Hello Pixelkiners!  The most important thing you’ll ever read is Courtney’s how-to guide for spotting knock-off video game consoles and accessories. From harmless off-brand products to knock-offs that will burn your house down, she covers them all and gives you five easy warning signs that you can look for before you buy a cheap imitation of the real thing.

Speaking of buying consoles, if you’re in the market this holiday season we totally recommend the Wii U. Silly name aside, it’s basically the best family console out there. Now that it’s got awesome games like Super Smash Bros., Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8, and more it’s a must-have for games that you can play as a family. Check out Eric Watson’s “4 Reasons to Buy a Wii U” for more.

And if those Wii U games don’t tempt you, try Captain Toad Treasure Tracker. We just reviewed it, and we totally love it. It’s a puzzle-platformer that relies on perspective. You can turn each level around to see where the safe path is, making it like a really cool Nintendo version of the mobile game Monument Valley. It also uses the Wii U’s gamepad features—stuff like the microphone and the touch screen. Definitely check out that review to see loads of cute pictures of Toad, and then nab that game right now.

If your kids show an interest in game development and want to make money doing it, point them towards Roblox. It joins other game-makers like Project Spark and Disney Infinity in offering players a chance to design and publish their own games. The players and a team of moderators ensure that the online play is safe and fun. Game design a great way to practice logical thinking and creativity. Learn more about Roblox in Nicole Tanner’s article.

Last but not least, our holiday gift guide is up! Whether you’re buying games for kids or teens, we have this year’s favorites. Check our recommendations, and let us know what your holiday game is in the comments below. Don’t forget to subscribe to this channel, it really helps us out, and keep up with all the latest family gaming news on Pixelkin.org

 


This article was written by

Simone de Rochefort is a game journalist, writer, podcast host, and video producer who does a prolific amount of Stuff. You can find her on Twitter @doomquasar, and hear her weekly on tech podcast Rocket, as well as Pixelkin's Gaming With the Moms podcast. With Pixelkin she produces video content and devotes herself to Skylanders with terrifying abandon.