Top 12 Games for Christmas 2009

Christmas is just around the corner and kids everywhere are getting excited to see what will be under the tree this year. One gift genre that shouldn’t be overlooked is games. Kids love games, whether they’re board games, games of skill or electronic and video games. Games are a great way for a whole family to come together for an afternoon or evening and have fun. So, what are the top games for Christmas, 2009? Let’s look at the top 12.

Bowling Bunnies

A fun game for preschoolers and even older kids, Bowling Bunnies was created after the German lawn game Skittles. The bunnies sit on a wood base and players bowl them over with soft, kid safe “cabbage” beanbag bowling balls.

Wild Planet Animal Scramble

This award winning preschool game teaches kids to think on the fly with a tag styled game that develops the skills of listening, thinking, sharing and cooperating. Kids can play by themselves or with friends.

Monopoly

Kids young and old still love this oldie but goodie classic board game. Monopoly is a great way to spend some time having fun and building empires. Players learn to strategize and think ahead. Money handling skills are also part of the fun.

Hullabaloo

Full of fun and surprises, Hullabaloo keeps players moving with a game that is reminiscent of Twister, but with a twist. Players listen to the game console, which instructs them to jump here and slide there. Movement is constant until the console says, “Freeze”. The game is fun and funny for kids of all ages.

Scene It

There are several different versions of the Scene It game, but they all revolve around the same theme – your favorite movies. Watch the scenes from the movies, answer questions and race your friends to get to the Winner’s Circle.

Here’s the First Five, but scroll down to see the rest!

Cranium

The first version of Cranium is as popular as ever. Players complete artistic, language, performance and trivia activities in teams. The result is usually lots of laughter, a bit of mayhem and even some drama!

Mario Kart: Double Dash

With a cast of twenty characters to choose from, players can be anyone they like in Mario Kart: Double Dash. The video game is different from other Mario Kart games because it uses not one player in a kart, but two. The game also features multi-player battle codes. Double Dash has been out for a while, but it’s still a favorite.

Guitar Hero III

The third in the Guitar Hero series of video games, players win by hitting the correct notes on their “guitar” as the notes scroll to the bottom of the screen. Staying in time with the music requires a fair amount of skill, but kids (and parents) get a kick out of playing it.

Buzz! Junior Jungle Party

This award winning video game actually contains several mini-games, many of which are quite easy and suitable for young children. The quiz games can be played and enjoyed by older kids and even adults. Up to four people can play at a time, but the game can also be played solo.

SpongeBob Square Pants: Creature from the Krusty Krab

Sponge Bob is fun no matter what, so this video game has to be fun, too. Players can be Sponge Bob Square Pants, Patrick Star or Sheldon J. Plankton and must find their way through nine levels of play in a Krusty Krab dream world. If you and your kids love Sponge Bob, this is a must-have.

Here’s the second batch of five, but scroll down to see the last two!

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

This video game was created with Lego fans in mind. Most of the games settings and pieces are made from Lego bricks. Creating new Lego Star Wars character is one feature of the game, and players must fend off attacks from blasters and other evils.

Wii Fit

When did fitness become so much fun? Family fitness is now a video game called the Wii Fit. You can do Yoga, strength training, aerobics and balance games with the Wii Fit. It’s hard to tell whether this is really a game or a fitness tool.

This is a mix of board games, active participation games (where you have to do something other than sit or interact with the TV or computer) and video games. Some can be enjoyed alone, and all of them can be enjoyed by two or more players. The whole point is to have fun.