Nintendo Switch: 5 must-buy games for younger kids this holiday season

Yoshi’s Crafted World

It is pretty much a given that when people get a Nintendo system they’re going to want a Mario game. In fact, I’m sure that no matter what I say in this article, if your kid is getting a Nintendo Switch you’re getting them a Mario game with it. And that’s honestly fine. Mario games are iconic for a reason. Simple controls, fun visuals, engaging gameplay. It’s solid. The problem is, for younger gamers these games can also get a bit difficult.

Most Mario games have this habit of starting off simplistic (in Super Mario 3D World there are actually safety rails on the edge of stages) but the difficult tends to ramp up towards the end. In fact, more often than not my kids are more likely to lose interest in a Mario game than beat it because the difficulty towards the end is just discouraging to them.

Yoshi’s Crafted World is a lot softer of an experience. Metaphorically and literally as the entire game charmingly looks like it was made out of yarn, paper, and various fabrics. And while the stages still get a bit difficult towards the end, the game goes out of its way to help people who need it. It goes so far as giving you the option to play as a winged Yoshi that can fly over the gaps allowing learning kids to practice on stages they’re having a hard time with and allowing them to experience more of the game. You can also hop into the game at any time as a second Yoshi to assist them.