While video games as a whole were once viewed as inherently juvenile and thus family-oriented, times have changed quite a bit. These days,family games are effectively in their own genre, characterized by simple and flashy visuals, easily digestible themes, and gameplay that toes the line between accessible and engaging.
They aren’t exactly known for being brutally difficult, but games designed with families in mind can nevertheless be alluring, powerful interactive experiences.The Game Awards 2024aims to honor some of the best releases in this genre, shining a light on the industry’s hottest all-ages titles on December 12. Industry goliaths like Nintendo are getting some solid representation in the Best Family Game category thanks to hard-hitting franchisesZeldaandMario, but there are some underdogs in the fight as well. While only time will tell which title will emerge victorious, there’s room to cast some educated guesses.
2024 Best Family Game Nominees
Astro Bot
Team Asobi’s brilliantAstro Botis technically the third game in theAstroseries, but it’s a remarkable leap for Sony’s budding android mascot. Not shy about its 3DMarioinspirations,Astro Botmanages to stand out in the increasingly competitive landscape of 3D platformers by being easy to grasp mechanically, endlessly creative with its level design and gameplay gimmicks, and, perhaps most obviously, show-stoppingly gorgeous.
Astro Botis an unapologetic love letter to PlayStation, but it’s also far more than that. Indeed, while it’s chock-full of fan service for Sony loyalists, its immediately gripping gameplay, enrapturing charisma, and startling originality makes it an easy sell for just about any player. It’s the definition of all killer and no filler, a gleaming gem in Sony’s crown, and one of the best games of 2024. It’s nomination for Best Family Game is merely another reminder of these facts.
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Princess Peach: Showtime!
LikeAstro Bot,Princess Peach: Showtime!is defined by its thematically distinct levels and varied mechanics. ItjoinsEchoes of Wisdomas an inversion of the damsel-hero dynamic, with the titular princess taking center-stage (quite literally) rather than her historically attention-hogging savior. The result is an experience that, while not perfect, is a breath of fresh air, decidedly unique with its structural and mechanical elements.
Princess Peach herself is rarely at the forefront of a game, and when she is, she can feel lacking in comparison to her red-suitted counterpart.Princess Peach: Showtimefeels like a big step in the right directionin this regard, as Peach’s identity and screen presence is defined by the inherent versatility that comes with the theatrical premise: she is a fighter, a superhero, a detective, and much more, with her solo adventure leaving a strong impression, and hopefully setting the stage for even better things to come.
WHERE TO PLAY
Take the stage as PeachHelp Peach save the Sparkle Theater from the wicked Grape and the Sour Bunch, who have set the stage for the ultimate tragedy. Joined by Stella, the theater’s guardian, Peach is ready to save the day!Step into the spotlight!Power up with transformations and use showstopping abilities to call curtains on this tragedy. What transformations are hiding just behind the curtain?
Super Mario Party Jamboree
Familes—both natural and found—have been enjoyingMario Partysince its first release in 1998, andSuper Mario Party Jamboreeis no exception to this long-lasting success. Considered by many to be one of the bestMario Partyentries to-date,Jamboreemaintains the series' emphasis on aggressive multiplayer and chance-based gameplay, where a variety of different factors can converge to make for unexpected outcomes.
Even though friends and families are liable to jump down each other’s throats duringMario Party Jamboreematches, the experience is ultimately gratifying and perfectly suited for group gaming. The fact that it’s turn-based and mechanically simplistic, with mini-games emphasizing skills like timing and pattern recognition rather than technical mastery, allowsSuper Mario Party Jamboreeto be accessiblefor just about any player. At the same time, it’s compatible with specific strategies that can reward astute and experienced players.
Join the latest Mario Party™, a jamboree of seven boards and over 110 minigamesFrom running through merry-go-rounds to motion-control minigolf, this jamboree is jam-packed with more minigames than any Mario Party game to date. With seven boards in all, you’re able to go with the flow in Goomba Lagoon, search the mall for stars in Rainbow Galleria, or revisit the classics of Western Land and Mario’s Rainbow Castle.Check out all kinds of additional modes, like the 20-player online* KoopathlonRace across the party board in Koopathlon, a series-first 20-player online* competition to see who can rack up the highest scores in minigames like the fast-paced Lane Change. The higher your score in each round, the faster you’ll get to the goal.Koopathlon is just one of a slew of additional modes**—there’s something for every kind of Mario Party enjoyer!
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
Link will always be the hero ofThe Legend of Zelda, butEchoes of Wisdomhas eked out a spot for the titular princess herself, proving that she is more than capable of helming her own adventure. Strong points for female representation aside,Echoes of Wisdomis thoroughly unique with its puzzle-focused gameplay, not to mention its charming art style, music, and overall aesthetic. Like many of the other Best Family Game nominees, its mechanics prize creativity and outside-the-box thinking more than button skill and forethought, making it a perfect all-ages title.
In the years to come,Echoes of Wisdomwill almost certainly be looked at as a worthwhile excursion for the series, though its ultimate influence is yet to be determined.Zeldahas always been a series that has bridged gapsof age, gender, and the like, so branching out with this new protagonist may only increase its reach with audiences from all walks of life. It’s a lovely and memorable title, and more than worthy of its nomination in this category.
Save Hyrule—this time with the wisdom of Princess Zelda!The people of Hyrule are being stolen away by strange rifts—and with a certain swordsman among the missing, it’s up to Princess Zelda to save her kingdom in the latest adventure in The Legend of Zelda™ series!Team up with the ethereal creature Tri and use the Tri Rod to create “echoes,” which are imitations of things you find in the environment—then recreate those echoes whenever you like to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Use echoes like water blocks to reach new heights, make bridges out of old beds, throw rocks at foes, or find your own combination of echoes to do things your way. You can even make echoes of monsters to fight at your side in combat!
The Plucky Squire
In a year filled with innovative releases (as evidenced by this very TGA category),The Plucky Squireis among the most creative. Mixing 3D and 2D gameplay has been done before, butThe Plucky Squire’s storybook framing device, coupled with its radically distinct art styles, makes it a singular sort of visual feast as well as a mechanical playground. Like the other games on this list, it’s a relentlessly charming experience, which more than makes up for what it may lack in terms of challenge.
Its strengths as a family game are characterized by its all-ages narrative and colorful aesthetic, which appeal to a broad set of demographics. SinceThe Plucky Squireis a debut indie titlewith a limited marketing budget, it probably didn’t reach families so much as gamers already plugged-in to the independent scene, but its presence at The Game Awards will hopefully change that.
The Plucky Squire follows the magical adventures of Jot and his friends - storybook characters who discover a three-dimensional world outside the pages of their book.When the malevolent Humgrump realises he’s the villain of the book - destined to lose his battle against the forces of good for all eternity - he kicks the heroic Jot out of its pages and changes the story forever.Jot must face challenges unlike anything he’s ever seen if he is to save his friends from Humgrump’s dark forces and restore the book’s happy ending.Jump between 2D and 3D worlds in this charming action adventure - solving puzzles, boxing badgers, flying with a jetpack, and enjoying many more delightful and surprising mini challenges as you become the hero of a living storybook.
Final Prediction
Like so many other categories at this year’s Game Awards, the fight for Best Family Game is likely to be neck-and-neck. There have been so many great family-friendly games in 2024, but one title will have to emerge as the victor, and it’s fairly safe to guess that it will be none other thanAstro Bot.
Astro Botis not just a celebration of PlayStation, but of gaming as a whole. Its slew of references are more than just fan service—they are often mechanically rich redefinitions of the core gameplay experience. It’s trim, but colossal in stature, personality, and presence. In a year full of great family-friendly titles,Astro Botis the best, and its performance at The Game Awards will probably reflect that.
