There's something special about passing a controller to your kid and saying "come on, let's beat this level together". Couch co-op is one of the best ways to spend quality time as a family: you laugh at the same mistakes, celebrate the same wins and, sometimes, carry your little sidekick through the tough bits.
But not every co-op game is kid-friendly. Some are too hard, some are too scary, and some will have your seven-year-old in tears after the third failed jump. So we've picked 6 games that are easy to pick up, forgiving when things go wrong and genuinely fun for grown-ups too. Perfect for rainy weekends and the upcoming school holidays.
If you only pick one game from this list, make it this one. Up to four players can jump into Super Mario 3D World together, each playing as Mario, Luigi, Peach or Toad, with each character handling slightly differently.
Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
The famous cat suit lets everyone climb walls and pounce on enemies, and if a younger player gets stuck, they can simply jump into a bubble and float along until it's safe. There's even a little friendly competition at the end of each level to see who earned the crown. Bonus: Bowser's Fury is a whole extra adventure for two players.
Kirby is basically designed for families. Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe lets up to four players drop in and out at any time, and it's one of the most forgiving platformers on Switch.
Kirby's Return to Dream Land Deluxe
Inhaling enemies to copy their powers is instantly fun for kids, and players can piggyback on each other so nobody gets left behind. When you need a break from the story, the Merry Magoland theme park is full of short minigames that are perfect for a quick family tournament.
Bright, joyful and packed with creativity, Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a fantastic pick for PlayStation and PC families. Up to four players can explore Craftworld together on the same screen.
The musical levels, where platforms bounce to the rhythm of famous songs, are a guaranteed hit with kids. Just be warned: you can grab and slap each other, so expect a bit of cheeky sabotage from the younger members of the team.
Your kids probably already love Minecraft, so Minecraft Dungeons is the perfect next step. It turns the blocky world into a simple, action-packed dungeon crawler for up to four players.
There are no complicated classes or skill trees: you just pick up gear and go. Kids love collecting loot and showing off their new weapons, while parents can bump up the difficulty for a bit more challenge. It's a great introduction to adventure games for younger players.
LEGO games are a family classic for good reason, and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga is one of the best. Two players can explore all nine films in split-screen, with hundreds of characters to unlock.
LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
You can't really fail in a LEGO game, which takes the pressure off younger players, and the slapstick humour works for all ages. Parents will enjoy spotting all the references, while kids will be busy smashing everything in sight to collect studs.
No family game list is complete without Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Up to four players can race in split-screen, and it's the perfect game for when you want a bit of friendly competition instead of teamwork.
Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate mean even very young kids can finish races without falling off the track. And thanks to the items, the youngest racer always has a chance to win... which is usually exactly what happens.
Whether you're pouncing as Cat Mario, floating around as Kirby or racing down Rainbow Road, these six games are guaranteed to bring the whole family together on the couch. Grab the snacks, charge the controllers, and get ready for some quality time (and a few friendly arguments about who gets to be Player 1).