Yes, we all love giving and receiving gifts at the holidays, but if you have kids in your life, you know gift-giving means significantly more to them than it does the rest of us. We've all been kids and know the magic of the holidays. Whether you believed in Santa or not, there's a reason most ads at this time of year are geared toward stuff you can buy for children.
Those ads quickly get overwhelming though, especially if the little ones you need to buy for are sitting next to you saying "Ohh I want that... ohhh can I have that?" every 30 seconds or so. Yes, I am speaking from recent experience, how can you tell? Since I'm living it, and I've put the legwork in to find some of the very best gifts for kids who love gaming this holiday season, I figured I'd share my findings with you below.
Best Gaming Gifts For Kids
PowerA Pokemon Sweet Assortment Switch Bundle
A Pokemon Makeover For Their Switch
PowerA's Pokemon Sweet Assortment includes all the Switch accessories you could need. A controller, grip, and carry case, all brightly colored and adorned with Pikachu, Pichu, Jigglypuff, and Eevee.
Pros & Cons- Three Pokemon Switch accessories in one bundle
- Controller has been shrunk down for smaller gamers
- Not available in other designs
The age at which you think it's the right time for your child to have their own console differs from parent to parent. Regardless of when you think is the right time, there will likely be a period when you're sharing your console with them. If that console is a Switch, there are ways they can still make it feel like their own, and these accessories really help with that. Three-in-one in PowerA's Pokemon Sweet Assortment bundle. A case for them to store their favorite Switch cartridges, a brightly-colored grip for when they play, but best of all, a Jigglypuff controller. Slightly smaller than a regular Switch controller, it's perfect for kids learning to game.
Amazon Fire 7 Kids Tablet
Toddler's First Tablet
Amazon's Kids Tablet is more than just a tablet with a soft outer shell to protect it when dropped. The case comes equipped with a stand, and Amazon Kids, which you get free for a year with the tablet, has an incredibly easy-to-use interface. Handy since it may be the first screen some kids ever use.
Pros & Cons- Soft case for protection
- One free year of Amazon Kids
- Different memory sizes and color options
Likely long before you ever consider getting your child their first console, you'll start to think about what screens you're comfortable with them using and what they're allowed to watch and play. Screen time is an inevitability for almost everyone in the present day, and Amazon's Fire tablet for kids is a great way to make sure they're being introduced the right way. With a rubber case to protect it from its younger owners, and likely being dropped a lot, and one free year of Amazon Kids, there are tonnes of age-appropriate games to download and shows for them to watch, plus complete parental control so they don't see - or buy anything they shouldn't.
Pokemon TCG: My First Battle
Never Too Young For Pokemon Cards
Pokemon TCG: My First Battle is a set that has been created to help introduce young Pokemon trainers to the TCG. There are two sets available, each of which includes two mini decks and everything else you need to play this streamlined version of the TCG.
Pros & Cons- Perfect way to satisfy your kids' Pokemon TCG wants for less
- Helps kids learn how to actually play the TCG
- Potentially an introduction to a very expensive hobby
The TCG has been a staple of the Pokemon series for almost as long as the video games. Those of you reading this of a certain age likely spent a lot of money - or perhaps a lot of your parents' money - on Pokemon cards as kids. There was never an easy and affordable way into the TCG for kids years ago. Just wing it and buy boxes and booster packs. In 2023, Pokemon gave us My First Battle. Not only does it give aspiring young TCG players their very first cards, but it also teaches them the ropes. I don't know about you, but 25 years later, I still don't properly understand how the Pokemon TCG rules work, I just like collecting the cards.
Lego Mario Adventures With Luigi Starter Course
Start With Luigi
Lego's and Nintendo's relationship is beyond full swing at this point. Multiple characters from the Mushroom Kingdom have been added to the Super Mario collection, including Luigi, of course. The green brother has his very own starter course which includes an interactive Luigi figure and enough elements to build your very own Mario level.
Pros & Cons- Perfect place to start a Super Mario Lego collection
- A little different to just going for the standard Mario starter course
- Go one step further and buy the Peach starter course if you like
- Also a great gift for someone who already has the Mario course
- If the recipient really loves Mario, Luigi might disappoint them
Super Mario Lego has become a bigger deal than anyone could have envisioned. There was some backlash, to begin with since the main characters were larger interactive toys rather than Lego Minifigures. That's what makes these sets so special, though. They're designed with kids in mind. Kids who want to recreate Mario levels using Lego, and having characters that interact and make noise add to the immersion. Whether you're buying this for someone who already has the Mario course or not, I'd recommend it, because Luigi is great and deserves some love. If you need more Mario Lego in your life, we have a guide you should also check out.
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LikeBluey: The Videogame
Something For The Even Littler Little Ones
Action Adventure Systems 4.0/5 OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 62/100 Critics Rec: 47% Released November 16, 2023 ESRB E Developer(s) Artax Games Publisher(s) Outright GamesWHERE TO PLAY
DIGITALBluey is finally getting her very own video game. The star of the Australian kids' show and the rest of her family are playable characters in Bluey: The Videogame.
Powered by Expand Collapse Pros & Cons- Great first game for very young children
- There's nothing bigger or better than Bluey in the world of kids entertainment right now
- Really designed for very young kids, anyone over five might be a little old for it
Whether you've got kids who dominate your TV or not, odds are you know who Bluey is. Bluey is a show for little kids that has taken over the world unlike anything I have seen for a very long time, and yes, I am well aware Peppa Pig exists. Bluey is different because the show somehow appeals to just about everyone aged from three to 50. It was only a matter of time before the show got its own video game, and while I wouldn't recommend it for the older Bluey fan, it is perfect for younger gamers. Particularly gamers who have shown an interest in your consoles but might never have played anything before. It's not the only Bluey-themed gift I've had my eye on this Christmas either.
Sonic Green Hill Zone PDP REALMz Controller
Sonic's Stuck, But It's By Design
PDP's REALMz controllers are officially licensed and each contains a collectible figurine. The Sonic one has the hedgehog in the left grip and a Green Hill Zone motif across the rest of the controller.
Pros & Cons- Very unique design that kids will love
- Perfect personal controller for your children
- Pikmin and Transformers designs also available
- A little expensive, but most controllers are nowadays
Controllers aren't what they used to be. At the risk of aging myself, when I first picked up a Mega Drive controller, it was little more than a lightweight bit of plastic compared to the controllers of today. If you've ever had to hand a DualSense over to a small child with messy hands, you'll know the risks that come with that. Eliminate the risk of your controller buttons getting stuck down via a build-up of Nutella by getting your kids controllers that are just for them. Best to make that controller more appealing than the plain ones you get with the console, and PDP has some fantastic options. Most notably its Realmz collection which has video game toys trapped in the handle. You can see the Sonic one above, but as well as other Sonic character options, Pikmin and Transformers controllers are also available.
Timmy And Tommy's Aloha Edition Nintendo Switch Lite
Kids' First Console
The teal Timmy and Tommy's Aloha Edition of the Nintendo Switch Lite. Embossed with Animal Crossing leaves on the back and comes with a digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Pros & Cons- Cheapest new console option out there right now
- Perfect first console for kids old enough for that honor
- No need to share your own Switch anymore
- Other Switch Lite designs available
- Still expensive, it's a new Nintendo console after all
There will come a time in lots of kids' lives when they want a console of their very own, especially if you have consoles in the house they've watched you play and learned to game on themselves. With most new consoles costing north of $300, not only can buying a second for your home be a daunting prospect, but doing it for someone whose game time you might be limiting could be an absolute no-go. If that sounds like your situation but you're still keen to get your kids their own console, the Switch Lite is the very best option out there. Not only is the Switch library teeming with kid-friendly games, but the Switch Lite is cheaper than pretty much all other console options, and they can take it everywhere with them, provided they take good care of it, of course.
FAQ
What Video Games Are Popular With Kids?
Even though neither has appeared above, Minecraft and Roblox are two of the most popular games with kids right now. Both games revolve around building and give players a lot of freedom. Fortnite's new Lego mode will likely be right up there with them in terms of popularity before you know it. It's already off to a flying start.
What Video Games Do Five-Year-Olds Play?
Having a son myself, I believe that kids can start gaming as soon as they can hold a controller and press the buttons. My son is almost five and some of the games he loves include Astro's Playroom, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, and the Bluey game included in this guide.
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