Some of the most fun you’ll ever have in gaming is playing games with those who matter the most to you. For many, that applies to their parents, but what if they’ve never played games or lack the technical precision many games require?
Luckily, gaming has become incredibly friendly to casual players and newcomers, and at least one of the entries on this list should pique your parents’ curiosity.
10
Minecraft
Recognizable at a glance, Minecraft is arguably one of the easiest games to enjoy with your parents.
One of Minecraft‘s greatest appeals is how inviting it is both aesthetically and technically. It’s a game that isn’t execution-heavy and provides an almost infinite number of things to do, courtesy of all the player and developer-created content added since its inception. The variety of game modes all but guarantees your parents will find one that appeals to them, and Minecraft‘s ease of access makes it a breeze to play together, on or offline.
Minecraft is also available on basically every gaming platform that exists right now, giving it a low barrier to entry.
Minecraft
- Released
-
November 18, 2011
- ESRB
-
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Mojang
- Publisher(s)
-
Mojang
9
Journey
Journey is a simple yet unforgettable experience. Players control a robed figure whose only goal is venturing toward a looming mountain.
Journey‘s brilliance lies in its minimalist approach to gameplay and simple narrative. Your parents shouldn’t have any trouble getting the hang of the controls, and the charming visuals encourage exploration. Journey also boasts a phenomenal soundtrack that might change your opinion of game music. It’s a game with no real stress associated with it, not to mention its short length makes it very approachable.
I played it for the first time about six years ago and still vividly recall how captivating it was, and I’m sure your parents will walk away with similar sentiments.
8
We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie
We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie is a remaster of the second Katamari game, and what a gem it is. Simply put, your objective is to roll the Katamari into things, absorbing them and creating an ever-expanding ball that can be used to, well, absorb more things.
If you’ve never played a game in the series, it probably sounds ludicrous, and that’s because it is. It wears its quirkiness on its sleeve, and that makes it all the more delightful. The gameplay is straightforward, and the sheer absurdity of it is certain to at least get some chuckles out of anyone rolling the katamari around.
There is even a multiplayer mode where two players team up to roll the same Katamari, making it important to synchronize your actions. Not only is We Love Katamari REROLL + Royal Reverie fun to try with your parents, I’d say it’s also one of the best co-op Switch games to play with your kids. The modern release has both simplified and classic controls.
Katamari Damacy Reroll
- Released
-
December 6, 2018
- ESRB
-
e
- Developer(s)
-
MONKEYCRAFT Co. Ltd
- Publisher(s)
-
Bandai Namco Entertainment
7
Detroit: Become Human
Detroit: Become Human differs radically from every other entry due to its emphasis on story, rather than gameplay. Taking control of several characters throughout the story, your dialogue decisions, and what you do during gameplay segments have significant narrative impact.
I think this minimalist gameplay loop may work in its favor, especially if you want to play something with your parents, but they don’t seem particularly enthusiastic about the idea. In fact, your parents don’t even have to touch the controller, and can instead guide your choices in conversation or tell you where to go. You can also handle all the quick-time events and investigation segments, with input from your parents.
I’ve had a surprising amount of success playing this with people who don’t normally like games, due to it being more like a movie, so I highly recommend it.
Detroit: Become Human
- Released
-
May 25, 2018
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ due to Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
-
Quantic Dream
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony
6
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Super Mario Bros. Wonder combines the creativity Nintendo franchises are known for with a welcoming multiplayer experience. Like other Super Mario Bros. entries, players traverse a 2D plane from one stage to another, gathering power-ups and jumping on foes along the way.
The multiplayer in Super Mario Bros. Wonder is some of the best you’ll find. The controls are straightforward, and it’s fairly easy to distinguish where to go, what items you should collect, and how to defeat the enemies barring your path. All of the player characters are also on-screen at once, making every level a hectic, hilarious romp.
Some of the stages can get really silly, and I guarantee your parents will find it amusing, if nothing else.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Released
-
October 20, 2023
- ESRB
-
e
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
5
Balatro
As someone with parents who love playing online poker, Balatro is an easy pick. This roguelike puts a unique spin on the classic card game, and is so good it spawned its own genre within a year.
I could recommend a virtual poker game, or even one of those video game collections with numerous board games in one package. However, Balatro really is something special because every run is different, which keeps the experience fresh. The game itself isn’t terribly long either, so your parents don’t have to invest a lot of time to get to the real meat of the game. I think they’ll be surprised at how fun it is to customize their deck for each playthrough.
Best of all, it’s available on mobile platforms, consoles, and PC, making it easy for your parents to acquire and play.
Balatro
- Released
-
February 20, 2024
- ESRB
-
E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Gambling Themes
- Developer(s)
-
LocalThunk
- Publisher(s)
-
Playstack
4
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Overcooked! All You Can Eat is a combination of the first two Overcooked! games, along with some extra content. In it, you work together with others to prepare, cook, and serve orders in a restaurant.
Overooked! is a game where things can get incredibly chaotic. Though levels are set in a typical restaurant setting, you could also find yourself in the frozen tundra, or on a different planet where parts of the kitchen are separated by moving platforms. This unique multiplayer experience is easy to get into and only gets better with more people.
The Overcooked! series will have you and your parents yelling at each other, but in the best ways. It’s a game where things are supposed to go wrong.
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
- Released
-
November 10, 2020
- ESRB
-
E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Ghost Town Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Team17
3
Mario Kart World
If you happened to recently acquire a Switch 2, Mario Kart World is begging for everyone in your family to play it. The newest entry in the kart racing franchise has everything you know and love, plus a few new modes to try.
Even if your parents have never touched a controller, they will probably learn very quickly how to drive around. There are also a number of helpful options to assist new players, such as Smart Steering, which will prevent you from accidentally driving off the track. If online modes are too intimidating, Free Roam allows your parents to drive around and explore at their own pace, while many offline modes have local multiplayer for all of you to race or battle it out.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a solid suggestion too, as it has the same accessibility options, but it doesn’t have Free Roam.
Mario Kart World
- Released
-
June 5, 2025
- ESRB
-
Everyone // Mild Fantasy Violence, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
2
Nintendo Switch Sports
Taking a page from Wii Sports‘ book, Nintendo Switch Sports features a variety of activities to try. Games like bowling, golf, and tennis all use the Joy-Con in different ways, making each sport feel inherently unique.
My parents were a bit intimidated at first by the prospect of using the Joy-Con’s motion controls, but each sport has you complete a tutorial the first time you play. These were great for easing them into each game. The activity variety is great for those who may have mobility problems, as games like volleyball or bowling can be played from a sitting position.
I understand some people are apprehensive when it comes to motion controls, but Nintendo Switch Sports is a lot of fun, especially in short bursts.
Nintendo Switch Sports
- Released
-
April 29, 2022
- ESRB
-
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Mild Violence
- Developer(s)
-
Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
1
Mario Party Superstars
Almost any Mario Party game fits the bill here, but Mario Party Superstars takes some of the best boards and mini-games from the Nintendo 64 classics.
Mario Party Superstars is practically perfect in how it caters to those familiar and unfamiliar with the series. Each game will always begin with an explanation of how to play and any quirks the board may have before everyone rolls to see who goes first. Items and objectives are very clearly outlined as you progress, too. Mini-games follow suit and similarly explain their rules and controls, even allowing you to practice them before playing the real thing.
I played Mario Party games almost every weekend with my parents when I was growing up, and I will always regard it as one of the quintessential franchises to enjoy with family members.
Mario Party Superstars
- Released
-
October 9, 2021
- ESRB
-
e
- Developer(s)
-
NDcube
To this day, I’m convinced there’s a video game out there for everyone, even if they seem completely uninterested. That being said, whether your parents enjoy gaming or not, they’re sure to like at least one entry on this list.
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