Wii games for all ages

December 1, 2009 6:24 AM

I'm thinking about buying a Wii for my family this xmas. What are some titles that my parents (mid 50s) might enjoy playing with my niece and nephew (ages 3 and 5)?
posted by sonofslim to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (18 answers total)

The Wii Fit would be fun for them all - it has interesting balance games, and nobody can find racing around a beach on a Segway unenjoyable.
posted by fish tick at 6:27 AM on December 1, 2009

Boom Blox is one of my personal favorites, not hard to figure out and lots of fun.
posted by InsanePenguin at 6:29 AM on December 1, 2009

Mario Kart is probably suitable. My three-year-old loves it, and my parents (in their 70s) took to it fairly easily. It's one of those games that's fun even if you're hopeless.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 6:35 AM on December 1, 2009

Wario Ware Smooth Moves is a fun title with a bunch of short silly casual games. No learning curve to get started. In fact, I would recommend starting your search with the "party" style games since they allow for sharing in large groups and are usually fun for the spectators too.

If your parents can move a bit, then the fambly might enjoy Active Life Outdoor Challenge which works with a mat controller and has a bunch of fun, casual movement games.
posted by cross_impact at 6:38 AM on December 1, 2009

Wii Sports (which I believe comes with the system) is fun, pretty simple, and my grandma loves it.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:40 AM on December 1, 2009

Best answer: Agreed that Mario Kart is a great group game even if people have widely-different skill levels, as is Wii Resort. Since the kids are 3 and 5, the Wii Play set of mini-games might be good for little ones with a short attention span too.
posted by harriet vane at 6:41 AM on December 1, 2009

nthing Mario Kart. It's the most played game at our house with our 5 yr old.
posted by jaythebull at 6:43 AM on December 1, 2009

nthing Wii Sports: we were just with family for Thanksgiving, and Grandma (in her 60s) and the kids enjoyed bowling immensely; Carnival Games for the Wii was also fun across generations.

I'd disagree with Mario Kart, though; grandma and grandpa had trouble following what was going on in their 'box' on the screen, a mix of too much constantly changing and poor eyesight. It's not hard to play, but when there's three other carts on the screen with their own movement and trying to follow arrows on the walls and keep an eye on the map and avoid obstacles and other players, grandma just got frustrated. Although, whether they were a seasoned gamer or an inexperienced grandma, everyone ended somewhere between 9th and 12th place, nobody ever got close to winning a race -- it strikes me as a game nobody can win, so if everyone's happy laughing at grandma driving in small circles because she can't find the way out, it's not bad.
posted by AzraelBrown at 6:59 AM on December 1, 2009

Best answer: Definitely get Wii Sports Resort and a second motion plus; the games in Wii Sports Resort are an excellent complement to Wii Sports and they are all just a blast.
posted by ulotrichous at 7:43 AM on December 1, 2009

The new Super Mario Bros. is really fun, and can be played by up to 4 people. Lesser skilled players can encase themselves in a protective bubble during gameplay to prevent themselves from dying, so that the more experienced players can navigate difficult areas, which is pretty cool. I also nth MarioKart....it's super fun. Yes, it can be frustrating if you don't have good hand eye coordination or aren't used to using the controller, but if you can laugh at yourself a little while you learn, it's very rewarding when you finally start winning races.

If your parents can move a bit

Heh. They're in their 50s, not their 90s.

I'm the mother of a 19 yr old boy and a 23 yr old girl and I whip their smug little asses on a weekly basis in MarioKart and several other Wii games. We aren't all ready for old age homes, Sonny! *shakes cane at the whippersnappers*
posted by iconomy at 7:43 AM on December 1, 2009 [1 favorite]

Mario Party 8 is fun for a group - it's got the simplicity needed for younger players, but has enough strategy that my household of "kids" in their 30s loves it.
posted by GJSchaller at 7:47 AM on December 1, 2009

Oh man, I can't believe I forgot about New Super Mario Bros. Wii. Aside from the horrendous naming convention, it's amazing.
posted by InsanePenguin at 7:53 AM on December 1, 2009

There was a story on All Things Considered the other day about the popularity of Wii Bowling among seniors.
posted by bentley at 9:04 AM on December 1, 2009

I recently bought Toy Story Mania, and I think it would suit your needs--it's kind of based on classic carnival games: pie throwing, skee ball, that strength game where you slam a hammer down, etc.

Wii Sports does, I think, still come with the system, and I can attest to the fact that it was super fun to box the crap out of my 50-something mother. She had it coming!
posted by padraigin at 10:37 AM on December 1, 2009

Wii Sports is great. Wii Beach Sports is fun too--just imagine Gran playing bocce ball on the beach with the kids! Or smacking 'em down in beach volleyball.
posted by bluedaisy at 12:51 PM on December 1, 2009

Best answer: wii sports/resort/fit are all gimmies.

like others i want to yell from the rooftops BOOM BLOX BASH PARTY!
posted by nadawi at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2009

Williams Pinball Hall of Fame!
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 2:04 PM on December 1, 2009

Response by poster: Besting everyone who said Sports Resort. The 3-year-old can keep up with the simpler games and there's enough variety for my parents to find it just as fun. Thanks everyone!
posted by sonofslim at 2:28 PM on December 28, 2009