Most Popular Video Games
Source: Tween Parent Staff
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As a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend, sometimes it's hard to go into a game store or online and figure out what to buy for that special little someone. Of course, a gift card is always an option, but sometimes it's nice to open a present. To give you a starting place to determine what might be a "winner" gift, below is a list of the the most popular video games, by age group, as compiled by whattheyplay.com. In addition, we've gathered information from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB, the leading video game rating organization) to include helpful information (content descriptors and ratings summaries, when available) to help inform you of objectionable content that may have factored into the rating.
Everyone (Ages 6 and Older)
New Super Mario Bros. (Wii); Comic Mischief; "Some enemies crumble into pieces when jumped on, get momentarily stunned, or make ‘pop-like' sounds before getting knocked off screen." [More...]
Wii Sports Resort (Wii); Cartoon Violence; "In a ‘Sword Play' game, players use a dull, wood-like sword to hit other characters on a platform. Players can also strike (‘whacking' sound effects, flashes of light) multiple characters on a beach to complete a stage." [More...]
Mario Kart Wii (Wii); Comic Mischief
Little Big Planet (PS3); Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence; "Hazards include bombs, spiked vehicles, stampeding bulls, and even giant shoes. One ancillary character makes belching noises while talking to the player's character." [More...]
Wii Fit Plus (Wii); Mild Cartoon Violence; "During the snowball fight, players use a crosshair target to hit opponents, causing them to fall to the ground and disappear." [More...]
Mario & Luigi Bowser's Inside Story (DS); Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence; "During turn-based combat, players can jump on the enemies or pelt them with fireballs and turtle shells to defeat them. In one scene, a tiny work emits flatulence (i.e., a yellow cloud) in a character's face to elude being captured." [More...]
Toy Story Mania! (Wii)
Need for Speed Shift (Windows PC, PS3, Xbox 360); Mild Violence; "...earn ‘aggression points' for erratic driving or bumping into other cars; when racers collide with objects and cars on the track, they sometimes grunt in pain." [More...]
Everyone 10+ (Ages 10 and Older)
Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (Wii); Cartoon Violence; "Players use guns, whips, barstools and bazookas...the fighting action is constant: multiple waves of enemies need to be eliminated in order to collect Lego stud pieces and complete levels." [More...]
Scribblenauts (DS); Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief; "Players can elect to summon ‘cartoony' versions of bats, bombs, guns, and flamethrowers. These types of items can be used to destroy objects or even other summoned items (e.g., a club can be used to hit an animal; steak can be attached to a baby to attract lions...)." [More...]
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box (DS); Alcohol Reference, Mild Violence; "The storyline sometimes includes discussions about murder or death....puzzle includes a text hint that mentions villagers toasting with red wine and dancing until late in the night." [More...]
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack In Time (PS3); Animated Blood, Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence; "...weapons to attack numerous robots and aliens throughout the game. Combat frequently results in robot enemies exploding into bursts of orange light, but more often, into nuts and bolts. Some alien creatures leave a greenish platter on the ground when hit. The game's combat can be frenetic..." [More...]
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360); Cartoon Violence
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (DS); Mild Fantasy Violence; "Players use a sword, boomerang, whip, bow & arrows, and tiny cannonballs to clear away the enemies." [More...]
Lego Rock Band (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360); Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Lyrics; "...characters engage in not so civil behavior: a hotel room is trashed; a character belches loudly into a microphone...song lyrics occasionally reference violence...use the expletive ‘hell,' and seemingly allude to substance abuse." [More...]
Tony Hawk: Ride (Wii); Animated Blood, Lyrics, Mild Suggestive Themes; "Some tattoos depict women in provocative poses and outfits...one tattoo displays scratch marks dripping in red etchings designed to look like blood. Some song lyrics within the game contain the expletive ‘hell,' allusions to violence, or suggestive material." [More...]
http://www.esrb.org/ratings/synopsis.jsp?Certificate=27424&searchkeyword=Tony%20Hawk:%20Ride
Teen (Ages 13 and Older)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3); Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence; "...players will encounter mercenaries/soldiers who will attack with realistic machine guns...players can brawl...brief splashes of blood...sexual/suggestive innuendo...words sh*t, b*tch, and a*s are sometimes exclaimed." [More...]
Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2010 with Gun Bundle (Wii); Blood, Violence; "Player-hunters are rewarded for each animal they kill using crossbows, rifles, and shotguns...brief puffs of blood sometimes appear when animals are hit." [More...]
The Sims 3: World Adventures Expansion Pack (Mac, PC); Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
The Beatles: Rock Band (Wii); Mild Lyrics, Tobacco Reference; "Some song lyrics contain suggestive references...band members holding cigarettes or smoking." [More...]
Wii Zapper with Link's Crossbow Training (Wii); Fantasy Violence
The Sims 3 (PC); "Players can ‘WooHoo' with another Sime...available to heterosexual and same-sex couples...cause the selected avatars to jump into bed and go under the covers, where they wriggle, giggle, and moan until confetti bursts over the bed...characters can die of old age; they can also die as a result of neglect." [More...]
Unchartered: Drake's Fortune (PS3); Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Tobacco, Violence
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii); Cartoon Violence, Crude Humor
For additional information about technology and your tween, check out these other articles on tweenparent.com:
Video Game Ratings Need Context Too!
Video Game Safety Tips for Parents
With Proper Limits, Video Games Can Offer Benefits
Additional information on this topic:
Top 25 Most Popular Video Game Websites (December 2009), per eBizMBA.com
Hot video games for holiday shopping, per cnn.com
Nintendo's Game Designer Unfazed by Profit Drop
