Between smartphones, tablets, laptops, game consoles and PCs, screens are a major part of our daily lives. It can feel like a real challenge to pull everyone away from their devices and bring the family together.
But what if we used screen time to unite the household? Instead of fighting technology, we can embrace it and turn it into a way to connect.
Take family game night as an example.
As my children have grown and our schedules have filled up, our Friday game nights have become less frequent. By the time Friday evening rolls around, everyone is tired and it’s easy to watch a movie or let the kids play their favorite console or PC games rather than pull out a board game.
Often I think of game consoles as two-player or solo experiences, not something that brings the whole family together. Sure, titles like Mario Kart offer 2–4 player fun, but you have to be in the right mood for that kind of competition.
Recently I found a great way to blend a classic family game night with a modern console and a variety of entertaining options: Carnival Games for the Nintendo Switch.
Carnival Games features 20 carnival-themed mini-games that are easy to pick up and play. Up to four players can join at once, and each mini-game has its own mechanics and charm, so everyone can find something they enjoy.
We were sent a Nintendo Switch and Carnival Games to try, and the whole family had a blast.
Everyone from my husband and me to our youngest, Luke (7), and our oldest, Nathan (15), enjoyed it. One evening we played for two hours, taking turns since there are six of us and only four player slots.
Carnival Games offers a fun mix of 20 different activities. While a few titles stood out to the group, each person had a favorite: two kids loved the baseball mini-game, another favored “Short Stacks,” and one kept returning to “Clowning Around.”
One of the best aspects is how short the mini-games are—typically 30 to 60 seconds. That makes it easy to try many games in a single session without committing a long block of time.
Each game begins with clear instructions, and many share similar control patterns, so players adapt quickly.
The short rounds helped coax hesitant players into trying new games. One child tends to replay the same title repeatedly, but with quick mini-games we let each family member choose a round, which encouraged sharing and variety.
As you play, you earn tickets that can unlock additional mini-games, new music tracks or different outfits for your characters. Chasing tickets became a fun incentive—sometimes more exciting than the actual round winners.
The game’s colorful graphics, lively sounds and upbeat announcer really capture the carnival spirit. The themed presentation, cheerful music and vibrant visuals made it feel like an arcade experience in our living room.
At the start you can customize and name your character, which the kids enjoyed. That part got a little chaotic when everyone rushed to press buttons at once, but that’s part of family gaming fun rather than a flaw in the game.
If fewer than four people are playing, AI-controlled characters fill the remaining spots so the rounds still feel lively.
The only minor downside I noticed was the end-of-round results screen, where the fourth-place character performs a small disappointed gesture. It’s a tiny detail that could be a missed opportunity to model better sportsmanship, though in practice it hardly affected our fun. My youngest, for example, was more likely to shout “That’s not fair!” than reflect on the animation.
Because rounds are short and varied, it’s easy to bounce back after a loss and try to win the next game, which helps build resilience and keeps energy high.
Another advantage is portability—the Nintendo Switch lets you take Carnival Games on the go, making it a flexible option for travel or visits with family and friends.
The family response was enthusiastic: “Awesome!” “We need to do this more!” “I love it!” Even my 15-year-old, initially skeptical about anything he considered “too kiddie,” gave Carnival Games two thumbs up once he tried it.
I’m very happy with the game and recommend Carnival Games for Nintendo Switch as a modern, fun way to use a game console to bring families together.
We’ve set aside our Switch and Carnival Games as a fantastic holiday gift for the family. It checks the boxes: something the kids will enjoy and use, not full of tiny pieces to lose, and it encourages shared time rather than solo screen use.
The Nintendo Switch with Carnival Games is a gift that can bring the whole family together for a modern family game night.
