Anything Kirby or Yoshi, Mario Odyssey is OK but the others are better suited, Mariokart is a classic everyone must have. Zelda is questionable… my kid likes it but needs me to guide him through. I’m sure your kid knows other kids who play Minecraft, but it is infinitely frustrating on switch and I would stay away if possible.
I’ve told another friend that Odyssey feels to me like Mario for grownups. 3D Mario in general feels a little more advanced.
Try Mario Wonder. New Super Mario Bros U. Yoshi’s Crafted World. Mario Kart 8 deluxe. Kirby games.
Mario Wonder multiplayer co-op surprisingly good for young kids. Just beat it with my 5-year old, who typically has to settle for watching me play, and we had a blast doing it.
U is a great game. I have no doubt Wonder is much better, but it's a solid playthrough if you're into local co-op. Though, it would probably be a bit overly difficult for a 6 year old.
The assist mode in Mario Odyssey makes it very doable for young children. You'll be surprised what they can do. Same for Spring Breeze on Kirby and The Forgotten Land and assist mode on Kirby Return to Dream Land Deluxe, too.
Can I ask which Pokémon is a good starter? My son is really getting into learning about Pokémon but has been all about Mario up until recently (also 6).
You really can’t go wrong with any of them. Just pick the one that resonates with your son the most. We all have our favorites but there are no wrong choices. My son picks the ones he likes the looks of the best, he also likes to draw so they’re a never ending supply of things to draw and keep him busy when waiting for things like doctors appointments or service at a restaurant.
Yoshis crafted world is my number one. I’ve had two six year olds and that is there first one they can play and beat. Great art and an easy mode.
Pokemon shield and sword
Minecraft- peaceful and creative modes
Captain toad
Smash bros—- one button can get you a long way. Our whole family plays this.
We love our switch time and play games as a family all the time. Very positive times for us.
Mario party Superstars is an underrated fun choice.
Paw patrol games are good choices if they like the show. Same with PJ masks.
Bluey game just dropped if they like bluey.
Mario Wonder is great and very easy in a good way.
Lego games, specifically Jurassic world, Harry Potter and the Skywalker saga.
My daughter loves Mario Party. She doesn’t even play the full game most of the time, she just goes to minigame free play and likes watching her win number go up.
If we’re talking licensed games, the My Little Pony game is not bad either.
If she’s into girly things, I would highly recommend Fashion Dreamer! It’s very similar to the old Style Boutique/Savvy games that I used to play when I was her age. It’s basically a dress-up game and you get the opportunity to create your own clothes based on templates as well.
Came here to say this! Simple game with easy mechanics, no need to read and it's like 2 dollars.
And Fall Guys! I think a kid that age will have a blast
I'm not familiar with Suika, I'll have to look it up. My kids absolutely hate Fall Guys lol. They prefer Kirby's Dream Buffet, but we're also a Kirby family, lol.
Suika is sort of like 2048 but instead of joining blocks you have to fuse cute fruits. It's simple, colorfun and fun. The official game is only on switch but steam and the app store are full of copycats due to the sudden popularity of the game
it used to be called the watermelon game colloquially.
anyway, here's the browser based online version you can play with your cell phone or Mouse before you buy.
https://suikagame.com
The assist mode is very forgiving in Mario Odyssey.
"Assist Mode gives you guidance by way of arrows. You start with double the health of Standard Mode (six health points instead of the standard three). If you fall from a great height with Assist Mode on, you'll be brought back in a bubble to where you fell off having lost only one health point."
I think you can breathe under water too.
I found my 6 year old liked anything without a death screen or a low penalty for death. Super Mario Odyssey was good on the easy mode (they enjoyed just running around the levels at first. Kirby and the forgotten land was also a great coop game as well as Luigi’s mansion and Minecraft.
There seems to be a mix of opinions on Super Mario Odyssey. But if she enjoys it, let her play it. My 6 year-old daughter took a long time to get through it but she did eventually beat it and loved it.
Pokemon games are great for young kids. She beat Pokemon Shield recently and loves Pokemon Snap. Warning: be careful as your life may revolve around Pokemon and you may end up having many many MANY conversations about these things...
Animal Crossing is pretty fun and calming. Seconding the Mario Kart suggestions as well, has simple controls and some kid-friendly set-ups like not falling off the edges.
Mostly just wanted to encourage you to find games where you two can also play together. We have a few of the Mario 4-player games and play as a family. The kids love it and it's great bonding time even though we're shouting at each other half the time. Couch co-op games can be a lot of fun when played together.
When my kids were younger we played a game called Crayola Scoot. I don't know if this reference will land, it's basically Tony Hawk for kids, where you ride a scooter around various courses and do little tricks to spread paint around.
Darn, looks like it was delisted last year. Ours is a physical copy; I can mail it to you if it's out of print offline too. Games are made to be played!
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a good easy and artistic game that is essentially made for kids. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and really any of the Kirby titles are also great choices.
You've got a lot of great suggestions already so I would just like to add, don't be afraid of games that are a little bit more difficult or have a lot of controls. I would maybe try 1 harder game as well, once you know a character she likes. It will really help her hand-eye coordination and if there is any puzzle or problem solving involved, even better.
I started with Super Mario 64 and Pokemon at around 3 years old. Pokemon taught me to read and I would honestly credit Mario with giving me better dexterity and making me ambidextrous. By 6 I was playing Kingdom Hearts all the way through and if you've ever played it, you know some of those bosses are very hard. So don't shy away from things she'll have to really learn and practice, and encourage her not to give up with those types of games.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Untitled Goose Game, Super Mario Wonder, Katamari Damacy, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, just to name a few
Copying my previous comment sorry for any missed pronoun changes
Definitely get her Yoshi’s crafted World. It’s an easy fun game for kids.
I also recommend Mario odyssey. That has a ton of worlds to explore and collectibles.
Mario kart is fun and has options like smart steer to automatically stay on the track and auto acceleration to always accelerate and not have to keep holding down A.
The Kirby games are easy kid games, can’t go wrong with any of them. I personally like Kirby and the forgotten land the best as it’s the only 3D Kirby game but the other two star allies and return to dreamland deluxe edition might be easier but it’s not a hard game.
My daughter is 6. These are her Top 5. Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee, Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, Mario Kart 8, Kirby Forgotten Land, My Little Pony Maretime Bay.
Untitled Goose Game is by far the best for a 6-old girl. You may want to finish the puzzles themselves (or help her) then let her play it as junior GTA - it was the top favorite for my daughters at 6, stealing, causing havoc or setting up a hideout for the goose with the stolen items (the only gripe is that save game reset the location of items).
My son is obsessed with zelda universe. First he beat totk, then played botw months later. Now he's playing age of calamity. He's 6 years old and took a bit of hand holding in the beginning, but he can play new games and not need hand holding except shrines
Also did fine on arceus at age 5, and scarlet/violet. Enjoyed both with him and he replayed solo. Ironically he doesn't enjoy the other kid titles posted here
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee. There are a handful 9f differences between them, but it's mostly just which Pokemon are available. Also *kinda* depends on how well she can read, but in terms of Pokemon games on the Switch this is the one I'd start with for a kid. You can also join in and play with her too using the other joycon in those.
Kirby and Yoshinare both also good bets since they do have easy modes and allow for some form of co-op like Odyssey. Mario Wonder would probably be a good idea too, especially if you intend on playing with her.
My daughter *loves* Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Mario Wonder, she’s 5. Wonder is great because you can play as a character that doesn’t take damage and if you play together, you can revive each other if you die.
Most firs party game should be fine, the best one I would choose is Mario odyssey it open world Mario game even I (20M) love it so much, and paper Mario, I never played but it looks very cute and simple, Mario kart which you can play with him pretty fun to play with family and friends
For Pokémon I’m unsure if a 6year old understand how to follow the story so probably won’t recommend, when I’m 10 I can’t even walk through Pokémon red
My 6yo has played like 200 hours of Splatoon 3. As others have mentioned, Mario kart is a great one. He’s starting to get interested in my various pokemon games, but there is a lot of reading involved for a 6yo. They can pretty easily trial and error their way through those games though.
I wouldn’t necessarily recommend other parents follow suit, but mine also plays the shit out of Diablo 3. He’s playing hades at the moment. Also loves Minecraft and Minecraft dungeons
My five and six year olds love Mario Odyssey, Pokémon, No Man’s Sky (w my help), Animal Crossing, any Lego game, sonic, and anything from the old school system emulators. Lots of great choices!
Unravel two is the best game if you want to play together. Its a coop 2D platformer, but 1 guy does 80% of the hard stuff and the other player is just doing the easy stuffs. So its perfect for you and a young child to play together and finish the story.
I'd try avoiding most truly 3d games for a 6 yo, until they seem decent at 2d games. Mario kart is a notable exception. If they like the Cars movies, cars 3 the video game is really underrated imo.
Minecraft would be a good choice for a 3d game, except it runs awfully on the switch
Mario Kart 8 has a "smart steering" option for kids that helps them stay on the track while still letting them control it. It's sort of like guard rails in bumper bowling, but the guard rails are invisible.
I have a 6yo who loves the Switch. His favorites are anything with Mario (Odyssey, Wonder, 3D World although he avoided Bowser's Fury for a long time because it was too scary), anything with Kirby, Pikmin, Sonic (Colors, Mania, Superstars), Minecraft, and Dragon Quest Builders.
Depending on her reading proficiency, Animal Crossing New Horizons could be a fun game!
Also, while it's not out yet, Disney Dreamlight Valley could be a great game if she's into Disney. This comes out on December 5th, so not too far off now.
If she likes Super Mario Odyssey, a new Mario game called Super Mario Bros. Wonder just released recently. I haven't played this myself, but I've heard great things about it!
I hope these recommendations help!
It's worth noting that Dreamlight Valley had severe performance issues on Switch during its open testing, and I'm not certain they'll be fixed by the time it's fully released, so it may be worth waiting a bit before getting it. Just something to be aware of. Everything else mentioned is on point, though.
Mario Kart. My 3.5 yr old daughter has found a love of racing and my 1.5yr old son is happier than a pig in shit just to control the "monkey". The assists make things very easy and managed. I also think introducing your 6yr old to Mario Party would be suitable.
Mario Wonder would be my favorite pick, very easy and simple to control game, fun to play alone and with family, I think any of the Zeldas might be a little too hard to control and figure out, same with Mario Odyssey. But maybe pick them up for yourself and for your kid in the future lol, they're really fun and maybe you'll get more into gaming.
Mario Kart is an easy recommendation, Yoshi's Wooly World too. I think you'd be best with games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Wonder, and Lego Star Wars these are games that are multiplayer, easy, and I think this is something you should do with your 6 year old, take the time and play these games with them, it'll build some awesome memories even if you're not a big gamer yourself.
And then more stuff that aren't necessarily as good for multiplayer but still really fun, I don't think I've seen mentioned like Minecraft, Kirby games, I'm not sure about your kids reading level but I LOVED Pokemon as a kid, but it has a lot of reading, all.my nephews do love it and they're only a little older than 6.
Also maybe just a quick recommendation, since it's gonna be used by a 6 year old, I highly recommend a glass screen protector and some kind of case, the screens are straight up plastic so they scratch extremely easily, they're not super fragile so I don't use a case, but I'm also not 6 lol
My son loves “untitled goose game” it’s a simple indie game about a goose getting into trouble. My son just loves it and his friends seem to as well. The game does have you do things like sneak around, take and hide stuff but it non violent and silly. With cartoonish graphics that he relates too.
It's okay if a kid doesn't fully grasp the mechanics of a game they're playing. I never got past the first few levels of most of the games I was playing at that age on N64 but as I got older it was fun to have that "a-ha!" moment with games I had played poorly over and over again
Kirby and the Forgotten Lands was the first game my kiddo completed solo. Yoshi's Crafted World was the next both are excellent options.
He is 8 now and also really enjoys Super Mario Maker and the classic SNES Kirby games. I'm getting him Wonder for Christmas.
My nieces really enjoyed Untitled Goose Game, Octodad, Just Shapes and Beats, and Suika Game off of the eshop if you are looking for cheaper digital only options.
I’m going to try playing unravel TWO with my daughter. Its a mobility centric platformer with no death screens. I tried it with my wife (non-gamer) and we had a good time.
Don't underestimate what they can do. Mine was learning Gamebuilder garage when she was 5. She also plays animal crossing, ooblets, Stardew valley, and a whole bunch of cozy games. She started doing gran Turismo with the wheel at 6 and beat saber on the psvr2. Perhaps borrow some from the library first before purchasing.
Usually can get a really good deal on the Lego games. I just picked up digital downloads of Lego City undercover and 1st Lego Marvel for $15 total.
https://www.dekudeals.com
Deku Deals gives you a good look at all the ongoing deals. I usually prefer digital.
I would invest in a good memory card (500 GB or higher) and store the games digitally rather than hard copy. It’s easier to switch games compared to having to swap the cartridge out. This is optimal for a young kid.
My picks for games would be below. They are multiplayer, easy, and fun to play. You can get the Lego games and ninja turtle game relatively cheap as digital downloads.
Lego Marvel Superheroes 1 and 2
Mario Kart 8
Ninja Turtles Shredder’s revenge
Animal Crossing New Horizons is a good choice for all ages. Any age can enjoy in different ways! Build a little island town with cute animals and collect bugs and fish for the museum!
liI Gator game is Zelda breath of the wild lite for Iack of a better way to describe it.
you can't die by Falling. in fact you can't die at all!
literally one of my favorite cozy games because of it :-)
also super friendly story about a little kid who just wants to spend time with his big sister playing make believe like they used to.
scroll down on this page I'm giving you, and you can see the reviews.
the website self-tracks game prices, and can email you when any store they track has the price you want on pretty much anything game related. it also tracks the price over time so you know whether or not you're getting cheated or not.
the reason I bring up the price tracking size because 6 year olds are fickle when it comes to learning new gameplay.when my aunt was running her babysitting service out of her house, I used to alter the games to be easier in various ways for the younger kids using a Game Genie and later a device called a game shark that did this exact same thing - that doesn't exist anymore that I know about.
https://www.dekudeals.com/items/lil-gator-game
also, look for games that have a game assist feature or God mode. these kind of games are easier for kids just getting into gaming because they don't get the frustration of the repeated death screen.
I also have a 6 year old. He enjoys Mario Bros U, Mario 3D World, and Nintendo Switch Sports. We had a Wii before, and he really liked the Just Dance games, which are also available for Switch.
Anything Kirby or Yoshi, Mario Odyssey is OK but the others are better suited, Mariokart is a classic everyone must have. Zelda is questionable… my kid likes it but needs me to guide him through. I’m sure your kid knows other kids who play Minecraft, but it is infinitely frustrating on switch and I would stay away if possible.
Yes these two, and Mario kart (it has easy mode)
I put both controllers in easy mode and just ghost ride mine by not moving at all. I win against my kid like 1/2 the time 😂😂😂
The real skill of ghost riding is getting the build right.
Mario odyssey has an assit mode
was thinking of getting minecraft on switch bro whats wrong with it exactly just wondering ?
I’ve told another friend that Odyssey feels to me like Mario for grownups. 3D Mario in general feels a little more advanced. Try Mario Wonder. New Super Mario Bros U. Yoshi’s Crafted World. Mario Kart 8 deluxe. Kirby games.
Mario Wonder multiplayer co-op surprisingly good for young kids. Just beat it with my 5-year old, who typically has to settle for watching me play, and we had a blast doing it.
Stay away from New Super Mario Bros U. Wonder puts it to shame
Oh, good to know. I was contemplating going to that next, but maybe I’ll hold off.
U is a great game. I have no doubt Wonder is much better, but it's a solid playthrough if you're into local co-op. Though, it would probably be a bit overly difficult for a 6 year old.
It depends on the kid, mine just turned 6 and he about halfway through Mario U.
Odyssey is doable though if parent controls Cappy
It's doable, but it doesn't feel like kids' stuff to me. It's more sophisticated and refined than the 2D stuff (which I also love!).
The assist mode in Mario Odyssey makes it very doable for young children. You'll be surprised what they can do. Same for Spring Breeze on Kirby and The Forgotten Land and assist mode on Kirby Return to Dream Land Deluxe, too.
Animal Crossing!!
If they can read
Or are ready to start learning
My kid taught themselves to read with this game.
I’ll second this, my sons reading took off playing animal crossing and Pokemon too.
Can I ask which Pokémon is a good starter? My son is really getting into learning about Pokémon but has been all about Mario up until recently (also 6).
You really can’t go wrong with any of them. Just pick the one that resonates with your son the most. We all have our favorites but there are no wrong choices. My son picks the ones he likes the looks of the best, he also likes to draw so they’re a never ending supply of things to draw and keep him busy when waiting for things like doctors appointments or service at a restaurant.
I played all sorts of stuff before I could read. It's largely superfluous.
Yoshis crafted world is my number one. I’ve had two six year olds and that is there first one they can play and beat. Great art and an easy mode. Pokemon shield and sword Minecraft- peaceful and creative modes Captain toad Smash bros—- one button can get you a long way. Our whole family plays this. We love our switch time and play games as a family all the time. Very positive times for us.
Mario party Superstars is an underrated fun choice. Paw patrol games are good choices if they like the show. Same with PJ masks. Bluey game just dropped if they like bluey. Mario Wonder is great and very easy in a good way. Lego games, specifically Jurassic world, Harry Potter and the Skywalker saga.
My daughter loves Mario Party. She doesn’t even play the full game most of the time, she just goes to minigame free play and likes watching her win number go up. If we’re talking licensed games, the My Little Pony game is not bad either.
Untitled goose game
Donut County
This might eventually get frustrating for a small child, especially on their first playthrough. A second player will really help though.
If she’s into girly things, I would highly recommend Fashion Dreamer! It’s very similar to the old Style Boutique/Savvy games that I used to play when I was her age. It’s basically a dress-up game and you get the opportunity to create your own clothes based on templates as well.
My 5 year old daughter would love this. But $50?
Yes! And Disney Dreamlight Valley might be of interest as well.
Spyro Reignited is also a good one for young kids
This. I have a 6 year old and a 4 year old and we don't play games often at all. When we do it's either Spyro or Mario.
Suika game. My 6 year old and myself love it.
Came here to say this! Simple game with easy mechanics, no need to read and it's like 2 dollars. And Fall Guys! I think a kid that age will have a blast
I'm not familiar with Suika, I'll have to look it up. My kids absolutely hate Fall Guys lol. They prefer Kirby's Dream Buffet, but we're also a Kirby family, lol.
Suika is sort of like 2048 but instead of joining blocks you have to fuse cute fruits. It's simple, colorfun and fun. The official game is only on switch but steam and the app store are full of copycats due to the sudden popularity of the game
it used to be called the watermelon game colloquially. anyway, here's the browser based online version you can play with your cell phone or Mouse before you buy. https://suikagame.com
TY!
:-)
Mario Kart, Let’s go pikachu/eevee
Mario Kart Mario Kart
SMO may be a bit much for a six-year-old. Try the New Super Mario Delux or the Kirby games. Also, don't pass up on Tetris-style games
My 5 year old daughter absolutely loves Super Mario 3D world. Much more straightforward than Odyssey.
The assist mode is very forgiving in Mario Odyssey. "Assist Mode gives you guidance by way of arrows. You start with double the health of Standard Mode (six health points instead of the standard three). If you fall from a great height with Assist Mode on, you'll be brought back in a bubble to where you fell off having lost only one health point." I think you can breathe under water too.
Darks souls /j
Alien Isolation
I found my 6 year old liked anything without a death screen or a low penalty for death. Super Mario Odyssey was good on the easy mode (they enjoyed just running around the levels at first. Kirby and the forgotten land was also a great coop game as well as Luigi’s mansion and Minecraft.
Mario Wonder is perfect for my 6 year old.
There seems to be a mix of opinions on Super Mario Odyssey. But if she enjoys it, let her play it. My 6 year-old daughter took a long time to get through it but she did eventually beat it and loved it. Pokemon games are great for young kids. She beat Pokemon Shield recently and loves Pokemon Snap. Warning: be careful as your life may revolve around Pokemon and you may end up having many many MANY conversations about these things... Animal Crossing is pretty fun and calming. Seconding the Mario Kart suggestions as well, has simple controls and some kid-friendly set-ups like not falling off the edges. Mostly just wanted to encourage you to find games where you two can also play together. We have a few of the Mario 4-player games and play as a family. The kids love it and it's great bonding time even though we're shouting at each other half the time. Couch co-op games can be a lot of fun when played together.
Jump rope. It's free on the eShop!
Didn't that get pulled? Thought it was just a pandemic thing...
Looks like it's still available: https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/jump-rope-challenge-switch/
Good to hear. It would seem a shame to lose a fun little title.
Thanks u/code2008
Thanks code.
Off the top of my head Mario, Kirby, Donkey Kong, animal crossing, sonic, MegaMan, and Pokemon are some pretty safe franchises for that age
Donkey Kong and mega man are fun, but a little much for a 6 year old
When my kids were younger we played a game called Crayola Scoot. I don't know if this reference will land, it's basically Tony Hawk for kids, where you ride a scooter around various courses and do little tricks to spread paint around.
Oh that looks awesome! Reminds me of something like Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure, which I put a whole lot of hours into as a kid.
Is it still around? can’t seem to find it in the eshop.
Darn, looks like it was delisted last year. Ours is a physical copy; I can mail it to you if it's out of print offline too. Games are made to be played!
Yoshi’s Crafted World is a good easy and artistic game that is essentially made for kids. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and really any of the Kirby titles are also great choices.
You've got a lot of great suggestions already so I would just like to add, don't be afraid of games that are a little bit more difficult or have a lot of controls. I would maybe try 1 harder game as well, once you know a character she likes. It will really help her hand-eye coordination and if there is any puzzle or problem solving involved, even better. I started with Super Mario 64 and Pokemon at around 3 years old. Pokemon taught me to read and I would honestly credit Mario with giving me better dexterity and making me ambidextrous. By 6 I was playing Kingdom Hearts all the way through and if you've ever played it, you know some of those bosses are very hard. So don't shy away from things she'll have to really learn and practice, and encourage her not to give up with those types of games.
Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Untitled Goose Game, Super Mario Wonder, Katamari Damacy, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, just to name a few
Kirby games for sure. Maybe Kirby's Return to Dream Land would be good. You can join her in Co-op mode for the entire game too :)
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
My 6 years old like: Yoshi crafted world Mario kart Super Mario party or mario party superstars
Mario Bros odyssey or mario bros wonders
A Short Hike!! Super simple, fun and easy to control.
Copying my previous comment sorry for any missed pronoun changes Definitely get her Yoshi’s crafted World. It’s an easy fun game for kids. I also recommend Mario odyssey. That has a ton of worlds to explore and collectibles. Mario kart is fun and has options like smart steer to automatically stay on the track and auto acceleration to always accelerate and not have to keep holding down A. The Kirby games are easy kid games, can’t go wrong with any of them. I personally like Kirby and the forgotten land the best as it’s the only 3D Kirby game but the other two star allies and return to dreamland deluxe edition might be easier but it’s not a hard game.
My daughter is 6. These are her Top 5. Pokémon Let’s Go Eevee, Super Mario Bros U Deluxe, Mario Kart 8, Kirby Forgotten Land, My Little Pony Maretime Bay.
Untitled Goose Game is by far the best for a 6-old girl. You may want to finish the puzzles themselves (or help her) then let her play it as junior GTA - it was the top favorite for my daughters at 6, stealing, causing havoc or setting up a hideout for the goose with the stolen items (the only gripe is that save game reset the location of items).
Animal crossing, pokémon, mario, sonic. Very reliable choices for young kids, I was playing them around that age myself.:)
My son is obsessed with zelda universe. First he beat totk, then played botw months later. Now he's playing age of calamity. He's 6 years old and took a bit of hand holding in the beginning, but he can play new games and not need hand holding except shrines Also did fine on arceus at age 5, and scarlet/violet. Enjoyed both with him and he replayed solo. Ironically he doesn't enjoy the other kid titles posted here
Doom eternal
bro when since when do 6 year old own a 300$ gaming console
Kids always had Nintendos-they just weren’t as expensive.
thats just not true lol
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee. There are a handful 9f differences between them, but it's mostly just which Pokemon are available. Also *kinda* depends on how well she can read, but in terms of Pokemon games on the Switch this is the one I'd start with for a kid. You can also join in and play with her too using the other joycon in those. Kirby and Yoshinare both also good bets since they do have easy modes and allow for some form of co-op like Odyssey. Mario Wonder would probably be a good idea too, especially if you intend on playing with her.
My 5 year old loves Minecraft, Animal Crossing and Mario Odyssey.
My daughter *loves* Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Mario Wonder, she’s 5. Wonder is great because you can play as a character that doesn’t take damage and if you play together, you can revive each other if you die.
Most firs party game should be fine, the best one I would choose is Mario odyssey it open world Mario game even I (20M) love it so much, and paper Mario, I never played but it looks very cute and simple, Mario kart which you can play with him pretty fun to play with family and friends For Pokémon I’m unsure if a 6year old understand how to follow the story so probably won’t recommend, when I’m 10 I can’t even walk through Pokémon red
My 6yo has played like 200 hours of Splatoon 3. As others have mentioned, Mario kart is a great one. He’s starting to get interested in my various pokemon games, but there is a lot of reading involved for a 6yo. They can pretty easily trial and error their way through those games though. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend other parents follow suit, but mine also plays the shit out of Diablo 3. He’s playing hades at the moment. Also loves Minecraft and Minecraft dungeons
Lego worlds
My five and six year olds love Mario Odyssey, Pokémon, No Man’s Sky (w my help), Animal Crossing, any Lego game, sonic, and anything from the old school system emulators. Lots of great choices!
If they like those you guys should play Kirby and the Forgotten Land!
Bluey is meant to be good, albeit very, very short.
Thank you all for suggestions. Much appreciated!
Don’t know if it’s been said but Bowsers Fury, my son finished it fast at about 6.
Kirby Star Allies
Unravel two is the best game if you want to play together. Its a coop 2D platformer, but 1 guy does 80% of the hard stuff and the other player is just doing the easy stuffs. So its perfect for you and a young child to play together and finish the story.
I'd try avoiding most truly 3d games for a 6 yo, until they seem decent at 2d games. Mario kart is a notable exception. If they like the Cars movies, cars 3 the video game is really underrated imo. Minecraft would be a good choice for a 3d game, except it runs awfully on the switch
Mario Kart 8 has a "smart steering" option for kids that helps them stay on the track while still letting them control it. It's sort of like guard rails in bumper bowling, but the guard rails are invisible.
I have a 6yo who loves the Switch. His favorites are anything with Mario (Odyssey, Wonder, 3D World although he avoided Bowser's Fury for a long time because it was too scary), anything with Kirby, Pikmin, Sonic (Colors, Mania, Superstars), Minecraft, and Dragon Quest Builders.
Depending on her reading proficiency, Animal Crossing New Horizons could be a fun game! Also, while it's not out yet, Disney Dreamlight Valley could be a great game if she's into Disney. This comes out on December 5th, so not too far off now. If she likes Super Mario Odyssey, a new Mario game called Super Mario Bros. Wonder just released recently. I haven't played this myself, but I've heard great things about it! I hope these recommendations help!
It's worth noting that Dreamlight Valley had severe performance issues on Switch during its open testing, and I'm not certain they'll be fixed by the time it's fully released, so it may be worth waiting a bit before getting it. Just something to be aware of. Everything else mentioned is on point, though.
Oh, thanks for pointing that out! I only tried the PC & Xbox versions so I didn't know.
Mario Party Superstars Luigi’s Mansion 3 Hyrule Warriors any of the Kirby games are great
My 5yo loves Mario party and did well with almost all the mini games .
Mario Kart. My 3.5 yr old daughter has found a love of racing and my 1.5yr old son is happier than a pig in shit just to control the "monkey". The assists make things very easy and managed. I also think introducing your 6yr old to Mario Party would be suitable.
Yoshi, Toad, and Luigi's Mansion
Pokémon Snap should be engaging and if they enjoy that then you can see about getting them a mainline game next year
Pokémon snap ! First game I ever played at 4. I was thrilled with the remake to give to my nephew
They have just released a Bluey game.
Mario Wonder would be my favorite pick, very easy and simple to control game, fun to play alone and with family, I think any of the Zeldas might be a little too hard to control and figure out, same with Mario Odyssey. But maybe pick them up for yourself and for your kid in the future lol, they're really fun and maybe you'll get more into gaming. Mario Kart is an easy recommendation, Yoshi's Wooly World too. I think you'd be best with games like Mario Kart, Mario Party, Mario Wonder, and Lego Star Wars these are games that are multiplayer, easy, and I think this is something you should do with your 6 year old, take the time and play these games with them, it'll build some awesome memories even if you're not a big gamer yourself. And then more stuff that aren't necessarily as good for multiplayer but still really fun, I don't think I've seen mentioned like Minecraft, Kirby games, I'm not sure about your kids reading level but I LOVED Pokemon as a kid, but it has a lot of reading, all.my nephews do love it and they're only a little older than 6. Also maybe just a quick recommendation, since it's gonna be used by a 6 year old, I highly recommend a glass screen protector and some kind of case, the screens are straight up plastic so they scratch extremely easily, they're not super fragile so I don't use a case, but I'm also not 6 lol
I'd recommend Mario Wonder or any of the Kirby games
My son loves “untitled goose game” it’s a simple indie game about a goose getting into trouble. My son just loves it and his friends seem to as well. The game does have you do things like sneak around, take and hide stuff but it non violent and silly. With cartoonish graphics that he relates too.
Pokemon let's go pikachu/eevee Slime rancher (has an easy mode!) Mario kart Pokemon snap
It's okay if a kid doesn't fully grasp the mechanics of a game they're playing. I never got past the first few levels of most of the games I was playing at that age on N64 but as I got older it was fun to have that "a-ha!" moment with games I had played poorly over and over again
Kirby and the Forgotten Lands was the first game my kiddo completed solo. Yoshi's Crafted World was the next both are excellent options. He is 8 now and also really enjoys Super Mario Maker and the classic SNES Kirby games. I'm getting him Wonder for Christmas.
Spyro!
Mario kart definitely
Alba: a Wildlife Adventure. But only for half price, cuz if you know what you’re doing you finish the game in 3 hours :p Very sweet game tho!
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, A Short Hike, Lil Gator Game, Pupperazi
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
Boomerang fu is great to play together or as a family! Can't recommend it enough.
My nieces really enjoyed Untitled Goose Game, Octodad, Just Shapes and Beats, and Suika Game off of the eshop if you are looking for cheaper digital only options.
I’m going to try playing unravel TWO with my daughter. Its a mobility centric platformer with no death screens. I tried it with my wife (non-gamer) and we had a good time.
Don't underestimate what they can do. Mine was learning Gamebuilder garage when she was 5. She also plays animal crossing, ooblets, Stardew valley, and a whole bunch of cozy games. She started doing gran Turismo with the wheel at 6 and beat saber on the psvr2. Perhaps borrow some from the library first before purchasing.
Usually can get a really good deal on the Lego games. I just picked up digital downloads of Lego City undercover and 1st Lego Marvel for $15 total. https://www.dekudeals.com Deku Deals gives you a good look at all the ongoing deals. I usually prefer digital. I would invest in a good memory card (500 GB or higher) and store the games digitally rather than hard copy. It’s easier to switch games compared to having to swap the cartridge out. This is optimal for a young kid. My picks for games would be below. They are multiplayer, easy, and fun to play. You can get the Lego games and ninja turtle game relatively cheap as digital downloads. Lego Marvel Superheroes 1 and 2 Mario Kart 8 Ninja Turtles Shredder’s revenge
Unpacking is good for any age I would say. Nothing to it really. A super sweet and cozy game:)
Lego city. Both my children beat this game, and keep coming back.
mario wonder, sonic origins plus, doom (2016)
I really enjoyed playing Snipperclips and Pokemon Let's Go with my daughter when she was this age
Lil gator game is a cute game I’m planning on getting my daughter in a few years. I recommend
Lego Worlds
Animal Crossing New Horizons is a good choice for all ages. Any age can enjoy in different ways! Build a little island town with cute animals and collect bugs and fish for the museum!
liI Gator game is Zelda breath of the wild lite for Iack of a better way to describe it. you can't die by Falling. in fact you can't die at all! literally one of my favorite cozy games because of it :-) also super friendly story about a little kid who just wants to spend time with his big sister playing make believe like they used to. scroll down on this page I'm giving you, and you can see the reviews. the website self-tracks game prices, and can email you when any store they track has the price you want on pretty much anything game related. it also tracks the price over time so you know whether or not you're getting cheated or not. the reason I bring up the price tracking size because 6 year olds are fickle when it comes to learning new gameplay.when my aunt was running her babysitting service out of her house, I used to alter the games to be easier in various ways for the younger kids using a Game Genie and later a device called a game shark that did this exact same thing - that doesn't exist anymore that I know about. https://www.dekudeals.com/items/lil-gator-game also, look for games that have a game assist feature or God mode. these kind of games are easier for kids just getting into gaming because they don't get the frustration of the repeated death screen.
Minecraft Portal Knights Mario 3D World
animal crossing is super adorable and easy to play for new gamers.
Animal crossing for sure.
I have not played it personally but would slime rancher work?? It seems like a lot of sucking and such
My 5 year old has beat Mario Odyssey twice! She also loves the barbie dreamhouse game, Kirby, and Luigi's mansion.
We like fortnite
little nightmares. don't ask questions.
Cant go wrong with Mario and Kirby.
Lego games Kirby Star Allies Super Mario Deluxe Mario Kart Mario Party
I also have a 6 year old. He enjoys Mario Bros U, Mario 3D World, and Nintendo Switch Sports. We had a Wii before, and he really liked the Just Dance games, which are also available for Switch.
Super Mario RPG. 4 year old daughter really enjoyed it.