5 Best Nintendo Switch Games for Toddlers
Updated 13 September 2020
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Author
Danny is the father of a very active 2-year-old and has made plenty of mistakes buying toys over the last couple years so hopes his site can help others avoid the same fate.
If your toddler is anything like mine, they will be constantly looking over your shoulder as you play with your Nintendo Switch.
"Let me play, Daddy!"
But we can all agree that many games are just not suited for little hands or eyes (or minds).
The good news is that there are a good number of Nintendo Switch games for toddlers that allow them to have fun without requiring expert hand-eye coordination or exposing them to questionable images.
This guide will give you our top recommendations for the best Switch games for toddlers:
- All games are based on the real consumer experience with those age groups and are age-appropriate.
- We also made sure to ignore any strange overly positive reviews from bots.
- We only focused on reviews shared by real parents with kids who play Nintendo Switch games.
As always, if you do choose to buy one of the games we recommend, we will make a small commission but we still stand behind every single game based on merit and real-world experience with kids of the recommended age.
Our Top Choices: 5 Must-Have Nintendo Switch Games for Toddlers
- PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay!
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Paw Patrol On A Roll
- Nintendo Kirby: Star Allies
- Minecraft
Keep scrolling to read the reasons why we think these are the best Switch games for toddlers right now -- and learn more about what we love (and what we don't like as much) about each game:
1Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo Switch
Mario Kart 8 might seem a strange addition to a list of Switch games for toddlers but you can enable a number of options to make this game easy to use for kids of all ages. ... Just don't cry when your 5-year old beats you!
- Pro tip: Make sure to enable 'Auto Driving', 'Auto Steering' and '50cc' as the engine option. This will allow you kids to pick up the basics of Go Karting without the annoyance of having to be super accurate with their driving.
What we love
- Has a number of options for making it easy for 2, 3 and 4 year olds to play without annoyance.
- Safe and entertaining content by Nintendo. content by Nintendo.
What We Don't Like That Much
- Not cheap. This official Nintendo game it's hard to find for less than $50.
- Some younger kids might find parts of the game a bit scary.
2Nintendo Kirby: Star Allies (Nintendo Switch) - Switch
This is a super appealing game to younger players, who will fall in love with the the super cute alien hero called Kirby. Whilst toddlers won't be able to play Nintendo Kirby: Star Allies as the main character, you can have a ton of fun playing together in a co-op experience. Even the youngest kid can be a part of the team, helping you to reach goals in the game!
- Pro tip: You can try the demo version of this Switch game to confirm that both your toddler and you enjoy playing before buying.
Be sure to also check our our list of the best Switch games for 4 year olds.
What we love
- A great game for 4 year old boys and girls.
- Up to 4 different people can play on one Nintendo Switch, perfect for older siblings to share in the experience.
What We Don't Like That Much
- The price places this Switch game in the premium bracket at $50 or more.
- Single player mode isn't suitable for toddlers and young kids.
3Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft can feel a little like the Borg in Star Trek, "You will be assimilated." But we are big fans of Minecraft and we are confident that it's the perfect educational Nintendo Switch game for young kids to try. We see it less like a survival game and more like a digital LEGO adventure.
- Pro tip: Make sure to enable the 'Creative mode' which strips away the survival aspects of Minecraft and allows players to easily build structures.
What we love
- Excellent value! Minecraft for Switch can be found for less than $20.
- This educational game can help to support creative play.
What We Don't Like That Much
- The controls can be tricky for kids younger than 3.
- It's hard to find physical copies at the moment.
4Paw Patrol On A Roll - Nintendo Switch
Young kids just love Paw Patrol, and the Paw Patrol On A Roll Switch game is actually pretty good too! It's a side-scrolling game with plenty jumps to be made. This means that toddlers who are usually unable to play they Nintendo Switch on their own will definitely find their way around the Paw Patrol game.
- Pro tip: This Switch game is designed for younger kids in mind, so it is not a video game your kid will keep playing for years to come. Our pro tip is to buy a physical copy, that way you will be able to trade it in at some point in the future for a different Switch game.
If you are interested in seeing more paw patrol toys, then be sure to check out our recent article that looks some of the best paw patrol toys on the market.
What we love
- Good price! This Switch game can be purchased for around the $30 mark. a full premium price can be found around the $30 mark
- A great intro game for the youngest kids.
What We Don't Like That Much
- Not one to share with siblings as older kids will find it boring.
- This is not the type of Switch game your kid will continue to play when they out of toddler age.
5PAW Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay! (Nintendo Switch)
There are not many Switch games that kids as young as 3 can play but Paw Patrol Mighty Pups Save Adventure Bay! is one that my 3 year old loved. There are still some tricky parts that are not easy for smaller hands, but it's easy for Daddy to help out. My number 1 pick for most toddlers looking to play Switch games.
What we love
- Easy for small hands to play
- Paw patrol characters in a video game
What We Don't Like That Much
- Fairly low interest after 5 years of age
- Could be tricky for some young kids
Should toddlers play on a Switch console?
It's worth noting that video games should not become the primary source of fun for young kids. Although it might be hard to stop when they hit their teens! The world is a big place and there is plenty of exploring to be made in the physical world but we also know that many young kids are super are really interested in the Switch as we were with the Gameboy of our childhoods. So as always limit screen time for young kids based on age, so limit a 3-year-old child to 1 hour of screentime per day and use larger limits with older kids.
Are Switch games safe for toddlers?
Many games are not suitable for younger kids but we have attempted to highlight a number of games that would make sense for kids from age 3+ As with any young children and video games, you should restrict usage and treat it like other entertainment like TV watching. The best games for the youngest children are those that you also play with your kid and this is far more beneficial than a 3-year-old playing switch games alone.
What Nintendo Switch is best for Toddlers?
One question we get from parents is what is the best type of Switch console for younger players? We have found that the Switch lite is usually the best as it's smaller and lighter so easier to hold with smaller hands. But for longevity and if you want to use the console in dock mode, then you might be interested in spending more on the standard version. [amazon table="10128"]
