The summer holidays are upon us, as are the immense tasks of navigating long trips, airports and keeping children amused for what feels like 400 days with no school. Video games can be a godsend for parents at this time, but there is a delicate balance to be struck: for kids, you want something entertaining enough to keep them out of your hair for a while, but not so addictive that you lose them completely for weeks on end. For adults, you need something you can play in the brief snatches of time when you’re not making someone a snack.
We’re here to help. These are the best video games to keep everyone happy during the summer holidays, for every kind of scenario and gamer.
Best games for entertaining kids on long trips
Being stuck in the car or a hotel room can be enough to drive anyone crazy, let alone bored kids. For the very young, the likes of Lego Duplo World and CBeebies Playtime Island provide safe environments to explore and play while introducing number and letter skills. Both are free on mobile devices, but Lego Duplo World does have in-app purchases, so be careful if you’re sharing devices. Frankly though, a few quid might be worth it to save your sanity on a long drive to the in-laws.
For older children, the Pokémon series on Nintendo Switch makes for some great adventures and is surprisingly helpful for literacy skills, as there is a lot of reading involved. They’ll have fun catching monsters and battling other trainers while you can happily justify all that screen time knowing they are getting some reading and comprehension practice. Pokémon Scarlet and Violet are the most recent in the series, though they are all pretty good.
If your little one gets car sick, or is in need of a screenbreak, then What Would You Rather Choose? for mobile devices is a great option for long journeys. Essentially, it is a giant list of “Would you rather?” questions that are great for prompting conversation and silly answers, and you’ll get to join in too. Don’t worry, there’s nothing risque enough to necessitate awkward explanations.
What to play in the 20 minutes you’re hiding from your children in the hotel toilet
We all need a little space, and sometimes the only way to get it is by scrolling through your phone in the sanctity of the bathroom. If the wifi is decent, it is worth downloading Honkai Star Rail, an open world RPG full of quests and dungeons that can be played in relatively short bursts. It’s bright and feels like a “proper” game, with the convenience of being on mobile, perfect for tapping away and letting your mind go numb while you ignore the arguments of who gets which bed in the room next door. If you need a little cry, then try the soothing puzzles of Monument Valley instead. The tiny, serene landscapes will help the stress-tears pour out and then calm you enough to pretend that you are just fine, thank you.
Best games for sharing when there are multiple kids and only one console
Sharing can seem like a foreign concept to children, but there are lots of games out there that can be played together with just one console. The Nintendo Switch is perfect for this as it comes with two controllers. Mario Kart is a classic and still the king of multiplayer games for all ages – you’ll be leaning around bends and grousing about blue shells in no time, though expect a lot of tears if you forget to let your kids win at least once.
If you’re looking for something to get them laughing, then Overcooked, which sees you as a group of chefs manically trying to prepare dishes in increasingly bizarre environments, or Untitled Goose Game, which lets you control a pair of mischievous geese terrorising a village, are excellent choices.
Nintendo Switch Sports is great if you want to get people moving, as you can use the controller like a tennis racket, bowling ball or fake sword. It’s great fun to face off against each other, though you may want to push back furniture and remove any drinks from the vicinity. After an hour of this, they may wear themselves out enough they’ll actually go to bed the first time you ask.
Best games for when you’re not going anywhere, but need an escape
You may not always be able to travel in real life, but you can always transport yourself somewhere new with a good game. Blockbusters such as Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom or Final Fantasy XVI are the most in-depth worlds to get lost in. Zelda is the more family friendly of the two, if kids are watching, and sees you exploring a vast kingdom full of contraptions to experiment with. It’s bright and beautiful, and watching the fields of grass swaying in the wind makes you feel as if you are adventuring through the countryside, albeit with more bokoblins.
In contrast, Final Fantasy XVI (on PlayStation 5) is more adult oriented with a surprising amount of swearing and nudity, and feels a lot like playing through the good seasons of Game of Thrones. Its dark fantasy world isn’t as easy to explore, but the character performances really make it if you’re in the mood for something gritty. The amazing Ralph Ineson makes an appearance as charming outlaw Cid, and Ben Starr does a seriously impressive job of embodying the hero, Clive. If you have a thing for gruff voices, you’ll be in heaven.
Best wistful indie for reliving summer holidays past
If you want to get back in touch with your inner child, it’s time to check out Steam or Xbox Game Pass and find something like the beautiful watercolour world of Dordogne. It nails the nostalgia of childhood countryside holidays, as you potter around collecting memories for your journal and unravelling family secrets. It’s short and works just fine on most laptops, perfectly playable with a glass of wine while you contemplate exactly when that childhood sense of freedom disappeared. And there’s always the old pandemic standby, Animal Crossing: New Horizons on Nintendo Switch. If you’ve not been back in a while, all your animal villagers will be very pleased to see you.