The Best Creative Games for Kids on Nintendo Switch (2020)

Christmas is less than a month away, so it’s time to get to grips with some decent gifts, like the following ideas for kids who love video games - too much - on the Nintendo Switch.

 

You can feel less guilty, since these games can really bring out their creative or imaginative side. They can also promote more social skills, since kids get to share their creations, discuss them with their friends, and even go online and either explore or build something together. As a bonus, it can also improve their language and reading skills.

 

Just bear in mind, too much on-screen reading or complexity for younger kids can turn them off to the main progression of a game, until... they get more motivation from an adult. This isn’t such an issue once they’ve mastered the building menus and tools for then they can be free to go it alone in sandbox mode.

 

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Note: the following bought new, will probably be worth the money, but you might be able to source them second hand locally.

 

Super Mario Maker 2

 

 

What’s great about this one is not only provides a really varied ‘multiverse’ of levels to play in true, platform Mario fashion (classic to recent) but its Creator section is fairly easy for kids to work out intuitively. So once they’ve completed many of the set levels, they’ll most likely want to create many of their own, and then share them, to see how many hearts and comments they receive, from other users, or their siblings or friends.

 

An accessible, safe purchase for all ages to have a go (single-player only).

 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

 

 

A big hit during lock-down since it’s the most social of the bunch, and the most relaxing since combat doesn’t feature (for now). It’s really just an endless loop of enhancement and discovery, with time-of-day synced with your real time. Your island is truly what you make it, and you can take it online with other players in a variety of ways either locally or online, or both. Check out the Nintendo page, or the official website, as it might suit your child down to the ground.

 

Minecraft

 

 

A rather popular game about ‘placing blocks and going on adventures.’ Indeed, you’ll be encouraging your little builder to use an array of tools for making entire constructions in Creative mode or else following the Survival mode which features a more combative side, where weapons must be forged, mining for resources becomes essential and thrilling sieges can take place. The depth and detail to the creations Minecraft’s immense user-base has been creating and reconstructing, means there are some impressive places to visit for inspiration.

 

My Time at Portia

 

 

Another friendly mix of resource management, farming, construction and combat for younger minds here, in this more agricultural setting (you’ll also find these elements in the next game below too.)

 

Synopsis: ‘Restore your Pa's neglected workshop to its former glory by fulfilling commissions, growing crops, raising animals, and befriending the quirky inhabitants of this charming post-apocalyptic land’

 

The game encourages a sense of responsibility towards your home turf and fellow townsfolk, since the later, bigger missions more directly come to affect them. It also explores the importance of community. Not just another farming sim, it’s proved itself a popular, endearing storybook-style game, where judging by the reviews, many a player has clearly loved returning to.

 

Dragon Quest Builders 2

 

 

It’s certainly a large game, and kids get their own AI-based ‘amigos’ to accompany them on their mini-quests, which all helps to introduce aspects of the world, along with the building tools. Just be warned there is a fair amount of on-screen text to have to read, and some of the quests are just not that easy for younger kids. However, playing with parents will be an interactive, informative experience for them, ideal for lock-down xmas. You can play and build with fellow players locally or online. There’s a nice mix of gentle combat against monsters and world inhabitants, and exploration, as you set about restoring and lifting the evil that has been plaguing this minecrafty, colourful land.

 

Lego: Worlds

 

 

Despite the lower budget this one should keep Lego fans happy for a good while. Many critics of the game agree that it could have been better given the concept of an ‘open environment of procedurally-generated Worlds made entirely of LEGO bricks which you can freely manipulate and dynamically populate with LEGO models.’ However, it’s not been executed as well as it might, in terms of user-friendliness and trying to combine its goals into one package. But there’s lots of creative fun to be had for the price.

 

 

That’s it for this key round-up. We recommend the first one mentioned, Super Mario Maker 2 game in addition to just one of the others, since the others are fairly similar, and are so large you may only need the one. But go check out the list on the Nintendo site, as you may find others too.

 

And this doesn’t include the ton of other kids games on the Switch for drawing, maths, science, animal care, etc. But those above, should be more engrossing. These sandbox, creative games for kids can encourage a closer connection to games in general, be less frustrating and open-ended, and provide some fun by being creative and in a more social way. Nintendo is great for this. Kids also love to share their gaming activity and show off their skills, at different times, so this all comes with the territory.

 

Keep using Prizes Drop for saving up more points to put towards some great games out there for kids of all ages.