As the holidays approach, it is often difficult for people not familiar with video games to select which games are the best Xbox One games for kids in 2018. To make it nice and easy, I’ve created this handy list for you to read and see the various Xbox One games for kids. Be the cool relative and get them something they will actually really enjoy, a Video game!

Best Xbox One Games for Age Groups

First of all, any kids play video games way older or way under the “suggested age” listed on the package.  I have included and used the The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating guide. This guide will judge if a game has violence,language, themes etc and rate according to that. I really want to stress that they are just guidelines. Your kid may REALLY want an Everyone 10+ title and be 9. Have a look at the attached screenshots and read the descriptions I’ve included to make the best decision. You can see as the guide increases that things like mild violence, mild blood, small amounts of gambling, suggestive themes etc. may increase. You are the adulzt, so if your kid is OK watching TV or movies today – they probably will be OK with  most of the games on this list. Let’s get to it!

Best Video games for Kids Less Than 10

If your child like pixar movies like  “The Incredibles,” “Ratatouille,” “Up,” “Cars”, “Toy Story”, and “Finding Dory”. This might be the game for them. Team up with characters from the series to solve puzzles and uncover hidden secrets. Interact on screen with Pixar characters and play cooperatively to solve challenges. Move from fast-paced puzzle-solving to moments of pulse-pounding agility and speed.

Can you Play Co-Op?

Team up with Pixar characters to help you through each challenge or play on the same screen through split-screen couch co-op at home with a friend.

Purchase From Amazon Here

Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection

Create your very own zoo from almost 200 visually stunning animals and the largest, most detailed selection of environments ever. Build, manage, and maintain your dream zoo alone or with up to four players on Xbox LIVE.  Easy to start and easy to play, Zoo Tycoon gets you up close and interacting with the animals and zoo, offering straight forward controls and fun tutorials that allow players of all ages to have fun.

Online Co-Op Only.

Purchase from Amazon here

The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure

Snoopy from Charlie Brown is in this side scrolling platform adventure through amazing environments, created in his imagination, as he tries to find Charlie Brown and all his friends. With Woodstock and the Beagle Scouts by his side Snoopy can unlock new abilities and performs special moves as he weaves his way through this magical journey.

2-player co-op splitscreen mulitplayer –  play as Snoopy and Woodstock at the same time!

Purchase from Amazon Here

Overcooked: Gourmet Edition

Overcooked is a fun little cooking game for one to four players. Take an order and then work as a team to prepare and serve up the meal before the customers leave. Fast paced and fun with team work skills. But it gets tricky fast! Sometimes the kitchen will split in half from an earthquake, or icy slippery rivers appear to make things harder. This game is really designed for multiple players in the same room and can be a lot of fun for group play. Although you can play as single player, you will have to switch between 2 characters on screen which can be harder.

Up to 4 player On screen Co-Op play

Purchase from Amazon Here

Best Video games for Kids Older Than 10

Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

Plants vs Zombie Warfare 2 is a fun multiplayer experience where the plants take on the zombies. The plants are funny and cute and the zombies are equally so. These are designed for children and not spooky. Help the plants reclaim their turf in the new 24-player Herbal Assault, or choose your side in 4-player co-op or solo play. his is a good introduction to player vs player shooting type combat, in a kid friendly environment. Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2 also introduces the Backyard Battleground, your very own interactive hub where you and up to 3 friends can take on daily quests and challenges and interact with your favorite characters.

There are tons of game play modes, so you can play online against others split screen on the same couch or solo by yourself.

Purchase here from Amazon

Skylanders is definitely one of these games that the younger crowd can play. They include toys to life – meaning they come with small toy action figures that also appear on screen in the game. The game is basic enough, collect items and coins from boxes, attack some bad guys and progress through the various levels. You needs specific skylanders to open certain areas of the map. Sklanders Imaginators supports the 300+ character toys from all previous Skylanders games. In this version of Skylandersfor the first time, you can create your own skylander from your imagination!

2 players can play on the same screen at the same time.

Purchase here from Amazon

Lego Worlds

Lego Worlds is an open environment where there are endless worlds pre-made of various Lego blocks. If you’ve payed Minecraft this is the Lego version of that.  Make your Lego Worlds come to life with customizable characters, both friendly and fearsome. Race, soar, zoom, and ride on a variety of vehicles and creatures from diggers and helicopters to horses and dragons.

There is couch split screen and also online multiplayer that allows two players to explore each other’s Worlds, play competitive challenges and show off creations.

Purchase here from Amazon.

Yooka Laylee

Yooka-Laylee is an all-new open-world platformer. Explore huge, beautiful worlds, meet an unforgettable cast of characters and collect a vault-load of shiny collectibles as buddy-duo Yooka (the green one) and Laylee (the wisecracking bat with the big nose) embark on an epic adventure to thwart. Using their arsenal of special moves, our heroes will tackle a huge variety of puzzles and platforming challenges. Discover unique boss fights, mine cart challenges, retro-tastic Arcade games, quiz shows and more than 7 unique multiplayer games!

A second player can assist Yooka and Layleein in on screen couch co-op mode

Portal Knights

Portal Knights, is another type of Mincraft game, a cooperative 3D sandbox action-RPG! Level up your character and craft powerful gear to defeat your enemies in real-time tactical combat. Travel between randomly generated 3D sandbox worlds – Tactical action combat – RPG character classes to choose from and master – Epic boss battles – Random Events – Mine and gather resources from across the lands to craft your arsenal and supplies – Build your home with dozens of materials and furnishings. Think of it as a mroe advance minecraft, or to help your child try out new game genres like RPG.

You can play as a 2 play split screen on the game world, or go online and Join your friends in 4-person cooperative multiplayer. Work together on the same island to build structures, explore dungeons, and overcome the toughest perils.

Purchase from Amazon here 

Minecraft Story Mode

If your child enjoys playing Minecraft, you can get them the new Minecraft story mode!  Set out on a quest to find The Order of the Stone if you are to save the world from oblivion. This game has some amazing voice talent in it by many actors and actresses you may know.  You choose the story and how it plays out by selecting various on screen options,  what you say to people (and how you say it), and what you choose to do in moments of thrilling action will make this YOUR story. Is an on screen choose your own adventure set in the world of Minecraft!

This is a single player game only. There is no co-op of any kind.

Purchase from Amazon here

Hasbro Family Fun Pack

If you are looking for more something the whole family can play together , check out Hasbro family fun pack. It includes several board games you are familiar with in a fun online modern digital environment.  The Hasbro Family Fun Pack includes Monopoly, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Risk all in one compilation!

You can play some of these games online as well as most in the same screen couch co op.

 Purchase from Amazon here 

Lego Dimensions

The Lego Dimendsions Starter Pack has everything you need to get started in Lego’s toys-to-ife game. Build the minifigure heroes and fire up the game to start the experience, then follow the in-game building instructions to assemble the loose bricks into the LEGO Gateway, and place the structure on the LEGO Toy Pad. There’s a whole multiverse of puzzles to solve, and challenges and enemies to face, and when you’re ready for more, collect Level, Team and Fun Packs to expand your collection.

You can play split screen couch co-op.

Purchase from Amazon here.

Sonic Forces 

Help Sonic the Hedgehog build an army to save the world. Just like hte old school classic, Sonic is back for a new generation. Play with blazing speed as Modern Sonic, catapult past perilous platforms as Classic Sonic, and create your very own Custom Hero Character equipped with a variety of powerful gadgets. Experience fast-paced action with these three unique gameplay styles, explore iconic stages, and fight across unique added content with Shadow as a playable character.

There is no multiplayer.

GhostBusters

Games for Teens and Older Kids

The Sims 4

The Sims 4 is life simulator. You create a sim and help them live their lives in whatever way you see fit. Customize their homes, work, activities and every other part of their world. You have the freedom to sculpt Sims with tactile precision. Effortlessly construct the home of your dreams with the all new room-based Build Mode. Sims feel and express emotions. Earn new objects, outfits, and traits by completing events, discovering collectibles, and unlocking achievements.

Transformers Devastation

Transformers devastation is a hack and slash your way through various levels. Players control one of five Autobots; Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, and Grimlock, as they battle against Decepticons and Insecticons who stand in their way. Each of the Autobots are able to use a variety of melee attacks and ranged weapons, and are able to transform into vehicle mode at any time. The game features multiple levels of difficulty, with more unlocked upon clearing the game multiple times. An additional Challenge Mode offers 50 stand-alone missions.

There is no multliplayer mode.

Purchase now from Amazon here.

Overwatch – Origins Edition

Overwatch is a game where 2 teams select a hero and battle it out. Team work is important and you will need to work together to win.  Join the ranks of a legendary force of soldiers, scientists, adventurers, and oddities known as Overwatch. Choose your hero and clash on the battlefields of tomorrow. Bend time, defy physics, and wield extraordinary powers in the ultimate team-based shooter. The fight for the future has begun. Take your place in Overwatch. Master the game within the game as both teams shift strategies and change heroes to try to gain the upper hand.  Every map has its own distinct feel with unique gameplay and team-based objectives.

There is online game play against strangers here as you need a team of 12 players. This is a game for older kids for that reason.

Purchase from Amazon Here.

Fortnite is 2 games in one. A building save yourself from the end of the world mode, and an online 1 vs 150 player mode. . Lead the world’s remaining Heroes in the fight to save humanity and take back the world. Explore the large, destructible world where no two games are ever the same. Build huge forts, craft exotic weapons, find loot and level up your Heroes.

There is couch co-op as well as online multiplayer.

Purchase here from Amazon.

There you have it! The best xbox one games for kids for 2018. Please let me know if you have any questions.