No child is alike, so while parents and caregivers can best judge what’s appropriate for their child’s needs, most kids should be able to handle many of these games without supervision. Some may occasionally call for adult guidance depending on the child’s maturity and skill level but they’re generally all titles that your child can get to grips with solo. Some feature familiar faces that your child may already love such as Marvel superheroes, while other titles such as Minecraft offer genuine educational value. There’s a chance for kids to experience more traditionally “grown-up” genres like the multiplayer shooter genre, albeit in a cuter and more kid-friendly format such as Plants vs. Zombies.  With an Xbox One game for just about every kid’s interest, many of these titles will also keep adults hooked for a long time, too. Here’s a look at the best Xbox One kids’ games. The Xbox One version supports massive worlds and impressive distances so the experience will feel nearly endless—kind of like an infinite Lego set but with the ability to play with up to four players in either local split-screen or via cross-platform online multiplayer.  The Master Collection includes a vast amount of extra content including skins, textures, and themes from the Starter Pack and Creators Pack DLCs, plus 1,000 Minecoins to buy more add-ons of your choice from the Marketplace.  Even without those extras, Minecraft’s core experience is a delight. The more traditional part of the game comes from Survival Mode as you explore the map, harvest resources, and build structures to survive the baddies that appear at night. Alternatively, there’s Creative Mode where your child can let their imagination run wild as they build and play to their heart’s content. It’s so useful for teaching problem-solving skills and innovation that an Educational Edition of the game exists for use in classrooms. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 1.12GB It’s oddly familiar for anyone who’s played a 2D platformer in the past, but it’s also quite delightful thanks to some gorgeous artwork and a pleasant soundtrack that makes Rayman Legends feel a little classier than just any old 2D platformer. Crucially, everything feels smooth and satisfying with the controls taking moments to learn yet proving as enjoyable for adults as they are for kids. Understandably, the game starts out much easier than it ends so it’s likely you’ll have to use the co-op mode to help out your youngster, but it never feels cheap or punishing. Instead, the experience feels fresh, engaging, arguably more straightforward than a lot of open-ended 3D platformers currently out there.  The Xbox One version doesn’t push the limits of what the console can achieve graphically but its quirky and lively art style means that doesn’t really matter. You do at least gain from Xbox One-exclusive skins for your playable heroes as a bonus, plus there are regularly updated online challenges that give you something new to do. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 4.3GB Developed by several of the makers of Banjo-Kazooie and other games from that era, it was created thanks to record-breaking Kickstarter funding, ensuring it soon became a faithful but modernized spiritual successor for a new generation of players.  The game follows Yooka the chameleon and Laylee the bat on a quirky adventure through an evil bee’s corporate headquarters as they attempt to recover a magical book’s “Pagies.” You can choose how to use these Pagies to open new worlds or to expand the existing ones available to you. You can also upgrade abilities or unlock fun goodies.  It’s easy to spot the callbacks from a main character duo with complementary abilities to tons of collectible items scattered around to give you something else to do. There’s goofy dialogue packed with good-natured humor that your kids will love. Simply put, it’s a highly enjoyable and wholesome time that both young and old should adore. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 5.27GB LEGO Marvel Super Heroes is the best-selling LEGO video game of all time and has 27 main story and side missions to complete, while LEGO Marvel Avengers features over 200 playable characters. These include pretty much every Marvel hero you’ve ever loved with over 800 unique “buddy” moves to progress through boss battles and puzzle sections. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes 2 gives you the ability to manipulate time, features 17 different locations from the Marvel film franchises, and offers a four-player competitive battle mode. Seamless drop-in/drop-out multiplayer will suit kids with limited attention spans, while a wealth of slapstick humor will entertain everyone. Don’t be surprised if you end up sneaking a go when the kids aren’t looking. There’s a lot of charm here. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 22.61GB movies Much of the movies’ excitement translates over, but it’s toned down to be a little more age-appropriate for young children compared to some of the movies’ most famous scenes. In typical LEGO game fashion, players can work together to solve the various puzzles and obstacles in their way, using their character’s unique equipment and skills. Once you clear a mission, you can return at a later point with different characters to discover new secrets, adding to the urge to come back for more. Even more charmingly, you can create your own dinosaur and explore each level as a fearsome creature if you want. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 14.63GB The catch is you’re always in some wacky kitchen, dealing with anything from conveyor belts to mine carts to magic portals. Part of your kitchen might even float away halfway through and be replaced by some new culinary craziness. Success is all about how you communicate and coordinate with your teammates, making each level chaotic, challenging, and sometimes frustrating, but always a blast to figure out. If you’ve played the original Overcooked!, the sequel’s most notable gameplay addition is the ability to throw ingredients and other non-breakable items. Besides that, it mostly adds more twists on a similar core experience—and since it’s difficult for most fans to get enough, Overcooked! 2 is well worth picking up. There are also periodic updates that add free seasonal-themed content (in addition to paid DLC offerings) that keep you coming back to the kitchen. The game can be played as a single player, but swapping between two chefs on your own isn’t quite as satisfying. Online co-op and head-to-head modes are available if you and your squad want to jump in with random players or friends in other parts of the world. ESRB: Everyone | Install Size: 3GB driving modes The downside is that learning these advanced techniques takes a lot of practice, which means beginners may be a little intimidated by more experienced players. It’s best for older children, and you’ll need to put some time into honing your skills to master the more impressive moves. It’s also important to use teamwork skills, as high levels of strategy and communication are essential if you want to reliably score or defend.  Rocket League is now free to play with plenty of different multiplayer modes to choose from so you don’t have to master it to enjoy it. You can easily find friends to play alongside or against thanks to cross-platform support, and if you don’t mind paying for some extras, the collector’s edition offers multiple previously released bundles, including new cars and car parts to customize your vehicles with. ESRB: Everyone | Install Size: 15.13GB You control Yoku, a dung beetle who can roll up into a ball and move around a 2D environment just like it’s an organic pinball machine. Reaching new locations by launching off flippers and bouncing off bumpers is fun in a way you’d never think possible. Not since Sonic Spinball has there been a game that combined platforming and pinball quite so well. There are surprises at every turn on the strange island of Mokumana, with a sprawling open-world map that slowly unfolds in Metroidvania style. There’s always something new to do with much of the narrative playing out in a non-linear way with a series of side quests and enticing hidden paths distracting you from the main plot. Your kids will love the quirkiness and the strange characters they come across, and you’ll love the sheer sense of originality shining through much of this game. Just keep an eye out for some dark moments that may unsettle the youngest of children. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 1.20GB It’s a colorful and cartoony way for young gamers to try out the genre without the level of violence you see from other shooters. The controls and mechanics are simple enough for players of almost any skill level to master, although it’s useful for your child to already know a bit about teamwork. The game’s playable classes offer plenty of diversity on both the Plant and Zombie side with some focusing on damage, while others provide support or defenses, ensuring there’s something for every taste here. A choice of three unique and upgradeable abilities for each class help provide further distinction and means you can play the way that works best for your style. That’s not forgetting the extensive multiplayer modes available. While the single player campaign is a little too straightforward to be very gripping, there are tons of multiplayer modes including 4 vs. 4 death matches and 8 vs. 8 turf wars. Base defense modes call back to the series’ roots, which is fun too. A series of daily or weekly challenges in a bid to earn currency that can be used for special costumes or emotes further entice you into coming back for more. ESRB: Everyone 10+ | Install Size: 30.28GB

About Our Trusted Experts

Jennifer Allen has been writing about technology and gaming since 2010. She specializes in iOS and Apple technology, as well as wearable technology and smart home devices. She’s been a regular tech columnist for Paste Magazine, written for Wareable, TechRadar, Mashable, and PC World, as well as more diverse outlets including Playboy and ​Eurogamer. Anton Galang has been working as a writer and editor in the fields of tech and education since 2007. He has reviewed several Xbox One kids’ games for Lifewire and has spent countless hours on others with his family just for fun. Andrew Hayward is a Lifewire writer and product tester with a background in journalism. He has covered video games and technology since 2006, contributing to publications like TechRadar, Polygon, and Macworld. Kelsey Simon is a writer and librarian who reviews video games and books for local blogs. She has tested many excellent family-friendly games for Lifewire, including a number of titles for the Xbox One. Thomas Hindmarch has worked in video game journalism for almost 20 years. He was a founding editor for Hardcore Gamer and has contributed to numerous gaming publications, including reviews of several kids’ games for Lifewire.

What to Look For in an Xbox One Kids’ Game

Activity Level

Some games are more active than others. A few will even work up as much of a sweat as playing a game of tag outside. To help your child get adequate exercise, look for a game that keeps him or her moving, such as Dance Dance Revolution.

Educational Level

Video games don’t have to be purely recreational. Some can supplement math and science subjects that your child is learning in school or even delve into an entirely new topic that he or she might not have explored otherwise.

Creativity Level

Sometimes, educational games teach a child to think in a new way or solve puzzles with abstract thinking. Plenty of games, such as Minecraft, offer a more creative spin than those with more traditional approaches such as times tables and science experiments.