Your Guide to February's Family Friendly Video Games
Another sleepy month, mostly highlighted by Apple Arcade releases and games likely to keep parents occupied.
A month where Nintendo isn’t releasing a game, big or small? That probably has something to do with the company finally announcing its next console, Switch 2, and probably a contributing factor to this quieter season for family friendly video games.
When Switch 2 arrives, I expect a lot of companies to ride that wave. Until then, some of the most interesting stuff that’s coming is, once again, arriving from Apple Arcade.
Frankly, I’m not even playing a ton of games right now. Part of that is coming down from the sugar high of the holidays and playing a ton of games for game of the year, part of that is because there’s just not that much coming that’s getting me buzzing.
We’ll see!
If you represent these games and have a potentially interesting story to share about how these games consider kids as part of their audience, do get in touch with me!
Crab Crawl (PC)
Description: A short, cheerful action-adventure game where you guide a crab in search of food. Avoid a variety of predators, sea-born obstacles, litterers, rival crustaceans, and explore the hostile waters to find all the tasty treats and save the bay along the way.
Rating: N/A
Price: $3.99
This came out in November, but after promising to feature Crab Crawl, I screwed up and forgot. But this comes from Crossplay reader Austin Auclair, who told me the game takes less than 30 minutes to finish and he designed it with his 11-year-old son.
Rift of the NecroDancer (PC) — February 5
Description: The NecroDancer's back in a brand new rhythm game spinoff! Help Cadence navigate the modern world while repairing the rifts that have torn her life apart. Do rhythmic battle via rift mode, minigames, and boss battles! All to the beat of a brand new soundtrack from Danny Baranowsky & friends.
Rating: E10+
Price: N/A
The demo for Rift of the NecroDancer didn’t land for me, despite my affinity for music/rhythm games, but others have been higher. Nintendo World Report tried said it “filled my brain with world-class tunes and satisfying rhythm-based gameplay.”
PGA TOUR Pro Golf (Apple Arcade) — February 6
Description: PGA TOUR Pro Golf offers an immersive golf experience designed for fans of the sport. Featuring iconic PGA TOUR locations like Pebble Beach Golf Links and Harbour Town Golf Links, players can participate in competitive head-to-head matches or thrilling tournaments against other players, along with sharpening their skills through practice rounds.
Rating: 4+
Price: $6.99/month
I’m more of a Hot Shots Golf guy, if I’m going to play a virtual golf game, but given how little I’m able to play in real-life, I might give this a shot. It looks totally competent.
Doodle Jump 2+ (Apple Arcade) — February 6
Description: Reach new heights in Doodle Jump 2+, a sequel to the hit platforming adventure game, featuring delightful environments, cute characters, silly monsters, and fun challenges. Players will prepare for their doodles to spring from scalding deserts to prehistoric caves, dazzling galaxies, and beyond in this beloved game.
Rating: 9+
Price: $6.99/month
Upsetting information: Doodle Jump came out in 2008! My interactions with Doodle Jump these days are arcade versions of the mobile game in hotel arcades, but reviews of Doodle Jump 2 were positive when it came out in 2021, as MacStories said “Doodle Jump 2 had enormous shoes to fill, and I am delighted by how well it has done so.”
My Dear Farm+ (Apple Arcade) — February 6
Description: In this cute farming simulator game, players will create and customize their dream farm and prove they have what it takes to become a top-class farmer. Players can also fully customize their character, from appearance and hairstyle to their choice of a pet, in addition to growing their farming empire one harvest at a time.
Rating: 4+
Price: $6.99/month
I say this every time one of these games comes along, but at some point, one is going to hook my family. Will My Dear Farm be the one? Stay tuned. (It’s probably going to be the inevitable next Animal Crossing game.) But TapTap enjoyed the original game, calling it a “a very well-made game that features an easy, casual gameplay experience.”
Big Helmet Heroes (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - February 6
Description: Throw yourself into an epic 3D beat’em up adventure with adorable knights, full of surprising worlds and situations. Grab your buddy and play in 2 player co-op to save the princess, but this is only the beginning!
Rating: E
Price: $24.99
This looks…delightful? I hadn’t heard of it before putting this together, nor have I had a chance to play the game myself yet, but reports from folks who tried it are promising.
Sid Meier's Civilization VII (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - February 11
Description: The award-winning strategy game franchise returns with a revolutionary new chapter. Sid Meier's Civilization® VII empowers you to build the greatest empire the world has ever known!
Rating: E10+
Price: $69.99
This might be more about the parents than the kids, but it’s notable a new Civilization is dropping. Children, where are your parents? Playing this. (I have not touched Civilization since, uh, the third game? Ars Technica played it and said “I’m pleased to say that I’m more optimistic about the next Civ game than I have been in a while.”
Amber Isle (Switch) — February 13
Description: Welcome to Amber Isle - a quaint, friendly village of prehistoric residents who are in need of a new shopkeep... That’s you! Craft and sell items, upgrade your shop, befriend your Paleofolk neighbours and customise the island to bring the village back to life and welcome even more prehistoric pals!
Rating: E
Price: N/A
Animal Crossing + dinosaurs seems like a fun combination, but reviews of the game were mixed when it launched on PC, with Comfy Cozy Gaming noting “there is a charm to be found in Amber Isle, but it’s in the middle bits and it’s not long-lasting.”
Tomb Raider IV–VI Remastered (PC, PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S) – February 14
Description: Play the next series of Tomb Raider adventures in this remastered collection of the Darkness Trilogy.
Rating: T
Price: $29.99
I fell off these games by the time we’d hit the fourth installment. Last one I played was Tomb Raider III? But the original game was one of the first I played with a dedicated graphics card on my PC. Folks, the first time you could look through water…holy shit.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection (PC, Switch) - 27th February
Description: Duel alongside old friends as the iconic stars of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! anime return in this expansive collection of classic Yu-Gi-Oh! titles.
Rating: T
Price: $49.99
Can’t recall Yu-Gi-Oh! infiltrating my schools, but maybe that’s because I had Pokémon blinders as a kid. Speaking of which, am I the only parent who is going to eat at McDonalds more than they’d really like while they’re handing out Pokémon cards?
Morsels (PC, Switch, PS5) — February ??
Description: Morsels is a fast-paced creature collecting roguelite with a rotating roster of characters to switch between at will. Overcome a clique of killer cats as you fight your way out of the sewers in this unique, action-packed journey.
Rating: N/A
Price: N/A
This game has strong “slip out of February” energy, but let’s hope not. Looks awesome
Update: Apparently, this already did slip out of February!
Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - February 28
Description: Monster Hunter Wilds is a story of monsters and humans co-existing in the Forbidden Lands, a world with two faces: one in which the lands are harsh and unforgiving, where monsters fight for scant resources, and another in which the lands are vibrant and brimming with life.
Rating: T
Price: $69.99
I’m listing this because I am expecting to play this in front of my kids and get yelled at for “killing innocent monsters for no reason, they didn’t do anything wrong, Dad!!!!!”
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