Your Guide to December’s Family Friendly Video Games
The rare month without a major Nintendo release, as we hurdle towards the holiday season, when video game releases often dry up.
I’ve had intentions of putting together a holiday gift guide for Crossplay, but it’s looking like I’m going to run out of time, given how many people are probably doing the vast majority of their shopping by the time you read this—or at the last second.
But if you think something like that would be useful, maybe I’ll try to get it together for next week, even if it’s mostly a test run for how something like that might work.
All of that is the reason, of course, the vast majority of video games, especially ones that might be played by families, are coming out in the early parts of December.
My kids are spoiled in the game department because of my job, but the one thing my eight-year-old still geeks out for is getting a physical copy of a video game. She’s been very into Crossy Road Castle lately, but sadly, it looks like that’s digital only right now.
How are video games intersecting with your holidays buying plans?
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!
Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete (iOS, Android) - December 3
Description: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp Complete is a flat fee paid app that you can transfer save date to after service for Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp ends. You can continue to play while keeping items you have collected and Friendship Levels with animals.
Rating: 4+
Price: $9.99
OK, technically this is Nintendo releasing a game, but I’m not totally counting it. Also, I’m not an Animal Crossing person, but my eight-year-old adores games where you collect and arrange things, so she should be a natural fit. The Switch version came and went while she was still grocking reading, but these days, she should be able to play and read this largely on her own. I wonder if this might be the one? The reviews of Pocket Camp were not encouraging, but this version has microtransactions removed.
Talking Tom Blast Park (Apple Arcade) - December 5
Description: A new game featuring Talking Tom and his friends, epic showdowns with the Rakoonz and lots of blasting fun! Grab your blaster and unleash the fun in Talking Tom Blast Park. Join Talking Tom and Friends in an epic showdown to save Blast Park from the mischievous Rakoonz. Unlock unique blasters like the Duckinator and Power Plunger, then blast the Rakoonz and their trash away.
Rating: 4+
Price: $6.99/month
In a twist, this game was released four years ago before it disappeared, according to this reddit post. As the same person points out, it’s likely because this Apple Arcade deal happened. Still, it’s odd for Apple, because when they release Apple Arcade versions of games without ads or microtransactions, the original game remains.
Additional Apple Arcade Games Announced After This Published
Boggle: Arcade Edition (4+)
“Flex your brains with this new edition of the timeless word-puzzle game loved by all ages. Enjoy hours of Boggle with friends and family, with two exciting multiplayer modes, an endless solo adventure and a curated course to improve your Boggle skills!”
Pac-Man 256+ (4+)
“PAC-MAN 256+ is a revamped and remastered return of the classic endless runner. Navigate the maze and avoid the ghosts in classic PAC-MAN fashion, but look out for the dreaded Glitch consuming the maze behind you!”
Hot Wheels: Race Off+ (4+)
“The high-speed action of Hot Wheels now brought to life in an awesome racing game.”
Barbie Color Creations+ (4+)
“Barbie Color Creations+ lets you customize dolls, outfits, and accessories for endless fashion design possibilities—perfect for kids and Barbie fans alike!”
Infinity Nikki (PC, PS5, iOS, Android) - December 5
Description: Infinity Nikki, the fifth installment in the beloved Nikki series by Infold Games, is a cozy open-world game. Utilizing the UE5 engine, this multi-platform game features platforming, puzzle-solving, dress-up, and other gameplay elements for a unique and rich experience.
Rating: T
Price: $9.99
“A true step forward for open-world gacha games” is a nightmarish line from Eurogamer’s largely positive review of Infinity Nikki that is simultaneously incredibly upsetting and complete in-line with 2024. A gacha game is probably not something I’m going to expose my oldest daughter to quite yet, even if Roblox is, in many ways, often functioning similarly. The difference with Infinity Nikki, at least, is that she’s mostly playing Roblox with her friends and sibling. Maybe I’ll try it, though?
RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic (Switch) - December 5
Description: RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic is a new RCT experience, remastered in 2017 by franchise creator Chris Sawyer to combine the best features from two of the most successful and beloved RCT games in the series’ history – RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2.
Rating: E
Price: $24.99
This version of the old games has been around for years, the difference being that it’s coming to Switch. Touch Arcade was high on the iOS version, calling it “an excellent compilation of a classic simulation title with nothing lost in its transition to iOS.”
Dog Man: Mission Impawsible (PC, PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch) - December 6
Description: The key to the city has fallen into the hands of a supa bad guy, unlocking all the prison doors and releasing many evildoers. Help Dog Man and his friends chase down the supa bad guys in their most impawsible mission yet! Switch between Dog Man and his Supa Buddies, each with their own special abilities and gadgets such as Rockets Boots, Retractable Claws and Dirt Proof Pants. Together you can overcome challenging obstacles and defeat powerful bosses.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
My expectations are low on this. The developer isn’t known for work in platformers, and the bar for licensed games remains low when targeted at children. But I didn’t think the Bluey game was very good, either, and we had a wonderful time with that.
Marvel Rivals (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - December 6
Description: Assemble an all-star Marvel squad, devise countless strategies by combining powers to form unique Team-Up skills and fight in destructible, ever-changing battlefields across the continually evolving Marvel universe!
Rating: T
Price: Free-to-play
I spent five minutes with the open beta before I went “not for me,” but this looks poised to be popular quickly. Early impressions from critics were not especially kind to the open beta, but there seems to be a bit of a critical/commercial divide here.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (PC, Xbox Series X/S) - December 9
Description: Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
Rating: T
Price: $69.99
Indiana Jones is over, but there’s a good chance the franchise’s swansong isn’t in cinematic form but game form. Gamerant said playing “felt like an engaging mix of those elements and a satisfying adaptation of Indiana Jones to an interactive medium.”
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind (PC, PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S/One, Switch) - December 10
Description: Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind is an all-new adventure with an original storyline that both respects and remixes Power Rangers lore with scenarios and gameplay that will be both familiar and new to MMPR fans. Players will brawl, blast, fight, and drive through a constantly shifting mix of classic game genres and fan-favorite moments from the series.
Rating: E10+
Price: $34.99
I don’t know where, when, and why, but my four-year-old told me they “love Power Rangers.” I assume they watched a random episode on Netflix, but regardless, the rise of the throwback beat ‘em up has been surprisingly fun—and this one looks good, too.
Disney Music Parade: Encore (Switch) - December 12
Description: Disney Music Parade -Encore- is a rhythm action game in which players tap to the beat of Disney songs as they ride through famous scenes from Disney animated films that have been recreated on a glittering stage.
Rating: E
Price: $59.99 (Varies, as this game has to be imported)
Hadn’t heard of this until researching this, but as noted, you’ll have to import this.
On Your Tail (PC) - December 16
Description: Set in the charming seaside village of Borgo Marina, On Your Tail follows the adventures of intrepid Diana in her pursuit of the perfect summer vacation. For a curious spirit like her, that means three things: explore her new surroundings as she gets to know the eccentric inhabitants, unwind with some of the area’s iconic recreational activities, and get to the bottom of some of Borgo Marina’s most puzzling local mysteries.
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
Reminds me of Duck Detective, which I enjoyed playing with my daughter for a bit. I’ve hoped she would want to give that game a second go, but it looks like that was a one-and-done experience for us. On Your Tail looks charming, with TechRaptor saying “if you enjoy cozy life sims with adorable casts set in laid-back, colorful worlds, and you don't mind a pinch of mystery added to the mix, this is certainly a game to watch.”
Botany Manor (PS4/5) - December 17
Description: Welcome to Botany Manor, a stately home in 19th century England. You play as its inhabitant Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Explore your house and gardens, filled with research, to figure out the ideal habitat for a collection of forgotten flora. Grow each plant to discover the mysterious qualities they hold.
Rating: E
Price: $24.99
Puzzle games hit me weirdly. They work or don’t. Botany Manor didn’t! Don’t listen to me; IGN said “it’s a laid-back game that doesn’t ask you to do too much, simply grow some strange plants and decompress—and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.”
Croc: Legend of the Gobbos (PC, PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S/One, Switch) - December
Description: Croc: Legend of the Gobbos follows the heartwarming journey of an endearing, humble little crocodile equipped with only his iconic backpack and a wiggly butt as he sets off on his quest to rescue the Gobbos from the clutches of the nefarious Baron Dante and his hordes of Dantinis.
Rating: TBA (Likely E)
Price: TBA
I had a soft spot for the original, but have no idea how it would feel to play this in 2024. It would probably feel like playing an original PlayStation game in 2024, which is to say your mileage is going to vary on how much nostalgia you have saved up.
Wobbly Life (Switch) - December
Description: Wobbly Life is a vibrant open-world physics sandbox. Play with your friends online or in local co-op, with exciting jobs, mini games, and wacky story missions. Earn cash to spend in the world on clothes, vehicles and houses. There is a whole Wobbly World out there to explore!
Rating: TBA (Likely E)
Price: TBA
This has been big on Steam for few years, and mostly looks like a massive playground to be goofy with friends. It’s hard to push my kids off the “Roblox” branding, which is important in and of itself to them, but we’ll have to give this one a shot. Looks neat.
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My kids have gotten a ton of mileage out of Wobbly Life on Xbox. It's certainly a bit crude when it comes to its presentation, but everything works well enough for them to have fun and not get frustrated. There has been a ton of content added over the years with more and more secrets to find, jobs to do, and silly things to collect. And it's 2-player split screen with no leashing!
Physical games are so much more fun to give as gifts than digital, but man digital is just so much more convenient. At least 2/3 of my kids are able to switch cartridges/discs responsibly now.