Your Guide to November’s Family Friendly Video Games
A real mixed selection of games this month, from a new Mario RPG to remastered goats.
Another month, another Nintendo game, another chance to speculate about Switch 2.
It’s funny, I’d intended by now to have a story up about what it’s like to play Mario Party with my kids, but our first attempt went so poorly, between the kids fighting over who could play as Princess Peach, my youngest struggling with the concept of losing…we just scrapped the whole thing and worked on our bedtime routine.
(I think it would have been fine if I just played with my oldest, to be honest.)
We’ll see if Mario & Luigi: Brothership hits. I’m still working through The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom with my youngest—and yes, she’s still going as Zelda for Halloween. I already had to dress in my Link costume once, and will again tonight.
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!
Farmagia (PS5, Switch, PC) - November 1
Description: Marvelous and Hiro Mashima team up to present a brand-new adventure full of frantic monster combat and rewarding farming simulation. After the death of Felicidad’s ruler, the despotic overlord Glaza seizes power and imposes an oppressive regime on the world’s inhabitants. As Ten and his fellow Farmagia friends, command an army of monsters as you explore and battle across the treacherous lands of the Underworld, collecting resources to take back to your farm. There you’ll upgrade your skills as a Farmagia, growing more monsters to nurture, and developing their new traits to aid your battle against Glaza and the Oración Seis.
Rating: T
Price: 49.99
Farming monsters to help you fight is a really fun premise. It reminds me of playing Monster Rancher as a kid, the game where you’d generate new creatures by popping in different music CDs you had lying around. We barely played the “game” part of it.
Run From Mummies (PS5, PC) - November 6
Description: Race through pyramids and uncover the secrets of their long-dead inhabitants in Run From Mummies! Play solo or with friends, explore mysterious ruins, and fend off mummies with your camera's blinding flash. Unravel the memories of a vengeful pharaoh to survive in this hilarious 2D action-adventure!
Rating: E10+
Price: TBA
This looks cute, a lil’ Zombies Ate My Neighbors vibes. Unrelated, but my youngest might be the one into horror stuff. She always declares “I’m not afraid” when scrolling through trailers to watch on TV, while my oldest hides under a pillow. She demanded we watch the trailer for the new Wolf Man movie and declared she wants to see it.
Planet Coaster 2 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - November 6
Description: Create a coaster and water park paradise in Planet Coaster 2: build and customise thrilling roller coasters and incredible water slides, manage the ultimate theme park experience, and share your incredible creations.
Rating: E
Price: $49.99
Building games have never done anything for me, but I keep waiting to see if one might make sense for my oldest. She’s a real attention to detail person and runs games with her friends where she’s managing a shop. This one is probably too complicated.
Mario & Luigi: Brothership (Switch) - November 7
Description: The brothers return for a brand-new adventure on the high seas! When the Uni-Tree is destroyed and the world of Concordia is broken apart, Mario and Luigi must try to reconnect a fractured world, one island at a time.
Rating: E
Price: $59.99
It feels wrong to be interested in playing this when I didn’t find time for Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. Mashable was a little mixed on it, saying “my demo unfortunately didn’t give me much else to talk about, but honestly, that’s fine. I’ve already played like a dozen really good RPGs this year, I might as well play another.”
Magical Bakery (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - November 7
Description: Magical Bakery is a single-player cooking and management game set in an enchanted bakery that sells all sorts of sweets and pastries, with a twist—they may contain traces of magic! Experience a life full of magic, challenges, and the joy of creating sweets that will leave a spellbinding impression on your customers. Become the ultimate magical baker and prove yourself worthy of inheriting the Magical Bakery!
Rating: E
Price: $29.99
We should be hitting the limit on what’s possible in the cozy game category. Not yet?
Goat Simulator Remastered (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S) - November 7
Description: Goat Simulator Remastered is the latest in goat simulation technology. Your favorite chaotic sandbox is back and more beautiful than ever, with updated graphics, every DLC, and more bugs that you can shake a goat at. WASD to rewrite history.
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
There’s no reason my family hasn’t tried one of these. They seem goofy, fun, and do not adhere to normal rules, like emphasizing winning/losing. Maybe this is the one.
Farming Simulator 25 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - November 12
Description: Farming Simulator 25 invites you to join the rewarding farm life. Whether you build your legacy single-handedly or cooperatively in multiplayer - you decide: This Farm is Your Farm!
Rating: E
Price: $59.99
We had a blast playing this when Remap got together in-person, and while I do not anticipate this becoming a family event, I am excited at the prospect of being able to play this one new one with my friends whenever we’re in the same room again.
Tetris Forever (PC, PS4/5, Switch, Xbox One/X/S) - November 12
Description: More than 15 playable classic games from the series' history are featured, including many being released for the first time outside Japan. Battle your friends in the multiplayer cult favorite Tetris Battle Gaiden, create massive explosions to clear lines in Super Bombliss, and see where it all began in 1984 with an accurate recreation of the first version of Tetris on the Electronika 60 computer.
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
As a kid, my mom requested that I hide the Game Boy from her when I went to school, because the game had a hypnotic effect. A few times, she would sit down to play “one game” and lose hours. She even gave the goofy Super Scope version of Tetris a shot at one point—and ran the batteries dry. I don’t think she’s played Tetris since.
Temtem: Swarm (PC) - November 13
Description: Can you Survive the Swarm? Unlock mighty abilities and upgrades, find and collect Tems to evolve and become stronger, discover overpowered strategies, and battle massive bosses in this survivor-like bullet heaven! Play solo or online co-op with up to 3 players, building the wildest synergies.
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
Feels like a game that might appeal if your family dug Vampire Survivors, though that game is getting so much excellent expansion content you might never have to leave it.
LEGO Horizon Adventures (PC, PS5, Switch) - November 14
Description: Journey to a distant future, where the land is made of LEGO bricks and lush nature has reclaimed the Earth. Meet the Nora tribe who live in the settlement of Mother’s Heart, and catch your first glimpse of the incredible dinosaur-like machines that roam the forests, mountains, and deserts that stretch beyond the village walls...
Rating: E10+
Price: $59.99
I played a bit of this earlier this year and was left cold. It’s a fine interpretation of the Horizon universe in LEGO, but I don’t know who was asking for this? The combat also seemed a tad complicated to ask from a kid, it’s more than just mashing buttons to progress. That said, I do wish there were more LEGO versions of video game worlds, so I’m mostly hoping this is a success and paves the world for other attempts.
Stray (Switch) - 19th November
Description: Stray is a third-person cat adventure game set amidst the detailed neon-lit alleys of a decaying cybercity and the murky environments of its seedy underbelly. See the world through the eyes of a stray and interact with the environment in playful ways.
Rating: E10+
Price: TBA
Stray’s story fell apart for me by the end, but whatever, I really enjoyed playing it.
MySims Cozy Bundle (Switch) - November 19
Description: Make adorable friends and discover creative adventures across retro re-releases of two lovable games in MySims: Cozy Bundle. Use your imagination to rebuild a town in MySims and help a cute magical land become an even better place in MySims Kingdom. There are stories to uncover, locations to explore, and lots of characters with big personalities to meet.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
Digital Trends praised this collection in a hands-on preview, saying “the core MySims formula appears just as you remember it here. You’ll be able to live out your small town life, collect essences, and customize your town. If you never got to experience that on the Wii in 2007, now is as good a time as any to give it a shot.”
Snow Bros. Wonderland (Switch, PS4/PS5) - November 28
Description: Snow Bros. Wonderland has the brothers defending Snow Land from The Great King of Evil. Armed with an endless supply of ice pellets, you can turn monsters into snowballs which can be kicked to destroy a whole horde of enemies. Chain your attacks to defeat several bad guys at once and use your snowball skills to take down massive bosses.
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
It’s news to me this is a revival of an old games property, but sure, why not?
On Your Tail (Switch, PC) - November 21
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.”
Have a story idea? Want to share a tip? Got a funny parenting story? Drop Patrick an email.
Farmagia looks right up my alley, also looking forward to getting Mario and Luigi brothership. Mario RPG games are such a treat.
Fighting over Princess Peach is such a mood lol!