One awesome way for families to spend quality time is by playing friendly multiplayer games together! While off-screen time is important, playing an online game together can be just as engaging as many other activities. Especially if you're kid loves video games, why not enjoy the pastime together? In this blog post, we assembled some of our favorite family-friendly multiplayer games online in hopes of bringing everyone together to create meaningful relationships and lessons along the way.
Games to Play on Phones and Tablets
Spaceteam (Free)
Spaceteam is a fast-paced, cooperative shouting card game where you work together to repair a malfunctioning spaceship. Sound like fun? It is! Everyone downloads the app on their device, and together you avoid asteroids, travel through time, and more! This is a top pick in our list of great multiplayer games online!
Ticket to Ride (~$7–$10)
Based on the popular board game, this cross-country train adventure enables players to collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. Whoever builds the longest road wins! This game supports local or online play and is one of the most popular multiplayer video games on devices today!
Words With Friends 2 (Free)
If your kids are into Scrabble, they can play Words With Friends 2 against their best friend across town or start a round with their grandma in Florida. This app is also educational and can help them stretch their vocabulary skills by coming up with rare words. Words With Friends 2 is one of many classic multiplayer video games that are fun for all ages!
Console Video Games
Overcooked 2 (~$25)
Overcooked 2 is a chaotic co-op cooking game for one to four players to work together to cook sushi, burgers, and more while navigating complicated kitchens and responding to hungry customers. When the pressure’s on, you’ll be shouting “On your left!” and “Chop those onions faster!” to your kids like a seasoned chef. For popular multiplayer games online, you’ll be hard-pressed to find one that will leave you laughing as hard as Overcooked 2.
Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 4 | Xbox Live | PC
Rocket League (~$20)
If your kids are into racing or soccer, chances are they’ll love this game. Set in a futuristic arena, Rocket League is a multiplayer soccer game where the players are actually cars! Jump, speed, and turn as you crash into the ball to drive it into the net for points. This family-friendly game is one of the most popular multiplayer video games in the world with over 6 million players per day!
Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 4 | Xbox Live | PC
Ultimate Chicken Horse (~$15)
This competitive game enables players to actually build the game (literally!) as they go. Place stairs, floating platforms, and more in your opponent’s way — but don’t be too upset when they do the same! This chaotic game is one of the most unique multiplayer games online to exist and we highly recommend it!
Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 4 | Xbox Live | PC
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (~$60)
Kids and families have been launching turtle shells and barrelling down Rainbow Road on every Nintendo platform since the early 90s, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the latest entry into the popular Nintendo multiplayer video games franchise. Players can see who will outrace each other or they can fight to the end in the super-fun battle mode.
Splatoon 2 (~$60)
Splat more ink and claim more turf than your opponents in this colorful and chaotic 4-on-4 action game. Team up with three others to cover the playing field in more of your team’s color than the other’s — you want to see as much of your color on the screen as possible. This is a great non-violent alternative to the classic shooter genre and it's taking the multiplayer games online genre by storm!
Board Games You Can Print and Play at Home
If you’ve got access to the internet but have a hankering to play some non-digital games, many board game publishers are offering some free options to keep families entertained with just a printer (and a little time). This approach is a fresh take on traditional multiplayer games online.
Asmodee has released lots of free print-and-play games, including these great options for families to play together at home:
- Timeline is a fun game for all ages. Each player needs to play their event card in the proper place in the timeline. Were playing cards invented before or after the invention of the croissant? Where does the discovery of planetary motion come into the picture?
- Dobble is a card game that encourages speed, concentration, and observation. It challenges players to find matching symbols on a set of cards, and the first player to find and name the symbol wins the card. This demo kit gives you a few cards and rules for different fun games you can play with them. You can even create your own!
- Dixit is an Apples-to-Apples type of game that lets players use the imagery on their cards to bluff their opponents and convince them to guess which image matches their story. The active player secretly chooses a card from their hand and gives a clue in the style of their choice. All other players then play a card from their hand that they think matches the clue. The cards are laid out, and each player must try to guess which card the active player chose.
We hope some of these multiplayer games online will strike a chord with your family and bring hours of entertainment. It's important to always find new ways to connect with your kid and create lasting memories of fun!
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