The best games that are fun for the whole family

polygon.com:

There are so many great games out there. Too many, some (us) might argue (looking at our backlog). But games a whole family can enjoy together? Those are far and few, especially as gaming moves more and more online and away from couch experiences.

For that reason, we gathered Polygon’s sharpest minds to find the best games your family can play together. Some are party games, some are co-op adventures, some are games you take turns playing — the only rules are they must be family-friendly, accessible to gamers with different backgrounds and experience levels, and above all else, fun.

So no matter what kind of game you’re looking to play together as a family this holiday season, we’ve got you covered.

Where to play: Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X

If you’re looking for an open arena where the whole family can brawl, try Party Animals. Four players can play splitscreen locally (or eight together online) and inhabit very wobbly animals — think Fall Guys-style characters — that push, shove, and throw their way to victory. Younger kids will have an easier time with the brawling modes, where you can have fun button-mashing. The objective-based minigames, like a team-based soccer event, require a little more coordination, but will be a chaotic blast for older kids and adults alike. —Nicole Carpenter

Where to play: Nintendo Switch

Nintendo’s new platformer, Super Marios Bros. Wonder, is a great family game that caters to seasoned Mario veterans and newcomers. There are eight playable characters to choose from in both online and local multiplayer that goes up to four players; you can play with family on your couch or around the world. There’s no splitscreen, which means everyone crowds into a single screen for all of Super