Good Xbox game for two cooped-up tweens?

April 17, 2020 4:02 PM

Our kids, 10 and 13, have an Xbox but very few games. What is a good age-appropriate game they can play together?

We keep a pretty tight lid on the kids' ability to play games - only on weekends and only for a few hours. We also haven't let them buy many games. They have Minecraft and a Star Wars-themed game called Battlefront or something like that.

They don't know much about what games are out there and I don't really either. I would like to treat them with something for these new cooped-up days, but I don't know what to buy.

Requirements:
* They need to be able to play together either on the same screen or a split screen.
* It can't be totally violent or lewd, like GTA.
* Something like Mario Cart would be great (fun, not violent, play together), but they wanted an Xbox rather than a Nintendo (I don't know why).
* It should be something they can play in short bursts; i.e., not a multi-hour role player.

Any suggestions appreciated! Thanks

posted by Mid to Technology (16 answers total)

Hey! It would help answer if we knew which xbox they had. Is it an Xbox One?
posted by bbqturtle at 4:08 PM on April 17, 2020

How about Rocket League? I visited some relatives a couple of years back and their son was around 10 and loved that game. He also was playing Battlefront fwiw.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:09 PM on April 17, 2020

If they follow any pro sports then the EA game of that sport (eg Fifa 20, NBA 2k20, baseball, football, hockey, more?) might be a good bet. Especially as they aren't able to watch games on TV right now.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 4:12 PM on April 17, 2020

Pikuniku for silly puzzle solving
Overcooked for frantic cooperative cooking
Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime for cooperative rescuing of space rabbits
posted by Diddly at 4:23 PM on April 17, 2020

Lego games are pretty fun, save often, so can be played in short episodes.
posted by Yavsy at 4:27 PM on April 17, 2020

They have an Xbox One.
posted by Mid at 4:33 PM on April 17, 2020

Also, some shooting etc is fine - just not a gore fest.
posted by Mid at 4:35 PM on April 17, 2020

Rocket league, nba 2k, Minecraft and Minecraft dungeons would probably be great. They’re available on Xbox game pass - I think your first month is $1 To try them all out, and then buy the ones you want at a 20% discount.
posted by WedgedPiano at 4:48 PM on April 17, 2020

Check out Overcooked 2.
Deceptively excellent.

Also, in the off chance they haven't played it... The old Portal 2 is one of the best cooperative games ever.
posted by jimmereeno at 4:57 PM on April 17, 2020

Second Overcooked/Overcooked 2, and Rocket League.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 5:29 PM on April 17, 2020

Earth Defense Force. Save the planet from a giant insect invasion!
posted by ewok_academy at 6:56 PM on April 17, 2020

My sole purpose in getting an Xbox One was so I could play Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. It’s a wonderful co-op game with beautiful graphics that requires enthusiastic teamwork.
posted by loquat at 11:08 PM on April 17, 2020

They are older games, but I love the Ratchet & Clank series. Shooting is only of robots, so no blood -- I won't play blood and guts games. The stories are cute and funny, and the characters likeable.
posted by terrapin at 5:11 AM on April 18, 2020

Rayman Legends!
posted by FirstMateKate at 7:21 AM on April 18, 2020

I came in to recommend Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime too! Lots of cooperation between the players though, could possibly lead to sibling meltdowns.
posted by geegollygosh at 9:59 AM on April 18, 2020

Nthing Overcooked and Lego games.
posted by telophase at 2:25 PM on April 18, 2020