The data says it: we love family gatherings, especially at Christmas time (86% of Spaniards have them among their holiday plans, according to an OCU survey). But, sometimes, no matter how much enthusiasm we put into designing the perfect family afternoon, mutiny breaks out; especially when there are teenagers on board willing to reject anything that smacks of family activity, children who are bored after dinner and adults absorbed in their cell phones. It is time to use strategy, and a “soft” path towards reconnection involves, precisely, connecting the console and starting a family video game session. A secret: this technique works all year round, not just at Christmas.
Bringing the family together around the console will earn you the seal of approval from the youngest members of the house (81% of children between 6 and 14 years old play video games, according to the annual report of the Spanish Video Game Association). And it will create a shared space in the middle of 'children's territory'... that does not discriminate against adults and other digital klutzes in the family; above all, if consoles like Nintendo Switch come into play, perfect for both 'gamers' and novices, and titles suitable for all skill levels such as Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Nintendo Switch Sports.
To participate in Nintendo Switch Sports, for example, it is not necessary to learn button combinations, since it is controlled with the movement of the body, so everyone can enjoy it from the first moment... and until it becomes the family's golden ball. Another game with motion control is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which allows you to use the controller as if it were a steering wheel so that inexperienced drivers can participate (and even win) in races by “driving” in a more intuitive way. For its part, Super Mario Bros. Wonder has characters that are invulnerable to enemies, allowing beginners to keep up with the gamers in the house. And many games in the Mario series are controlled with just a joystick and a button, so anyone can get into the game... Although mastering these titles in expert mode is another matter, which allows young people to do, for one time, as “coaches” for their elders so that everyone, kings of command and first-timers, can enjoy the experience together.
Because the key to this reconnection is finding a space where everyone can play and have fun together. In that sense, family video games reinforce the bond between all family members and turn this form of entertainment into a reason for conversation and not conflict. And the best thing is that this play space can take many forms, adjusting to the preferences and strengths of family members. The Switch universe has genres of all colors and rhythms (to make a simile, if it were a musical group, it would be one that plays opera, rock, pop, flamenco and jazz). There are options that prioritize movement, such as Nintendo Switch Sports, or that are designed to keep you active, such as Ring Fit Adventure, and others that promote mental activity, such as Big Brain Academy; titles that focus on creativity and a relaxed pace, such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons; and festivals of speed and laughter like Super Mario Bros. Wonder.
The key, in all cases, is to have a good time together, and in video game language “together” means multiplayer: whether competing against each other, as in Nintendo Switch Sports, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe or Mario Party Superstars; on the same team, to avoid disputes and frustrations, thanks to the cooperative modes of Super Mario Bros. Wonder or Animal Crossing: New Horizons; or as a companion in games that allow an expert player and a novice player. This variant is perfect to help the little ones go far in titles like Super Mario Odyssey, Kirby and the Forgotten Land or Luigi's Mansion 3... or to act as an intern alongside the 'players' of the house and advance together in the game. adventure. Whatever your preferred mode, the two controllers that come included with the Nintendo Switch are enough to get started with multiplayer fun (and to include the whole family, you only need an extra pair of controllers).
And when we let our children fly alone, our peace of mind accompanies them: the universes of Super Mario or Kirby games, or titles like Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Nintendo Switch Sports are friendly, bright and full of laughter for children and teenagers. . They are also safe environments: they are designed to avoid the exchange of information with other people, even when they have an online mode. And, even when we don't have them in sight, we can monitor our children's activity thanks to the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. This simple tool allows us to regulate, from our mobile phone, game times, titles suitable for their age range and online interactions. And, by the way, it also allows us to know what their favorite games are... and therefore, the protagonists of our next family video game session.
