The 10 Best Xbox One Games For Families

Editor's Notes

December 14, 2020:

We've replaced Just Dance 2019 with the newer version, Just Dance 2021. It features brand new songs from artists like Billie Eilish, Lizzo, and Twice. It also includes eight new kid-friendly songs such as "You've Got a Friend In Me" from Toy Story. If you're out of controllers or don't want to set up the Kinect, you can pull out your smartphone, download an app, and use it as a controller.

Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 had to be pushed out to make room for the new Plants Vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville. Though it possesses a lot of the same gameplay as GW2, it has new maps, characters, and features six PvP modes that can have high-stakes final objectives. This cartoony-looking title has many complementary details such as marshmallows falling from the sky to your whole team turning into goats. This game is great for families who don't enjoy the gruesomeness that shooters possess, though appreciate the mechanics they have to offer, especially when put in more gentle and family-friendly environments.

Minecraft Master Collection is a title that needs no introduction. Almost every person, gamer or not, knows about Minecraft. It's popularity and incredible world-building mechanics required us to mention this iconic game. Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Super Lucky's Tale, since it doesn't allow for more than one person to play at a time and doesn't have the notoriety that Minecraft has. Build underground lava bases or craft cliffside houses for you and your family to enjoy all while fighting off creepers and skeletons in the night.

Cars 3: Driven to Win is worthy of remaining. Though it was released a few years ago, up to four players can race one another, and it has high-energy gameplay that the whole family can enjoy. If you have folks who don't know the movie franchise but appreciate racing games like Mario Kart, this option should suit them well. If you're craving a more slow-paced game than the previous title, Stardew Valley may be the game for you and your loved ones. You play as a character from the city who's taking over grandpa's farm. You get to meet a loveable and diverse set of townspeople, grow your own crops, and attend special events to receive new items and dialogue options.

April 01, 2019:

Fun games on the Xbox One don't have to be aggressive shoot-em-ups. In fact, some titles such as Overcooked! are decidedly non-violent and sure to entertain plays of all ages. Just Dance is great for keeping the whole family active, and there's nothing like a daily dance competition to increase moods and help kids burn off energy while adults burn calories. Stardew Valley and Super Lucky's Tale are similarly suitable for small children, and they're still fun for the adults around. In fact, be wary of Stardew Valley's ability to suck away hours and hours of your free time, as many users report a "just one more day" feeling to be quite common come in-game midnight. Anything by Lego is guaranteed to be great fun, and by the nature of Lego imagery, even the often-somber Star Wars film becomes lighthearted and low-stress to navigate. Rare Replay gives you the chance to revisit some wildly entertaining old-school classics and share them with friends and family, and Rayman Legends is a fast-paced (albeit sometimes rather difficult) 2D platformer than many parents and kids report enjoying together. Plants vs. Zombies is a collection of relative hilarity -- just look at the premise -- and you'll be enthralled for many hours as you delve into the huge variety of gameplay modes. But few family-friendly video games are as popular today as Rocket League, which has spawned a massive international community nearly on a par with those of Fortnite or Minecraft.