Your Guide to October’s Family Friendly Video Games
With school back in session, video games are coming for your kids' free time.
Video games are officially, people. Sound the alarm! Okay, games have been busy and full of bangers all year, but games aimed at families slow to a crawl in the summer, and you can see the flip happening in real-time this month: lots and lots of games.
Hot on the heels of The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Nintendo is already lining up another high-profile release with Super Mario Party Jamboree. And that’s before Nintendo drops details about the next Switch, which reports suggest are coming soon.
Oh, speaking of. At PAX, my family did play a little bit of Super Mario Party Jamboree with me. I’m not a series expert, so all I can say is that it played like Mario Party, there are a ton of mini-games, and everyone was having a blast with it. But it was my youngest’s first experience with Mario Party, and the weird part about playing it at PAX was being partnered with random people. On one hand, they should roll over and let a four-year-old win the match. On the other hand, they waited hours in line and it’s not their fault they were matched with a four-year-old. Despite this, the four-year-old, with a little help from mom, actually managed to pull off a win during amini-game:
Onto this month’s video games!
If you represent these games and have a potentially interesting story to share about how these games consider kids as part of their audience, do get in touch with me!
Victory Heat Rally (PC) - October 3
Description: Welcome to VHR! Unlock the secrets of speed in this turbocharged neo super scaler arcade racing experience. Dominate the track & drift your way to the finish line on the road to becoming the VHRC champion.
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
This looks so adorable. Victory Heat Rally is obviously retro-tinged, which means it might not directly be aimed at younger audiences. One problem I’m having directing my kids at anything racing is Mario Kart 8 is already stuffed to the gills with enough to keep them distracted for years and the racing assist stuff remains unmatched.
SpongeBob Squarepants: The Patrick Star Game (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S Switch, PC) - October 4
Description: Explore Bikini Bottom as a sandbox playground, using various objects to create physics-defying fun. The game features missions from beloved characters like SpongeBob, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, and Plankton, and includes iconic locations such as Glove World, The Dump, and Demolition Derby. Activities range from building Krabby Patties to causing chaos in Mrs. Puff’s rage room!
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
My kids like the idea of SpongeBob more than watching it. The only time they’ve made it through an entire episode was on a hotel TV. (This is also how my oldest discovered The Simpsons.) The last SpongeBob game, The Cosmic Shake, was well-reviewed, but this new one is coming from a different developer. It does look to be following in the same design vein, giving players a huge open world to run freely in.
Amber Isle (PC) - October 10
Description: Amber Isle is a dinosaur exploration crafting management game developed by Ambertail Games. Players will manage a shop in Amber Isle and stock said shop with whatever their fellow Paleo-pals need. Each patron is unique requiring specific items and behavior to keep them satisfied customers. Use generated profits to unlock new shop decor, walls, floors, and more.
Rating: TBA
Price: $24.99
What if Animal Crossing but dinosaurs? That’s Amber Isle, which released a demo on PC this year that VG247 was into, saying it’s “on its way to being a fairly polished (and good-looking) indie release with plenty of charm and fun for the whole family.”
Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero (PS5, Xbox X/S, PC) - October 11
Description: DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels. Make yours the destructive power of the strongest fighters ever to appear in DRAGON BALL!
Rating: T
Price: $69.99
I don’t know where Dragon Ball sits amongst the youth these days. Should I hang out at Hot Topic? Anime has been normalized to the point that I’m not sure most kids differentiate it from “cartoon,” which is healthy and cool, but is Dragon Ball a thing aimed at older audiences now? Anyway, Screen Rant was high on playing Sparking Zero, calling it “the return of a beloved series that had been away for far too long.”
Europa (Switch, PC) - October 11
Description: On the moon Europa, a lush terraformed paradise in Jupiter’s shadow, an android named Zee sets out in search of answers. Run, glide and fly across the landscape, solve mysteries in the ruins of a fallen utopia, and discover the story of the last human alive.
Rating: E
Price: TBA
Europa wasn’t on my radar until a recent Nintendo Direct with a spectacular-lookign trailer, but now I’m counting down the days to checking it out myself, especially after reading previews from places like PC Gamer, which did little to drown my hype by saying “this stunning platformer about the only human awake on a terraformed moon has been cooking for 6+ years, and its first demo does not disappoint.” Okay, then.
Nick Jr. Party Adventure - October 11 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
Description: Team up with characters from 6 beloved Nick Jr. shows - PAW Patrol®, Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues & You!, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies, and Santiago of the Seas for an exciting journey across the vibrant Nick Jr. world. Solve interactive puzzles, discover hidden collectibles, and join family and friends in up to 2-player local co-op!
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
Astro Bot has activated my four-year-old into caring a little bit more about games, so I’m on the lookout. Besides PAW Patrol, we haven’t really fallen into the Nick Jr. rabbit hole, but two-player co-op aimed at young kids? Yes, please…!
Transformers: Galactic Trials (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) - October 11
Description: Autobots and Decepticons, take your mark! The Transformers universe has a rip-roaring new mission with TRANSFORMERS: Galactic Trials. Play as fan favorite Autobots and Decepticons in this unique upcoming racing adventure game with rogue-lite elements.
Rating: E10+
Price: $39.99
Arcade racing? And combat? I mean, sure. There’s a new movie out. (It looks good.)
Just Dance 2025 Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch) - October 15
Description: Whether you want to take the party to a whole new level, exercise while having fun, or create special moments with your loved ones, Just Dance 2025 Edition has something for everyone, with 40 hot new songs, from pop hits to family favourites!
Rating: E
Price: $49.99
There is a reason Ubisoft keeps cranking these games out. I imagine they’re dirt cheap to make, and once you watch a group of kids goof around with them, it clicks. It’s a music rhythm game that doesn’t require rhythm. It’s a vehicle to be goofy.
Neva (PS5, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC) - October 15
Description: Experience the moving tale of a young woman and her lifelong bond with a magnificent wolf as they embark on a thrilling adventure through a rapidly dying world.
Rating: E10+
Price: TBA
Who’s ready to cry with their kids? This one might be aimed only at slightly older kiddos who can handle a serious combination of action and platforming, but I can also imagine it being the kind of game you play with a child where it feels a little “dangerous.” I really, really enjoyed the time I spent playing Neva earlier this year.
Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch) - October 17
Description: The biggest Mario Party yet, Super Mario Party Jamboree launches on Nintendo Switch October 17th! Take on over 110 minigames, 7 game boards (5 new boards and 2 returning boards), and join up to 20 players head-to-head online in Koopathlon mode!
Rating: E
Price: $59.99
It’s Mario Party. Tons of mini-games. The new modes seem fun. Nintendo is not trying to reinvent the wheel with one, but there was a ton of laughter playing it with other media folks at PAX and playing it with my family. What more do you want?
RetroRealms: Ash vs. Evil Dead (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) - October 18
RetroRealms: Halloween (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) - October 18
Description: Enter the RetroRealms, a 16-bit Pixel Art world, as iconic horror hero Ash Williams! Battle Deadite hordes across multiple levels of terrifying platformer action filled with enemies from the STARZ “Ash vs Evil Dead” series. Use your special powers to overcome horrifying challenges and save humanity from the Necronomicon and legions of undead in this groovy throwback to classic arcade action.
Rating: M
Price: $24.99
Maybe this is just me, but this art style is charming, and I keep laughing at the idea of my four-year-old smashing the A button and destroying 2D zombies on our big TV. I have no idea if these games are going to be any good, but I’m a fan of the art style.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) - October 18
Description: Mutants and humans have been kickin’ it together in New York City. But then, Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello discovered several shipments of mutagenic ooze were scattered, contaminating areas of the City. It didn’t seem so bad until they realised new mutants, a.k.a. 'Mewbies', spawned from this mess. Not all these Mewbies are evil, but some have lost their way, and the citizens don't feel safe anymore.
Rating: E10+
Price: $39.90
There’s good reason to be suspicious of licensed games, but all the same, previews for Mutants Unleashed have called it a shockingly good PlayStation 2 era-throwback. The Gamer was positively glowing: “By the end of my all-too-brief time with Mutants Unleashed, I couldn’t believe just how much it had sucked me in and made me want to stick with my favourite kung-fu reptiles. Even as a diehard TMNT fan, I had some major reservations going in, but they were quickly knocked down thanks to how much effort has been put in to make this something much more than a quick cash-in.”
Fantasy Friends: Dream Worlds (PS4/5, Switch, PC) - October 22
Description: Fantasy Friends: Dream Worlds is a puzzle platformer developed by XALOE Studios. Players will journey through fantastical dream worlds filled with magical creatures, each with its powers to help players progress through the adventure. Explore six whimsical realms such as Candy Garden, Bubble Bay, and more while collecting new outfits and accessories.
Rating: E
Price: $29.99
Fantasy Friends sounds like a Netflix kids show I’ve watched three seasons of with my children and retained absolutely no information about. Your guess is as good as mine.
Lynked: Banner of the Spark - October 22 - (PC)
Description: Team-up, brawl and build in this co-op action game that blends hack and slash combat with roguelite-inspired missions and town-building progression that goes beyond the run! Unlock and upgrade gear, rescue robot allies, and lead the resistance against the world-dominating Combots!
Rating: TBA
Price: TBA
There are, to be fair, endless co-op action games available, so I’m not sure what’s distinctive about Lynked: Banner of the Spark. I can imagine the town building elements being a standout that might rope in some folks who are otherwise tired of the genre.
The Smurfs: Dreams - October 24 - (PS5, Switch, Xbox, PC)
Description: The fate of the Smurf Village rests in your dreams: dive into a fantastic journey to save it! Gargamel has devised a new evil scheme to catch the Smurfs! He casted a cunning curse on the sarsaparilla bushes, causing a deep slumber across the Smurfs after they eat the delicious leaves.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
Hey, does this platformer look shockingly competent? Doesn’t it have strong Sackboy: A Big Adventure vibes? The game’s developer, Ocellus Studio, published another platformer a few years back that also looks shockingly competent called Marsupilami.
Barbie Project Friendship (PS4/4, Xbox One/X/S, PC) - October 25
Description: Join Barbie on a fun summer adventure to save the Malibu Waves Community Center! Get ready for the ultimate Barbie gaming adventure as Barbie and Barbie work together to save a beloved Malibu landmark, the Malibu Waves Community Center!
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
The most ever present aspect of Barbie in my life is the movie soundtrack that my kids still ask to listen to in the car. This looks fine. Also, it remains surprising how much “Barbie” still has a firm control over the doll category. Often, my children substitute “Barbie” for “doll,” despite whatever actual brand association it has.
Sonic x Shadow Generations (PS4/5 Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) - October 25
Description: Shadow the Hedgehog is back with Classic and Modern Sonic in Sonic X Shadow Generations, an all-new collection featuring two unique experiences! Sonic X Shadow Generations also includes a complete remaster of the classic hit Sonic Generations, featuring newly remastered versions of iconic 2D and 3D stages with upgraded visuals and new bonus content.
Rating: E10+
Price: $49.99
Despite my efforts, I have not been able to get my children to sit through the Sonic movies. They look good! I want to watch them, but now we’re two behind and looking at notching another L. Early previews for Sonic X Shadow Generations are optimistic, per Sonic Stadium: “But I’m not here to fret over how Sonic X Shadow Generations might mess up what feels like a slam dunk. I’m just here to convey my feelings towards this game after this demo. And at the moment, I’m feeling pretty good.”
Monster High: Skulltimate Secrets (PS4/5, Xbox One/X/S, Switch, PC) - October 29
Description: Join the Boo Crew for a fangtastic Monster High mystery! It's your first day at Monster High, where all monsters are welcome… but some strange events are happening. Create your unique character and investigate the scare-ific mystery of the hidden rooms. With the Boo Crew, you can reveal the skulltimate secrets of Monster High.
Rating: E
Price: $39.99
There are so many Monster High dolls in our neighborhood. Please stop. Please.
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Is TMNT based on the recent (time is relative) movie? I guess it's getting harder and harder to line up release dates for movie tie-ins.