By Steven Kent and Sheniece Chappell
Check out the best family games coming out this spring.
MARIO TENNIS FEVER
Nintendo for Switch 2
Play tennis with Mario and 37 of his closest friends! This game has all the elements of tennis: serves, lobs, slicing, spinning and 30 different “fever rackets” designed to cause mayhem on the court. You know … the usual stuff.
Plus, a new adventure mode turns Mario and company into babies who must develop their tennis skills and defeat monsters to be restored to normal.
NEVER GRAVE: THE WITCH AND THE CURSE
Pocketpair Publishing for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Steam
A cursed hat is your greatest weapon in this fast, tactical 2D action game. Spot enemy patterns, cast powerful spells and bend the land to your advantage. Every dungeon is auto-generated — new layouts, new puzzles and new threats each time you play. Steal enemies’ abilities, rebuild a destroyed village to grow stronger and cook up boosts that prep you for your next quest. Go alone or team up with three friends and storm the dungeons as a squad.
DRAGON QUEST VII REIMAGINED
Square Enix for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, Steam
Set sail on a time-spanning adventure in Dragon Quest VII Reimagined. Living on the quiet island of Estard, you and your childhood friends uncover a shrine that sends you into the past, where a dark force has sealed away entire lands.
Restore the lost world while experiencing charming diorama visuals, refreshed gameplay and a refined story.
RIDE 6
Milestone S.R.L. for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Jump on a massive lineup of awesome motorcycles to tear through all kinds of tracks — even wild off-road trails. Start your own racing story at a massive bike festival. Then challenge star riders for the top spot. Pick your style, from quick arcade fun to full-on realism, before heading online to battle friends, show off custom bikes and rise to the top.
PLAY THE GAME, WIN THE GOLD
In 1972, Rolling Stone magazine hosted the Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics at Stanford University’s AI lab, featuring Spacewar!, a game developed in 1962. It was the first organized computer game competition in history, happening a few weeks before Pong hit arcades, five years before Atari released its first major home console and 13 years before the Nintendo Entertainment System went global.
Back then, winners of the Spacewar tournament took home a one-year subscription to Rolling Stone. In 2025, the 2,500 competitors at the Esports World Cup fought for a share of a jaw-dropping $70 million in prize money! It’s no wonder why people flock to arenas and livestreams for esports tournaments and why many colleges offer scholarships to competitive gamers.
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