Family-Friendly Games Holiday Gift Guide 2024
Our Family-Friendly Games Holiday Gift Guide for 2024 features our recommendations for games rated Everyone or Everyone 10+ by the ESRB, ensuring they can be enjoyed by even younger recipients.
Posted a month ago
In 2024, loads of stellar, yet decidedly mature video games hit consoles and PC, offering wonderful experiences for teens and adults to enjoy (our Horror Games Holiday Gift Guide has some examples). However, that doesn’t mean families were left out of the fun this year.
Our Family-Friendly Games Holiday Gift Guide features recommendations for players of all ages, with each title having an ESRB rating of Everyone or Everyone 10+, meaning they can be enjoyed by even the younger gamers in the family.
Before we dive in, don’t forget to check out our PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series games holiday gift guides as well.
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
- Great for: Puzzle lovers, Zelda fans
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom is the latest entry in the Zelda franchise, and it comes with a unique twist: Zelda stars as the game’s main character, rather than Link. Joined by a friendly helper named Tri, Zelda will go on a journey to save Link and the kingdom of Hyrule from rifts that have begun appearing around the land. Zelda can learn Echoes of the items and enemies she encounters, and then spawn “clones” of these objects to defeat enemies, solve puzzles, and more. To learn more about The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, head over to our review.
Nick Jr. Party Adventure
©Outright Games / Restart
- Great for: Very young or new gamers, fans of Nick Jr. television series
Designed for very young players, Nick Jr. Party Adventure asks players to help characters from popular Nickelodeon children’s series, like Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues & You, decorate a plaza for a Friendship Fiesta. They’ll gather party decorations and event guests by completing simple puzzle levels that see Nick Jr. characters automatically walk through environments and ask them to press the correct button at the right time to clear a path for them to avoid obstacles. The game supports solo and two-player gameplay in the same room. You can read more about Nick Jr. Party Adventure and watch some hands-on gameplay in our First Look feature.
Nick Jr. Party Adventure
Release Date: October 11, 2024
Princess Peach: Showtime
- Great for: Younger players, those who enjoy shorter gameplay sessions
In Princess Peach: Showtime, Mario’s love interest, Princess Peach, takes center stage and is challenged to save the Sparkle Theater from an evil sorceress named Grape. Each level comes in the form of a theatrical play, with Peach transforming into different characters – like a mermaid, cowgirl, or detective – depending on the theme. This setup means each level has a different short story and gameplay mechanics to experience, but they’re all simple enough for younger players to quickly grasp.
Lego Horizon Adventures
©Guerrilla Games, Studio Gobo, SIE / Restart
- Great for: Lego enthusiasts, Horizon fans, two-player fun
Lego Horizon Adventures brings the gorgeous environments from Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West to a new, family-friendly dimension, as players are challenged to help hunter Aloy defeat machines and save the world, which is made of Lego bricks. When players aren’t busy beating down baddies, they can customize Aloy’s home with a variety of unique structures, like a roller coaster. Lego Horizon Adventures supports two-player cooperative multiplayer, making this a nice option for older and younger players to enjoy together. You can read more about Lego Horizon Adventures in our review.
Barbie Project Friendship
- Great for: Barbie fans, younger players
Set in the universe of the Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures and Barbie: A Touch of Magic animated series, this simple adventure game asks players to help Malibu and Brooklyn repair the Malibu Waves Community Center before it’s demolished. The game features simple quests and repeatable mini-games, and will hold players’ hands as they progress, making it a great option for younger or newer players. Rounding out the experience, players can dress Brooklyn and Malibu in different outfits and even redecorate the Community Center’s office. You can read more about Barbie Project Friendship and watch a hands-on gameplay video in our First Look feature.
Barbie Project Friendship
Release Date: October 25, 2024
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem
©3DClouds
- Great for: Fans of Hot Wheels, monster trucks, and/or other large vehicles
Plenty of Hot Wheels video games have been released over the years, with many focusing on classic high-speed racing. Stunt Mayhem, however, offers a different take on the franchise, allowing players to hop into the virtual driver’s seat in 20 Hot Wheels monster trucks and perform over-the-top tricks in a series of unique arenas. The game features multiple gameplay modes, including boss battles and support for two-player split-screen multiplayer. Learn more about the development of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks: Stunt Mayhem by reading our interview with 3DClouds producer Francesco Mantovani.
If you’re looking for even more video game gift recommendations this holiday shopping season, check out our gift guides for PS5, Switch, and Xbox Series games, as well as our gift guide full of some of the best horror games released in 2024.