Best Xbox Games For Kids 2022

Rocket League (Xbox One)

If the idea of blasting around futuristic football pitches and scoring goals in tiny cars sounds like fun to you, then Rocket League would like to have a word.

One of the breakout indie hits of the past decade, Psyonix's phenomenal arcade game has been a permanent fixture on our consoles since it launched all the way back in 2015. This is gloriously goofy, colourful stuff with tons of cars to tool around in that strikes a wonderful balance between pick up and play fun for everyone, and a deep level of skill that can only be gained from dedicated play. You can really tell the noobs from the pros in a match here! Rocket League is hands down one the very best arcade games of the last ten years an excellent choice for a bit of co-op family action.

• Xbox Game Pass? No, but it's free to play!

Slime Rancher (Xbox One)

For younger kids, Monomi Park's 2016 adventure, Slime Rancher, provides plenty of fun without anything in the way of danger or real peril in its colourful little world.

Assuming the role of Beatrix LeBeau, players here take charge of a ranch where they tend to the local inhabitants of an alien planet. These "slimes" can be collected from around the game's bright and colourful world using your 7Zee VacPac and then brought back to your ranch where you can house them, ensure they don't escape and feed them, experimenting to make new hybrids and so on.

There's a cute backstory to the whole thing that's delivered in chunks as you progress and the world opens up after the first few hours to deliver a Slimeopedia's worth of creatures to discover and hoover up!

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Sonic Colors: Ultimate (Xbox Series X|S)

This fancy new remaster of 2010's Wii exclusive delivers up a pristine version of one of the very best 3D Sonic games available, in fact we'd go so far as to say that Sonic Colors: Ultimate is the famous hedgehog's best 3D outing to date.

The story here will come as no surprise with Eggman up to no good and Sonic and Tails working hard to put an end to his nefarious plans. Luckily for us, nobody comes to Sonic for the narrative, and Sonic Colors: Ultimate gets it right where it counts. This is a fast and frantic entry in the series that makes sure to deliver the sense of speed we all crave from our favourite blue hedgehog whilst also serving up a delightful new mechanic in the form of Wisps.

These colourful little critters imbue Sonic with all manner of new abilities, turning him into a drill to blast through scenery or a stakeball that can cling to walls, for example, ensuring that whilst blasting through levels here you can keep your momentum up like never before. With a two player co-op mode thrown in for good measure and tons of replayability in returning to early levels with new powers, this is fantastic Sonic game and a great title for younger players to get stuck into.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Sonic Mania (Xbox One)

2017's Sonic Mania, developed by a handful of Sonic super fans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the blue speed ball, was the highest rated Sonic game in 15 years when it was released, and it's not hard to see why.

This is a homage to the classic Sega Genesis games that delivers up super speedy side-scrolling action, nailing the vibe of the old games whilst providing a level of modern slickness that makes it feel like a real joy to play. The remixed levels are a blast, there's tons of Easter eggs and collectibles to hoover up and taking your time to wander through areas is just as rewarding as blasting through them at full tilt. With two-player local co-op in the mix as well, this is as good as old-school Sonic action gets and a perfect fit for kids looking to jump into some classic side-scrolling action.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Spyro Reignited Trilogy (Xbox One)

Not one, not two, but three classic Spyro the Dragon games given a fresh lick of paint by Toys For Bob, this is a cracking trio of platformers for kids that are just as charming today as they were back on ye olde Playstation.

Toys For Bob has been clever in how they've approached this remaster of these much-loved games, giving them an impressive visual makeover, updating the controls and making them generally easier and more modern-feeling to play, whilst retaining the qualities that made us like them in the first place. Spyro is as loveable as ever as he leaps, glides and charges around lots of colourful levels, puzzles are fun and never too difficult and the whole thing just feels like playing a great big Saturday morning cartoon show. There's a ton of fun to be had here for younger gamers and returning Spyro fans alike.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Stardew Valley (Xbox One)

One of the most relaxing games you could ever spend time with, Stardew Valley is the smash hit farming sim that’s a real pleasure just to spend time unwinding with, tending to your crops and exploring and building relationships in the company of friends in either split-screen or online co-op modes that allow up to four friends to play together.

There’s no set to-do list with this one, you and your pals are free to breeze about, collecting, crafting, chopping and chatting as you take a rundown farm and make it into your very own countryside paradise whilst getting to know the local townsfolk. This is one of the most chilled games we’ve played and having friends along for the ride really adds to the fun on offer here.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

New Super Lucky's Tale (Xbox One)

A perfect fit for younger gamers, Daniel Hurd's 2017 platformer is as bright, colourful and easy-breezy as games come, 100% aimed at children it provides a dozen or so hours of simple platforming, fun puzzles and plenty of collectibles and shinies to gather up as you explore its various well-designed levels.

New Super Lucky's Tale might be simple but it does also manage to mix things up with 2D side-scrolling, endless runner elements and plenty of 3D open world areas for your kids to mess around in.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes

Team Sonic Racing (Xbox One)

It's been a bit of a toss up really between Team Sonic Racing and Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed for this spot on our list, but we've given it to the newer of the two on account of the fact its core racing mechanics just feel better overall. Yes, you can't spectacularly transform into other vehicles in mid-air, but it does the basics of racing better than its older counterpart.

Team Sonic Racing is a super slick and polished kart racer, one of our absolute favourites from the past few years, that's packed full of plenty of modes - including a delightful team based arcade adventure - collectibles, upgrades and characters to get busy with as you tear around its brilliantly designed and colourful tracks. There's tons for younger and older gamers alike to enjoy here in a supremely well-made package that we've been dipping in and out of regularly since it first released back in 2019.

• Xbox Game Pass? No

Unravel Two (Xbox One)

Another excellent co-op adventure, Unravel 2 is much less bombastic and frantic than the likes of It Takes Two, instead finding magic in a more relaxed and chilled out style that suits either single or, preferably, two-player co-operative play.

This sequel sees our woolly pal Yarny return, this time teaming up with a little blue friend, in order to use their own stringy bodies to cross over gaps, manipulate obstacles and reveal new paths forward through the game's wonderfully well-designed levels. There's a simple and rather emotional story to enjoy here, some excellent music and the whole thing looks and sounds superb and provides just the right level of challenge in its puzzles that its perfect for younger players to get stuck into together or to join up with an older family member who can help guide them through its charms.

• Xbox Game Pass? Yes (through EA Play)

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair (Xbox One)

Playtonic Games' Yooka Laylee and the Impossible Lair pays homage to the likes of Donkey Kong Country with some super slick 2.5D platforming action that gives Nintendo's famous mascot a run for his money, as this is one of the finest examples of the genre we've ever played.

A super smart mash-up of side-scrolling platforming action and a clever overworld that's its very own separate 3D puzzle adventure, Yooka and Laylee's second outing is a non-stop rollercoaster of superbly crafted and colourful worlds, challenging platforming action and creative level design. There's co-op here too, in both the main campaign and the game's excellent arcade modes, making this a knockout package for kids who're looking for a little more challenge to their platforming. Don't let this diamond pass you by!

• Xbox Game Pass? No