Nintendo Switch games like Lego City: Undercover

[Probablygreen]

DS 8 got a Nintendo switch for Christmas. He also got a fair few games to play, including Crash Bandicoot, Mario, Mario Kart and stuff like that, but the one he really enjoyed was Lego City: Undercover. This has ended up being the only one he’s really played. He’s now completed the missions and is playing in free play mode trying to collect all of the other things he missed while he was doing the missions.
I’m looking for a similar game for his next birthday but coming up blank. I don’t really play myself so have no idea even what type of game it is to start searching!
I think the appeal is lots of mini-missions to complete rather than going through levels like Mario, as well as the option to just explore and do whatever you please. I’m not really all that comfortable with the idea of games like Minecraft, both because I don’t want the violence/online element of it, but also because I don’t think it’s building worlds that he’s interested in, although I’m open to the idea that I have completely misunderstood what it’s about!
Does anyone have any good recommendations?

There is a whole world of Lego games! City Undercover is the only one that is it's own plotline - the rest are based on films/TV - but they all have the same set up of a story you play through (with the smash Lego and build it into new shapes mechanic) and can then replay in freeplay mode, plus the "base" areas that you can explore and look for mini challenges to try and unlock characters etc (I have never completed a whole game though I used to play them loads!)

There are a variety to cover all ages. Off the top of my head I can think of Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Incredibles and Ninjago.

If you search for Lego: (name of franchise) game you should find them easy enough. They often turn up second hand in Game and CEX as well.

My children LOVED Lego Marvel Superheroes, they played on Xbox but I assume it's the same thing!

I love the Harry Potter lego games

Besides all the lego games, there are also games like stardew valley, which are really friendly and entertaining. if they want, they can rush through it and complete all the assignments in a short time, but it is also very well possible to play it every day for a bit and slowly improve the life of your character.

I agree with everyone else. The Lego franchise of games are incredible.

Thanks everyone, I’ll definitely look into some other Lego games, he likes Harry Potter so that might be a good call.

Is Stardew Valley like Animal Crossing? We have that one but he’s not a huge fan because there’s too much reading!