1. "Super Mario Galaxy" (Wii): This mustachioed plumber has been the icon of gaming since the original Super Mario Bros. came out over a decade ago. The latest game for the Nintendo Wii is absolutely the best "Mario" sequel to come out yet. This game takes full advantage of the Wii Remote, a motion-sensing device for the Nintendo Wii, allowing players to waggle and point at the screen to make Mario do some pretty incredible feats, from piloting a Manta Ray to throwing fireballs. The gameplay is unlike any other game, because the player can now run around entire planets in space and through mind-bending puzzles. (Audience: Anybody who loves great games. Rated E for Everyone. Retail: $49.99)
2. "Rockband" (Xbox 360 and PS3): Rockband is a rhythm game that uses a guitar, drums, bass and a mic to let you play along with the music scrolling by on-screen. And I speak from first-hand experience that this is one of the best party games ever created.
This game is the spiritual sequel to the famed "Guitar Hero" series (it’s even made by the original makers of that game), and it is one of the most hyped games this season.
So finally your teenager’s dreams of starting a rockband can be lived out this Christmas. At least you won’t need the ear plugs. (Audience: Future rockstars; Groupies not included. T for Teen. Retail $169.99 for the bundle; $59.99 for just the game, and compatible with "Guitar Hero" guitars.)
3. "Wii Play" (Wii): This pack of family-friendly mini-games is pretty short, so naturally it comes with another Wii-Remote. And believe me, if "Wii Sports" and "Wii Play" are any testament to the sheer fun your family can have, getting another controller will be a necessity when the extended family comes in for Christmas. (Audience: Absolutely anyone. E for Everyone. Retail $49.99)
4. "Bioshock" (Xbox 360): While this game will definitely appeal to the hardcore gamers in your family, it is one of the most highly intellectual and atmospheric games ever created.
The game itself is based on the political ideas of Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged) and takes place deep underwater in the city of a fallen utopia called Rapture. The levels are beautifully rendered and, because the city is frozen in the year 1958, the architecture is designed in Art Deco, giving the game a profoundly haunting ethos.
This intensely violent, yet artistically beautiful first-person shooter is one title that gamers cannot miss. (Audience: Those not easily frightened. Rated M for Mature. Retail $59.99)
5. "Halo 3" (Xbox 360): The game that rivals the biggest Hollywood blockbuster gross’s ended its epic sci-fi trilogy this fall.
Players take control of Master Chief, protecting Earth from the space alien Covenant, and compete in fierce firefights in a deep single-player campaign or against other "Halo" fans worldwide on Xbox Live.
Many new features have been added to beef up gameplay and multiplayer matches, making this one of the best games of the season. (Audience: The future space-marine of your family. T for Teen. Retail $59.99)
6. "The Orange Box" (Xbox 360, PS3 and PC): The best-valued game this year, or decade for that matter, is simultaneously the most oddly named.
Famed developer Valve has put in this "box" one of the most critically acclaimed games ever made: "Half Life 2," with additional Episodes 1 and 2. On top of that is a new game called "Portal," which is a quirky and genuinely funny puzzler in which players fire portals from a gun, to navigate mind-bending levels.
To top it off, Valve included "Team Fortress 2," an online multiplayer squad shooter that features a new cell-shaded art style.
"The Orange Box" will provide hundreds of hours of gameplay, and a name that will invite questions from extended family on Christmas. (Audience: For shooter fans and tightwads. T for Teen. Retail $59.99)
7. "Phantom Hourglass" (Nintendo DS): The legendary Zelda is back on the DS for a touch screen adventure that will attract both young and old to its cartoony look and rich gameplay. (Audience: Zelda fans, younger DS owners, and outsiders curious about the franchise. E for Everyone. Retail $29.99)
8. "Ratchet and Clank: Tools of Destruction" (PS3): This quirky and sarcastic platformer is not exactly as family-friendly as your typical "Mario" game, but it features spectacular graphics (especially on an HD TV) and solid shooter-gameplay. (Audience: Mature players needing a game to show off on their high-definition TV. M for Mature. Retail $59.99)
9. "Mass Effect" (Xbox 360): One of the most anticipated and ambitious games this year is from the critically acclaimed developer Bioware ("KOTOR," "Jade Empire"). "Mass Effect" is an epic sci-fi action/RPG in which players travel across hyper-realistic planets making moral choices that truly affect how the game plays, and ultimately ends. (Audience: Lovers of science fiction and role-playing games. M for Mature. Retail $59.99)
10. "Brain Age 2" (DS): Perfect for an older crowd who likes puzzles yet are unfamiliar with the world of videogames. "Brain Age 2" is a pick-up-and-play title that utilizes the DS touchscreen, making it easy for first times (or old timers) to play instantly. The mini-games are fun, creative, so buying this is a no-brainer! (Audience: Non-gamers. E for Everyone. Retail $29.99)
Sorce: ABC