Choosing video games to gift kids at Christmas comes with a few pitfalls: you want something that hooks them from the first minute, is age-appropriate and, ideally, also works for family play without turning into an endless round of “can I have the controller?”. The good news is that 2025 brings plenty of kid-friendly releases with gentle vibes and accessible mechanics, plus a few tech extras that make for a truly “complete” gift if you already know which platform they use.
In this guide you’ll find video game picks for younger players, along with accessories and alternatives to round out the bundle. The goal is to leave you with a clear shortlist based on the kind of child you have in mind: the one who loves solving things, the one who gets excited about familiar characters, or the one who just wants to play for a bit and move on. Who said gamer gifts had to be complicated?
Family-friendly games that are great for younger kids
If you’re looking for a game that works well with younger children, the key is simple, readable actions, a pace that isn’t too intense, and mistakes that aren’t overly punishing. In that space, Chicken Run: Eggstraction is an interesting option: it draws from the Chicken Run universe and has you rescuing hens across locations like restaurants or factories, always with a light tone despite what the premise might suggest. The fun lies in clearing levels through a sequence of steps—opening doors, triggering mechanisms and guiding characters to the exit—so it can be great for kids who enjoy thinking things through, although the youngest players will probably appreciate an adult lending a hand with the puzzles.
For anyone who prefers something even more guided, Snoopy & The Great Mystery Club works really well as a “first mystery game.” Snoopy, Woodstock and the rest of the gang solve child-sized cases, like recovering a stolen dinner or tracking down missing sports gear. What’s great here is that the game uses on-screen text to guide players on what to do and where to go, reducing frustration and making it friendlier for kids who aren’t very experienced with controllers. Plus, switching costumes to unlock abilities adds variety without making things too complex.
And if you want a gift that turns into a living-room plan over the holidays, Lego Party (PS5 – Switch) is firmly in party-game territory: up to four players move across virtual boards, chain minigames and compete to rack up more rewards. You can feel the Mario Party-style inspiration, but the appeal is in how it uses the Lego universe—minifigure characters, optional routes and a touch of skill that softens the usual luck factor in the genre. It’s the kind of game that, without promising “family peace,” at least gives you ammunition for several afternoons.
For slightly older kids: action, light RPG elements and multiplayer
Once a child is more confident, they usually want more going on: combat, enemies on screen and at least a little bit of strategy. That’s where Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny (PS5 – Switch) comes in—a tabletop-RPG-flavoured title loosely inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, but starring Nickelodeon characters. The setup is simple and very effective for kids: several protagonists, like Timmy Turner or SpongeBob SquarePants, get trapped inside a game world and have to fight their way through enemies to escape.
Its biggest strength as a Christmas gift is local multiplayer for up to four players, which is perfect if there are siblings, cousins or visitors around. That said, because it sometimes throws large groups of enemies at you, it tends to work better for slightly older kids—or for those with more practice and stronger hand-eye coordination—who won’t get overwhelmed when the screen fills up with effects. It also helps that each character has their own abilities and specialties, which encourages more thoughtful choices than simply picking “the one I recognise.”
At the other end of the spectrum, for anyone who wants instant fun without a long learning curve, Once Upon a Katamari (PS5 – Switch) is an easy win. The core loop is almost therapeutic: roll a ball (katamari) to pick up objects, growing little by little until you can “swallow” ever-larger things, including vehicles or buildings. It’s easy to understand from the first minute, ideal for short sessions, and still packs in extras that often hook older players, like collecting characters and customising them. It also includes a multiplayer mode where you compete to build a bigger katamari and score more points—perfect for family rivalries at a reasonable level of competitiveness (or so we tell ourselves every Christmas).
Consoles, accessories and extras to round out the gift
If the budget stretches to a level-up, the Nintendo Switch 2 stands out as the big wish-list item: it offers better performance than the original Switch and, as publishers focus on the newer console, the library will naturally shift in that direction. There are also bundles that include games, which makes gifting much easier because the child can unbox the console and start playing right away. At this point, it’s practical to think in terms of an “ecosystem”: the best present isn’t just the console, but making sure it’s ready for everyday use.
With that in mind, some accessories make more of a difference than you’d expect. A 256GB microSD Express card means you won’t be deleting games every other day, a carry case prevents nasty surprises when the console leaves the house, and a second pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers greatly expands multiplayer options. Even a cartridge case can seem minor, but it’s the kind of detail that prevents lost games and arguments when it’s time to travel.
For families who want a bit more movement—and to play without a controller in hand—the Nex Playground console offers a motion-based experience that echoes the spirit of the Wii, but with a twist: you don’t need to hold a controller to play. It comes with several games and activities included, and there’s an optional subscription that unlocks more content, including popular characters—something that can be a great fit if your child connects more with “move and play” than learning button combos.
And if the child already lives on their phone (because yes, sometimes the “console” is in their pocket), a controller like the Backbone One changes the experience significantly by turning a smartphone into something closer to a traditional handheld setup—especially useful for games with more actions where touch controls fall short. Just make sure to check compatibility with iPhone or Android before buying.
Finally, if you know they play titles with in-app purchases, gift cards for games or platforms are a safe way to get it right without guessing exact tastes. And to lean into the “geek” factor, Lego sets inspired by video games or Pokémon Squishmallows plushies make the perfect physical add-on. Even the classic Blu-ray format for game-related movies still has that appeal of owning something “forever,” even if streaming services decide to reshuffle their catalogue at the worst possible time.
