The Best Handheld Games For Gaming On The Go, Whether You're A Kid Or Grownup

Before you can play Nintendo Switch games, you’ll need the handheld game console for the Switch. (It’s crazy how that works, right?) With this Switch hardware, you’ll also receive the popular Mario Kart 8 game, so you can starting playing immediately.

Just Dance for Nintendo Switch doesn’t quite have as high of a potential for generating TikTok worthy embarrassing Dad dance moves as the game being played in front of the TV on a full size console does, but we’re sure Dad will find a way to give the cringe worthy moves the old college try anyway.

Who knew when Nintendo debuted the Mario character in 1981 as part of the Donkey Kong game that Mario would grow into the most popular video game character of all time and still be going four decades later? Of course we all should have seen it coming. Mario’s moustache is glorious after all. (Try taking your eyes off it. We dare you.) This Mario title has three classic Mario games for Nintendo Switch in one package.

Super Mario Odyssey is a fun two-player Nintendo Switch game that allows players to explore the Mario universe. Older kids may not be too interested in helping a friend named Cappy prevent the wedding of the dastardly Bowser, but young kids will be able to play for hours.

Sure, everyone is in love with the irresistible Baby Yoda right now. But when it comes maximizing the cute factor when playing with Switch handheld game systems, you’ll have to settle for the Yoshi character in this game. (Spoiler alert: Yoshi is pretty damn cute too.) There are plenty of adorable costumes for Yoshi to wear while the little dinosaur works through its adventures.

For kids who like to show off their creativity, this game allows them to create their own courses. There’s even occasional downloadable updates to the software to unlock more fun. For kids who like to say, “I’m bored,” this game has dozens of different ways to play, so you’ll know they’re lying.

With this game, you can create adventures for the Pikmin, who are plantlike creatures that need your help for overcoming obstacles and finding food. Each little Pikmin creature has its own strengths and weaknesses. Play as a team with another person or compete head to head in completing the story mission. (No, these are not Pokemon. They’re Pikmin. We’re sure the similarities in the names are just a coincidence.)

Full disclosure: My kids are obsessed with playing Animal Crossing. I don’t get this game, but that’s probably why my kids like it so much. In the game, build your own communities of animals with plenty of personality as they go through life’s daily troubles and accomplishments.

Yes, we agree that the title of this Nintendo Switch game is unnecessarily redundant. If Super Mario is involved, it’s always a gaming party. This game has been overhauled to make it work in a special way with the Joy-Con controllers in the Switch for a little extra fun in this version versus older versions.

For kids who are fans of the Zelda games, this game tells a prequel story of the Zelda universe. You can play as a few different characters, learning various combat styles. There’s plenty of fighting that will appeal to older kids in this game. (We didn’t say it would appeal to you.)

This title has Ultimate in the name, so you know it has to be good. It builds on the past versions of Super Smash Bros., adding new characters for the perfect — no, the ultimate mix of past and present for fans of this franchise.

Sometimes, Luigi deserves a bit of love too. Mario shouldn’t get to have all of the fun, after all. In this title, Luigi — he’s the one with a green hat — saves Mario and other characters with the help of some ghosts. Why ghosts? Why not? When you’re in as many games as Mario and Luigi are, ghosts are bound to become involved at some point.