Easy games to play together at Christmas
The easiest games to play together at Christmas are party and sports games on the Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, where rounds are short and everyone plays on one TV. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nintendo Switch Sports and Just Dance 2025 Edition all let someone who has never held a controller join in from the first round.
Games where a first-timer can join in
| Game | Players on one console | Why it works for mixed ages | Plays on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mario Kart 8 Deluxe | 1 to 4 | Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate keep a new player on the track | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 |
| Nintendo Switch Sports | 1 to 4 | You swing the controller like a racket or roll it like a bowling ball | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 |
| Just Dance 2025 Edition | 1 to 6 | You copy the dancer on screen, and you can use a phone as the controller | Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X and S |
| Super Mario Party Jamboree | 1 to 4 | A board game with short mini-games between turns | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 |
| Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain | 1 to 4 | Each player can have a different difficulty, so a grandparent and a child can compete fairly | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 |
| Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics | 1 to 4 | Familiar card and board games, each with a how-to-play screen | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 |
| Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga | 1 to 2 | Two people explore and fight together on one screen | Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and PC |
| Super Mario Bros. Wonder | 1 to 4 | A new player can choose Yoshi or Nabbit, whom enemies cannot hurt | Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 |
Each game page has the full beginner rating and any notes on controllers.
Pick by the kind of afternoon you want
- If people want to take turns while others come and go, choose the mini-games in Super Mario Party Jamboree or a familiar card game in Clubhouse Games.
- If you want to get up off the sofa, try Just Dance or Nintendo Switch Sports.
- To race each other, play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate turned on for anyone new.
- If you would rather work as a team than compete, choose Lego Star Wars or Super Mario Bros. Wonder and help each other through the levels.
Get ready before the day
Christmas morning is a poor time to discover a system update. A day or two before:
- Switch the console on and download any system and game updates.
- Charge every controller. Find out how many each game needs, and whether the game lets two people share a pair of Joy-Con.
- Start each game once, so the opening menus are already done.
- Turn on the assists for new players: Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate in Mario Kart, or a lower difficulty for each player in Big Brain Academy.
- If you plan to dance, clear a space in front of the TV.
Making it fair for someone new
- Let the new player go first, while everyone else watches and helps.
- Turn on the game’s assists without making a fuss about it. The guide to making games easier lists the settings to look for.
- Choose team games if someone keeps losing. Playing together feels better than coming last.
- Keep the first session short and stop while everyone is still enjoying it.
If you do not have a console
You can still play together. Many card and board games have phone and tablet versions, and our phone and tablet guide lists the easiest games for those devices. If you are thinking of giving a console this Christmas, see which first console to give.
Next steps
- Choose one game from the table and check it plays on the console you have.
- For games with grandchildren through the year, see Games to play with grandchildren.