The holidays are right around the corner, which for many of us means lots and lots of family time, well, beyond the eating, and the eating again. Whether you’re hanging with your immediate relatives, or you’re celebrating with your entire clan, we love finding ways everyone can have fun together, which is why video games are always at the top of our list.
These days, video gaming is hardly a solo activity. There are a ton of fantastic family video games that 2, 3, even 4 players can enjoy, all at the same time. And in some cases, they’ll get you all off the couch and moving (and laughing) your butts off.
But to keep the fun going, you’ll need the help of our sponsor Energizer, whose Ultimate Lithium AA batteries are the #1 long lasting batteries, complete with leak resistant construction and performance in extreme temperatures, you know, in case Grandma Joan’s house feels like an icebox. You’ll want to make sure you’ve got them in your video game controllers, with lots of extras to spare, depending on how competitive of a family you’ve got.
So, on their behalf, we’re sharing our 7 of our own staff’s favorite family video games that we hope your family enjoys too. -Kristen
Super Mario Odyssey
If you thought you were familiar with Super Mario, then think again. According to our editor Lexi, the new Super Mario Odyssey “totally lives up to all the hype.” Now in 3D, with amazing new abilities, Mario and his new ally Cappy head out on an incredible, global adventure to collect Power Moons so you can power the Odyssey airship, and save Princess Peach from Bowser’s wedding plans. There’s enough that’s familiar about the game so that it’s not like you have to get a whole new Mario. And each kingdom is super-detailed and huge, so there are tons of things to explore, new characters to meet, and puzzles to unlock.
LittleBigPlanet 3
My kids clamor to play LittleBigPlanet every time they visit Liz. At a quick glance, this puzzle platform game requires players to navigate levels while collecting bubbles that contain points or prizes. But it goes way beyond levels and prizes. It’s clever, and funny, and allows kids to stretch their creativity muscles too. Players can customize their own character, or even build their own levels, which can then be shared with the LittleBigPlanet community if they so choose. It’s really no surprise why kids (and yes, adults too) keep coming back to this video game.
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From our sponsor
Keep your family video gaming sessions going long after Thanksgiving dinner has been eaten thanks to Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, the #1 longest-lasting AA batteries. They’ll protect your gaming device by preventing damage due to leakage, and keep going even in extreme temperature, which means they’re great for gaming and new holiday toys that are begging to be played outside in the cold, plus everything else you need batteries for over the holidays (isn’t that pretty much everything, it seems?).
And they’re actually 33% lighter than other AA batteries, so the only thing that will get tired while you’re gaming with your family are your fingers. Or legs, depending on what game you’re playing.
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Just Dance 2018
We’ve been longtime fans of Just Dance, which lets you “compete” against other players (or really, dancers) through different dance routines that you follow on the screen. Let’s just say we’ve burned many a calorie playing this ourselves. In fact, it’s a staple in Liz’s house every Friday when her mom comes to visit. Yep, it’s a game that offers multi-generational fun. And our editor Lexi’s family own every single edition of this game. Ubisoft does an awesome job of putting together song lists that have solid choices for everyone, and routines that beginners can do without getting frustrated. Just be sure to have water bottles and towels close by, not to mention room to move and groove.
Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
It’s LEGO. It’s Star Wars. It’s a collaborative family game. It’s got original dialogue from Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Daisy Ridley and more. What’s not to love? The narrative storyline, action, and silly LEGO humor keep it fun for our younger tweens and more cynical older kids alike. Our kids’ tip: be sure to visit Kylo Ren in his messy room, which solidifies him as a hilariously moody emo teen.
And hey, if you need another Lego video game recommendation, The Lego Movie also gets 2 thumbs up from Liz’s crew.
Rock Band 4
You don’t need to be a musician by any means to love Rock Band, but even if you are, we bet you’ll love it. too. The newest version, Rock Band 4, has a bunch of new added features, like playing online with friends, as well as songs across lots of different genres. But we love the older versions too, like our contributor Georgette and her family, who is a big fan of The Beatles Rock Band. With a teen gamer in the house (who also happens to be a huge Beatles fan), she said it’s a cool way for the whole family to connect, no matter what you real life musical talents might be. Or, not be.
Thanks to our sponsor Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries for helping keeping our gadgets a little safer and our families a little happier over the holidays. And well, every day.
