Xbox Game Passis arguably the premier gaming service available on the market today, and while largely catering to adults, there are quite a few titles in its vast library that appeal to a younger audience. In fact, there’s a pretty vast selection of titles that kids of all ages are sure to find hours of enjoyment in.
From brain-teasing puzzle-platformers to creatively stimulating sandbox titles, thebestchildren’s games onXbox Game Passcover a wide spectrum of genres and gameplay styles. There should be something for just about everyone. Quite a few of the following titles feature cooperative play in one capacity or another, allowing parents and siblings to dive into the fun too.
Updated Aug 01, 2025 by Mark Sammut:Xbox Game Pass has quite a packed few months ahead of it, but most of the new games are for older players. Consequently, two beloved Metroidvanias that are suitable for children have been added as recommendations. Click below to jump directly to these entries.
So many kids grew up playingCrash Team Racingon the original PlayStation, and Naughty Dog’s project is still considered one of the all-time kart racing greats. In 2019, Activision publishedCrash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled, an expansive remaster/remake of the original that even includes characters and tracks from the less-loved sequels. While its post-release business practices garnered quite a bit of criticism, this package is still a pretty easy recommendation for anyone remotely interested in racers, especially since there just aren’t all that many alternatives on Game Pass that can scratch a similar itch.
Nitro-Fueledcompletely retainsCTR’s Adventure mode, which challenges players to work their way through four areas with races and a boss, all en route to defeating Oxide and saving the world. Silly as the story is, this campaign is a lot of fun to play through, and this version even offers the option to swap racers rather than having to stick to a single character. Gameplay-wise,CTRis an absolute treat that emphasizes sliding and boosting, the latter of which is influenced byCrash Nitro Kart.
Nitro-Fueledhas nothing inappropriate for children, at least in terms of gameplay. That said, the game can be quite challenging, even on the lowest difficulty.
One of the definitive platforming franchises,Spyro the Dragonis beloved specifically due to Insomniac’s PS1 trilogy. Now, more than two decades later, these titles are readily available to Xbox and PC users with a Game Pass subscription.
Toys for Bob modernized these exploration-based classics to create a frequently gorgeous compilation dripping in child-like wonder, imagination, and Gnorcs. All three games are good at a minimum, and they build naturally upon each other, with both sequels introducing considerable mechanics that expand on the first entry’s solid but simple foundations.
Despite its E10+ rating,Spyro Reignited Trilogyis generally an easy recommendation for children. Each story has a lighthearted tone that is perfectly suitable for all ages, even if they might occasionally include a wink for older players. While not devoid of challenge, none of the games are particularly difficult, although younger kids might need some help with a handful of missions that are more frustrating than anything else.
Katamariepitomizes silliness in the best possible way. Driven by wacky characters with god-like powers, the games ultimately revolve around the son of the King of All Cosmos, and he is either usually aiding his father or trying to clean up his messes.We Love Katamariis arguably the best entry in the franchise, at least in the sense that it perfected the core formula introduced in its predecessor,Katamari Damacy.We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverieremasters the PS2 classic by mostly updating the visuals, which is already enough to warrant playing this absolute gem. In terms of new content, this version has some new levels centering around the King of All Cosmos' upbringing, but they are fairly brisk and minor experiences overall.
Katamariis just perfect for kids. Putting aside all the ridiculous and hilarious characters, the roll-everything gameplay is immediately accessible and instantly rewarding. More importantly, the campaign delivers a strong sense of progression as the Prince’s collections gradually grow more impressive, ensuring that players always feel like they are moving forward rather than just repeating the same stuff. Regardless of somebody’s familiarity with the franchise,We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverieis an all-around delight that can put a smile on the faces of both children and adults.
Crash Bandicootwas arguably thefirst successful PlayStation mascot, with Naughty Dog’s series being a staple of the PS1 era. However, the marsupial lost his way after that generation, and ultimately fell into the hands of Activision. In 2023, Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, which added PlayStation’s legendary mascot to the Xbox family. Long story short, Crash’s PS1 trilogy can be played through Game Pass in the form of theN. Sane Trilogy. This is the strangest timeline.
As interesting as the IP’s history is, the only thing that ultimately matters is the quality of these games. TheN. Sane Trilogyis generally fantastic, with each remake fine-tuning the original versions to create authentic experiences that feel both modern and nostalgic. Putting aside some gloriously over-the-top death scenes, all three titles should be fine for younger players who are taking their first steps into the world of gaming. While the remake sharpens a lot of the classic version’s rough edges,Crash Bandicootis still far and away the hardest entry in the trilogy, along with just being the most straightforward and (arguably) worst. Kids should start with the first game regardless, but if they find it a bit too difficult, there is no shame in jumping ahead toCortex Strikes Backand evenWarped.
Core Keeperis great for all ages, but it comes with something of a learning curve. Pugstorm’s survival sandbox game takes a hands-off approach by dropping players into a procedurally generated map and telling them to have fun. At that point, players must dig, collect resources, and find their way through the darkness. They will fight enemies, take on a few bosses, and upgrade items. Most importantly, they will craft and build, setting up a base that will gradually liven up.
Everything here is fine for children, except the somewhat directionless first few hours. Consequently, younger players might lose interest beforeCore Keeperhits its stride. If that does not happen, they might just find a game capable of consuming months of their lives.
Most action RPGs are not particularly great picks for kids since they tend to tackle fairly mature subjects or are slightly too hard for younger players. However, exceptions exist, andDungeons of Hinterbergis a pretty great 2024 example. The premise is simple: Luisa needs a break from work, so she heads to the Alps to take on the 20+ dungeons. When not hack and slashing her way through enemies, Luisa can be found relaxing at her hotel or simply exploring the beautiful biomes.
While hardly shallow,Dungeons of Hinterberg’s mechanics are straightforward, especially the combat. The same can be said for its structure, as the game allows players to mostly do their own thing and decide how they want to spend their days. With great visuals, fun exploration, enjoyable combat, and an addictive gameplay loop, this release is a great option for slightly older children.
7Ori and the Blind Forest & Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Stunning Works Of Art That Are Mostly Fine For Kids
Moon Studios’Origames were two of the best Metroidvanias of the 2010s, and time has done nothing to dull their shine. Both projects cast players as Ori, taking them to explore a relatively large side-scrolling world that is drenched in whimsy and fantasy.Ori and the Blind Forestconsists almost exclusively of exploration, platforming, and puzzles, with combat being fairly weak and not encouraged in most situations.Ori and the Will of the Wispsintroduces a more robust battle system than its predecessor, allowing for more spectacular boss battles. That said, the sequel is also primarily a platformer.
TheOrigames are kind of weird. On the one hand, they are perfectly fine for children, even if older players might appreciate their themes and emotional storytelling more. The gameplay is fairly straightforward and accessible, at least to the point that most kids will likely not struggle too much to get into the flow of things. However, the games can be challenging, even on the lower difficulty setting. While not excessively hard by Metroidvania standards,Orihas plenty of difficulty spikes throughout both of its campaigns.
Super Smash Bros.is such a pillar of the casual fighting industry that any similar project is immediately fighting an uphill battle to justify its existence, let alone challenge Nintendo’s behemoth. Despite the crossover franchise being exclusive to another ecosystem, leaving room for companies to cater to Xbox users without having to directly compete againstSSB, platform fighter games have generally struggled to take full advantage of that vacancy.
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawlwas not, frankly, one of the strongest entries in this peculiar subgenre, with the 2021 release lacking polish, replayvalue, or pageantry. It seemed destined to be forgotten. However, the unthinkable happened – Fairy Play released a sequel. And, even more unexpectedly,Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2improved considerably on its predecessor. While not fundamentally playing that differently from the first entry, the sequel balanced its character roster while adding flourishes that are not only fun to pull off in the middle of battles but also pay tribute to the source material. Along with multiplayer modes,Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2is also a viable single-player option thanks to a campaign with a silly but enjoyable story. While quite short and repetitive, the mode is perfect for something like Game Pass.
Naturally, thiskids' gameis mostly for Nickelodeon fans who will get a thrill from just trying out the characters on the roster. However, if a child just wants to play an accessible fighter with a few friends,Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2should get the job done.
An exciting local or online co-op option onGame Pass,Moving Out 2is perfect for parents to play with their kids. On paper, nothing sounds more mundane than moving furniture, but, similar to something likeOvercooked!,Moving Out 2transforms this tiring and frustrating part of life into a silly physics-based party game with an over-the-top presentation and story. This time around, movers will need to transfer houses' worth of items across parallel realities, a concept that presents plenty of interesting scenarios and visuals.
Although great for all ages,Moving Out 2can be somewhat difficult. After all, this is effectively a puzzle game that challenges player(s) to decipher the best and most efficient route to carry each piece of furniture, all the while trying to work together rather than against each other.
Little Kitty, Big Cityhas a simple premise that is perfect for this type of game. Used to living the good life in a high-up apartment building, a black cat’s world comes crashing down after they fall out of a window; now, they must eat fish, make a few friends, getpetted by humans, and (hopefully) find their way back home. As they travel across the streets around their owner’s apartment, the feline gets to solve a few puzzles while also taking on the occasional side quest to keep things interesting.
Relaxing and charming,Little Kitty, Big Cityoffers the ideal escape from reality for people of all ages. While not particularly deep mechanically or thematically, the game is relentlessly cute and warm.
