticipated Nintendo console, Switch 2, to indie RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 winning Game of the Year at this year’s The Game Awards.
For family games, we looked at games that are fun to play with our kids and partners, whether through direct cooperative play, or by enjoying and comparing our experiences. And obviously, they should be appropriate for kids of different ages — you won’t find any M-rated games on this list!
Here are our top 10 family games of 2025 (in order of release)!
Monster Hunter Wilds
Since the explosive release of Monster Hunter World in 2018, the series is gradually becoming more and more user-friendly, focusing less on the tedium of sharpening a weapon, and more on the exhilaration of epic monster battles. Wilds is an awesome game for veterans and newcomers alike, with a steady curve of challenging monsters, large biomes to hunt in, and the new wound system for laying down extra combo attacks.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S
Co-op: Online only, up to four players
Rating: T for Teen
Two Point Museum
One of my personal favorite games of the year, Two Point Museum builds upon the management sim series in some really fun and innovating ways. Expeditions and discoveries are almost like randomized loot in an RPG, and the customization tools for floors, wallpaper, rooms, and more has never been more robust. Two Point Museum also keeps the delightfully and distinctly British studio charm and art style. Plus, a lengthy campaign mode with several different museums, multiple fun themes with different mechanics, and regular ongoing free updates and paid expansions.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S
Co-op: N/A
Rating: E for Everyone
Split Fiction
Hazelight Studios did it again in making an absolutely can’t-miss splitscreen cooperative experience. Split Fiction is their best game yet, with a cinematic story starring two writers who become trapped in their own worlds and ideas. Only by begrudgingly working together, and working through their issues, can they escape the simulation-gone-wrong. Each level offers a completely different experience and set of abilities, from flying on dragons to third-person shooting in a sci-fi world.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S
Co-op: Local split-screen and online (two players)
Rating: T for Teen
Sunderfolk
Sunderfolk attempts to recreate a D&D-like tabletop RPG experience with its unique phone-screen controller. What it lacks in actual role-playing, it makes up for with its excellent turn-based tactical combat. Choosing one of six heroes, players level up and build their deck of card abilities as they go on various missions, trying to keep their underground city alive. By utilizing a free companion app, each player selects their card abilities, including moving and targeting, while keeping the main screen focused on the action. It’s a brilliant system, with a satisfying 20-hour campaign.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S
Co-op: Local same-screen co-op only, up to four players (requires phone app for each player)
Rating: E10+
Mario Kart World
Was there any doubt that the launch game for the Nintendo Switch 2 would make our list of top family games of 2025? The Mario Kart series remains one of the best family gaming experiences around, and World continues the trend of bright colors, easy driving, and robust accessibility features that allow even the youngest kids to participate. The open-world racing is limited to single-player only, but families can still enjoy several racing modes, including battles, or take the action online with other drivers.
Platforms: Switch 2
Co-op: Split-screen with up to four players, or online with up to 24 players
Rating: E for Everyone
Donkey Kong Bananza
Oh, Banana! DK clearly isn’t as popular as Mario, which is a shame as Donkey Kong Bananza is the Switch 2’s Super Mario Odyssey (it also missed the Switch 2 launch by a few months). Bananza is a brilliantly fun action-platformer that takes environmental destruction to a whole new level. Taking just the right amount from Minecraft, DK can punch his way through levels, digging through the ground to find the coveted skill-point bananas. Throw in an equally clever assisted second player option, and you’ve got the Best Family Game of the year according to The Game Awards 2025 — and one of our top family games of 2025!
Platforms: Switch 2
Co-op: Same-screen with two players (2nd player rides on DK)
Rating: E10+
Lego Party
If you were ready to dismiss Lego Party as just another Mario Party clone, you need to reconsider — this is easily the best Mario Party-like ever made, and dare we say, just as enjoyable as Mario Party Jamboree! Lego Party works on every level, from the charming IP to the interesting board layouts to the most excellent assortment of mini-games. It also takes full advantage of its Lego bricks by offering full minifigure customization and unlockable parts, granting a fun layer of progression while playing with friends, family, or even by yourself.
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Co-op: Same-screen and online play, up to four players
Rating: E for Everyone
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
Pokémon Legends: Z-A dared to upend the entire Pokémon formula when it introduced real-time battles. And it totally works! Legends: Z-A is set entirely in the large city of Lumiose as players run around collecting side quests, venturing into Wild Zones to catch and battle Pokémon, and ascending the ranks of the Z-A Royale. Mega Evolutions return in a big way thanks to the awesomely epic Rogue Mega Evolution boss battles throughout the campaign, while Mable’s Research makes it rewarding to catch and battle ’em all to earn those precious TMs and other rewards.
Platforms: Switch, Switch 2
Co-op: N/A, but includes competitive battling (online only)
Rating: E10+
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Sneaking in at the end of the year is Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a retro sidescrolling beat ’em up from the brilliant techno-wizards who gave us Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. Nostalgic yet modern arcade action? Check! Awesome pixel art? Heck yes! Large roster of Marvel heroes? Of course! Throw in the cool new tag-team feature of swapping between two heroes, and we have one of our favorite action co-op experiences of the year.
Platforms: Switch, Switch 2
Co-op: Same-screen, up to four players
Rating: E10+
Disney Dreamlight Valley
What’s a three-year old game doing in our 2025 list? Here us out: Disney Dreamlight Valley had an amazing year in 2025, with excellent updates, tons of beloved character additions, and a fantastic new expansion pack. A recent update just added DreamTeams, a guild-like feature for up to eight players that includes their own social feed, picture uploads, and resource-sharing. It’s never been a better time to jump into one of our favorite life sims.
Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Apple Arcade
Co-op: Online only
Rating: E for Everyone
What did you think of our list of the top family games of 2025? Let us know via our social media channels, and sign up for our weekly newsletter!
