The Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids

Nintendo has an excellent selection of age appropriate games for kids. From adventures to races to battles, kids can choose their favorite style of games to play on their own or with friends. And with the Nintendo Switch’s TV Mode, Tabletop Mode, and Handheld Mode, kids can play at home or on the go.

We reviewed dozens of Nintendo Switch games for kids to identify the best of the best. We looked at ease of gameplay, single vs multiplayer, age appropriateness, and overall story or themes. All of these Nintendo Switch games can be conveniently purchased online at Amazon.

Best Nintendo Switch Game for Kids Overall
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Explore 164 courses with your favorite Mario characters in this two game set. 

Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe is our pick as the best Nintendo Switch game for kids overall. The additional help for younger and inexperienced players, the easy to learn gameplay, and the amount of courses make this a great game that the whole family can enjoy.

The 5 Top-Rated Nintendo Switch Games for Kids

Editor's PicksBrandRating
Best Nintendo Switch Game for Kids OverallNew Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe4.8
Best Nintendo Switch Racing Game for KidsMario Kart 8 Deluxe4.9
Best Nintendo Switch Creative Game for KidsMinecraft4.8
Best Nintendo Switch Dance Game for KidsJust Dance 20204.8
Best Nintendo Switch Battle Game for KidsSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate4.8

*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can change

Best Nintendo Switch Game for Kids Overall: Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Best Nintendo Switch Game for Kids Overall
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Explore 164 courses with your favorite Mario characters in this two game set. 

Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe comes with two games in one. In Super Mario Bros. U and Super Luigi U, kids can play their favorite Mario characters while they adventure through all sorts of courses. Great for younger and less experienced players, these games provide simple and straightforward controls, a hints gallery, reference videos, as well as several characters such as Toadette and Nabbit, which are optimized to provide extra help and guidance during play.

Players can explore 164 platforming courses in the two main games plus the three additional modes Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle. These modes provide extra replay ability, mix up gameplay, and offer increased difficulty for more advanced players. And kids can even play these additional modes as their Mii character. Entertaining in both the single player and multiplayer modes, with one joy-con controller two people can team up to play. This game can be played with up to four players, so kids can have fun with their family or friends. It’s rated Everyone for comic mischief. Reviewers say this is one of the best Mario games for the Switch, and that both kids and adults enjoy playing it.

Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe Key Features:

  • Two games in one: Super Mario Bros. U and Super Luigi U
  • Up to four players
  • Rated Everyone

Best Nintendo Switch Racing Game for Kids: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Best Nintendo Switch Racing Game for Kids
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
One of kids favorite racing games, players can race or battle each other to see who will win.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe lets your kids race their friends or family on old and new courses. All the tracks from the Wii U version are here, as well as brand new racing courses like the Urchin Underpass and Battle Stadium. A newly revised battle mode lets kids battle each other for the win. Players can pick their favorite returning characters from the Mario universe or pick from new additions such as Inkling Girl and Inkling Boy. And all their favorite items are back like the Feather to give players a high jump and Boo the ghost who steals player’s items.

Kids can play locally with up to four players on TV mode or take the game with them in handheld mode with a joy-con grip. A fantastic party game, even parents enjoy getting in on the fun and playing with their kids. It’s rated Everyone for comic mischief. Reviewers say the game graphics are amazing and it’s a favorite game among both kids and adults. Even kids as young as four and five can get into the game and have fun.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Key Features:

  • Up to four players
  • Handheld mode lets kids play on the go
  • Rated Everyone

Best Nintendo Switch Creative Game for Kids: Minecraft

Best Nintendo Switch Creative Game for Kids
Minecraft
Minecraft encourages players to build whatever they can imagine, gather supplies, craft armor, and build shelters before the monsters attack.

One of the favorite block building games of kids everywhere, Minecraft for the Nintendo Switch is bigger and better than the previous versions. Creative Mode gives players unlimited resources to build whatever they can think of, while in Survival Mode players can explore lands, craft tools and weapons, build shelters and fight (or hide from) monsters.

Kids can play in single player mode, play with up to four players locally with split screen in TV mode, or play online. It’s easy to share the adventure across platforms. There’s also online access to new mini games and game mode through the Nintendo Switch Online Service. It’s rated Everyone 10+ for fantasy violence. Reviewers like that it encourages their kids’ creativity and say their kids love to play on the go as well as at home.

Minecraft Key Features:

  • Features both Creative and Survival modes
  • Play with up to four players locally with split screen
  • Rated Everyone 10+ but reviewers say younger kids also enjoy

Best Nintendo Switch Dance Game for Kids: Just Dance 2020

Best Nintendo Switch Dance Game for Kids
Just Dance 2020
This dancing game has 40 new top of the chart hits for your kids to have a dance party or competition.

For kids who love to dance, Just Dance 2020 is the latest of the Just Dance games. This version comes with 40 new top of the chart tracks such as “I Don’t Care” by Ed Sheeran & Justin Bieber, and “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2. There are also eight new songs specifically aimed at younger kids. And if they’re looking for more songs, a free one-month trial of Just Dance Unlimited is included with the purchase provides access to over 500 songs.

Players can create their own playlists to dance to and can use their smartphones as controllers. Up to six people can play Just Dance 2020 at once. It’s a fantastic way to give kids (and adults) exercise while playing video games, and is the perfect way to throw a dance party for the whole family. Reviewers say their kids love playing it and as parents they like that it keeps kids moving when they can’t go outdoors.

Just Dance 2020 Key Features:

  • 40 new tracks of the latest hits
  • Kids Mode is perfect for younger dancers
  • Up to six players
  • Rated Everyone 10+

Best Nintendo Switch Battle Game for Kids: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Best Nintendo Switch Battle Game for Kids
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Pick your favorite characters and have them battle for victory on new and returning stages.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is the ultimate battle game that lets players pair their favorite characters such as Mario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong against each other to see who will be victorious. The character choices are immense, with every Super Smash Bros. fighter from previous games included, as well as a few new faces like Inkling from the Splatoon series and Ridley from the Metroid series. This updated version has faster combat, new attacks and defensive options, and new items, as well as brand new stages from Super Mario Odyssey and the Castlevania series among others. Players can also pick the new Stage Morph option that will change the stages in the middle of a battle.

Kids can play as a single player against the computer, and multiplayer options make it fun for kids to play with 2-4 players for epic battles. 900 different music compositions make this a fun party game. It’s rated Everyone 10+ for cartoon violence, comic mischief, and suggestive themes. Reviewers say it’s another game the whole family can enjoy and that their kids like playing the game in both single player and multiplayer modes. It has easy to understand gameplay, and kids as young as seven love playing it.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Key Features:

  • Play in different ways: locally, online, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, and more
  • Up to eight players
  • Rated Everyone 10+

All of these games are great for kids of all ages and can be played at home or on the go. You may find yourself playing these fun games with your kids as well! And be sure to check out our list of The Best PS4 Games for Kids if you’re looking for games for the PlayStation console.