Think video games have little to do with your family? Maybe gaming feels like something your kids do with friends or something teenagers disappear into. But video games are now played in 9 out of 10 Australian households, which means family gaming is far more common than many of us realise.
Why does that matter? Simple. A good gaming console can do more than keep everyone entertained. It can give your household a way to laugh together, team up, compete, problem-solve and share the kind of fun that gets people talking long after the controllers go down.
Creates the Kind of Fun That Gets Every Member of the Family Involved
There’s a reason “just one game” rarely stays at one game. According to the Entertainment Software Association’s 2025 Global Power of Play report, 66% of players say fun is the main reason they game. At home, that fun feels different from watching the same screen. Everyone gets a role, whether they’re racing, cheering, helping or asking for the next turn.
That’s where the Nintendo Switch 2 fits so naturally. Its local multiplayer design makes same-room play simple, and games like Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch Sports work across ages and experience levels. The six-year-old, the teenager and the adult who has not picked up a controller since the ‘90s can all get involved.
If you’re working out which console suits your household, JB Hi-Fi has the full Nintendo Switch range in one place. As Australia’s largest tech and entertainment retailer, they have experts online and in-store to help you find the right fit for your family.
Brings Families Closer Than Other Shared Screen Activities
Watching something together can be nice, but it does not always feel like time spent together. Gaming asks more from everyone. You talk, react, take turns, make choices and help each other through the tricky parts.
It is also why 54% of Australian parents who game with their children say they do it as a fun way for the family to connect. A shared win feels better when everyone had a hand in it, and even the losses can become part of the story you laugh about later.
JB Hi-Fi’s Family Gaming Guide is worth a read for families working out where to start, covering platform differences, game classifications and parental controls without assuming any gaming background.
Helps Develop Important Skills in Children Away From the Controller
Gaming can look like play, but it often asks children to practise the skills parents want to nurture. Think problem-solving, creativity, teamwork and resilience. It’s active in a way passive entertainment isn’t, because children have to make choices, test ideas and keep going when something doesn’t work.
IGEA’s 2025 Australia Plays report backs this up, with 93% of respondents agreeing gaming builds cognitive skills in children, while 89% say it builds creativity and teamwork.
If you have older children and teenagers, PlayStation often lines up well with the way they want to play. Its library includes story-driven adventures, creative worlds, puzzle-solving and multiplayer games with more depth.
For children drawn more to creativity than competition, PC gaming is where that shows up most clearly. Games like Minecraft and Roblox are less about completing objectives and more about building, designing and collaborating, which is a different kind of skill development altogether.
At JB Hi-Fi, there’s room for however your children like to play. They have the latest PlayStation consoles and PC gaming hardware, along with games and accessories, so it’s easy to find a setup that suits your kids’ age and interests.
Does More for Adult Mental Well-Being Than Most Expect
Gaming for adults can feel like something to squeeze in between the things that actually matter or something you find yourself explaining when someone asks how you spent the evening. But the research does not see it that way.
The Entertainment Software Association found that 77% of players say gaming helps them feel less stressed, 70% report reduced anxiety and 75% say it makes them feel happier. Gaming is also how a lot of adults stay connected. 32% of 18 to 34-year-olds play specifically to keep in touch with family and friends.
For adults who want variety without committing to a single title, Xbox and its Game Pass subscription library cover a broad range of genres and moods. If you’re looking for a setup that covers both downtime and connection, JB Hi-Fi offers Xbox bundles at competitive prices. You can try an action game one evening and something slower the next, without worrying about a purchase sitting unplayed.
Gives Families a More Active Alternative to Sitting and Watching
One of the biggest worries about gaming is that it keeps everyone sitting still. Plenty of screen time does look that way. But VR can change the feel of it completely because you’re not just watching or pressing buttons. You’re looking around, reaching, dodging, swinging and reacting with your whole body.
That’s where Meta Quest gives family gaming a more active twist. It can turn screen time into something you move through, whether someone is playing a rhythm game, trying a sports challenge or passing the headset around so everyone gets a go. Research published in JMIR Serious Games in 2024 found that both play modes of the Supernatural fitness game on Meta Quest classify as vigorous physical activity.
If you want to see what that could look like for your family, JB Hi-Fi has over 205 stores Australia-wide. You can see the Meta Quest range in-store, ask questions and get expert advice before choosing the right setup.
See What Gaming Can Do for Your Family
Gaming can bring something different to family time. It can be quick and silly, active and energetic, creative and thoughtful, or a way to stay connected at the end of a long day. What matters is finding the setup that fits the way your family likes to play.
Whatever your family’s version of that looks like, see the full gaming range online at JB Hi-Fi and shop your way. With the biggest gaming brands, expert advice, Click and Collect and various delivery options available, you can shop the consoles, games and accessories that work for your household in one place.
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