Top Wii Games for Kids Under 14

Nintendo's Wii (pronounced WEE) has taken the world by storm. Offering games that get young people up off the sofa and moving around while they're still playing video games, the interactive controller is finally here in our homes, and most certainly the way of things to come. With the explored potentials of the three-dimensional sensors in the Wii controllers, virtual ping-pong, skateboarding, surfing, golf and other sport-type games are now possible right there in your home!

The secret is in the controller and its interface. Sensors within it tell the Wii gaming system what angle and movements are being made by the player. Want to turn that virtual motorcycle to the right? Just lean that way with the controller! Playing a round of golf? The system senses both angle and speed, and adds that to location to determine the results of your swing! And for the kids, it's a festival of possibilities! It's a sure bet that other systems will come out to emulate this way of integrating with virtual reality games, but for 2009, the Wii system is it!

Game manufacturers have risen to the occasion, offering up many wholesome games for the Kids and Tweens group. Youngsters ages 6-13 really get into these interactive games! Amongst the top Wii games for that age group are:

Wii Mario Kart with Wii Wheel - Mario has been grabbing top slots for many years now, and this year is no exception. The included Wii wheel controller makes the game all the more realistic, the movements more instinctive and natural, as young people of all ages steer their karts (and motorcycles,) piloting them around the Mushroom Kingdom race track! Do aerials, helicopters, all sorts of maneuvers! Added tracks and enhanced graphics are also available. The game can be played in either single or Multi-player mode. Definitely the Wii hit of the year!

This Nintendo Wii virtuality is a more than ample answer to Guitar Hero! Why be a poser when you can make your own music instead? With over 60 instruments to pick from, you're not likely to get bored any time soon. The interface? Awesome as usual. Use the Wii Remote and the Nunchuk Controller together. What's it like? In one mode, each musician is represented by an endearing anime character. In another, you're playing the instrument itself. For example, there's a drum kit before you, and as you air-play the virtual instrument with the controller, the drums, cymbals, etc. are being played on the screen and heard through the audio system. What's more, it sounds really good! Once again, kids of all ages will have a blast letting out their creative musical muse with Wii Music making this one of the
top Wii games for kids!

One of the best aspects of the Wii system has already been mentioned. It gets you out of the seat and active, moving. So it stands to reason that the Wii Fit, with it's accompanying Balance Board, a pressure-sensitive controller platform, would make the top of the list. Used for both sports games and as a comprehensive fitness package, this system makes getting in better shape a fun activity for the whole family, kids and teens included! Your BMI is automatically calculated, and the Balance Board even guides you to keep your body weight centered evenly on the board! Set condition goals and Wii Fit will set you on a course to help you achieve them! Balance games and exercises (including fun stuff like snowboarding from atop the platform) make improving your sense of balance fun! Aerobic exercises like virtual hula hoops are also popular! You can even jog (in place) through scenic parks, and the Wii Fit system will be keeping track of your workout the whole time! Dance/stomp games are also included. Then there are yoga exercises with an encouraging virtual instructor to improve muscle tone and posture, and even muscle workout exercises! With more than 40 different types of exercises to improve posture, balance and muscle tone, and the system tracking your progress, this is one of the most inventive uses of the Wii system yet!

Now we come to a favorite of generations: Star Wars (the Lego version). This game has been in the Top Ten since 2007, and it's even more popular today, for that all six episodes are included in one very reasonably priced game! With Wii Lego Star Wars - The Complete Saga you'll be able to play you favorite Star Wars characters, practice your Jedi techniques, and solve puzzles and riddles along the way! More than 160 characters are available, and this year's version offers enhanced Force user abilities, a new Challenge mode, added power-ups, a better character customization section, and more levels! What's more, with the Wii version, everything is performed by using the motion-sensitive controllers, making it all the more realistic!

Not to be outdone by the Lego version, Star Wars' The Clone Wars - Lightsaber Duels lets you express your inner Jedi. Who hasn't wanted to be able to be a Jedi or a Sith? Play your part as you wield your Lightsaber - er, controller - in famous scenes from the movies! Duel with friends! This top Wii game is a blast!

If you're a skier, you'll be glad to know that We Ski is available for the Wii system too! With a pressure-sensitive base pad and a controller in each hand to represent your poles, up to four people can hit the slopes, summer or winter, right there in your living room! This highly intuitive ski encounter has 14 different slopes. Catch air, do tricks, tuck it through the moguls, and just generally have a blast! You're represented by friendly cartoon-like characters, making it all the more enticing to the kids. Is it quite the same as the real thing? No, it's a lot warmer, more convenient and less expensive! Good clean fun for the entire family!

We'd be remiss in our duties if we didn't give credit to Rock Band and Guitar Heroes. Both of these ultra-popular games are available for Wii, and take advantage of some of the potentials of the Wii system to make your air-guitar and other instruments even more realistic!

Another new concept is the Active Life series' Outdoor Challenge. Some of the games played on this pressure-sensitive floor mat include water trampoline, river kayaking, jumping rope, running hurdles... more than a dozen, all told! You and the kids can play this one, for a really fun time and some family exercise!

If you're looking for old-style kid's games with a whole slew of new twists, the platform-hopping Klonoa for Wii is definitely going to keep you busy for hours on end. Very colorful, light-hearted cartoon graphics make this a sure-fire winner with the younger kids. But don't count out the grown ups either. Klonoa's only requirement is that you be young at heart!

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