Get ready for some family-friendly competition in Nintendo's latest Mario Party game.
It’s officially fall and the holiday season is quickly approaching, which means some of the biggest video games of 2018 are right on our doorstep. October will see the release of everything from a family-friendly board game (with a twist) in Super Mario Party to a kart racing game starring popular cartoon characters like Spongebob Squarepants.
Super Mario Party
Rated E
Appropriate for: Kids of all ages who like short bursts of action
The latest installment in Nintendo’s popular party game series will let up to four players compete in 80 mini-games as they make their way around a virtual game board. In addition to this traditional mode, players can team up in a two-vs-two mode, or play sets of mini-games in the Mariothon mode. If your household has two Switch consoles, you can also try the Toad’s Rec Room mode, which pairs the two systems and allows you to play special games. Finally, if you’re subscribed to the new Nintendo Switch Online service, you can compete against other players online.
Great If Your Kids Love: Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival, board games
Starlink: Battle for Atlas
Rated E10+
Appropriate for: Older kids who are comfortable with console controllers
This action adventure game combines real-world figures with virtual gameplay as players become the leader of a group of interstellar pilots on a quest to save the galaxy from a powerful enemy named Grax. The game’s starter pack comes with everything players need to jump into the adventure, including a pilot figure, a spaceship, and multiple weapons that can be attached to the ship to bring them into the game’s digital world. Additional pilot, spaceship, and weapon figures can be purchased separately, so kids can mix and match their favorite items to suit their play style. In addition, the Switch version of Starlink: Battle for Atlas features Fox McCloud from Nintendo’s Star Fox franchise. The Switch starter pack includes a Fox McCloud pilot figure, as well as an Arwing spaceship, which is also from the Star Fox games.
Great If Your Kids Love: Skylanders, Lego Dimensions, building kits
Lego DC Super-Villains
Rated E10+
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable using console controllers
In this latest installment in the popular Lego video game franchise, the Justice League has vanished, leaving DC comics villains like The Joker, Harley Quinn, and Lex Luthor to save the day when a new group threatens Earth’s safety. Kids can design and play as their own super villain character as they explore locations from the DC comics universe. Like other Lego games, Lego DC Super-Villains will let kids and parents team up and play together via two-player multiplayer.
Great If Your Kids Love: DC comics, superheroes, other LEGO games
Nickelodeon Kart Racers
Rated E
Appropriate for: Kids who are comfortable with fast-paced action
This kart racing game lets up to four players get behind the wheel as 12 characters from popular Nickelodeon television shows: Spongebob, Patrick, and Sandy from Spongebob Squarepants, all four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Arnold and Helga from Hey Arnold, and Tommy, Angelica, and Reptar from Rugrats. Players can compete to win cups and kart upgrades across 24 slime-filled tracks set in the worlds of these Nick shows. In addition to competing in races, players can take on challenges in the game’s Battle Arena mode.
Great If Your Kids Love: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Nickelodeon cartoons, other racing games
Full List
Notable kid- and teen-friendly titles are in bold.
Tuesday October 2, 2018
Mega Man 11, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Batman: The Enemy Within — The Telltale Series, Switch
Valthirian Arc: Hero School Story, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Astro Bot: Rescue Mission, PlayStation VR
First of the North Star: Lost Paradise, PlayStation 4
The Surge: The Good, the Bad, and the Augmented [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Forza Horizon 4, Xbox One, PC
Wednesday October 3, 2018
Oh My Godheads: Party Edition, Switch
Gnomes Garden, Xbox One
Thursday October 4, 2018
The Midnight Sanctuary, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Pilot Sports, Switch
Animated Jigsaws: Japanese Women, Switch
Vertical Drop Heroes HD, Switch
Jettomero: Hero of the Universe, Switch
oOo: Ascension, Switch
Party Crashers, Switch, PlayStation 4, PC
Friday October 5, 2018
Super Mario Party, Switch
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Armored Freedom, Xbox One
Monday October 8, 2018
Bombing Busters, Switch
Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition, Switch
Tuesday October 9, 2018
Mark of the Ninja Remastered, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Disgaea 1 Complete, Switch, PlayStation 4
Goosebumps: The Game, Switch
Pinball FX3: Williams Pinball – Volume 1, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Valkyria Chronicles 4: Squad E, to the Beach! [DLC], Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Space Hulk: Tactics, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
WWE 2K19, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Home Sweet Home, PlayStation 4 [VR Compatible]
Evasion, PlayStation VR, PC
The Occupation, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Punch Line, PlayStation 4, Vita
My Memory of Us, PlayStation 4, PC
Wednesday October 10, 2018
Chronus Arc, PlayStation 4, Vita, Xbox One
Deployment, Xbox One
Devious Dungeon, Xbox One
My Memory of Us, Xbox One
MapleStory 2, PC
Thursday October 11, 2018
Child of Light, Switch
The Missing: JJ Macfield and the Island of Memories, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Tricky Towers, Switch
Spencer, Xbox One
Friday October 12, 2018
The World Ends with You: Final Remix, Switch
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Guns, Gore and Cannoli 2, Xbox One
Luigi’s Mansion, 3DS
Monday October 15, 2018
RAZED, Switch, PlayStation 4
Tuesday October 16, 2018
Starlink: Battle for Atlas, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Warriors Orochi 4, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Lego DC Super-Villains, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Crayola Scoot, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Valkyria Chronicles, Switch
Big Buck Hunter Arcade, Switch
Rapala Fishing Pro Series, Switch
Gungrave VR, PlayStation VR
theHunter: Call of the Wild 2019 Edition, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
For Honor Marching Fire [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
For Honor Marching Fire Edition, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
The Jackbox Party Pack 5, PlayStation 4
Home Sweet Home, Xbox One
Wednesday October 17, 2018
The Jackbox Party Pack 5, Switch, Xbox One, PC
Transport Giant GOTY Edition, Xbox One
Thursday October 18, 2018
Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Syberia 3, Switch
Resonance of Fate 4K / HD Edition, PlayStation 4, PC
Reigns: Game Of Thrones, PC, iOS, Android
Friday October 19, 2018
Dark Souls Remastered, Switch
SoulCalibur VI, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Dark Souls Trilogy, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Tuesday October 23, 2018
PAW Patrol: On a Roll, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Just Dance 2019, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Wii
Windjammers, Switch
Bass Pro Shops: The Strike – Championship Edition, Switch
Cabela’s The Hunt: Championship Edition, Switch
Party Arcade, Switch
Nickelodeon Kart Racers, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Marvel’s Spider-Man: The Heist [DLC], PlayStation 4
Spintires: MudRunner – American Wilds [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Spintires: MudRunner – American Wilds Edition, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Wednesday October 24, 2018
Skyhill, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Midnight Deluxe, Xbox One
Thursday October 25, 2018
Chicken Range, Switch
Trivia Crack 2, iOS, Android
Friday October 26, 2018
N.E.R.O.: Nothing Ever Remains Obscure, Switch
911 Operator, Switch
Red Dead Redemption 2, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Bendy and the Ink Machine, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Bendy and the Ink Machine: Chapter Five, PC
Sunday October 28, 2018
My Hero One’s Justice, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Tuesday October 30, 2018
Yomawari: The Long Night Collection, Switch
Mutant Football League: Dynasty Edition, Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Sports Party, Switch
Lego Harry Potter Collection, Switch, Xbox One
Risk, Switch
Trivial Pursuit Live, Switch
Hasbro Game Night, Switch
Steven Universe: Save the Light, Switch
OK K.O.! Let’s Play Heroes, Switch
Call of Cthulhu: The Official Video Game, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Steep: X Games [DLC], PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Infinite Adventures, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
Kingdom Hearts – The Story So Far, PlayStation 4
Gnomes Garden 2, Xbox One
Wednesday October 31, 2018
Death Mark, Switch, PlayStation 4, Vita
The One We Found, Xbox One, PC
Super Volley Blast, Xbox One
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.
