Summary
UPDATE: Super Mario Bros. Wonder won Best Family Game at The Game Awards 2023!
For decades, video games have been played and enjoyed by those of all ages, and that’s more true now than ever before. It’d be difficult to find a person in this modern age who’s never played a video game before in their life, whether it’s amobile game likeCandy Crush, the old days of the sensationalWii Sports, or any of the vast number of consoles that are still dominating the entertainment market. But with more gamers than ever before, it’s even more important to center some of those experiences around the whole family, and the2023 Game AwardsBest Family Game category is all about praising the very best of them.
Often referred to colloquially as the “Nintendo Category” for the last few years due to the sheer number of Nintendo titles that have ended up here,The Game Awards2023’s Best Family Game category is looking a little different this year. While Nintendo still has two major nominations in this category, the other three slots belong to completely different franchises, and some might actually have a chance at beating out Nintendo for the ultimate prize.
Best Family Game 2023 Nominees
Disney Illusion Island
Released back in July,Disney Illusion Islandis one of the nicest surprisesof the year. A four-player co-op side-scroller,Disney Illusion Islandtakes the gorgeous 2D art style of the most recent Mickey Mouse throwback cartoons and turns it into a truly wonderful family video game experience. While it may not blow the socks off any adult gamers,Disney Illusion Islandacts as the perfect introduction to the Metroidvania genre for younger gamers, and that’s no small feat. Mix in the variety of animations and mechanics between playable characters, andDisney Illusion Islandreally is the epitome of a great family game.
Party Animals
The latest in a long line of physics-based multiplayer games,Party Animalssees a handful of players attempt to headbutt, kick, punch, and throw their opponents off various arenas, all while being dressed up as some adorable cartoon animals. WhileParty Animals' gameplayis definitely fun, and its spot on Xbox Game Pass helped to bring in a big day-one audience, there are some pretty big criticisms that might cost it the Game Award. Along with criticisms thatParty Animals' gameplay felt a bit too similar toGang Beasts, it also garnered some controversy for its overpriced in-game cosmetics, and its lack of any offline mode at launch, which directly contradicted the game’s official Steam description.
Pikmin 4
The first of two Nintendo games up for the Best Family Game category,Pikmin 4is yet another great entry in this long-running, oftenunderrated Nintendo franchise. Introducing some new Pikmin species, a customizable player character for the first time, and a handful of new game modes,Pikmin 4doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it does offer potentially the best and most accessiblePikminexperience to date, and the ability to play through the whole story mode in two-player co-op definitely makes it worthy of the Game Award.
Sonic Superstars
It may not be a newSonic Maniagame, butSonic Superstarsis still a solid throwback tothe golden age of 2DSonic. It definitely isn’t perfect, butSonic Superstarsfeatures some fun and fast platforming, some solid stage design, and an appealing, bright art style that really evokes the series' inherent charm.Sonic Superstarsis also the first game in the series to offer four-player co-op, which definitely earns it a nomination for the Best Family category, but with the incredibly high level of competition this year, it likely won’t walk away victorious.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The first mainline side-scrollingMariogame in over a decade,Super Mario Bros. Wonderis an exceptional return to form, and really a dream come true for long-time fans of the franchise. Bright, colorful, happy, and genuinely wonderful,Super Mario Bros. Wonderlives up to its name and then some. On top of its vibrant art style,Super Mario Bros. Wonder’s gameplayis also top-notch, delivering some of the best platforming mechanics and level design that the franchise has seen in the 2D space in decades. And with four-player co-op being available from the get-go,Super Mario Bros. Wonderis an ideal family game.
Final Prediction
While the 2023 Game Awards Best Family Game category has some great nominees, there’s really only one possible winner here, and that’sSuper Mario Bros. Wonder. WhileDisney Illusion Islandis definitely a strong pick for its high level of accessibility for younger audiences,Super Mario Bros. Wonderoffers that and so much more, being a true return to form for the2DMarioseries.
