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Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

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Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

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Super Mario Party

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To kick off this list of the best kids party video games for birthdays, of course we’re going to start with one of the GOAT (greatest of all time) franchises: Mario Party.

Any Mario Party will work depending on the console you have available to you as there’s a Mario Party on just about any Nintendo console under the sun since Mario Party 64.

The most recent entry on the Nintendo Switch, Super Mario Party, is arguably the best entry in the series since the Nintendo 64 games though, and that’s the one we’d highly recommend, unless you have a N64 laying around.

Not only is it a return to form in terms of the traditional gameplay fans originally fell in love with, without any of the strange gimmicks the series has explored over the years, but there’s a lot of new game modes as well.

You can play in teams on boards specifically designed for it and there are new co-op modes in case you’d rather keep everyone on the same side to avoid any arguing. Of course, the traditional four player free for all is there too.

In the highly likely event you have more than four kids around at a party, just simply have them pair up onto a particular character from Super Mario Party, and have them take turns on the controller after every mini-game concludes.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

Towerfall

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Towerfall is a fast-paced, simplified, pixelated arena fighting game that is one of the best party games for kids, birthdays, or really any occasion where you want to have people over for a fun video game that’s easy to take turns on.

Unlike Super Mario Party, Towerfall is available on every major console (heck even the ill-fated Ouya), so assuming you have something from this generation and a few controllers, you’re all set.

The game is very easy to play. Up to four players are put onto a themed-arena, and they need to eliminate each other by either hopping on their head or shooting them with an arrow.

Everything is pixelated and there’s no blood or gratuitous violence, so don’t worry about that in case you’re dealing with younger kids.

Matches are hectic, fun, and fast-paced. Rounds can be fine-tuned to either less crazy (favoring skill) or totally insane with more power ups and obstacles.

Matches only last a few minutes, making it easy to swap kids in and out, and when there’s only two people left it gets super intense, and is fun for people on the side watching as well.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

Starwhal

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Starwhal is another hectic arena fighting game that’s playable on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

In this game, people play as space Narwhals, Starwhals, and need zip around the map trying to dodge and joust each other to hit a weak spot on their stomach.

Like Towerfall, although it’s simple to learn, under the surface there’s a lot of space for players to show off their skill with expertly timed attacks and dodges.

The game comes packed with a few modes for you to pick from and, like the other titles on this list, the matches are of reasonable length, making it easy to swap kids in and out during a birthday party or whatever other gathering you have going on.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate

Let’s head back to another Nintendo Switch exclusive. There are a few on this list, but what can we say, Nintendo makes great party games for kids and birthdays.

Like Mario Party, you can find a Smash Bros. game on every major Nintendo home console since Nintendo 64, and they are all great games, but the most recent and comprehensive entry is Ultimate for the Switch.

The series is known for pitting classic Nintendo characters (and cross-over ones too) against each other in battle across iconic locales from each character’s games. While it is a fighting game, there isn’t any over the top violence and there’s no gore.

Ultimate is well, the ultimate version, as it features every single character that has every appeared in the series into one mega-collection.

Games can be fine-tuned to be as fast or long as you want, and it’s easy to just have people pass up the controller after a game and keep the party going. If anything, you’re going to have a hard time peeling them off if anything.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

Super Bomberman R

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The Bomberman series features classic party games that have spanned many generations of consoles for good reason: they are fun.

Super Bomberman R is the first mainline entry in quite some time, and like Super Mario Party, is a return to form in a lot of ways.

As far as the multiplayer goes (the best mode for kids birthday parties and other similar gatherings), it’s very simple. Four local players need to use bombs to navigate through a maze, collecting powerups to give them an edge on their opponents and eventually trap them into a bomb attack.

Like many of the games on this list, what makes Super Bomberman R such a great game for a kids’ birthday party is that the action is fast-paced, extremely frantic, fun, and can have up to four people playing at once.

Everyone in it will have a good time, and then you can swap the next group/player in to take over, letting everyone have a turn in a short amount of time.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

Trivial Pursuit Live!

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Something a little off-beat here in case you’re tired of fighting games and want something a little different. Trivial Pursuit Live! is exactly what it sounds like if you’re familiar with the classic card game. It’s essentially a game show version of Trivial Pursuit, but in video game form.

Four people at once can go through several rounds of classic Trivial Pursuit trivia, with curveballs such as bonus rounds thrown in to keep everyone on their toes.

Older children/teens can handle the game, but obviously try to avoid really small children who don’t know how to count to 100, spell their name, or write in cursive yet.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

One way or another, we were obviously going to arrive at Mario Kart. Right there with Super Mario Party and Smash Bros. as one of the most well-known kids party games, Mario Kart has a leg up on longevity on the other two franchises, having started its run way back on the Super Nintendo.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the most recent entry in the franchise currently available on the Switch. It itself, is a “deluxe” enhanced version of the Wii U title by the same name. It features more tracks, characters, and improved graphics taking advantage of the increased horsepower of the Nintendo Switch.

What can we say about Mario Kart that hasn’t been said many times already. It’s a classic kart-racing game where players can play as one of their favorite Nintendo characters, and race against each other in crazy courses and use wacky powerups like Shells, Banana peels, etc. to slow their opponents down.

Races only last a few minutes, are a ton of fun, and it’s easy to keep a rotation of kids going during a birthday party.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

1-2 Switch

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1-2 Switch is pretty much designed to just be a fun game for people, including kids, to play at parties. It doesn’t really get any deeper than silly mini-games that are fun for everyone. Still, that works for us in this case, and it’s a great game to consider bringing out to a kids birthday party.

The game makes use of the Joy-Cons, including the HD Rumble feature, in lots of creative ways, making for a unique party game experience.

For example, there’s a race to see who can milk a cow the best, who is the fastest draw in a western-style showdown, who can crack into a treasure chest using their Joy-Con, and a battle between wizards using your Joy-Con as a wand.

There’s a lot of different games ranging from incredibly simple to creative, and more complex.

Best Kids Party Video Games for Birthdays

ARMS

Finally, we arrive at ARMS, a zany fighting game featuring characters with super extendable arms able to slap their opponent around from across a large battlefield. This is another Nintendo game, so don’t worry about over the top violence or gore, which there is none.

The multiplayer modes are quite simple. Up to four players (2v2 teams, or 1v1 duels) can pick their characters, the stage, and duke it out using the joy-cons in their hands like boxing gloves to unleash a flurry of long-distance punches, and special attacks.

The game can be played with the Joy-Con, and it’s honestly easier to play that way, but it’s way more fun with them, especially with kids in a birthday party setting.

Just make sure that, if you’re dealing with younger kids, they use the straps that come with the Joy-Cons so that they don’t go flying across the room into a TV.


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Image of Ed McGlone
Ed McGlone
Ed McGlone was with Twinfinite from 2014 to 2022. Playing games since 1991, Ed loved writing about RPGs, MMOs, sports games and shooters.