From puzzles to platforming, these are the best kids games on Xbox Game Pass.
Xbox Game Pass is the premier gaming service available on the market today, and though it largely caters to an adult audience, there are quite a few titles available in its vast library that are appealing to a younger audience. In fact, there’s a pretty vast selection of titles that kids of all ages are sure to find hours of enjoyment in.
From brain-teasing puzzle-platformers to creatively stimulating sandbox titles, the best children’s games on Xbox Game Pass cover a wide spectrum of genres and gameplay styles. There should be something for just about everyone. Quite a few of the following titles feature cooperative play in one capacity or another, allowing parents and siblings to dive into the fun too.
There have been quite a few «merge» games released on mobile and console lately, and Merge & Blade is definitely one of the most entertaining for players that enjoy puzzles and resource management. The game is pretty straightforward and only features mild fantasy violence, so it’s great for kids of all ages. The gameplay revolves around dropping characters onto a grid in a Tetris-style layout, with a certain number of characters merging together to create stronger units and heroes. There are multiple recipes for players to unlock and many heroes to choose from. Once players merge and set all of their given units, they will then automatically battle against a horde of enemies.
The process is rinsed and repeated until players make it through the level. The gameplay can be easy to start but gets pretty challenging and is a great option for kids that love puzzles.
Those looking for a fun, open-ended single-player adventure should check out Forager. This adorable 2D pixelated top-down title has players interacting with an expansive world as they see fit. There are many dungeons to explore, enemies to defeat, items to unlock, puzzles to solve, and things to build. Players can move at their own pace and decide what is most important to them. With so much to see and do, it can keep kids engaged for hours upon hours.
They can even build their own base, decorating and designing it as they see fit. It will allow them to upgrade their items, construct even better things, and progress further through this engaging release.
Arcade racers are generally a fantastic pick for younger players, provided they are interested in these sorts of projects. Hot Wheels Unleashed takes things a step further by literally revolving around toys. While licensed games have a less-than-stellar reputation, Milestone’s release raises above that infamy by offering beautiful visuals, fun controls, an expansive roster of cars, and impressive customization.
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Milestone’s background in simulation racers shines through Hot Wheels Unleashed’s gameplay and physics, both of which are fairly precise for an arcade-style release. That said, the game is still accessible and a good entry point into the genre for new players.
Those looking for a fun and engaging RPG adventure that is accessible to the whole family need to look no further than Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan. This colorful release features a large world filled with locations to explore and collectible creatures to discover. In a variation of turn-based combat, players will find themselves attempting to communicate with their enemies to de-escalate conflicts. It also features platforming and puzzle-solving mechanics.
Those that enjoy the LEGO Star Wars games will have an absolute blast with LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. This blockular, cartoony take on the modern trilogy features a wide cast of LEGO-fied characters in a fun and funny adventure across the galaxy. The combat is fun and the cooperative play means that kids and adults can play together through each mission.
There are tons of things to unlock and the humorous storyline is perfect for the whole family. The game is rated E10+ for its cartoon mischief and violence, but this Game Pass kids game is a rather wholesome adventure, especially for those that love the Star Wars series.
Potion Craft can be a great puzzle and management game for kids and adults thanks to its E10+ rating and colorful yet subdued gameplay. The premise has players opening up an Alchemy shop and brewing all sorts of useful potions to sell to customers. They will need to explore areas to collect certain ingredients and can even try their hand at experimenting and creating their own potions.
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On top of it all, they’ll need to take custom orders and will even need to haggle with customers to get the best price for their goods. It features a few references to violence and alcohol but is done so in a very thematic medieval-style way.
This one snuck up on many players and has quickly become one of the most enjoyable experiences of 2022. It’s the perfect game for kids and families alike, thanks to its cavalcade of Disney characters and its colorful, charming visuals. Rated E for Everyone, Disney Dreamlight Valley can be described as a mixture between Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, and The Sims. Players will be able to build their own Disney-esque areas, filling them with decorations, furniture, and more.
This is the perfect title to play together, and even grown-ups should get a kick out of the release, which features a wide array of classic and iconic Disney names.
Those that enjoy Disney Dreamlight Valley should also check out Viva Pinata. This release is quite aged at this point, having dropped in 2006, but it was part of the Rare Replay bundle back in 2015. Although Disney Dreamlight Valley boasts upgraded graphics and mechanics that are in line with other AAA titles in the modern era, Viva Pinata exudes some serious charm that helps differentiate it from the rest of the pack.
It may be a little rough around the edges compared to other «farming simulators» but it’s a fantastic family game that will have kids laughing as they care for a large stable of curious and colorful Pinata creatures.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have access to EA Play, which includes FIFA 22. If they stick to the Career Mode, this is an OK pick for kids; however, the online stuff is a different matter entirely. If a younger player is specifically seeking out a football (aka soccer) game, they might fall in love with Soccer Story.
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Unlike traditional sports games, this title is an RPG that follows a child as they try to bring soccer back to the masses after it had been outlawed. Along with arcade-style matches, Soccer Story has side quests, mini-games, and even a progression system. Not everything hits the mark, but the game’s relentless charm helps paper over the cracks.
Xbox Game Pass has Forza Horizon 4 and 5, both of which are fantastic driving games for young players. Unlike the mainline Motorsport series, Forza Horizon is a pure arcade racer that blends realistic open-worlds with over-the-top stunts that could make Fast and Furious blush. The fourth entry is set in and around Scotland’s Edinburgh, which is a great setting by any metric; however, its successor’s Mexico playground offers more visual variety due to its diverse biomes.
While still offering a reasonable challenge for experienced players, Forza Horizon 5 is accessible to all ages. Kids can have a blast just exploring the large map, as they complete absurd jumps and unlock new shiny cars to play around with. The game does not have much of a story, and it generally opts for a cheesy tone.
Gang Beasts embraces silliness with every fiber of its gelatinous body. After picking a skin for their characters, players are dropped in small stages where the goal is to be the last one standing, which generally involves pushing, punching, and throwing everyone else off the side of a building or into a meat grinder.
Even though sessions can get competitive, the characters’ absurd movements and the party game’s general wackiness reduce any frustration inspired by a loss. Ultimately, it is difficult to stay angry when a defeat plays out like a slapstick comedy sketch.
At the moment, Xbox Game Pass only has one Dragon Quest game, and it is a spin-off. A significant departure from the JRPG’s turn-based combat main entries, Dragon Quest Builders 2 takes a few pages from Minecraft’s playbook, all the while throwing in some action hack and slash combat. While the latter is stripped down and simplistic, the game’s building mechanics are reasonably deep and serve as the gameplay loop’s core.
Narratively, Builders 2 sticks close to the main series’ «good vs evil» formula, although the story largely takes a backseat. The game supports 4-player co-op, which enhances what is already fundamentally an enjoyable experience.
Halloween is a big night for kids, but there are not all that many spooky games that target younger players. While far removed from horror, Costume Quest otherwise fully embraces the aesthetic and magic of the holiday. Set on Halloween night, children will go on an adventure to rescue their kidnaped sibling, a journey that involves collecting costumes to use in turn-based battles.
