Why is the big annual video game Conference, E3, important to you? Because it’s the conference where all the big new and sequeled video games are announced. If you have a child who loves video games…or perhaps you’re a big kid yourself, it helps to know what the hot games are going to be…ahead of the Christmas season. Most new games are released in late September and throughout October.
We head out to E3 in Los Angeles every year (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011) to find what we think are the best picks for family friendly video games. We were certainly not disappointed this year, finding some great video games you and your kids will enjoy.
Top Family Video Games Coming this Christmas….
1. Skylanders SuperChargers
– XBox One, XBOX 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, iPad
Skylanders has announced their newest version, Skylanders SuperChargers, which utilizes a new larger portal to accommodate land and sea vehicles, complete with cool modifications and upgradeable weapons. Portal masters can pair a SuperCharger Skylander with it’s special vehicle to unlock special powers in both the Skylander and the vehicle. All Skylander characters and vehicles are created to be used for physical and online play.
Portal Masters can take on new adventures traveling Skylander’s roads, racing down roaring rapids, and even perform aerial tricks as they battle and defeat Skylander enemies. Skylanders SuperChargers includes vehicle and on-foot adventures, combined with puzzles, mini games, and activities in this fun action-packed series.
Skylanders SuperChargers is available for pre-order for $74.96 now at Amazon
and will be available on September 20th.
2. Just Dance 2016
– XBox One, XBOX 360, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Wii U, Nintendo Wii
The Just Dance series has raised the bar once again for its latest Just Dance 2016 version. Just Dance 2016 features over 40 top hits including “All About That Bass” by Meghan Trainor and “Uptown Funk” from Marc Ronson ft. Bruno Mars. The game includes an exercise option where you can create your own playlist with songs included on the game. We had the chance to play Just Dance 2016 at E3 and it was a lot of fun.
One of the breakthroughs of this game is that you can invite friends over and ask them to download the Just Dance 2016 app on their Android, Apple, or Windows phone. After doing so, up to 6 people can play the game while holding onto their phone, eliminating the need to outfit each friend with a game controller. It’s a great way to include more people into the game. What a great concept! Or if you prefer to use the camera of your gaming console, you can have up to 4 people play, if you have enough controllers.
Just Dance 2016 features more than 40 great tracks including:
- ason Derulo “Want to Want Me”
- David Guetta Ft. Nicki Minaj, Afrojack & Bebe Rexha “Hey Mama”
- Calvin Harris Ft. John Newman “Blame”
- Lady Gaga “Born This Way”
- Queen “We Are The Champions” (Fatboy Slim Remix)
- NSYNC “Bye Bye Bye”
- Maroon 5 “Sugar”
- Taylor Swift “Shake it Off”
- Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball”
- Katy Perry “Wide Awake”
Just Dance 2016 will be available in October 20, 2015.
3. Disney Infinity – Star Wars
– XBox One, XBOX 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii U
Get ready, Disney Infinity is releasing their newest version of the popular Infinity series. Disney Infinity 3.0 featuring Star Wars: Twilight of the Republic, one of thee Star Wars Play Sets to be released later this year. Set in the latter years of Clone Wars, players will travel to four different locations while exploring the worlds of Tatooine, Coruscant, Geonosis, and Naboo. Characters available to save the Republic inlcude Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano.
Disney Infinity 3.0 Star Wars will give your kids plenty of reasons to sharpen their light saber skills as they battle Battledroids, Darth Maul, and more. Two additional sets will be available this Holiday Season including Star Wars: Rise Against the Empire and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Star Wars themed items and backdrops will be included as a part of the newly enhanced Toy Box.
In addition to the Star Wars themed Starter Play Sets, Disney will be introducing a Pixar Inside Out Play Set as well, featuring Riley’s emotions, Joy, Fear, Anger, disgust, and Sadness.
Disney Infinity 2.0 will be available towards the end of the year. It is available for pre-order through Amazon
for $64.96. No pre-order is available yet for the Inside Out Play Set.
4. Rockband 4
XBOX One, PlayStation 4
Rockband 4 is coming out later this year, it’s back with a vast and diverse collection of rock music, sure to get anyone’s rock blood pumping! Rock Band 4 will give games access to over 2,000 songs and well as integrate the music Rock Band fans already own. Added rock bands include Fleetwood Mac, Elvis, Evanescence, Nirvana, Fall Out Boy, R.E.M., The Who, The White Stripes, Soundgarden and More. RockBand 4 will feature a new generation of music game controllers to provide the most authentic band experience available on consoles.
Rockband 4 is available through pre-order on Amazon for $249.99 + free shipping and will be available on October 6, 2015.
5. Nintendo’s Yoshi’s Woolly World
Nintendo Wii U
Nintendo created Yoshi’s Woolly World to appeal to kids and adults alike. Take Yoshi along a path of fun new adventures, colorized in a world of yarn with new paths being knitted as you travel. Yoshi’s Woolly World allows up to 2 players to travel together cooperatively…or compete with two Yoshi Amiibo’s. Yoshi fights off enemies and soars to new heights with good-hearted yarn-spun fun. No worries about racing the clock, Yoshi’s Woolly World is not timed, giving you plenty of time to discover hidden areas or uncover fun goodies.
What makes Yoshi’s Woolly World even more fun are the cute amiibo figures you buy to work with the game. Instead of the typical plastic amiibo figures, all Yoshi’s are adorned in fun, handwoven yarn. They can be taped onto your Wii U gamepad to bring Yoshi into the game…or played with outside of the game.
Yoshi’s Woolly World is available on October 16, 2015.
6. LEGO Dimensions
– XBox One, XBOX 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii U
LEGO introduced yet another portal product in the video game industry. But determined to be more innovative, yet true to the LEGO brand, LEGO created a new game called LEGO Dimensions that is, well, fascinating. Dimensions boasts up to 7 characters that can be included in the game as well as LEGO vehicles that can be remade, as directed by the in-game instructions, into new super vehicles. Clever.
But, what makes Dimensions fascinating is that it incorporates brands and characters from many various Warner Bros. properties and collides the worlds together. Unlike Disney’s restricted world access for characters who don’t belong (ie an Incredibles character in a Monsters Inc. game), Warner Bros pulls out all the stops, allowing you to play with Batman, Marty from Back-to-the-Future, and even Scooby Dooby Do together in one world! But the fun doesn’t stop there, take your characters through different dimensions and you may end up on the Yellow Brick World on the road to Oz…with Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Lion!
Dimensions is a fun, unexpected twist for the usual portal games and sure to bring lots of family entertainment. Show/Movie titles include Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, The Simpsons, the LEGO Movie, and more.
LEGO Dimensions will be available on September 27, 2015.
I was happy to see that there were a lot of great family friendly games at E3 this year. Here are a couple more of great games we recommend for some engaging family fun…
Tearaway Unfolded – Travel through a vibrant living papery world as you face adventures and adversity in order to deliver a special message. Discover half-forgotten stories and folklore that magically unfolds as you travel to lost lands and forgotten forests. The original Tearaway was one of our very favorite games. Available only on the PS4.
Barbie & Her Sisters Puppy Rescue – Barbie, Skipper, Stacie, and Chelsea work together to solve clues to find, rescue, and care for lost puppies. Each sister specializes in her unique skill sets in caring for the puppies, teaching them new tricks, and playing with them. Based on the upcoming DVD Barbie and her Sisters in the Great Puppy Adventure, this is a fun endearing game for younger children. Available on Wi, Wi U, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360.
Kung Fu Panda: Showdown of Legendary Legends – Fight in action-packed competitions in the Kung Fu Panda universe with your favorite characters – Po, Tigress, Monkey, Tai Lung, and Master Shifu. Contend in a Tournament where Kung Fu warriors battle for honor and glory. If you love the Kung Fu Panda movies, this game will continue the fun at home. Available for the Wi U, PS3, PS4, XBOX One, XBOX 360 and Nintendo 3DS.
So you see, there are many video games available for all ages this year. The sooner you buy these games the better chance you’ll have of getting them before they sell out. Also, keep in mind, if you grab the Star Wars Starter Pack, Disney will come out with 2 more Star Wars sets afterwards. Budget accordingly, because when the new Star Wars sets come out, you’ll probably want those too. Each Star Wars set opens up a new section in the Disney Infinity 3.0 game.
Bookmark this article tucked away for future reference to help you remember this year’s hottest video games for Christmas.
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