The holidays are coming, and with them comes the eight Nintendo Switch games my kids want most this Christmas. Like most parents, everything that my kids ask for from the end of September on becomes a present rather than an impulse buy. The game developers know this, so they often wait until October, November, and even December to release big titles, just in time for the gift-giving season.
This year is a bit different since some families are excited to have the Nintendo Switch 2, while others are comfortable waiting for more titles before they spend that kind of money. This list offers ideas for all parents, including a few exclusive titles for Nintendo’s newest console.
For parents who are worried about which games their children play, I’ve included the ESRB age rating for each game. E is for everyone, E10+ is for kids 10 and older, and T is rated for teens.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Continues the Metroid Legacy (Rated: T)
Samus may not be the most well-known Nintendo character, but she’s up there. As a female protagonist who kicks major butt with her super suit, she’s been a role model and favorite of gamers since the original NES. Nintendo is great at many things, but consistently delivering on their proprietary characters is one of their specialties.
This newest version of Metroid Prime gives a bit of a Halo vibe, but it’s still very Metroid and very Nintendo. High-end graphics (for the Nintendo at least) make this game a double-edged sword. On the one hand, this game has fantastic graphics and unique scenery that enhance gameplay. On the other hand, having better graphics means more realistic violence, which makes this game a solid T for Teen.
The reason this is one of the Switch games my kids want most this Christmas is because they know the power of Samus. They are huge Super Smash Bros fans, and they know Samus is an absolute hack in that game, so they are excited to see what she can do in her own game. Parents can expect to see this game on the shelves on December 4th, 2025. This game has a pretty solid Teen rating, so parents should ensure they are comfortable with this style of game.
Good Night Universe Gives Kids Super Powers (Rated: T)
The plot of this game is so incredibly early nineties. You play as a baby with telekinetic powers who needs to use their powers to escape a government agency out to get them. This indie game isn’t winning any awards for its animation style, but it’s intriguing, to say the least. It is challenging, thought-provoking, and darkly funny.
This game looks like it’s going to be an absolute blast and a mix between cozy and action/adventure. Part of the game is using your psychic powers to do things like check off your bedtime routine using your powers. The other part is fighting back against the evil corporation trying to kidnap you to exploit your powers.
This is one of the Switch games that my kids want most this Christmas because who doesn’t want to be a superhero? I am cautiously optimistic that the Teen rating is being conservative, and this is a game my six-year-old can play because it looks like the kind of game he’ll love. Good Night Universe is set to release for the Switch and Switch 2 on November 11th, 2025.
Two Point Museum Breaths Life Into Tycoon Games (Rated: E)
Tycoon games ruled the video game landscape when Nintendo’s only competition was PCs. Big-budget, big production games for other consoles have made them fall by the wayside, despite games like Zoo Tycoon still being big in my house. The concept of games like this is simple: your job is to build a thriving business that turns a profit while remaining safe and inviting for guests. It may sound like a simple task, but it is tricky sometimes.
Two Point Museum perfectly encapsulates the heart of Tycoon-style games while updating them for 2025. Apart from updated graphics that are somewhat more cartoonish but higher quality, what makes Two Point Museum refreshing is the variety of ways you can use your museum. Five unique areas can be customized with items from the supernatural to glaringly natural. The game is just as much about building something that you love as it is about managing a business, which is fantastic practice for the budding entrepreneur in your life.
My oldest is super into this game style, but there haven’t been many lately, so this is a slam dunk for her. Unfortunately, this is only a Switch 2 release, so it requires the most updated version of the console. This game has already been released on other consoles, but finds its way to Switch 2 at the end of October, which gives plenty of time to wrap it.
Dragon Quest 1 & 2 Bring Dad And Daughter Together (Rated: E10+)
This may not yield the same results for every house, but I can’t wait to play this reboot with my teen daughter. She’s recently been showing a lot of interest in RPGs, and Dragon Quest is one of my personal favorites. The greatest part about this holiday release is that it is an updated port, so you get all the nostalgia of the original with graphics and game engines that younger generations will appreciate.
At its core, Dragon Quest is super similar to all of the turn-based JRPGs of its time. Whether it was Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Secret of Mana, or one of the many, many other cookie-cutter JRPGs, the whole point was to run around maps in 16-bit definition looking for items to hoard and villains to mame. Dragon Quest does it with the kind of flair, fighter classes, and humor that I personally enjoy.
In my list of the best RPG video games for kids by age group, I mentioned that my 15-year-old has been getting into RPGs big time, and it would be amazing to share one of my favorites with her without it being a lame old-timey game. This isn’t Nintendo’s first rodeo with updating their stable of JRPGs, so players can be optimistic that this game will be amazing. The best part is that it’s being dual-released on the Switch and Switch 2 on October 30th, 2025.
Pokémon Legends Z-A Continues One Of Nintendo’s Most-Loved Brands (Rated: E10+)
You really can’t go wrong with a Pokémon game. Nintendo has turned this into one of its most beloved brands, marketing it across tons of products and other media kids love, and this newest version is meant to keep adding to that lore. Nintendo is being pretty tight-lipped about the contents of this game and has sworn reviewers to secrecy, so there may be a whole new story or some new game mechanics to discover.
Apart from a few boutique games like Pokémon Snap, the main games follow a pretty standard formula. Nintendo may be keeping this one under wraps, but we do know that Z-A will feature more new Pokémon. It is a safe bet that if you already have a Pokémon lover in your house, they will want this game too.
A mid-October release of Pokémon Legends Z-A gives parents plenty of time to ensure that this game is everything their child would want it to be. This isn’t one of the Switch games my kids want most this Christmas yet, because I haven’t told my son it exists. I’m sure it will work its way onto at least one gift list between now and December. A release on both the Switch and Switch 2 means parents have options with this one.
Hyrule Warriors: Age Of Imprisonment Is Not Getting The Love It Deserves (Rated: T)
The fact that there isn’t more buzz around this game is a little criminal. It is somewhere between an action-adventure game and an RPG. Some argue it is an action RPG, while others say it’s an action game with RPG elements. No matter what genre you place it in, this game looks fantastic on multiple fronts. It is a fun and exciting game in its own right, but it also promises to expand on more lore from the Legend of Zelda universe.
While this isn’t a traditional Zelda game, it still has many of the elements you look for in this type of game. Think of it more as a spin-off game or made-for-TV movie that fills players in on the lore mentioned in other games. You have the choice of playing as multiple characters from the franchise, with each character having special weapons and abilities. The sync-strike ability, which allows single players to team up with their computer-powered teammates for more powerful attacks, is one of the many reasons this is one of the Switch games my kids want most this Christmas.
This one is probably heavily influenced by me, but my six-year-old is pretty excited. I don’t think he cares as much that it is Zelda as he does that it’s a fighting game in general. Although it is rated T for teen, I doubt there is anything in this game that is worse than the YouTube brainrot that has taken his generation by storm. The actual test will be when parents can get their hands on this game on November 11th, 2025. Unfortunately, Age of Imprisonment is a Switch 2 exclusive.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Will Be Under My Tree (Rated: TBD)
As I am sure is true in many houses, Marvel is huge in my home. My 12-year-old has her room plastered in Marvel posters, Legos, toys, and more. Seeing that there is a new Marvel game coming out for the Nintendo Switch automatically ticked something off my kids’ wishlist.
This game is especially intriguing because you get to helm all of your favorite Marvel characters and their abilities in a Streets of Rage-style game. The side-scrolling action takes parents back to the days when this type of game ruled the arcade. It may not be exactly comic-book-accurate, but it does follow a select group of heroes as they battle the evil Annihulus and a cadre of his alien henchmen.
The best part about side-scrolling beat ‘em ups like this is that they don’t take a ton of skill, so everyone in the family can play. I know this is a Switch game my kids want most this Christmas because I watched my daughter’s big blue eyes light up the second she laid eyes on it. She’ll have to share with her six-year-old brother, though, who has mastered similar side scrollers like Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind. Unfortunately, this game doesn’t have a firm release date yet, but it’s been promised for a fourth-quarter launch on both the Switch and Switch 2. They haven’t released a recommended age range either, but given that 2D pixel violence is the main concern, one would have to assume it gets a 10+ rating.
Octopath Traveler 0 Is A Combination Of Lifestyle And RPG (Rated: T)
This prequel to the Octopath Traveler series will likely be one of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2025. The game checks almost every box for parents and kids alike. 2D animation prevents the violent aspects of this game from going over the top and will remind parents of the RPGs they grew up with. The engaging revenge story and a mixture of building, exploring, and fighting will ensure this is a game kids want to finish.
The game starts with your hometown being destroyed, and the whole point is to get revenge on the attackers while rebuilding your city. This part of the game has a lifestyle feel because players can build their city however they like, from wells to buildings with upgradeable functionality. It utilizes a turn-based fighting mechanic with a few twists that players will enjoy.
Thankfully, Octopath Traveler 0 is being released on the Switch and Switch 2, so everyone has the chance to enjoy it. With a December 4th, 2025, release date, this game may be cutting it close for the holidays, but it looks well worth the wait. I’m afraid this is one of the switch games my kids want most this Christmas because that means I’m going to have to wait my turn to play it. This game is rated T for teen, so parents can use the excuse that they need to play through it to analyze the contents first.
