There are 2 main sections : A) Games I've tried (with my kids) B) Games I've not tried yet
These 2 sections are divided into 3 main sub sections : i) 2 players max ii) up to 4 players and more iii) online multiplayer
I've started to add the minimal age I recommend. If no age is speciied, then the minimal age is 6-7yo. All games are available on Nintendo Switch unless specified. I try to focus on games that gets above average reviews. I'm probably going to put this in an Excel spreadsheet at some point to make it easier to filter. Games with less than 300 reviews on Steam and less than 20 reviews on Metacritic gets the "LK" tag which stands for lesser-known.
A) Games I've tried
2 players max
Great : It Takes Two (8yo) Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker : action-puzzle Luigi's Mansion 3 : action adventure Snipperclips Plus : puzzle BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! : puzzle Portal 2 (8yo) : puzzle Yoshi's Crafted World (5yo) : similar to Kirby Star Allies A Way Out (11yo) : not on Switch Puyo Puyo Tetris Guacamelee 1,2 : action-platformer Kirby and the Forgotten Land : platformer, a bit too easy and linear Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze (8yo) : platformer, a bit too hard before that age Door Kickers: Action Squad (8yo) : side scroller, similar to Broforce, a bit violent for 8yo Paw Patrol on a Roll (5yo) : action platformer, great for young kids Unravel Two : puzzle platformer Racing games : Forza, Gran Turismo, F1, NFS Hot Pursuit, Dirt, etc. Rarely on Switch.
Not bad : A Hat in Time : 3d platformer, cute for kids but the second player is limited a bit Portal Knights (8yo) : mix of Minecraft and RPG Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2 : graphics are meh in split screen on Switch so go PS5/etc Kinect Disneyland Adventures (5yo) : action adventure (PC+XBOX only) Stick Fight The Game : fighting, repetitive but funny! similar to Duck Game
Not a fan : Chicory A Colorful Tale (PS5) Cat Quest 2 : action RPG similar to Minecraft Dungeons Monaco (8yo) : top down stealth Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (10yo) : beat em up Diablo 3/4 (12yo) Divinity: Original Sin 2 (13yo) : not really my cup of tea but it's popular Phogs! : puzzle, movements are limited by the other player, it annoyed me Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle : turn based strategy game, not my cup of tea Animal Crossing New Horizons : very popular but I don't like it, not enough action Chess Ultra : I prefer to play on a real board, this video game does not add anything imho Asterix and Obelix: Slap them All! (8yo) : beat 'em up 20xx : run&gun, looks cool and could be great but was average Up to 4 players or more
Great : Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury : platformer New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe : platformer Sackboy : platformer (not on Switch) Just Dance (5yo) Super Smash Bros. Ultimate : fighting Super Mario Bros. Wonder : platformer Horizon Chase Turbo : arcade racing Boomerang Fu (5yo) : fighting Duck Game : fighting Towerfall Ascension : action Hidden in Plain Sight : stealth party (great especially with kids) Broforce (8yo) : run&gun, a bit violent/gore but my 7yo liked it Trine 4 : side-scrolling, platform-puzzle Sport games : NHL, FIFA, etc ARMS : fighting Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime (8yo) : space shooter, a bit too hard before that age Littlebigplanet 1,2,3 : platformer, a bit too hard before that age (PS4/PS5 only) Rayman Legends (8yo) : platformer, a bit too hard before that age Tricky Towers : similar to Tetris Mario Kart 8 : it gets repetitive quickly imho but I liked it when I was a kid so Ultimate Chicken Horse : competitive platformer
Not bad : Overcooked (8yo) Moving Out (8yo) Nobody Saves the World (9yo) : action RPG dungeon crawling Minecraft Dungeons (8yo) : dungeon crawler Untitled Goose Game : puzzle stealth Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Shredders Revenge Tetris Effect Connected Mario Party Superstars : not a fan but my daughter likes it Super Mario Party : see above, Superstars is the newest edition Cake Bash : fighting, not a fan but my daughter liked it, she can play solo
Not a fan : Astro Bears Party : snake game (might be funnier with 8yo+ kids) Fly Punch Bloom : fighting WarioWare Get It Together! Gang beasts : fighting Urban flow : a bit like with Phogs!, when too much cooperation is needed, it kills it for me
Online multiplayer (ranked) Fortnite (8yo) Palworld : only on xbox/PC Rocket League Minecraft Fall Guys Roblox : not a fan but my kids like it (on iPad) Genshin Impact (8yo) Sky: Children of the Light : did not like it
Single player
Single player games to play with kids (not multi but can be great to compete or watch) : Super Mario Odyssey : there is a coop mode but the 2nd player is limited (cappy) Astro's Playroom Lonely Mountains Downhill Ring Fit Adventure Paper Mario: The Origami King Super Mario Maker 2 : there are some coop levels apparently Super Mario 3D All-Stars Stray (PS5) Shovel Knight : very good game but might be a bit hard for kids Pac-Man Zelda BOTW Burnout Paradise Remastered OlliOlli World Pinball FX 3
Solo Puzzle games (can work together since it can be complicated for young kids) : The Talos Principle The Witness Baba is you (9yo) The Incredible Machine : old classic PC game but still worth it
B) Games I have not tried yet
i) 2 players Aqua Kitty UDX : arcade shooter Astral Chain (10yo) : hack & slash BattleBlock Theater : only on PC/xbox, up to 4 players in Arena mode Borderlands (13yo) : might be good with mouse/kb but not a fan of FPS using controllers Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer (9yo) Dodgeball Academia (7yo) : sports RPG Fitness boxing 2 Goat Simulator (10yo) Golf Story (7yo) : golf RPG Haven (12yo) : third-person RPG with survival game elements Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (10yo) : hack & slash Hyrule Warriors Definitive Edition (10yo) : hack & slash Hyper Light Drifter (11yo) : 2D action RPG Katamari Damacy REROLL (7yo) Knack 2 (8yo) : PS4/PS5 only Knights and Bikes : action-adventure Kingdom Two Crowns : side-scrolling micro strategy game Pang Adventures : collection of arcade video games, LK Pokemon Let's Go Pikmin 3 (8yo) Salt And Sanctuary (11yo) : 2D action RPG SEGA Genesis Classics : compilation of over 50 retro games Spiritfarer (10yo) : tried it solo, did not like it SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated Starlink: Battle for Atlas : open world space combat The Adventure Pals (5yo) : platforming with beat 'em up style combat and light RPG elements The World Ends with You Final Remix (12yo) : action RPG Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands (13yo) : similar to Borderlands, not available on Switch Unsighted : top-down hack 'n slash mixed with shoot em up and RPG elements Vitamin Connection (7yo) : LK Wand Wars : fast-paced, top-down, magical sports game, LK What the golf? : silly physics-based golf parody Wild Guns Reloaded (9yo) : fast-paced arcade-style shooter Yooka-Laylee : second player limited gameplay LEGO games, the best ones on Switch seem to be (ranked) : Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga DC Super Villains City Undercover Harry Potter Collection Marvel Super Heroes 1 Jurassic World
Puzzles : Brothers: A Tale Of Two Sons (10yo) Biped (8yo) : action puzzle, requires a lot of collaboration Never Alone : puzzle-platformer Part Time UFO (8yo) : physics-based puzzle Pikuniku (7yo) : puzzle-exploration Pode (7yo) : puzzle exploration Shift Happens : puzzle-platformer
Platformers : Cave Story+ (7yo) : 2D platformer Explosionade DX : 2D shoot-em-up platformer, LK Mutant Mudds Collection Sonic Colors Ultimate Sonic The Hedgehog 2 Super chariot : 2D platform, LK The Smurfs - Mission Vileaf : 3d platformer VVVVVV : 2d action platformer
Fighting : BLAZBLUE CENTRALFICTION (12yo) Mortal Kombat 11 (16yo) : great single player Pocket Rumble, LK Pokkén Tournament DX Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (9yo) Nidhogg 2 (10yo) Ultra Street Fighter IV (13yo) Run & gun : I would say minimum 9 years old Blazing Chrome (10yo) Blaster Master Zero Bleed 1,2 (9yo) Contra Anniversary Collection Cuphead (9yo) Huntdown Metal Slug X Metal Slug 1,2,3 Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection (12yo) Guns, Gore and Cannoli 2 (11yo) : up to 4 players Gunstar Heroes : not available on Switch Sunset Riders : up to 4 players, LK
Shoot em up / bullet hell : I would say minimum 9 years old, all lesser-known unless specified 1993 Shenandoah AngerForce: Reloaded Astro Duel Deluxe : up to 3 players Binarystar Infinity Blazing Star Crimzon Clover World EXplosion : relatively popular Darius Cozmic Collection Arcade Deathsmiles : relatively popular DoDonPachi Resurrection : very popular Dragon Blaze G-darius hd Gunbird 2 Ikaruga : very popular Jamestown+ (10yo) : up to 4 players, relatively popular Mushihimesama : most popular Nuclear Throne (10yo) : most popular Psyvariar Delta Raiden IV x MIKADO remix R-Type Dimensions EX (7yo using Infinite Mode) : relatively popular Shikhondo Soul eater : relatively popular Shoot 1UP DX Sky force Reloaded : very popular Sky Force Anniversary : very popular Space Invaders Invincible Collection (7yo) Steredenn: Binary Stars Super Hydorah Strikers 1945 Tengai Zero gunner 2
Twin stick shooters (8-9 yo) : Archvale Assault Android Cactus Plus : up to 4 players Geometry wars 3 : not on Switch Helldivers : not on Switch Neon Chrome Neurovoider Nex Machina : not on Switch
Games with roguelike elements : I would say minimum 9 years old
2 players : Blazing Beaks : roguelike shoot em up Caveblazers (12yo) Crypt of the Necrodancer : hardcore roguelike rhythm game Children of Morta (12yo) : story-driven action RPG Enter the Gungeon : bullet hell dungeon crawler Kingdom: Two Crowns : side-scrolling micro strategy game One Step from Eden : combines strategic deck-building and real-time action Wizard of Legend : fast paced dungeon crawler Young Souls (9yo) : 2D brawler with story-rich action RPG.
4 players : Binding of Isaac (13yo) : randomly generated action RPG shooter Crawl (12yo) Death Road to Canada (12yo) : randomly Generated Road Trip Action-RPG Lost castle (9yo) : action RPG beat'em up Moon Hunters : roguelike action RPG Nine Parchments Spelunky 2 (9yo) Streets of Rogue (12yo) Vagante
ii) Up to 4 players or more Art of Balance : physics-based puzzle, LK Baron: Fur is Gonna Fly (7yo) : air combat, up to 8 players, LK Collection of Mana : up to 3 players Conga Master Party : snake game, LK Death squared : puzzle Flat Heroes (7yo) : puzzle platformer with bullet hell elements Fly Together! : explosive airplane action For the King (9yo) : up to 3 players, strategic RPG that blends tabletop and roguelike elements Just Shapes & Beats : action rhythm Killer Queen Black : platform strategy game Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (11yo) : top-down dungeon crawler Mini metro (7yo) : strategy subway puzzle simulation Mr. Driller DrillLand : action puzzle PICO PARK : cooperative action-puzzle Pix the cat : mash-up of Snake and Pac-Man Radical Rabbit Stew : competitive arcade action, LK Retimed : arena shooter, LK Shipped : naval game Skies of Fury DX : flight simulator Stardew valley (8yo) : farming simulation RPG game, can also play online! Super Bomberman R : action-maze game Taiko no Tatsujin Drum 'n' Fun! (7yo) : rythm music party Tales of Berseria (13yo) : JRPG, not available on Switch Tales of Vesperia (12yo) : JRPG The Ascent (16yo) : action-shooter RPG The Escapists 2 (7yo) : prison escape strategy sim Tower of Babel - no mercy : physics-based tower building, LK Trivial Pursuit Live! 2 (12yo) : trivia Wargroove : turn based strategy Worms WMD : 2D artillery turn-based tactics
Board games : Billion Road : LK No Time To Relax RISK Global Domination : board game of strategic warfare Wingspan : bird board game
Platformers : (6yo) Kirby Star Allies (6yo) : platformer Heave Ho : platform party Home Sheep Home: Farmageddon Party Edition : platform puzzle, LK Human: Fall Flat : platformer N++ : momentum-based platformer Runbow : platform racing Super Monkey Ball Banana Mania : platform party game Super One More Jump : arcade platformer
Sports : (6yo) Golf With Your Friends Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Mario Tennis Aces Stikbold! : over-the-top action dodgeball game Super Mega Baseball 3 : up to 2 players Windjammers 2 (7yo) : up to 2 players, flying disc sport game
Mixed reviews or lesser-known but I will give them a try : 1-2-Switch ClusterPuck 99 : up to 8 players, soccer game Disc Jam Grand Mountain Adventure: Wonderlands (7yo) : open-world skiing & snowboarding Instant Sports Plus Instant Sports All-Stars Mario Golf : Super Rush Mario Strikers Battle League Nintendo Switch Sports RetroMania Wrestling SpiritSphere DX : tennis fighting Super Beat Sports Super Blood Hockey (16yo) Super Sportmatchen Super Tennis blast : up to 2 players Super Volley Blast Wrestledunk Sports
Party / mini games 12 Orbits (7yo) : up to 12 players, LK Big brain acadamy (8yo) Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics Drawful 2 The Jackbox Party Pack (3 and 7 are the most recommended) Beat em ups : (9yo) Castle Crashers (9yo) Full Metal Furies Okinawa Rush : up to 2 players, LK Rampage Knights (9yo) : up to 2 players River City Girls (9yo) : up to 2 players Son of a Witch (9yo) : LK Street of Rage 4 (10yo)
Fighting : (7yo) Brawlhalla Kirby Fighters 2 Knight Squad 2 : LK Hyper jam : LK Invisigun Reloaded (8yo) : stealth battle Lethal League Blaze (7yo) MultiVersus : platform fighter (similar to Smash Bros), not available on Switch Nickelodeon All Stars Brawl (7yo) Tilt Pack : LK, mixed reviews Treadnauts : LK Unspottable : LK
Racing : (6yo) Fast RMX GRID Autosport : up to 2 players Hotshot Racing Hot Wheels Unleashed : up to 2 players Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2 Riptide GP Renegade Speedrunners Team Sonic Racing Trackmania Turbo : up to 2 players, not available on Switch SEGA AGES Virtua Racing Multitasking / coordination / simulation / time management games: (8yo) Conduct Together! : LK Good Job! (2 players) The Stretchers (2 players) Tools up : mostly positive reviews Totally Reliable Delivery Service : mostly positive reviews Unrailed! : too repetitive imho, a bit hard and stressful for young kids
Games that requires the most collaboration : the multitasking ones from the category above Overcooked Moving Out Snipperclips Plus BOXBOY! + BOXGIRL! Portal 2 (Portal Companion Collection) Trine 4 Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime It Takes Two Biped Phogs! F2p cross platform online multi : Super Animale Royale Overwatch 2 SMITE Among us Infinity Nikki
Online multiplayer : Valheim (9yo) No Man's Sky (limited mp apparently) Terraria ARK Survival Monster Hunter Rise (11yo) Roboquest Stardew valley (can also play local coop) Baldur's Gate 3 (13yo) Risk of Rain (9yo) : action platformer (local mp on Switch only) Games not yet categorized : Kirbys Dream Buffet Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader Lego Brawls The Game of Life 2 Frogun Indivisible DRAGON BALL FighterZ (11yo) Legend of Mana Let's Sing 2022 Gigantosaurus The Game GO VACATION Monopoly Madness Super Kirby Clash Fort Boyard 2022 Garfield Lasagna Party Winter Games 2023 Paw Patrol Grand Prix Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series : very limited coop Miraculous: Rise of the Sphinx Advance Wars 1 Plus 2 Re-Boot Camp Trinity Trigger Lara Croft Collection Split Fiction Little Nightmares 3 : coming soon, 13yo+ in theory but v1 was fine for 7yo Anything I should add to this list ? ;-)