Your Guide to September’s Family Friendly Video Games
Fae Farm, Party Animals, and various sports games lead the charge for this month's releases.
Last month, school was approaching. Now, it’s here. My oldest has been in 2nd grade for a few days, and is already complaining that while it’s Extremely Cool she gained access to a Chromebook, it’s Extremely Not Cool not being unable to bring it home.
(I will say it’s neat to watch her use, and like using, a mouse. A blog for later!)
It’s been a quiet month for games for my family, because we know the end of warm weather is near, so we’re encouraging our kids to stay outside. By the time their energy levels are depleted, their brains only have room for videos. But I expect video game playing will pick up in the weeks ahead, as we’re spending more time inside.
How does your family's video game time change and scale over the year?
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!
P.S. This feature is meant to be helpful. If there are improvements that could be made, or more info you wish you had access to, let me know and I’ll keep it in mind.
Fae Farm (Switch, PC) — September 8
Description: Escape to the world of Fae Farm and create your own cozy home in the enchanted world of Azoria. As you nurture and grow your homestead, you'll get to meet charming characters, foster deep relationships and discover ways to infuse magic into everything you do. Customize your character, master the arts of crafting, cooking, potion-making and discover so much more.
Rating: E10+
Price: $59.99
A game I had hoped to check out while at Summer Games Fest earlier this year, as I anticipate my oldest becoming mature enough to start digging into these farming/sim/Animal Crossing-like games. But given that Apple Arcade’s Hello Kitty game didn’t hook her, maybe it’s not her thing. A preview by Gamesreviews was positive, saying “the game feels a bit like Harvest Moon, a bit like Rune Factory, and a bit like something totally new. I’m hopelessly addicted to the game and can’t wait to find out where the story goes next and what surprises await in the game.”
NBA 2K24 (PS4/5, Xbox One/S/X, PC, Switch) — September 8
Description: Grab your squad and experience the past, present, and future of hoops culture in NBA 2K24. Enjoy loads of pure, unadulterated action and limitless personalized MyPLAYER options in MyCAREER. Collect an impressive array of legends and build your perfect lineup in MyTEAM. Feel more responsive gameplay and polished visuals while playing with your favorite NBA and WNBA teams in PLAY NOW. See you on the court.
Rating: E
Price: $59.99
All I can think about when NBA 2K comes to mind are former Kotaku editor Luke Plunkett’s annual eviscerations. The fundamentals of NBA 2K seem sound, but the microtransactions that’ve become increasingly foundational look really awful.
Super Bomberman R 2 (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, PC, Switch) — September 12
Description: The latest title of the party battle games series SUPER BOMBERMAN R! With new adventures and game modes, it has the largest content volume in the series' history! The game features not only offline battles that can be played with family and friends, but also online battles that connect players from all over the world, as well as a single player mode.
Rating: E10+
Price: $49.99
This all sure sounds and looks like a Bomberman game. I’m not sure what more there is to add, except to share my endless nostalgia for Saturn Bomberman, aka the ultimate Bomberman game. Incredibly fond memories of daisy chaining a bunch of cheap Saturn controllers together, stealing a projector from my dad’s office, and playing a ton of Bomberman on the garage. You could ride dinosaurs in that game! It was great.
Pokémon Scarlet And Violet: The Hidden Treasure Of Area Zero – The Teal Mask (Switch) — September 13
Description: Continue your Pokémon Violet adventure and go beyond the Paldea region with The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero DLC. Even more Pokémon, places, and stories await in this 2-part DLC for the Pokémon Violet game!
Rating: E
Price: $34.99
The reaction to the latest Pokémon seemed to be mixed, but that seems to be the case with most Pokémon games? Per a Destructoid article: “Area Zero was one of the most interesting parts of Scarlet and Violet, and these two DLC packs seem to be leaning into some strong areas. It’ll be interesting to see how these additions come together.”
Inspector Gadget: MAD Time Party (PS4/5, PC, Switch) — September 14
Description: Metro City has fallen into the hands of the evil Dr. Claw and his M.A.D. agents. To save the city, Inspector Gadget must travel into the past using a time machine. Unfortunately, it breaks down and his ancestors find themselves teleported to the present. Your mission: Explore Metro City and compete with your ancestors to collect the time machine's missing parts. You will need to complete mini-games to unlock the bolts needed to repair the machine. Play against three Gadget's ancestors to earn the bolts.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
Who is this for? Inspector Gadget’s last series ended in 2018, and it hasn’t really been a relevant franchise, despite the catchy intro, since Disney’s live action films. Is this for kids who don’t know who Inspector Gadget is? Adults who want to trick their kids into playing a “family” game? But hey, sometimes you own a franchise and you have to make a video game based on that franchise because, in theory, maybe someone wants it.
NASCAR Arcade Rush (PS4/5, Switch, PC, Xbox One/X/S)— September 15
Description: The thrill of NASCAR meets the rush of arcade racing in a new game that puts you in the driver’s seat of a completely new NASCAR experience with re-imagined, iconic racetracks in unmatched high-speed, wheel-to-wheel action!
Rating: E
Price: $49.99
An arcade-y take on NASCAR seems appealing enough, though the game’s developer, Team6 Game Studios, hasn’t done much worthy of note. They do make racing games!
Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party (PS4/5, Switch, PC, Xbox One/X/S) — September 15
Description: Swim across the wide waters with the Shark Family to enjoy the Fin-tastic Festival where you can watch performers sing, dance, and rock! Baby Shark: Sing & Swim Party. Sing and swim to fin-omenal songs from original videos including Baby Shark Dance and more. Journey through iconic ocean locations, like Tropical Bay, Ocean City, and more.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
The link that came up when I looked this up was a bath toy recall. I’m pretty sure I have this, though my youngest is old enough that it’s probably not a huge concern that she might [reads notes] “slip and fall or sit on the hard plastic top fin of the shark, posing risks of impalement, lacerations, and pictures.” OK??? This looks like a bog standard mini-game fest, albeit one that’ll probably entertain the youngest among us.
Party Animals (PC, Xbox X/S) — September 20
Description: Fight your friends as puppies, kittens and other fuzzy creatures in PARTY ANIMALS! Paw it out with your friends both online and offline. Interact with the world under our realistic physics engine.
Rating: T
Price: $19.99
This looks awesome. I have a lot of fond memories from early Gang Beasts, and mashing up physics-y weirdness with cute animals is genius. I love when games have squishy mechanics, by which I mean that players can engage with the game without fully achieving what it’s asking and still have a good time. It’s so easy to imagine playing this with my oldest and both having fun. I’ll report back on this in September.
Rainbow High: Runway Rush (PS4/5, PC, Xbox One/X/S, Switch) — September 22
Description: It looks like you’ve just got your first art assignment, the theme is ‘Everything is Art’. Play as Ruby, Poppy, Sunny, Jade, Skyler, and Violet. Use their unique talents and work together to present your best work to date. Take a tour around the school. Check out the Atrium, hang out in Sunny's bedroom and Rainbow Union, play games, take selfies in the Student Lounge, and find fun materials in the Fabric Studio.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
I’m fortunate my kid isn’t old enough to track the release dates of games, because if they did, they would know this exists. We have a lot of (grotesque-looking) Rainbow High dolls around the house, and my kid would probably dig exploring a virtual high school as them. I’m not sure this looks like a particularly good version of that, though.
Disney Speedstorm (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, iOS, Android, Switch, PC) — September 28
Description: Disney Speedstorm is the ultimate hero-based combat racing game, set on high-speed circuits inspired by Disney and Pixar worlds. It’s a thrilling arcade racing experience where players will need to master each character’s unique skills on the racetrack and claim victory.
Rating: E
Price: $29.99
This game launched into early access earlier this year, but it’s hitting Speedstorm’s version of 1.0 in September, apparently. The IGN review of the early access version wasn’t kind, calling out the overlapping microtransaction economy, and declaring the grind less like a game and more “like a job.” Yikes. “Disney Speedstorm in Early Access is a fundamentally good kart racer that’s currently too light on tracks and too repetitive to warrant the required investment,” wrote IGN’s reviewer in April.
PAW Patrol World (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, PC, Switch) — September 29
Description: Explore the world of PAW Patrol like never before, in a 3D action adventure where anything is PAWsible. Play as your favorite pups, drive their vehicles and save the day by taking on fun rescues and missions. It’s the ultimate PAW Patrol playtime!
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
Is this where we have the PAW Patrol copaganda convo? I have an interview with the developers from a few months back, but I’ve been sitting on it until we get closer to the game’s date. (No, I did not ask them about the copaganda thing, we’ll do that between us.) PAW Patrol World looks like what you’d expect from a game about dropping kids into an open PAW Patrol space to explore. Whether it’s fun is TBD.
Ninja Kidz: Time Masters (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, PC, Switch) — September 29
Description: Ninja Kidz: Time Masters is an action-adventure 3D fighter developed by Selecta Play. Players are tasked with rescuing the 3 greatest martial arts masters kidnapped by Dr. Disaster as Bryton, Ashton, Payton or Paxton to beat different enemies with unique ninja moves. Team up with friends in local co-op mode for up to four players.
Rating: E10+
Price: $19.99
Gotta admit I’m unfamiliar with this world, but apparently it’s a game influenced by a YouTube family who does martial arts videos? Don’t get me started, or thinking about, people turning their families into YouTube churn. (I try really hard to avoid any sense of exploitation on Crossplay, and hope you’ll hold me to that standard.)
EA Sports FC 24 (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) — September 29
Description: EA SPORTS FC 24 is a new era for The World’s Game: 19,000+ fully licensed players, 700+ teams, and 30+ leagues playing together in the most authentic football experience ever created.
Rating: E
Price: $69.99
Not a football person, but an interesting wrinkle here: it includes playable women football athletes. A hands-on preview by VG247 made it sound iterative. “So while all of that might turn out to be less impactful than it seems at first glance, in its first iteration at least, you can’t say that EA Sports FC 24 is exactly the same as last year.”
Was this helpful? Would you like to see more of this on Crossplay in the future? Let me know! We’re still in such early days when it comes to figuring out what Crossplay even is, and I’m grateful for your patience as I try to figure out what works best.
See you next month!
Have a story idea? Want to share a tip? Got a funny parenting story? Drop Patrick an email.
The weather doesn't phase us with regards to game time. When the kid wants to go out, she goes out, and vice versa. It's hard for us to spend time with her outside (the wife has MS and can't deal with the heat, and I'm off working too much thanks to the stupid need to make money or whatever), but as long as she's having fun we're pretty ok.
The paw patrol one might be needed for my 4yo. Currently she likes walking around the open world in Tchia but can't do much more than jump around so something with simple activities might be good. Everyone always recommend stuff like mario but for someone learning that game is not easy.