Gaming as a family is a great way to bond and spend quality time together. It also gives parents a chance to enjoy game time with their children and make memories that will last a lifetime. Gaming can be a great way to teach kids about teamwork, problem-solving, and competition in a healthy and fun way. In addition to games relieving stress and delivering fun, there are some that provide other benefits that most movies & TV shows don't deliver.
In the case of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, your children also learn about money management, which is a great thing to instill in them at an early age. So, next time you're looking for a fun way to spend some quality family time, break out the controllers and give family gaming a try with Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the Nintendo Switch.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons might come off to some as this single-player game where you interact with a bunch of NPC (non-playable characters), but... you'd be wrong. In addition to the online experience, you can also play with 4 people via the same system or up to 8 people via local wireless on individual Nintendo Switch systems.
In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, you start off on a deserted island with a little team making the experience as smooth as possible for you. You will have to explore, collect items, create tools, etc. Over time your island will go from being not so deserted to the island everyone's writing home about.
This game had to be added to this list, because other players not only have the ability to start a game on their own island, but they can also start on yours. While it's cool to visit other islands and see what's popping, it's really awesome to have that community experience where your family's on the same island working together. It introduces an interesting dynamic where you might find yourselves talking about new announcements and developments based on something one or all of you have accomplished.
It's good to have this one in your library because it's a shared experience, even though you have your individual accomplishment to tackle. So even if someone was unable to enjoy a multiplayer session (maybe they were sick and getting as much rest as possible), they're going to be able to see all the updates. Even if you aren't under the weather, and it's just one of those games family members play here and there when you aren't indulging in family fun gaming, It's a cool experience worth sharing as a family. One thing that I've done with this game is talking to my daughter even more regarding money management.
In the game, you will have a home loan that you need to pay off, and I explained to her how it's similar to real life. Even in terms of just saving bells and not spending them all, it puts you in a better position to get other in-game items that you may really like. So if you come across something that you think would prove to be useful advice to your little gamer, this could be a great game to use as an example (bonding + teaching + gaming).
- Build your community from scratch on a deserted island brimming with possibility
- Create your personal getaway and customize your character, home, decorations, and even the landscape itself
- Collect materials to construct everything from furniture to tools! Then, use what you create to give your island a personal touch
- Watch as the time of day and seasons match real life- even your hemisphere! Each day holds the potential for surprises and discoveries
- Get to know the island residents, garden, fish, decorate, hunt for fossils, and more!
- Show off your paradise- play on the same system with a total of 4 people, or play together online or over local wireless for fun with up to 8 players
I wanted to include the things this game offers because it's not an action game or anything of the sort (unless you're chasing sea creatures down), but it's gameplay that my family loves.
Slime Rancher 2 is a sequel to the award-winning, smash-hit original that has been enjoyed by over 10 million fans worldwide. Continue the adventures of Beatrix LeBeau as she journeys to Rainbow Island, a mysterious land brimming with ancient technology, unknown natural resources, and an avalanche of wiggling, jiggling, new slimes to discover.
As Beatrix attempts to unravel the island’s secrets and uncover its true purpose, she’ll build, ranch, and farm within a beautiful conservatory, whose sparkling glass walls give her a full view of the prismatic paradise she now calls home.
* Game may still be in Early Access
If you want to start with the initial installment, check out Slime Rancher 1 on PC, PS4, and Xbox which is a lot of fun and will connect some dots in part 2 as far as who's who.
Staxel is a sandbox farming game that is currently in development. Tend to your farm and work on the village by yourself, or enlist the aid of your friends via online multiplayer to turn it into a thriving farmstead!
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