5 of the Best Family-Friendly Games To Play This Halloween

Halloween season is in full swing, and while there are plenty of new horror games available to play this month (like Silent Hill 2 and the Until Dawn remake), there are also lots of family-friendly games that are perfect for celebrating the spookiest time of the year without actually being scary.

If you’re more into costume contests and pumpkin carving than haunted houses and horror movie marathons, check out these five games that will add some family-friendly fun to your Halloween celebrations.

Costume Quest

Rated: E10+ for Everyone 10+

It’s nearly impossible to talk about Halloween-themed games without bringing up Costume Quest. A perfect fit for the phrase “an oldie, but a goodie,” this 2010 release from Double Fine takes place on Halloween night, as players become young kids on a quest to defeat monsters and collect candy while trick-or-treating. Equipping different costumes gives the kids new abilities during turn-based battles, allowing players to defeat enemies as everything from a robot to the Statue of Liberty. A sequel, Costume Quest 2, was released in 2014.

Two children dressed in Halloween costumes standing on a neighborhood street

Costume Quest

Release Date: October 19, 2010

Digital Only

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD

Rated E for Everyone

Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD proves that haunted houses and ghosts can still be cute (a phrase we never thought we’d type). This remake of the 3DS title Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon challenges players to help Mario’s fearful brother defeat ghosts and collect pieces of the Dark Moon, which has been shattered by King Boo. Armed with a trusty vacuum and just enough guts to keep moving forward, Luigi can interact with the environment by sucking up ghosts and other items and blinding enemies with his trusty flashlight. This one’s a level-based experience, so it easily supports taking turns during a Halloween party. Check out our full review for more, and for even more of Luigi’s haunted adventures, check out Luigi’s Mansion 3 on Switch as well.

Luigi's Mansion 2 HD

Release Date: June 27, 2024

Nintendo Switch Buy

Cozy Grove

Rated E10+ for Everyone 10+

Cozy Grove is a life simulation game that takes place on an island full of spirits in need of help. As a Spirit Scout, players will be able to befriend the spirits and learn their unique backstories as they complete quests and other activities, like crafting and fishing. The game utilizes a real-time clock and was designed to give players “30-60 minutes of new quest content each day,” with the campaign promising more than 40+ hours of gameplay in total. While the game’s sequel, Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit, was released earlier in 2024, it requires a Netflix subscription to play, while the original is available for everyone.

Cozy Grove

Release Date: March 19, 2021

Digital Only

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Rated E for Everyone

While Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the perfect cozy game to play year round, the game’s holiday celebrations are great times to jump back in for a few days or weeks of seasonal fun. During the month of October, players can grow pumpkins on their islands, purchase costumes from the Able Sisters shop, and stock up on candy from Nook’s Cranny. Then, on Halloween night, the island’s residents will don their adorable costumes and players can give them some of the candy they’ve collected throughout the month. Plus, the pumpkin-headed Jack, the “czar of Halloween,” will appear at the plaza, giving players the chance to collect some spooky in-game rewards.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Release Date: March 20, 2020

Nintendo Switch Buy

The Addams Family: Mansion Mayhem

Rated E10+ for Everyone 10+

This level-based platformer challenges players to help Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, and Pugsley prevent their home from being turned into a tourist attraction by proving it’s a historical landmark. The game features multiple themed worlds full of enemies to defeat and obstacles to avoid, as well as mini-games that will test players’ skills. While Mansion Mayhem can be played by a single person, the game is much better as a group activity. Up to four players can team up to complete the game, with each player becoming a different member of the Addams family.