Choosing the right game at Christmas can be particularly difficult, especially if the person buying is not familiar with the games themselves. The past year has seen some incredible family-friendly titles released, offering fun, enjoyable gameplay for a wide age range and on varying formats so that there is something for everyone.

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For those looking to pick up a game that can be played by kids and adults alike, or shared between family members, check out this list of ten of the very best gaming titles released in 2020 that will fit the bill.

10 PHOGS

PHOGS

PHOGS is an adorable puzzle game where the player takes control of two dogs joined at the belly (reminiscent of the CatDog cartoon), and their names are Red and Blue. The game offers both single-player and co-op, allowing players to explore the three themed worlds of Food, Sleep, and Play.

The puzzles are challenging, but not frustrating, leading to a sense of accomplishment for all ages as players explore this rather cute game with charming graphics and fun gameplay mechanics.

9 Sackboy: A Big Adventure

Sackboy A Big Adventure gameplay screenshot

Sackboy: A Big Adventure is a spin-off title from the LittleBigPlanet franchise, and offers a new platform gaming experience for fans that features full 3D, rather than the 2.5D of its predecessors. Sackboy allows up to four-player co-op, meaning that more than one member of the family can enjoy the game at a time.

The game is available on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 and has plans to offer multiplayer in the future, with support for cross-generational multiplayer so that players can join in the fun regardless of what console they are playing on.

8 Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Super Mario 3D All-Stars Video Game Promotional Banner

Super Mario 3D All-Stars released for the Nintendo Switch in September and brings three classic Super Mario titles from three different generations of consoles together in one high-definition compilation. The game features Super Mario 64 from the N64, Super Mario Sunshine from the GameCube, and Super Mario Galaxy from the Wii.

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Super Mario games have always been a hit with kids and adults alike and this is a great opportunity to gift someone the favorite games of their youth, or to introduce some younger family members to some of the best titles from Mario's past.

7 Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time

It came as no surprise that after the success of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy (a remake of the original three games) that fans would be given a brand-new sequel to get hands-on with. Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time released in October for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, giving a new adventure to new and old fans of the series alike.

As well as maintaining some of the core DNA of the original games, Crash Bandicoot 4 also adds a range of new features and gameplay elements to refresh the franchise and bring it back on form.

6 Paper Mario: The Origami King

Paper Mario: The Origami King released in July for the Nintendo Switch and it is the sixth title in the Paper Mario franchise. The game follows Mario as he attempts to stop the evil King Olly from turning everyone into origami.

This is a great entry RPG for young players but is equally enjoyable by older players too. Unlike the previous titles in the series, The Origami King features a mixture of puzzle-based combat combined with turn-based combat. It offers really enjoyable gameplay in an adorable style, featuring familiar characters and some out-of-the-box thinking.

5 Bugsnax

the buggy ball in bugsnax

Bugsnax both confused and made every viewer fall in love with its adorable weirdness when it was first revealed during a Sony event earlier in the year. Players find themselves on Snaktooth island, where they can capture over 100 different types of Bugsnax (essentially living food that resemble bugs).

Weirdly, players can then feed the Bugsnax to the locals, whose body parts begin to look like the Bugsnax they have eaten. The plot has the player trying to find where the explorer Lizbert has vanished to, and arguably the story takes a darker twist than most would believe of this cutesy looking game.

4 Nexomon: Extinction

Nexomon: Extinction

Nexomon: Extinction is very similar in gameplay to the highly-popular Pokémon series, but unlike other imitators, Nexomon delivers a solid game with a lot of aspects and features that fans have wanted in Pokémon titles for years.

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There are over 300 monsters in this monster-catching game, ready to catch, train and battle with. The characters and story are great, with plenty of humor added in, and the art style is particularly gorgeous, as well as making it stand out as more of an individual when compared to the 3D style of the Pokémon games.

3 Minecraft Dungeons

minecraft dungeons how to play with friends

The Minecraft franchise broadened its scope by adding a dungeon-crawler to its repertoire with the release of Minecraft Dungeons in May. Instead of the open-world builder of the original Minecraft, this game sees players travel through procedurally-generated levels where they hack and slash their way to completion.

This title offers a great chance for family members to play co-operatively on a new adventure, while still in the comfort of a familiar brand. The game has had three DLC packs added since launch, adding new levels, weapons, artifacts, monsters, and more.

2 Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Fall Guys Mediatonic

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout released back in August and quickly became a sensation everywhere. Inspired by TV shows such as Takeshi's Castle and Wipeout, Fall Guys mixes the battle-royale and platformer genres together and sees 60 players compete to become the last jellybean-like man standing.

Fall Guys adds new seasons with new themes every couple of months, keeping the game nice and fresh. It's perfect for all ages and is incredibly fun to play, so it's bound to be a winner this Christmas.

1 Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Simulation Animal Crossing New Horizons Picnic

The ultimate family-friendly title that released this year is undoubtedly Animal Crossing: New Horizonswith many players and critics contributing its unparalleled success due to the fact that it offered players a form of escapism into an idyllic, simpler world in a year when they needed it the most.

The game is great for all ages and even if there is only one Nintendo Switch console in the household, there can be more than one character made per island, so more than one family member can escape to the island for some adorable island life.

NEXT: The 10 Best Action & Adventure Games Of 2020, Ranked (According To Metacritic)