While the Nintendo Switch may be the go-to system for family gaming, Xbox' Game Pass service goes a long way when it comes to providing fun for players of all ages. Game Pass' availability on PC as well as Xbox home consoles makes it more accessible than its PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online counterparts, and so instead of picking up a Nintendo Switch so late in its life cycle, families may be looking at Xbox to provide fun for everyone in the household.
The platform is always adding new games that satisfy a range of gamers, but while there are some pleasant additions, there are also some curious omissions. Video games cater to such a wide audience, but with many players having a family to account for, it's more and more pressing that companies provide titles that can be enjoyed by everyone. Rumors of a family plan being added to Game Pass are perhaps telltale signs that the company is targeting a more broad ranger of players, but it's important to give those new faces something to play.
Untitled Goose Game
While it used to be on the service, Untitled Goose Game left Game Pass in December 2020. This is a shame, as the game was a delight and only spent a year on Microsoft's subscription platform. In the time that it's been gone there have been more players than ever in the Xbox ecosystem, especially with the release of the Xbox Series X/S, so bringing it back to Game Pass to take advantage of the new users would be a wise decision, further adding to its immense variety.
It's a title that promises so much fun and mischief, asking players to assume the role of an annoying, but cute goose who's sole aim is to thoroughly ruin everyone's day. Untitled Goose Game features a spilt-screen co-op multiplayer mode which doubles the amusement, and requires coordination to cause as much mayhem as possible. Its humor is physical comedy gold, with the ridiculous antics taking precedence over an elaborate script. Its comedy is funny regardless of the player's age, making it a perfect title for the family.
Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled
Mario Kart is perhaps the most family-friendly competitive game franchise of all time, with the skill of racing balanced by the unpredictability of random items and cheeky circuit short-cuts. The DLC for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a delight for those with a Nintendo Switch, but until Summer 2019 players of other platforms didn't have something of a similar quality. Now they do, as Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled provides families with a kart racer that is in many ways better than the series that inspired it.
Since its debut on the original PlayStation, Crash Team Racing has always been one of the most competitive racing games on the market. It's easy to play but near-impossible to master, and Mario Kart could learn a lot from its design, as it's fun for anyone from small children to keen racing enthusiasts who only care about putting in the best lap time. Crash Team Racing making an appearance on Game Pass would be another great way for Xbox to rival Nintendo, giving families something fun to play in the process.
Overcooked
Though its sequel Overcooked 2 may be on the subscription service, Overcooked is absent from the festivities. It's a superb game that is far more stressful than players would initially expect, requiring total cohesion and teamwork to achieve the elusive three-star rank on each stage. Overcooked 2 improved on the original in a few key ways, but seemed more like an expansion than a full sequel. Giving families who have invested in the Game Pass platform more levels to overcome would be a welcome addition to what they already have with Overcooked 2.
Its team-centric gameplay makes it more suitable for people of all ages, as players have one common goal that they all have to work to. The only competition that Overcooked contains is the race against the clock. Not only this, but the pick-up-put-down nature of the game makes Overcooked perfect for communal game nights in the spare time between family responsibilities.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
Spyro may be a poster child of the PlayStation, but his 2018 makeover was seen by audiences on Xbox on release, as well as PC and Nintendo Switch some time later. Spyro Reignited Trilogy is a loving recreation of the first three games, and does well to remind players why they loved the character all those years ago. A new Spyro game has been rumored for a while, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time proved that sequels to PS1 classics can provoke critical and commercial praise, so Spyro is surely due another outing.
Until then, though, the Reignited Trilogy provides players with something so very fun. Spyro Reignited Trilogy is not only enjoyable through the lens of nostalgia, as the way it looks and controls will make it as entertaining for kids as it is for parents. The platforming is simple enough and the story is charming enough for young players of today to truly enjoy, meaning that Spyro Reignited Trilogy is perfect for both audiences.
LEGO Marvel Super Heroes
It seems in 2022 that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is all that film fans can think about, especially following the plethora of MCU announcements at San Diego Comic-Con. Naturally, the love for so many of its characters has heightened significantly over the last 14 years, and there have been a handful of games that have utilized the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk to much acclaim. However, none have been as family friendly as LEGO Marvel Super Heroes, released in 2013 on most home consoles.
Its open world is a delight, and the levels that make up its all-new story are so much fun for people of all ages. Puzzles are simple enough for anyone to solve given time, and the way it rewards recklessly smashing up is levels makes button mashing feel like a genuine achievement. It shows that the characters have potential outside the MCU, but is even more enjoyable knowing who the characters are in the films and how developer Traveller's Tales have altered them to suit the game.