If you know anything about my family, it’s probably that we’re all gamers. We love playing games together and all have games that we play individually- but we all play some sort of game {often, several games!} every single day.
That makes the holidays a bit easier for sure- we always know we’ll be putting lots of Nintendo games, toys, and accessories under the tree! If you’re looking for the best video games to give for Christmas this year or just need some inspiration for gifts for gamers, you’re in the right place! Keep reading to find my top picks for 2023- from new games to classics, ways to enjoy the gamer life offline, and of course accessories to make their console their own!
Please note that as an Amazon affiliate, purchasing through some of these links will allow me to make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
Classic Mario side-scrolling gameplay is turned on its head with the addition of Wonder Flowers. These game-changing items trigger spectacular moments you have to see to believe…Witness pipes coming alive, float through outer space, wreak havoc as a giant Spike-Ball, and see even more unexpected events called Wonder effects. Plus, choose from the largest cast of characters in a side-scrolling Mario game, including Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy and Toads. Grab surprising new power-ups like Elephant Fruit to use your trunk to trounce enemies and spray water, on your adventure to save the Flower Kingdom from Bowser’s wonder grip.
Team up with up to three friends locally* and gather around one Nintendo Switch system to experience the game-bending Wonder effects together as you tackle courses as a team and help each other on your way to the Goal Pole. Online**, you can work together or turn a course into a friend race to finish first!
My note: We recently picked this one up and while we haven’t gotten too far in it yet {aside from Zac, who is trying HARD not to spoil anything!} we’re already loving this game! It’s such a fun game with so many things to discover- just in the few short levels I’ve played so far I have found myself laughing out loud multiple times. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys any type of Mario game!
Release Date: Available NOW!
Rating: Everyone with mild fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $59.99
Detective Pikachu Returns
Unravel a series of mysteries across Ryme City with a tough-talking, coffee-loving Pikachu and his human partner, Tim Goodman. When a jewel theft occurs, the case sets this great detective duo down a path filled with mystery. Search for clues in Ryme City, where Pokémon and humans live and work side by side. With the help of the city’s Pokémon and people, Tim and his talkative Pikachu partner solve multiple cases. Investigate and deduce as the detective duo, both together and individually, on a search for the truth in this cinematic adventure game!
My note: While my family hasn’t played this one yet, my older son was a huge fan of the first game on Nintendo 3DS and we all LOVE the movie! This is on a couple of our Christmas lists for sure.
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone with mild fantasy violence
Buy it here: Buy on Amazon MSRP $49.99
Disney Dreamlight Valley
Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid between a life-sim and an adventure game rich with quests, exploration and engaging activities featuring Disney and Pixar friends, both old and new. Once an idyllic land, Dreamlight Valley was a place where Disney and Pixar characters lived in harmony—until the Forgetting. Night Thorns grew across the land and severed the wonderful memories tied to this magical place. With nowhere else to go, the hopeless inhabitants of Dreamlight Valley retreated behind locked doors in the Dream Castle. Now it’s up to you to discover the stories of this world and bring the magic back to Dreamlight Valley! Be sure to dream your way back to Dreamlight Valley regularly to discover new adventures. There’s always something fresh to explore. Meet new characters in the Valley, check out the latest clothing and furniture collections in Scrooge’s Store and complete challenging in-game events!
My note: I’ve been playing this game since it came out and it’s still a great choice! With frequent {and large!} content updates and no sign of those updates slowing down for a very long time, this is a must-have for any Disney fan.
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone
Buy it here: Purchase Cozy Edition here on Amazon; Digital MSRP $29.99, Digital Deluxe Edition $49.99, Digital Ultimate Edition $69.99; Cozy Edition which includes physical copy comes out October 27th with the MSRP $49.99
Disney Illusion Island
Experience a new Mickey & Friends adventure with hand-drawn animation, an orchestrated original score and authentic voice talents of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy. Choose your favorite character and perform high-flying platforming feats as you unlock special abilities and take on epic boss battles. Run, jump, swim and swing your way through a beautiful yet mysterious island and discover rich biomes, intriguing characters and hidden secrets. Play solo or grab up to three friends to save the island of Monoth using skills such as Rope Drop, Leap Frog and a heart gifting hug exclusive to couch co-op mode.
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone with mild fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $39.99
Fae Farm
Discover a world of wonder in Fae Farm, a farm-sim RPG for 1-4 players. With up to three friends*, craft, cultivate and decorate to grow your shared homestead – and use spells to explore the enchanted island of Azoria! You’ll forge new bonds with residents, discover fae magic and trek across mysterious realms. As the seasons change, you’ll use all you’ve learned and discovered together to restore the world around you. Magic awaits in Fae Farm, a console exclusive for Nintendo Switch.
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone 10+ with Fantasy Violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $59.99
Just Dance 2024
Just Dance 2024 Edition features 40 songs from new hits and beloved classics. Connect with up to five friends and family members as you experience the never-ending dance party via online* and local multiplayer. Every season will bring new and exciting content. Win avatars, backgrounds, name badges and aliases to personalize your Dancer Card and show off your personality in the game. Plus, the Nintendo Switch version of the game will include a free one-month trial to Just Dance+, the subscription-based streaming service, giving you access to hundreds of songs and exclusive seasonal benefits.
My note: If you’ve been around here for any length of time you already know our family loves Just Dance- we’ve been playing it for a decade now! This is a sure fire way to get the party started and to get the whole family laughing and having fun.
Release Date: October 24, 2023
Rating: Everyone with mild lyrics
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $59.99
Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe
The tough puff Kirby is back for a 1-4 player* platforming adventure across Planet Popstar. Help Magolor rebuild his ship with Mecha and Sand Copy Abilities! Float and fight along with friends on the same system as you control Kirby. Each other player can control a different Kirby or one of Kirby’s iconic friends like King Dedede, Meta Knight and Bandana Waddle Dee. Then travel to Merry Magoland to play a colorful collection of subgames that support 1-4 players!
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone 10+ with fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $59.99
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe- Booster Course Pass
A total of 48 more courses are racing to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game as paid DLC*. In Wave 6 of the DLC, Funky Kong, Diddy Kong, Pauline and Peachette join the race! Hit the road as these returning characters and speed through courses like Wii Daisy Circuit, Squeaky Clean Sprint and classic courses like GCN Daisy Cruiser and Wii Koopa Cape.
Racers who have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership** can access all of these added courses at no additional cost. Non-members can access the courses as they are released by purchasing the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass on its own from Nintendo eShop.
My note: We’ve been avid Mario Kart 8 players since Day 1, so it’s been really nice getting new tracks every few months! We’re looking forward to the next wave of tracks and can’t wait to put the pedal to the metal- and then win a medal, too!
Release Date: Available Now, with a new wave coming soon!
Rating: Everyone with comic mischief
Buy it here: MSRP $59.99 for base game {required for DLC} and $24.99 for DLC, but remember to see above about Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack memberships! Purchase DLC here and base game {Mario Kart 8} here.
Pikmin 4
Meet Pikmin – small, plantlike creatures you can grow, pluck, guide and send into battle with enemies multiple times their size! These loyal, curious helpers come in different types, including fire-resistant Red Pikmin and new Ice Pikmin. Create your own explorer then embark on a journey to find and rescue fellow explorers. You’re also joined by Oatchi (pronounced oat-chee), resident good boy and dependable partner, that can help with things like smashing obstacles and carrying Pikmin throughout your adventure. With the miniscule Pikmin and a capable canine in tow, no challenge is too big!
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone 10+ with comic mischief, fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $59.99
Sonic Superstars
Adventure through the mystical Northstar Islands in this all-new take on classic 2D Sonic high-speed action platforming. Play as Sonic, Tails, Knuckles and Amy and harness all-new Emerald powers to move and attack in dynamic new ways. Navigate gorgeous, never-before-seen environments solo or with up to three other players* and stop Dr. Eggman, Fang and a mysterious new adversary from converting the islands’ giant animals into Badniks before it’s too late!
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone with mild fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP Digital $59.99, Digital Deluxe MSRP $69.99
Super Mario RPG
Team up with an oddball group of heroes to save Star Road and stop the troublemaking Smithy Gang. This colorful RPG has updated graphics and cinematics that add even more charm to the unexpected alliance between Mario, Bowser, Peach, and original characters Mallow and Geno. Enter (or revisit) this world of eccentric allies and offbeat enemies in an RPG for everyone.
Release Date: November 17, 2023
Rating: Everyone with mild fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $59.99
The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero for Pokemon Scarlet or Pokemon Violet
Even more Pokémon, places, and stories await in this 2-part DLC* for the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games!
In Part 1: The Teal Mask, join a special school trip to the land of Kitakami and learn about the local legend of the Loyal Three Pokémon. Your base of operations will be Mossui Town, a communal hub where locals gather and shop among picturesque fields and rice paddies. Visit Kitakami Hall to the East of the village and experience the traditional Festival of Masks. Encounter the newly-discovered Legendary Pokémon Ogerpon as you unravel local folktales.
The story continues in Part 2: The Indigo Disk. Study abroad at Blueberry Academy, where the curriculum emphasizes Pokémon Battling. Here, you’ll explore the undersea Terarium Dome, a facility with artificial environments teeming with Pokémon. Each of the dome’s four areas has a distinct climate, ecosystem, and Pokémon to find. Encounter the newly-discovered Legendary Pokémon Terapagos as you broaden your horizons beyond Naranja or Uva Academy.
Release Date: Part 1: The Teal Mask is available now; Part 2: The Indigo Disk will release in Winter 2023. Base game available now.
Rating: Everyone with mild fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon; MSRP $34.99 for the DLC content; you will also need the base game {MSRP $59.99 each} Purchase the DLC here; Purchase Pokemon Violet here and Pokemon Scarlet here
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
An epic adventure awaits in the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom game, only on the Nintendo Switch system. In this sequel to the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild game, you’ll decide your own path through the sprawling landscapes of Hyrule and the mysterious islands floating in the vast skies above. Can you harness the power of Link’s new abilities to fight back against the malevolent forces that threaten the kingdom?
My note: This has quickly become a favorite of both of my sons- one of whom said it’s in his top 3 favorite games of all time. This game was well worth the wait!
Release Date: Available Now
Rating: Everyone 10+ with fantasy violence, mild suggestive themes
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $69.99
WarioWare: Move It!
Grab a pair of Joy-Con controllers and get moving as you gently shake, punch, dance, wiggle, and even curtsey through over 200 lightning-fast microgames (minigames that last just a few hilarious seconds). Get into poses called “forms,” including the chicken like Ba-KAW and confident Fashionista, then get it moving! A second player* can use another set of Joy-Con controllers to join the worm-pecking, sheep-twirling fun. Battle it out with 2-4 players, each with one Joy-Con controller, in the local Party Mode. Move alongside your friends in these laugh-worthy contests where everyone can get excited!
Release Date: November 3, 2023
Rating: Everyone 10+ with crude humor, fantasy violence
Buy it here: Purchase on Amazon MSRP $49.99
Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers
Not sure what games your recipient would like most, or which ones they already have? Take the guesswork out of holiday shopping- and potentially save a little money too- with Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers!
If you’re a Nintendo Switch Online member, you can buy a pair of Nintendo Switch Game Vouchers and redeem each one for a digital game in the voucher catalog to score savings. Not all digital games qualify for redemption but a large amount do, including new games like Super Mario Bros. Wonder, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and more.
Since each pair of vouchers only costs $99.98, depending on which games you choose you can save money as well! Learn more here.
Release Date: Available now {must be a Nintendo Switch Online subscriber}
Rating: N/A- no rating for vouchers but be sure to check each game individually
Buy it here: Purchase here for $99.98 {for two vouchers}
Some of my favorite games that might be new to you
These games aren’t brand new- in fact, some of them have been around for years. But they’re still great gifts for anyone who may not already have them! Click through to read the full reviews.
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons- Happy Home Paradise {DLC}
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus
- Super Mario 3D World & Bowser’s Fury
- Nintendo Switch Sports
- Kirby and the Forgotten Land
- Miitopia
- New Pokemon Snap
Merch & Accessories
Even if your family is big on gaming and already has all the newest releases, there are plenty of great Nintendo-themed gifts to give this holiday season! Some of my top picks include:
LEGO Super Mario Sets
We’ve been building with these since they first came out and the collection gets bigger & bigger! We love that these sets can go together to let your kids create their own Super Mario worlds, and the interactive element keeps this fun & exciting even after they’re done building. {Psst- keep an eye out for LEGO Animal Crossing sets next year!}
The latest sets are Donkey Kong themed and include a Mine Cart Ride, a Tree House, and more!
Complete Guides
Whether your kids are fans of The Legend of Zelda or Animal Crossing, these guides are a great way to learn more about their favorite games!
Gaming Chairs
Create the ultimate gaming set up wherever they play with these awesome themed gaming chairs!
Play sets
There are lots of fun Super Mario playsets available now, including this Super Mario Deluxe Bowser Battle Scene Playset! With glowing lava, sound effects and music, the kids can take their epic showdowns with Bowser off the console and into the playroom.
Board Games
While we’re already fans of Monopoly Gamer Super Mario Edition, we’ll be adding the TOMY: Pop Up Super Mario Board Game to our closet this year! This game is recommended for ages 4+ and is available now.
Ornaments
We get a new Super Mario themed ornament from Hallmark every year for our tree, and this year they’re offering Cat Mario from Super Mario 3D World!
Accessories
There are so many fun accessories available, with so many different themes! Find adorable Kirby Switch cases or Super Mario wireless gaming controllers, along with lots of other options.
Whether you’re shopping for a kid or a kid at heart, I hope you found the perfect holiday gift for the gamer in your life!
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