Xbox Game Pass is the premier gaming service available on the market today, and though it largely caters to an adult audience, there are quite a few titles available in its vast library that are appealing 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.
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From brain-teasing puzzle-platformers to creatively stimulating sandbox titles, we've curated the best of the best. 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.
- Approximate Game Length: N/A
- Genre: Survival Sandbox
- Developer: Mojang
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 448 MB
Minecraft straddles a fine line between child-friendliness and complexity that makes it a practical must when it comes to kids’ game libraries. Its Creative Mode might seem like the obvious draw as it allows players to explore the breadth of their imagination and build without limitation. However, Survival Mode shouldn’t be overlooked either — beyond the obvious thrill, it encourages creative problem solving and the difficulty level can be customized to whatever degree of challenge is right and comfortable for the player.
- Approximate Game Length: 8 Hours
- Genre: Cooking Simulation
- Developer: Team 17, Ghost Town Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 8 GB
Overcooked 2’s zany kitchen antics tick a lot of boxes for parents and children alike, and can be comfortably enjoyed as a cooperative experience between the two. Cast as chefs tasked with halting the impetuous advance of the Unbread, players must assemble various dishes in order to complete each level and advance through the Onion Kingdom’s Mario-like overworld. The game’s humorously adorable narrative and aesthetic aside, the heart of the game revolves around cooperation — taming the kitchen’s chaos is accomplished through tight knit teamwork, and is sure to result in reaffirming that value as often as it invites barrel after barrel of laughter.
- Approximate Game Length: 20 Hours
- Genre: Platforming
- Developer: Asobo Studio
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 20 GB
Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure provides children with a more active gaming experience. The game takes kids on an adventure alongside familiar Disney-Pixar characters, inviting them to explore worlds seen from the company’s iconic films. The platforming is not too intense, and it is clear from the get-go that this is a title designed with kids in mind. Parents can’t go wrong with getting their kids to play alongside beloved characters on a fun-filled adventure.
- Approximate Game Length: 12 Hours
- Genre: 3D Platformer
- Developer: Rare
- X|S Enhanced: No (Xbox One X Enhanced)
- File Size: 576 MB
Banjo-Kazooie’s timeless platforming adventure may look a bit dated by today’s graphical standards, but the iconic bear-and-bird duo is as charming today as they were two decades ago. The straightforward 3D platforming and collectathon gameplay elements are accessible for children of all ages, and it’s a welcome dose of nostalgia for parents who grew up with the game — they might even remember how to navigate some of the trickier segments!
- Approximate Game Length: 8 Hours
- Genre: Puzzle Platformer
- Developer: No Breaks Games, Codeglue
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 2 GB
Human Fall Flat is a delightful puzzle-platforming romp through a variety of imaginatively designed dreamscapes. In order to navigate the various stages, players must tackle a mixture of logic and physics-based puzzles utilizing the game’s purposefully hilarious physics engine.
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It’s an absolute delight when played cooperatively, allowing parents to journey through the game’s thoughtfully designed levels and puzzle out solutions to obstacles alongside their children.
- Approximate Game Length: 3 Hours
- Genre: Casual Simulation
- Developer: We're Five Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 3 GB
Oftentimes, just giving kids an open space to explore and mess around in is the best form of entertainment. Totally Reliable Delivery Service captures this sentiment perfectly. Players take the role of delivery people who must carry packages from point A to point B. The process of transporting these boxes is where the fun truly lies. A generous array of vehicles are available for the job, but the hilarious physics of the game make it a comedic and enjoyable trip that kids (and adults) of all ages will love.
- Approximate Game Length: 15 Hours
- Genre: Casual Sports Simulation
- Developer: Blacklight Interactive, Team17
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 3 GB
A quiet game of golf might not seem like exciting entertainment for children, but the zaniness of the courses in Golf With Your Friends speaks for itself. Instead of putting golf balls into holes in mundane areas, Golf With Your Friends provides jaw-dropping ramps, whirls, and obstacles for players to navigate, making the experience more hilarious and engaging for a younger audience. Up to four players can try their hand at getting below par.
- Approximate Game Length: 12 Hours
- Genre: Platforming
- Developer: Coldwood Interactive AB, Coldwood Interactive
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 3 GB
For a calmer, more thoughtful gaming experience, parents would do well to introduce their kids to the quiet adventure game, Unravel. Players take control of a small yarn creature as they must navigate through a gargantuan world. Light puzzle-solving is sprinkled throughout Unravel, but it is nothing too challenging. The beauty of Unravel’s easily digestible game length makes it an unforgettable title that won’t represent a significant time expenditure.
- Approximate Game Length: 5 Hours
- Genre: Puzzle
- Developer: PopCap Games
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 640 MB
Nothing hearkens back to childhood games like Peggle does. This engrossing puzzle game tasks players with playing pinball-esque stages, shooting small balls in order to clear out a series of pegs on the screen. Various characters that can be unlocked allow for different methods of playing the core game, be it shooting multiple balls at once or burning through a wide swath of pegs with a special move. This arcade-style title may not provide an engrossing story, but its replayability is matched only by its approachable nature.
- Approximate Game Length: 16 Hours
- Genre: First-Person Simulation Adventure
- Developer: Monomi Park
- X|S Enhanced: No
- File Size: 1 GB
For kids looking to engage in an easygoing farming simulator, parents need to look no further than the adorable Slime Rancher. Though the mechanics of running your own ranch might take a while to get used to, they are remarkably straightforward, especially compared with farming simulators geared toward adults. Players manage their collection of different slimes, feeding them their favorite food and gathering the Plorts they produce in order to upgrade their ranch. It is a rewarding gameplay loop that can keep children engaged for hours.