Family games are titles that mum, dad and the kids can enjoy playing together.
They are easy to learn and play, and are available in small doses if the family doesn’t have more than an hour or two at a time to devote to gaming.
Below are some new releases that in the lead-up to Christmas should give you some incentive to game with the family.
Carnival Games –Nintendo Wii
Imagine the thrill of going to the Melbourne Show without having to pay for playing carnival games.
If you’re willing to sacrifice the chance of real plush toy prize for a virtual one, then Carnival Games for Wii will be right up your sideshow alley.
Using the motion-sensitive Wii controller, up to four people can compete simultaneously in classic carnival-style games such as throwing a baseball at milk bottles, shooting gallery, basketball, strength tester and many more.
Players gesture with the Wii controller what move they want to make, meaning the game is the closest thing to actually being at the carnival, minus the entry fee and hefty participation costs.
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga – Wii and Xbox 360
This compilation of Lego Star Wars titles is fantastic fun for people who don’t already own the original Lego Star Wars titles.
Essentially, you go on a simple yet fun romp through the Star Wars universe, which has been cleverly redesigned in Lego blocks, true to the classic plastic hobby itself.
Up to two players can play at the same time, collecting Lego studs to unlock secret items and levels as they blast their rifles and swing their lightsabres through 36 levels spanning the entire six Star Wars films.
Thrillville: Off the Rails –Xbox 360
Theme park-building games can be overly complex, not to mention limited to the PC, making them inaccessible to a younger audience that would otherwise be keen on building a new Disneyland.
Enter Thrillville: Off the Rails, a zany theme park game that allows the gamers to ride or play any attraction.
The best part is that Thrillville is packed with mini games that load, so instead of the sometimes boring experience that riding virtual attractions offer, the gamer is taken to a mini game that in most cases would be worthy of an Xbox Live Arcade download.
The building element is still there, and the whole family will be able to construct some devilish rollercoasters.
