By on August 23, 2022 at 6:57AM PDT
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Family-friendly video games are often overlooked in favor of chaotic shooters, mature RPGs, or complex strategy games. That’s a bit of a shame, as there are dozens of incredible titles out there that carry a rating suitable for even the youngest gamer in your family. Game Pass has unsurprisingly become a haven for these sorts of adventures, with hits like Banjo-Kazooie, Minecraft, and Overcooked 2 gracing its catalog.
If you’re looking for the next game to check out as a family–or just want a break from your current FPS–consider downloading one of these titles. We’ve scoured the Game Pass roster to come up with a list of the 30 best family games on Game Pass. Our list includes cooperative and competitive multiplayer games that the whole family will love as well as titles with great single-player modes that kids can enjoy. We chose to only highlight games that are rated E or E10, so you won’t find any games rated for teens on this list.
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Many of these are playable across both Xbox and PC, and you can even stream most of them through Xbox Cloud Gaming on your phone and other devices. All of these games are available on Xbox, of course, but we also noted if they are supported on PC and Cloud Gaming. Keep in mind you need Xbox Game Pass Ultimate to play across all three platforms. Game Pass Ultimate costs $15 per month. Alternatively, you can get regular Game Pass or PC Game Pass for $10 each. Regular Game Pass doesn’t include access to online multiplayer or EA Play titles, while PC Game Pass restricts your Game Pass list to just the titles that are up for grabs on PC. Game Pass Ultimate provides all of the perks, and it’s well worth the monthly fee.
Don’t see anything you like? Be sure to check out our list of the best overall games on Game Pass, along with a full list of every game in its current lineup.
Banjo Kazooie is an iconic 3D platformer, and you can play three entries through Game Pass, including Nuts and Bolts,Banjo-Tooie,and the original Banjo-Kazooie.Quirky characters, impressive level design, and fluid platforming action make this a great option for the entire family.
(Xbox, Cloud)
See our Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts review
Explore the land of Bugaria as you step into the insect-sized shoes of Vi, Kabbu, and Leif. Along the way, you’ll engage in turn-based combat, explore a colorful overworld, and be treated to eye-catching graphics that are reminiscent of the classic Paper Mario games.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Burnout Paradise Remastered takes the original open-world racing game and gives it a fresh coat of paint. The gigantic roster of cars and beautiful world of Paradise City are entirely intact, but they look better than ever thanks to improved textures and enhanced resolutions.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
It might look charming, but don’t let Dicey Dungeons fool you–it’s a challenging tactical RPG. You’ll fight through a variety of deadly enemies, using your dice to select actions and hack through the opposition. Careful planning is required for success, and the ability to test out different characters means there’s plenty of replay value in this adorable roguelike.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Dicey Dungeons review
Build a base camp, explore a sweeping landscape, and jump into real-time action in Dragon Quest Builders 2. It’s essentially Minecraft with a much deeper combat system and RPG chops, along with a well-developed main quest that takes place after the action of Dragon Quest 2.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Dragon Quest Builders 2 review
A unique combination of card game and strategy game, Floppy Knights has you summoning allies from floppy disks to fend off a variety of deadly monsters. You’ll need to carefully deploy a variety of plant-based cards, monster cards, and the aptly named hooligan cards in order to survive each tactical challenge.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
This 2D action game is inspired by retro hits from the SNES era. Its pixel-perfect graphics might draw you in, but the fast-paced action and elemental magic system will keep you glued to your screen until the credits roll.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
It should come as no surprise, but Forager tasks you with foraging your environment for precious resources to turn into a variety of tools and other useful items. It’s not all about crafting and collecting, however, as there are plenty of enemies to fend off on your quest to grow your little plot of land into a sprawling empire.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Speed through a gorgeous Mexican landscape consisting of pristine beaches, bubbling volcanoes, and claustrophobic cities. The game features distinct driving mechanics for each vehicle, and since just about every action grants you experience points, you can play in whatever style you’d like. It’s arguably the best racing game on Xbox–and possibly the best racing game of the past few years.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Forza Horizon 5 review
Gang Beasts is one of the most bizarre games on this list. You’ll play as boneless, flimsy creatures as you fight against your fellow players and try to knock them out. The physics engine is reason alone to check it out, although the frantic (and hilarious) gameplay makes it the perfect choice for game night.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Clamber your way through more than a dozen levels of physics-based hilarity. Its characters and quirky gameplay are similar to Gang Beasts, only this time you’re trying to solve a variety of puzzles and platform your way to victory.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Lawn Mowing Simulator takes the mundane task of cutting grass and turns it into a relaxing game. It also features a bunch of officially licensed lawnmowers–making it easy to train your kids how to cut the grass in your own yard.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
It’s Madden. What else needs to be said? Madden NFL 22 features improved graphics, reworked gameplay, and a new focus on capturing the gameday atmosphere of every stadium in the league. If you subscribe to PC Game Pass or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you have access to EA Play, which means you can also try out a 10-hour trial of this year’s Madden NFL 23, in case you want an even more up-to-date experience.
(Xbox, PC)
See our Madden NFL 22 review
Mine blocks, craft useful objects, and piece together whatever your heart desires. Minecraft has seen tremendous growth over the years, now offering a slew of multiplayer features along with dozens of biomes to explore and hundreds of items to collect.
(Xbox, PC)
See our Minecraft review
Minecraft Dungeons shares the same blocky aesthetic as its older sibling, but plays like an ARPG instead of an open-world epic. There’s no shortage of ways to customize your player, and a variety of difficulties let you cater the playstyle to gamers of all ages and skill levels.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Minecraft Dungeons review
After years of PlayStation exclusivity, The Show finally made its way to Xbox with MLB The Show 21. The Show 22 continued the new tradition of multiplatform availability, this time adding online co-op to the mix along with the usual suite of graphic enhancements and gameplay tweaks.
(Xbox, Cloud)
See our MLB The Show 22 review
Hunt and collect over 100 monsters in this adorable metroidvania. Every monster on your roster brings special skills into battle–and you’ll need to master them all to defeat some of the game’s most challenging bosses.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Moonlighter is an action-RPG that tasks you with going on dangerous journeys while also running a thriving business. Sell items, manage your budget, and hire helpers, then dive back into tense combat in search of more loot and deadlier enemies.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Moonlighter review
It’s not Mario, but New Super Lucky’s Tale is a great platformer in its own right–and among the best on Xbox. Each level is filled with family-friendly action, and you’ll get to explore both 2D and 3D worlds as you attempt to stop an evil sorcerer before they carry out their evil plan.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
You’ll need careful cooperation if you want to craft the best pizza, burgers, and fries in Overcooked 2. You and a few other chefs will need to manage new orders as they come in and figure out the best way to piece them together. It’s a lot more hectic than it sounds, with ridiculous levels that give you more to deal with than just picky customers.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Overcooked 2 review
Slowly work your way up the Spire, duking it out against enemies in turn-based battles that are built around a card-based battle system. Hundreds of cards are up for grabs, and with more than 50 different encounters and 200+ items, there’s no shortage of roguelike fun to be had in Slay the Spire.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Slay the Spire review
Travel far from Earth as you step into the shoes of Beatrix LeBeau. This aspiring rancher will head out to tame a number of unique slimes, growing crops and helping out their fellow ranchers to earn useful gear that’ll assist them on their quests. Played from a first-person perspective, you’ll get a chance to get up close and personal with a variety of bubbly slimes that are absolutely bursting with personality.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Stardew Valley is more than just a farming game. Beyond restoring a dilapidated farmhouse to its former glory, you’ll also mingle with your fellow townsfolk, explore a deep dungeon in search of rare material, and take part in a bunch of seasonal festivities.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Stardew Valley review
Old-school beat-em-ups don’t get much better than this. Whether you’re playing with a few friends or solo, Shredder’s Revenge gives you a complex combat system to master along with plenty of levels that’ll test your skills.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge review
Terraria lets you explore a stunning 2D world as you see fit. Your first few hours will likely be spent stockpiling resources for crafting and developing your arsenal of weapons, but once you’ve built up a stable of useful tools, you can head into some surprisingly nuanced boss fights and slowly create a sprawling empire.
(Xbox, Cloud)
See our Terraria review
It’s the Tetris you know and love, but now with an explosive color palette, incredible music, and several online game modes. Face off against others in PvP, or team up for a bit of cooperative action. There’s also a solo campaign with more than 30 levels to conquer.
(Xbox, PC)
See our Tetris Effect: Connected review
In case the name didn’t give it away, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion never takes itself too seriously. It’s a strange adventure game that tasks you with solving puzzles and slaying dangerous (and hilarious) enemies–but above all else, it’s about skimping out on Uncle Sam.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
Tunic is a mysterious action game that merges old-school Zelda with Dark Souls. You’ll stomp around a small island with little direction, diving into dungeons and slaying challenging bosses as you go. It’s easy on the eyes, too, with striking, minimalistic graphics that accentuate every biome in the game.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Tunic review
The first Unravel is also available on Game Pass, but feel free to skip right to the stellar second installment. It shares the same main character, but the narrative doesn’t have any big ties to the original. With an emotional story, distinctive graphics, and fun platforming segments, Unravel 2 isn’t a game to miss.
(Xbox, PC, Cloud)
See our Unravel 2 review
It’s a bit old (having launched on Xbox 360), but this family-friendly adventure has held up incredibly well. You’ll attempt to collect and breed a bunch of different pinatas, creating a vibrant garden as you go. It’s a relaxing game, but one with plenty of depth if you choose to dig in.
(Xbox, Cloud)
See our Viva Pinata review