Predicting the Best Family Game Winner

While video games as a whole were once viewed as inherently juvenile and thus family-oriented, times have changed quite a bit. These days, family games are effectively in their own genre, characterized by simple and flashy visuals, easily digestible themes, and gameplay that toes the line between accessible and engaging.

They aren’t exactly known for being brutally difficult, but games designed with families in mind can nevertheless be alluring, powerful interactive experiences. The Game Awards 2024 aims to honor some of the best releases in this genre, shining a light on the industry’s hottest all-ages titles on December 12. Industry goliaths like Nintendo are getting some solid representation in the Best Family Game category thanks to hard-hitting franchises Zelda and Mario, but there are some underdogs in the fight as well. While only time will tell which title will emerge victorious, there’s room to cast some educated guesses.

2024 Best Family Game Nominees

• Astro Bot
• Princess Peach: Showtime!
• Super Mario Party Jamboree
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Plucky Squire

Astro Bot

Team Asobi’s brilliant Astro Bot is technically the third game in the Astro series, but it’s a remarkable leap for Sony’s budding android mascot. Not shy about its 3D Mario inspirations, Astro Bot manages to stand out in the increasingly competitive landscape of 3D platformers by being easy to grasp mechanically, endlessly creative with its level design and gameplay gimmicks, and, perhaps most obviously, show-stoppingly gorgeous.

Astro Bot is an unapologetic love letter to PlayStation, but it’s also far more than that. Indeed, while it’s chock-full of fan service for Sony loyalists, its immediately gripping gameplay, enrapturing charisma, and startling originality makes it an easy sell for just about any player. It’s the definition of all killer and no filler, a gleaming gem in Sony’s crown, and one of the best games of 2024. It’s nomination for Best Family Game is merely another reminder of these facts.

Princess Peach: Showtime!

Like Astro Bot, Princess Peach: Showtime! is defined by its thematically distinct levels and varied mechanics. It joins Echoes of Wisdom as an inversion of the damsel-hero dynamic, with the titular princess taking center-stage (quite literally) rather than her historically attention-hogging savior. The result is an experience that, while not perfect, is a breath of fresh air, decidedly unique with its structural and mechanical elements.

Princess Peach herself is rarely at the forefront of a game, and when she is, she can feel lacking in comparison to her red-suitted counterpart. Princess Peach: Showtime feels like a big step in the right direction in this regard, as Peach’s identity and screen presence is defined by the inherent versatility that comes with the theatrical premise: she is a fighter, a superhero, a detective, and much more, with her solo adventure leaving a strong impression, and hopefully setting the stage for even better things to come.

Super Mario Party Jamboree

Familes—both natural and found—have been enjoying Mario Party since its first release in 1998, and Super Mario Party Jamboree is no exception to this long-lasting success. Considered by many to be one of the best Mario Party entries to-date, Jamboree maintains the series’ emphasis on aggressive multiplayer and chance-based gameplay, where a variety of different factors can converge to make for unexpected outcomes.

Even though friends and families are liable to jump down each other’s throats during Mario Party Jamboree matches, the experience is ultimately gratifying and perfectly suited for group gaming. The fact that it’s turn-based and mechanically simplistic, with mini-games emphasizing skills like timing and pattern recognition rather than technical mastery, allows Super Mario Party Jamboree to be accessible for just about any player. At the same time, it’s compatible with specific strategies that can reward astute and experienced players.

The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom

Link will always be the hero of The Legend of Zelda, but Echoes of Wisdom has eked out a spot for the titular princess herself, proving that she is more than capable of helming her own adventure. Strong points for female representation aside, Echoes of Wisdom is thoroughly unique with its puzzle-focused gameplay, not to mention its charming art style, music, and overall aesthetic. Like many of the other Best Family Game nominees, its mechanics prize creativity and outside-the-box thinking more than button skill and forethought, making it a perfect all-ages title.

In the years to come, Echoes of Wisdom will almost certainly be looked at as a worthwhile excursion for the series, though its ultimate influence is yet to be determined. Zelda has always been a series that has bridged gaps of age, gender, and the like, so branching out with this new protagonist may only increase its reach with audiences from all walks of life. It’s a lovely and memorable title, and more than worthy of its nomination in this category.

The Plucky Squire

In a year filled with innovative releases (as evidenced by this very TGA category), The Plucky Squire is among the most creative. Mixing 3D and 2D gameplay has been done before, but The Plucky Squire‘s storybook framing device, coupled with its radically distinct art styles, makes it a singular sort of visual feast as well as a mechanical playground. Like the other games on this list, it’s a relentlessly charming experience, which more than makes up for what it may lack in terms of challenge.

Its strengths as a family game are characterized by its all-ages narrative and colorful aesthetic, which appeal to a broad set of demographics. Since The Plucky Squire is a debut indie title with a limited marketing budget, it probably didn’t reach families so much as gamers already plugged-in to the independent scene, but its presence at The Game Awards will hopefully change that.

Final Prediction

Like so many other categories at this year’s Game Awards, the fight for Best Family Game is likely to be neck-and-neck. There have been so many great family-friendly games in 2024, but one title will have to emerge as the victor, and it’s fairly safe to guess that it will be none other than Astro Bot.

Astro Bot is not just a celebration of PlayStation, but of gaming as a whole. Its slew of references are more than just fan service—they are often mechanically rich redefinitions of the core gameplay experience. It’s trim, but colossal in stature, personality, and presence. In a year full of great family-friendly titles, Astro Bot is the best, and its performance at The Game Awards will probably reflect that.

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