Looking for the best games to play with the family? These must-play titles are perfect for bringing everyone together over New Year's

Picks for every major platform

31 Dec 2025, 14:00 · TechRadar

Features By Dashiell Wood Contributions from Jake Green published 31 December 2025

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Don't stress about the prospect of having to keep everyone entertained over New Year's and the wider holiday period. Whipping out that dusty old Monopoly box, putting on a classic movie, or forcing everyone out on a walk is going to be good enough for a few hours, but having a couple of games to play with the family on standby is the perfect way to stave off boredom.

Whether you're new to the world of gaming or an experienced player, there are plenty of fantastic choices suitable for all ages that can help bring everyone together. I've assembled this bespoke list of potential picks with my own first-hand experience as TechRadar's Gaming Editor and that of my colleague Jake.

Together, we've spent hours playing each of these inclusions with friends and can say that they're a sure-fire ticket to family fun. I've included titles for a wide range of platforms too (be that PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2) to try and ensure that there are options for everyone regardless of whether you have the very latest consoles on hand.

6. Mario Kart World

(Image credit: Nintendo)

I have so many fond memories of playing Mario Kart with my family over the holidays back in the Wii days, and the arrival of a new entry in the series earlier this year is the perfect excuse to keep that tradition alive.

Mario Kart World was almost certainly wrapped up under many Christmas trees this year, along with the shiny new Nintendo Switch 2 console, so get it hooked up to the TV and pass those Joy-Con 2 controllers around for some racing action.

It's a cute and colorful casual racer with an emphasis on approachability and replayablity. The handful of optional assist settings and the simplicity of the controls means that even those who haven't played a game before will quickly get the hang of things.

This entry not only looks the absolute best yet, but also introduces the ability to drive off the courses for the first time with each track set in one giant open map. There are loads of racers to unlock and play as, and some cool new modes like Knockout Tour to try so you're not going to run out of things to do.

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