Decades ago, families used to gather around the radio and listen to the Sunday night broadcast together. Years later, radio was replaced by colored television as families then organized Friday night movie nights in their home, complete with popcorn and cans of soda pop.
Today, video game consoles have become the primary source of entertainment for most kids and teens; leaving them isolated in their rooms conversing with their friends over headsets. So how can you reconnect with your teens in this new world of technology? Join them in a night of video game fun! The Nintendo Wii is one of the most popular video game systems ever created. According to About Fatherhood.com, the games listed below allow for a lot of interaction between players and are fun for players at all levels. So grab a Wii control and enjoy a night of 21st century family gaming with your children.
1. Mario Kart
If you loved Mario Kart for other Nintendo units (like DS or Game Cube), then the Wii version will really be a hit with you and your family. Not only are the graphics amazing, but the maps are creative and the ability to race other players online (up to 12 at a time) makes it a real kick. To make the experience even better, purchase the Mario Kart wheel accessory.
Your kids may not appreciate the pinball games of your youth– hours and hours spent pumping quarters into the pinball machine at your local arcade. But this version of the classic game is easy to learn and fun to play, and your kids will become addicted to Pinball Hall of Fame.
This is the second installment in the Boom Blox series. Boom Blox is a really fun concept in which game players strike at or pull out blocks from a variety of structures. The characters in Boom Blox are entertaining and engaging and the tools for striking blocks now include various shapes like cylinders and wedges. They are fired with cannons, slingshots and other implements. The colors and sounds are bright and loud – just like dads and kids like.
4. Playground for Nintendo Wii
Remember the lazy summer afternoons at the neighborhood park playground? Playground for Wii includes virtual activities like tetherball, dodgeball, lawn darts, slot car racing, and paper airplane competitions are available for you and your kids to enjoy. The graphics are colorful and fun, and the action realistic. If you like any Wii games, you will enjoy the ones offered in Playground.
Once again, this game is a real throwback to the carnivals of bygone days at the County Fair or the local carny. Think ring toss, lucky caps, dunk tanks, and shooting gallery as carnival games. Players can also visit a swami or a fortune teller. Step right up and experience this game with your family!
This game is full of adventurous competitions– power cruising, disc dog, archery, fencing and more. It is pretty good exercise for couch potato dads and kids, and the graphics are extraordinarily fun and enticing. Wii accessories and Wii Motion Plus make these games even more enjoyable!
7. Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Star Wars has long been a favorite franchise for fathers and children alike. In this latest version of Star Wars Lego games, there are game units that reflect all six Star Wars movies. The games actually require players to use team building and cooperation skills, so there are even life lessons available as the game is played. With over 160 different characters, every game played is unique and different.
8. Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Another Lego classic, Indiana Jones 2 is really an adventure. Taking its theme from the Indiana Jones movie series, this game allows the player to collect historic artifacts which then unlock various characters and levels which test the players skills and creativity. With many new vehicles, weapons and characters, this game will immediately engage adventurous fathers and children.
Based on the I Spy book series, these games are challenging for older children and dads. This is not a game that children under seven years-old will enjoy. But for older kids and dads, this will be a really fun game experience. The graphics are very cool and the game is full of riddles, excellent character action and simulations, and great games involving darts, paddleball and more.
10. MySims Party for Nintendo Wii
My Sims Party offers 50 fast-paced mini-games in which any combination of Sims may participate as a team. Each Sim brings his or her own set of strengths and weaknesses, and you will want to try to build the best team to win a given set of mini-games. It will help dads and children learn more about team work and human interaction. Ideally suited to children close to 8 years old, the Sims Party game will be a favorite of dads and kids.
