Your Guide to January’s Family Friendly Video Games
There's not much coming in the next few weeks, but after 2023's rush, we could all use a breather, frankly.
There were a lot of video games that came out in 2023, and there are a lot of video games that are coming out in 2024, but January is not one of the months. Given how many video games I’m still behind on, that’s pretty okay. My kids and I still haven’t checked out LEGO Fortnite, and I suspect that might take up a chunk of our January.
If you see a game that I’ve missed, please reach out and let me know! I’ll add it in.
If you represent these games and have a potentially interesting story to share about how these games consider kids as part of their audience, please get in touch with me!
Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom (Apple Arcade) — January 4
Description: From the most beloved virtual friends franchise of all time comes a new and wonderful journey for all the adventurers out there. Welcome to Tamagotchi Adventure Kingdom! Join our adorable hero Mametchi as he travels far and wide across the world to solve problems, make friends, and use the power of happiness to restore the kingdom. Build and decorate your wilderness camp and invite your most loyal Tamagotchi companions to have fun together.
Rating: 4+
Price: $6.99/month
I will be writing about this in more detail later this week, but my kid got a basic Tamagotchi toy for Christmas. She’d been asking about it for ages. But the moment she heard that thing beep at her, she basically asked me to rip the battery out.
Cornsweeper (Apple Arcade) — January 4
Description: Cornsweeper is a chill & whimsical, reimagining of a beloved classic. A meditative mind-sweep-em-up; pop delicious popcorn, avoid explosions.
Rating: 9+
Price: $6.99/month
I never really internalized how Minesweeper actually works, though in theory, I can tell you the rules. But it was always super fun to just click and wait for it to all go wrong.
Top Racer Collection (PS5, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC) — March 7 [DELAYED]
Description: The classic 16-bit racing game, also known as Top Gear, will come to current consoles through the Top Racer Collection as part of the QUByte Classics line-up. The collection will feature 4 games: Top Racer, Top Racer 2, Top Racer 3000 and the unprecedented Top Racer: Crossroads, exclusive content of the collection, bringing a content crossover with Horizon Chase, the great success of Aquiris. Relive the nostalgia of the 90’s.
Rating: E
Price: TBA
I’m not a Top Gear fan myself, so I won’t be picking up this collection, but if you’ve never tried, it’s worth throwing on a truly old school game for your kids every once and awhile. It’s interesting to see how they respond to the structure and mechanics. Whenever they add a new Kirby game to Nintendo Switch Online, I let my oldest play around with it, and her observations about “why does this work this way?” are great.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Switch, PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, PC) — January 18
Description: Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.
Rating: T
Price: $49.99
This might be more for Dad than the kids, but I’m looking forward to it, anyway. The little I played over the summer was a delightful spin on the Metroid-style approach.
Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC) — January 25
Description: Join rookie attorney Apollo Justice and his mentor, the legendary Phoenix Wright, in this collection of 3 games! This title features the 14 episodes of "Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney", "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies", and "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Spirit of Justice", and the 2 previously DLC-only Special Episodes for a total of 16 episodes!
Rating: T
Price: $49.99
Reading is still coming along, so we’re not ready for anything this intense quite yet, but it’s very easy to imagine a courtroom drama being an enjoyable way to combine reading and gaming with the kids. Anyone had any luck with these games and theirs?
Tekken 8 (PS5, Xbox X/S, PC) — January 26
Description: Experience the next chapter in the longest-running videogame storyline with 32 redesigned, unique fighters and master the all-new ‘Heat’ system to crush your opponents. Enjoy high-fidelity graphics, developed for the new generation of hardware, to showcase every moment of impact and aggressive super moves.
Rating: T
Price: $69.99
This, uh, wouldn’t exactly be my first choice for an entry into fighting games necessarily, but I do think it’s interesting how much the basic appeal of a fighting game that worked on me as a kid, still works on kids now. Nothing’s ever stuck with my oldest, but whenever she sees me checking out a fighting game, she wants to tap the button and watch someone get the crap beaten out of them. Now, will she have the patience like I did as a kid, to unlock every CG ending in a Tekken game? We’ll see.
Palworld (PC in Early Access) — January TBA
Description: Fight, farm, build and work alongside mysterious creatures called "Pals" in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
We’ll see if this game actually enters Early Access on time, and I’m not sure how many kids need to be playing a video game that combines Pokémon and guns, but it’s such a stone cold funny concept that I will, at least, be showing my oldest the trailer for this.
Kind of worried Palworld is a "The Day Before" type scenario but we'll see