Kingdom Hearts 3 starts the new year off in a big way.
If January is anything to go by, 2019 is going to be an exciting year for video games for fans both young and old. January will see the release of the highly anticipated Kingdom Hearts 3, along with some updated Mario games your family may have missed when they were first released.
Kingdom Hearts 3
Rated E10+
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable with fast-paced gameplay
The latest installment in this popular role-playing game series stars a young boy named Sora, who teams up with Donald Duck and Goofy to defeat creatures known as the Heartless, who have invaded a variety of Disney and Pixar worlds. In Kingdom Hearts 3, players will interact with returning characters like Hercules and Jack Sparrow, as well as meet new (but familiar) faces, including Rapunzel from Tangled, Elsa, Anna, and Olaf from Frozen, and Woody and the gang from Toy Story. The Kingdom Hearts games have accessible gameplay for newcomers, but the overall storyline is quite complicated, so younger players may need help understanding what’s going on.
Great if your kids love: Final Fantasy XV, Disney/Pixar movies
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
Rated E
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable with console controllers
This Switch game combines two Wii U titles into one package: New Super Mario Bros. U and New Super Luigi U. Both games are side-scrolling platformers, which means they’ll challenge players to make their way from one end of a stage to the other by jumping on platforms, avoiding obstacles, and defeating or avoiding enemies. Players can choose from multiple playable characters, with Toadette being a new addition to both games. Both Toadette and Nabbit (a character who was originally only playable in New Super Luigi U) are designed for younger or less-experienced players, and will offer users assistance while playing. Both of these games are great whether playing on your own, or with family and friends in the same room.
Great if your kids love: Super Mario Odyssey, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr’s Journey
Rated E
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable playing on smaller screens
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story was originally released on Nintendo DS in 2009. The role-playing game has a unique setup that splits gameplay into two storylines, which players can switch between when they need. In one, Bowser, the bad guy from the Super Mario franchise, must stop his castle from being taken over by a villain. In the other, Mario and Luigi have been shrunk down to the size of microbes and find themselves within Bowser’s body, where they’ll need to complete challenges. Being inside Bowser’s body gives the brothers the ability to control Bowser and help him overcome obstacles in the other story. This remake for 3DS includes updated graphics and gameplay, as well as a new side story that follows Bowser Jr.’s quest to form an army and cause chaos.
Great if your kids love: Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, World of Final Fantasy, Octopath Traveler
Resident Evil 2
Rated M
Inappropriate for young teens and children
Resident Evil 2 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is a remake of the original Resident Evil 2, which was released on the PlayStation in North America in 1998. The survival horror game has two playable heroes, Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield, who must find a way to survive the dangerous world of Raccoon City during the zombie apocalypse. Resident Evil 2 is an incredibly violent, graphic game, and is in no way appropriate for kids. It’s rated M for Mature by the ESRB, with content descriptors for “Blood and Gore,” “Intense Violence,” and “Strong Language.”
Try These Games Instead: Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Minecraft
Notable kid- and teen-friendly titles are in bold.
Tuesday January 1, 2019
Xenon Valkyrie+, Switch
Thursday January 3, 2019
Don’t Sink, Switch
The Aquatic Adventures of the Last Human, Switch
JCB Pioneer: Mars, Switch
Dreamwalker, Switch
Catastronauts, Switch
Pic-a-Pix Pieces, Switch
Job the Leprechaun, Switch
Friday January 4, 2019
Fitness Boxing, Switch
Mad Age & This Guy, Switch
99Seconds, Switch
Monday January 7, 2019
Absolver, Xbox One
Tuesday January 8, 2019
LEGO DC Super-Villains – Aquaman Movie Part 2 [DLC], Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Megalith, PlayStation VR
Pic-a-Pix Pieces, PlayStation 4, Vita
Thursday January 10, 2019
Double Cross, Switch, PC
Sega Ages: Out Run, Switch
Neko Navy – Daydream Edition, Switch
Elli, Switch
HoPiKo, Switch
Bury me, my Love, Switch, PC
Inside My Radio, Switch
Ethan: Meteor Hunter, Switch
Lightseekers, Switch
Overdriven Reloaded, Switch
Aftercharge, Xbox One, PC
Catherine Classic, PC
Wednesday January 11, 2019
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Switch
Stellar Interface, Switch
Hive Jump, Switch, Xbox One
Void Vikings, Xbox One
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey, 3DS
Tuesday January 15, 2019
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Series – The Final Season Episode 3: Broken Toys, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Onimusha: Warlords, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Vane, PlayStation 4
Smoke and Sacrifice, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Grand Tour Game, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Wednesday January 16, 2019
Planet RIX-13, Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One
Thursday January 17, 2019
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Gunman Clive HD Collection, Switch
#KILLALLZOMBIES, Switch
Feudal Alloy, Switch, PC
Hell Warders, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Friday January 18, 2019
Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes, Switch
Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, PlayStation 4 [VR Compatible], Xbox One
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Expansion Pack – Dissonance of the Nexus [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet – Complete Edition, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Alvastia Chronicles, Xbox One, PC
Guacamelee! 2, Xbox One
Farm Together, Xbox One
Tuesday January 22, 2019
At Sundown, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
FutureGrind, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal, PlayStation 4, PC
Realm Royale, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Heroes Trials, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita
A Fisherman’s Tale, PlayStation VR, PC
Wednesday January 23, 2019
The Walking Vegetables: Radical Edition, Xbox One
Heroes Trials, Xbox One
Thursday January 24, 2019
SMITE, Switch
Life is Strange 2 – Episode 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Friday January 25, 2019
Heroes Trials, Switch
Swords & Soldiers, Switch
Resident Evil 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Steamroll, Xbox One
Tuesday January 29, 2019
Genesis Alpha One, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Kingdom Hearts: All-in-One Package, PlayStation 4
Kingdom Hearts 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
DayD: Through Time, Xbox One
Thursday January 31, 2019
Dragon Marked for Death, Switch
Bombfest, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
