Disney characters have been finding their way into video games for decades, giving kids a chance to join the stories they love and parents an excuse to revisit a few childhood classics. Some games recreate moments from the movies, while others send their characters off on entirely new escapades. There’s plenty of room for both, especially when playing as your favorite hero is half the fun.
Over the years, Disney has grown quite a bit beyond Mickey Mouse and fairy-tale castles. Properties like Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm all fall under the Disney umbrella these days, which means Toy Story, The Avengers, and Star Wars belong in this conversation too. You won’t see Disney’s name front and center on every game below, but including everything that’s part of Disney gives us a much wider selection to choose from.
The best Disney video games for kids and families cover everything from platforming and racing to building towns and exploring distant galaxies. We’ve included games you can play together along with single-player titles that are great for taking turns or helping each other through tricky sections. Some of these games suit younger children, while others offer older kids and teens a bit of a challenge, so there’s something for everyone here.
Make Mickey A Neighbor In Disney Dreamlight Valley
Living next door to Mickey Mouse sounds pretty good, even if it means having to help him with a few errands. Disney Dreamlight Valley gives players a neglected village to restore and gradually fills it with Disney and Pixar characters, each with their own quests and friendship rewards. Between those quests, kids can fish, grow crops, cook meals, and decorate their homes. With every new area unlocked, players will get access to new materials and the opportunity to meet new characters.
The decorating portion of the game is where kids can really make the valley their own, from choosing furniture to deciding where their neighbors should live. There’s plenty of reading and some repeated resource gathering, making this a better fit for kids who enjoy working toward longer goals. Online Valley Visits let up to four players spend time together, but the main story progresses individually, and there’s no couch co-op.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Dreamlight Valley
Getting to know a favorite character unlocks more than another conversation. Friendship rewards give kids new outfits and decorations to work into a village they’ve helped build, turning those relationships into visible changes around their home.
- Regular Price: $39.99 for the base game on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: None. Interactive elements include Users Interact and In-Game Purchases.
- Platforms: PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2; a separate Arcade Edition is available through Apple Arcade.
- Players: Single-player, with online Valley Visits for up to 4 players.
Bring The Whole Gang To Disney Illusion Island
Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy have the same basic abilities in Disney Illusion Island, removing the need to argue over who gets the strongest character. That said, their unique animations still give them plenty of personality as they explore Monoth, a connected island filled with paths that become accessible after learning new movement skills. Most encounters involve avoiding enemies and figuring out how to reach the next ledge, with boss fights built around navigating hazards rather than trading punches.
Up to four people can explore the game together, and the cooperative moves give older players ways to help younger ones. Someone who reaches a platform can lower a rope, while a hug grants a teammate extra health. Each player can choose their own health setting, including an option that removes the usual risk of running out of hearts. Everyone still shares the screen, so all players need to move at roughly the same pace, but the assist features make a missed jump much easier to recover from.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Illusion Island
New abilities let kids return to places that seemed unreachable earlier and discover what was hiding there. Helping a sibling up a difficult section gives them a reason to celebrate those discoveries together.
- Regular Price: $29.99 on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: Mild Fantasy Violence.
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC; the Switch version is playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: 1–4 players in local co-op.
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Paints A Different Side Of Disney
Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed sends Mickey into the Wasteland, a world built around forgotten Disney characters and discarded attractions. Oswald the Lucky Rabbit plays a major role here, giving parents a chance to introduce a part of Disney history their children might have missed. Exploring this place requires players to use paint to restore objects and thinner to erase them. The tools are very fun to use and they influence more than just the scenery, too.
Mickey can befriend certain enemies with paint or remove them with thinner, and his decisions affect how parts of the journey unfold. The remake adds movement options that help Mickey get around 3D environments, with shorter 2D sections drawing on classic cartoons. Wasteland can be gloomy and unsettling, so this is better suited to children who already enjoy a slightly spooky adventure than those expecting another cheerful day at Mickey’s clubhouse.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed
Children get to experiment with the environment instead of treating every object as permanent. Discovering that a wall can vanish or a machine can be restored makes the paintbrush feel like a tool they can solve things with.
- Regular Price: $39.99 on PC through Steam.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: Single-player.
Disney Magical World 2 Makes Room For Café Owners And Fairy-Tale Heroes
Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition provides kids with a home in Castleton, where opening a café is just one part of a surprisingly busy schedule. Players can collect ingredients, craft furniture, put together outfits, and visit six Disney-themed worlds, including locations inspired by Frozen, Alice in Wonderland, and Winnie the Pooh. Materials gathered during those visits feed back into life in town, letting children furnish their homes and prepare new dishes for the café.
Some trips involve using a magic wand to fight enemies, making Disney Magical World 2 a bit more action-packed than some players might expect. The change of pace works well for children who want their character to have a life outside missions, but still enjoy going on an adventure. There’s reading involved in following requests and managing recipes, so a parent may need to help younger players understand what they’re collecting and where it belongs.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition
Clothing and furniture give children plenty to show for their trips into Disney worlds. They can return home with a plan for a new outfit or café theme, then go looking for the materials needed to finish it.
- Regular Price: $49.99 on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: Mild Cartoon Violence.
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch; playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: Single-player.
RUSH: A Disney-Pixar Adventure Puts Two Players Inside Six Pixar Worlds
RUSH: A Disney-Pixar Adventure covers an impressive amount of ground for one game. Its six worlds draw from The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Up, Cars, Toy Story, and Finding Dory, with activities changing to match the movie. Racing through a Cars level feels different from swimming with Dory or squeezing through a kitchen as a rat. That variety gives children a way of trying various kinds of movement without having to learn an entirely new game each time.
The Xbox One and PC versions support controllers, so families don’t need to worry about the Kinect setup associated with the original Xbox 360 game. Two players can tackle all the levels together in split-screen, helping with obstacles and trying to improve their scores. Returning to earlier stages with newly unlocked abilities reveals more things to collect, giving kids a reason to revisit a favorite movie world after they’ve reached the end of its initial missions.
Why Kids Will Love RUSH: A Disney-Pixar Adventure
Children can create a character and see that character adapted to different Pixar settings. Becoming a race car for one outing and a tiny rat for another gives the game a ton of variety and replay value.
- Regular Price: $19.99 on the Xbox Store.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence.
- Platforms: PC and Xbox One; playable on Xbox Series X|S.
- Players: 1–2 players in local split-screen co-op.
Kingdom Hearts Takes Disney Fans On A Much Bigger Journey
Kingdom Hearts has been bringing Disney characters into action role-playing games for decades, and the series has grown into quite the undertaking. Protagonist Sora travels with Donald Duck and Goofy, using his Keyblade and magic to fight enemies in worlds inspired by films such as Aladdin and Hercules. Later games add Pixar destinations, including Toy Story and Monsters, Inc. Among other things, visiting those worlds involves helping their residents and exploring their surroundings.
The story becomes increasingly more complicated as the franchise goes on, making Kingdom Hearts easier to recommend to older kids and teens who enjoy following a series. A sensible starting point is Kingdom Hearts Final Mix in the HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX collection, which includes four playable games and two movie compilations. Parents buying on Switch should check the edition carefully because these releases use cloud streaming and require a reliable internet connection.
Why Teens Will Love Kingdom Hearts
Sora’s growing collection of combat abilities gives Disney fans a reason to get invested in the role-playing side of things. Learning how to combine attacks, magic, and help from his companions is just as much fun as it sounds.
- Regular Price: $49.99 for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX on PC through Steam.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older for HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX; ratings vary across the series.
- Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, and Use of Alcohol for HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, and Xbox One, with backward compatibility on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S; cloud versions are available on Nintendo Switch.
- Players: Single-player for the main action role-playing games.
Disney Speedstorm Puts Disney Rivalries On The Racetrack
Disney Speedstorm puts Disney and Pixar characters behind the wheel and gives them abilities that can change how a race plays out. Players can use drifting to build opportunities to boost, while offensive skills let racers interfere with the competition in imaginative ways. Interestingly enough, the tracks take inspiration from the characters’ worlds, allowing kids to really immerse themselves in the game.
The racing comes with a free-to-play progression system built around unlocking and upgrading characters. That means parents should look through the passes, currencies, and purchase options before letting children loose in the menus, especially since some purchases include random items. Local Freeplay offers split-screen racing on supported PC and console versions, although the player limit depends on the platform.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Speedstorm
A character’s special ability gives kids another way to turn a race around when someone gets ahead. Trying different racers encourages players to discover whether they prefer aggressive attacks, extra speed, or a more defensive approach.
- Regular Price: Free-to-play, with optional in-game purchases.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: Mild Fantasy Violence. Interactive elements include In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items).
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android.
- Players: Single-player and online multiplayer; local split-screen for 2–4 players on supported platforms, with limits varying by system.
Disney Villains Cursed Café Serves Potions With A Side Of Bad Intentions
Running a café for Disney villains sounds like a questionable career move, but at least the customers have interesting stories. Disney Villains Cursed Café reimagines characters such as Ursula, Jafar, and Captain Hook in a modern setting, where their ambitions create a steady demand for magical drinks. Players listen to their requests, choose ingredients, and decide whether to brew something that helps them get what they want or nudges them in a different direction.
Disney Villains Cursed Café is a visual novel, so most of the time is spent reading conversations and making decisions. The potion choices give attentive readers a way to influence the stories instead of simply clicking through them. Older children and teens who like Disney’s villains can follow the jokes and character stories, but players looking for hands-on cooking and restaurant management may find the pacing too slow.
Why Teens Will Love Disney Villains Cursed Café
Seeing Disney villains deal with modern ambitions gives their personalities room to become funny in different ways. Choosing how to handle a customer’s latest scheme lets teens meddle in the drama without having to play the hero.
- Regular Price: $14.99 on the Xbox Store.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: None listed.
- Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch; the Switch version is playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: Single-player.
Rewind The Tough Parts In Disney Classic Games Collection
Parents who remember The Lion King on a 16-bit console may recall the jumping just as clearly as the music. Disney Classic Games Collection bundles the game together with Aladdin and The Jungle Book and makes them available on modern systems via several different console and handheld versions. Having both the Super Nintendo and Genesis versions of Aladdin is particularly interesting because they offer different takes on the same film.
The collection adds features that help children get through games originally designed with far less patience for mistakes. Rewind lets them undo a badly timed jump, save options make it easier to stop, and an interactive watch mode allows players to study a playthrough before taking over. Those additions are just some of the reasons to introduce these games to younger family members today.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Classic Games Collection
Kids can try a difficult section repeatedly without having to replay everything leading up to it. That makes it easier to learn the timing and finally clear a jump that initially seemed impossible.
- Regular Price: $29.49 for the collection bundle on the Xbox Store.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch; playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility.
- Players: Single-player.
Disneyland Adventures Turns A Park Visit Into A Game Of Its Own
Disneyland Adventures recreates the Anaheim park and lets children explore without having to plan around ride queues. They can meet characters, collect autographs, take photographs, and complete requests as they wander between its themed areas. Many of the attractions lead into activities inspired by their stories, giving players a chance to fly through Peter Pan’s world or join other adventures that go beyond sitting in a recreation of the ride vehicle.
The park exploration and attraction activities serve different purposes, which helps when children want a change of pace. Players can spend time looking for characters and collectibles, then head into something more active. The game is pretty old at this point, but the PC and Xbox One release works with modern controllers, so there’s no need to hunt down a Kinect sensor or clear the living room for motion controls.
Why Kids Will Love Disneyland Adventures
Children can decide which characters to visit and build their own collection of photos and autographs. That freedom gives the park a more personal feel, especially for kids who already have a few favorite must-see Disney characters.
- Regular Price: $19.99 on the Xbox Store.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence.
- Platforms: PC and Xbox One; playable on Xbox Series X|S.
- Players: Single-player park exploration, with 2-player local co-op in attraction activities.
LEGO The Incredibles Makes Superhero Work A Family Business
LEGO The Incredibles turns the Parr family’s different powers into a series of puzzles. Mr. Incredible handles jobs that need brute strength, Elastigirl reaches places other characters can’t, and Violet’s force fields help the family get through hazards. The story covers both films, with two players able to share the action and switch between characters as a situation calls for another ability.
Outside the main missions, the city has crimes to stop and collectibles to hunt down, so children can spend time being superheroes without immediately continuing the film plot. Returning to completed levels with more characters opens additional paths and rewards. Combat uses the forgiving LEGO approach, with defeated characters quickly coming back, which makes the cost of making a mistake much lower than in a more demanding superhero game.
Why Kids Will Love LEGO The Incredibles
Using two family members’ powers to get past an obstacle makes teamwork easy to understand. Kids can see why the family needs both players, then swap roles when another character gets a chance to shine.
- Regular Price: $39.99 on PC through Steam.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence and Crude Humor.
- Platforms: PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch; playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility.
- Players: 1–2 players in local co-op.
Build A Wild West Of Your Own In Toy Story 3: The Video Game
Toy Story 3: The Video Game earns its place on this list largely because of Toy Box mode in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. The story missions follow the film through platforming and action sequences, while Toy Box gives players a town inspired by Woody’s Roundup to develop. Completing jobs earns money for buildings and other additions, and children can customize the town and its residents to their liking. Woody, Buzz, and Jessie provide plenty of opportunities for climbing, jumping, and getting into trouble along the way.
The original Xbox digital release of the game was delisted on September 29, 2026, and the PSP version reissued on PlayStation uses a different design. However, an announced Complete Edition is scheduled for October 15, 2026, bringing the console-style game and its Toy Box to current platforms with two-player local co-op. The original can still be played if you manage to track down an older copy, but it makes more sense to go for the re-release since it’s probably going to be out by the time you’re reading this.
Why Kids Will Love Toy Story 3: The Video Game
Toy Box lets children decide what their little town should become. Taking on jobs has a clear payoff when players can spend the reward on a new building and then give its residents a ridiculous new look.
- Regular Price: $24.99 announced for the upcoming Complete Edition; the original Xbox digital release is no longer sold.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence and Comic Mischief for the original Xbox version; Fantasy Violence and Comic Mischief for the Complete Edition’s Nintendo listing.
- Platforms: PS3 and Xbox 360 for the original console versions; the upcoming Complete Edition is announced for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: 1–2 players in local co-op in the original PS3/Xbox 360 versions and the announced Complete Edition.
Castle Of Illusion Has A Storybook Rescue Mission For Mickey
The 2013 remake of Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse sends the iconic mouse after the witch Mizrabel, who has kidnapped Minnie and hidden her in an enchanted castle. The game’s worlds turn ordinary objects into oversized obstacles, taking players through giant toys, sweets, and other environments that suit the fairy-tale setting. Mickey gets past enemies by bouncing on them or throwing projectiles, with most of the challenge coming from timing jumps and watching how hazards move.
Castle of Illusion isn’t as time-consuming as a sprawling role-playing game, making it a good choice for players who want a Disney story they can work through without managing equipment or dozens of side quests. The game still requires precise movement, particularly during later sections and boss fights, so the cheerful presentation shouldn’t be mistaken for an automatic beginner setting. Since it’s single-player, siblings of different ages can take turns or let the more experienced player handle the difficult sections.
Why Kids Will Love Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse
Each world gives kids another playful environment to figure out, with household objects becoming platforms and hazards. Working out how to cross those spaces is one of the game’s biggest selling points, especially when the castle changes the scale of everything around Mickey.
- Regular Price: $14.99 on PC through Steam.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: Mild Fantasy Violence.
- Platforms: PC, Mac, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS, and Android; compatibility varies on newer operating systems and devices.
- Players: Single-player.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Lets Kids Mix Their Favorite Hero Teams
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes brings together the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and plenty of other characters for an original story involving Loki and Galactus. That broad cast makes it especially good for children whose favorite heroes come from different corners of the Marvel universe. Spider-Man can use his webs to interact with the environment, Hulk can move heavy objects, and Iron Man can fly, so choosing a character changes which obstacles the player can handle.
The Manhattan hub gives kids room to explore between missions, complete challenges, and work toward unlocking more heroes. Once a level is finished, Free Play allows them to return with different characters and reach collectibles their original team couldn’t access. Two-player local co-op lets siblings divide up the action, although flight controls and some puzzles may need a little guidance at first.
Why Kids Will Love LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
Unlocking a hero gives children new abilities to try in places they’ve already visited. A previously inaccessible collectible becomes a reason to bring in another character, making the growing roster matter beyond its size alone.
- Regular Price: $19.99 on PC through Steam.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence.
- Platforms: PC, Mac, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch; playable on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S through backward compatibility.
- Players: 1–2 players in local co-op.
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 Assembles A Team For Four-Player Battles
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order gives a family of four a whole team of superheroes to control. The story follows the hunt for the Infinity Stones, with heroes drawn from across Marvel joining the fight against Thanos and his allies. Each character has a different set of attacks, and combining compatible abilities produces stronger team moves. Players need to pay attention to what their teammates are doing if they want to get the most out of those combinations.
There’s more to manage here, including character upgrades and fights that require the team to break an enemy’s defenses before unloading its strongest attacks. The Friendly difficulty setting softens the challenge to some extent, but boss fights usually still demand some coordination. The Teen rating and more involved combat make this a better pick for older children and teens who already enjoy action games.
Why Teens Will Love Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
Putting together a team gives teens a chance to compare heroes through the way they fight. Coordinating a powerful combination with a sibling feels better than simply choosing four famous names and attacking independently.
- Regular Price: $59.99 on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: T for Teen.
- Content Descriptors: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, and Violence.
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch; playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: 1–4 players on one console, through local wireless, or online.
Disney Tsum Tsum Festival Brings A Plush Party To The Switch
Disney Tsum Tsum Festival turns Disney’s rounded plush characters into the stars of a party-game collection. Activities include things like air hockey, curling, and stacking ice cream, among others, giving families several ways to compete without having to stick to a single game for the entire evening. The characters’ shape becomes part of the joke as they tumble and bounce around, while rewards help players expand their collection of Tsum Tsum characters.
Many of the party activities support up to four players using one Joy-Con each, although the player count varies by event. The included matching puzzle has a different setup, using the Switch’s touchscreen in a vertical position to connect groups of matching characters. Its two-player option requires separate consoles, so it shouldn’t be confused with the shared-screen party games. Switch Lite owners need separate Joy-Con controllers for the party activities, something worth checking before buying it for that system.
Why Kids Will Love Disney Tsum Tsum Festival
The short events let children move from one type of contest to another, and collecting more Tsum Tsum gives them a reason to keep trying. Recognizing a favorite character in plush form can be half the fun before a round even begins.
- Regular Price: $49.99 on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: E for Everyone.
- Content Descriptors: Mild Cartoon Violence.
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch; playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: 1–4 players in local party activities, depending on the event; the puzzle supports 1 player or 2 players on separate systems. Online multiplayer is available in supported modes.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga Packs Nine Films Into One Family Adventure
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga goes through the events of all nine main films, letting players begin with the first episode of whichever trilogy interests them most. The story missions turn major scenes into short sections containing combat, puzzles, and vehicle action, with LEGO humor taking some of the edge off the films’ more serious moments. Between those missions, larger areas across the galaxy offer side quests and collectibles, so kids can spend time exploring a planet before returning to the next part of the story.
Character classes determine which special objects and obstacles players can interact with. Returning in Free Play with a Jedi, droid, or bounty hunter opens things the original story characters had to leave behind, giving children a practical reason to try more of the roster. Two-player local split-screen allows a parent and child to share the campaign and exploration. There’s a lot to navigate in the menus and maps, so younger players may need help finding their next objective even when the combat itself is manageable.
Why Kids Will Love LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
Kids can switch between lightsaber fights, blaster battles, and flights through space while building a collection of favorite characters. Exploring with an unlikely pair of heroes makes Free Play especially entertaining for Star Wars fans.
- Regular Price: $59.99 for the standard edition on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Cartoon Violence and Comic Mischief.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch; the Switch version is playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: 1–2 players in local split-screen co-op.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Lets Kids Experiment With A Bunch Of Jedi Powers
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order follows Cal Kestis, a surviving Padawan trying to stay ahead of the Empire after Order 66 was enacted. Exploring planets involves lots of climbing, crossing gaps, and gradually using new Force abilities to reach areas that were blocked earlier. BD-1 accompanies Cal, helping with exploration and healing, while lightsaber fights require players to read an enemy’s attacks and choose when to dodge, parry, or strike back.
This is a stronger recommendation for teens than for young children, particularly those who want a more demanding Star Wars game after the LEGO adaptations. Story Mode lowers the combat difficulty, but it doesn’t remove the need to navigate complicated maps or complete platforming sections. Resting restores Cal’s health and supplies while bringing ordinary enemies back, so deciding when to stop has consequences. Parents and teens can enjoy the story together, though only one person can control Cal at a time.
Why Teens Will Love Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
New Force powers change both combat and exploration, letting teens return to earlier planets and reach places they couldn’t access before. Cal’s improvement is something players can actively take advantage of, helping make his journey toward becoming a Jedi feel more convincing.
- Regular Price: $39.99 for the standard edition on PC through Steam.
- ESRB Rating: T for Teen.
- Content Descriptors: Violence and Mild Language.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
- Players: Single-player.
TRON: Catalyst Sends Kids Into A Grid That Won’t Stay Put
TRON: Catalyst follows Exo, a courier caught in a conflict inside the Arq Grid, where programs have their own factions and ambitions. The game uses an overhead view, with Exo fighting through close-range attacks and a throwable Identity Disc. Traveling between locations on a Light Cycle adds another element of TRON’s digital world, while upgrades give players more ways to handle the enemies waiting when they get off the bike.
Exo’s ability to exploit a glitch and reset events gives the story an extra layer, as information learned during one attempt can help open another route. That makes it worth paying attention to conversations and the layout of the city. There’s enough combat and story detail here to make TRON: Catalyst a great recommendation to older children who can follow instructions independently.
Why Kids Will Love TRON: Catalyst
The Identity Disc gives kids a weapon they can use up close or throw across during a fight. Learning to work the weapon into their attacks captures one of TRON’s most recognizable ideas while giving players something more involved to master.
- Regular Price: $19.99 on the Xbox Store.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Fantasy Violence and Mild Language.
- Platforms: PC, Mac, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch; the Switch version is playable on Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: Single-player.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion Lets The Whole Family Join An Arcade Brawl
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion throws up to four players into a side-scrolling fight against Annihilus and his invasion force. The pixel art and busy battles will look immediately inviting to parents who grew up with arcade beat ’em ups, while the roster gives children recognizable heroes alongside some less obvious Marvel characters. Each player chooses two heroes and can switch between them during combat, using their different abilities to deal with enemies.
The swapping system gives players plenty of room for experimentation during combat. A player can build a pair around a favorite hero, then try different partners and discover attacks that work well together. Local and online co-op support drop-in play, making it easier for another family member to join a session already underway. The fights can become crowded with four people involved, so children should spend a little time learning their heroes’ moves before concentrating on the more elaborate combinations.
Why Kids Will Love MARVEL Cosmic Invasion
Having two heroes available lets children try someone new without giving up their favorite character. Switching during a fight and calling in an assist turns that pair into a team they can learn to use together.
- Regular Price: $29.99 on Nintendo Switch.
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 and older.
- Content Descriptors: Animated Blood, Fantasy Violence, and Mild Language.
- Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Players: 1–4 players in local or online co-op, with cross-platform online play.
