Christmas Day can be a busy time for the “host” family. A bunch of people come over to your house, most of which you see separately during the year but never together, and expect copious amounts of foods and entertainment.
I suggest serving all of the meats – ham, turkey, beef, chicken, prawns, ham, maybe even some duck. It’s a mystery why I’ve not been put in-charge of catering, but I can help out with keeping grandpa and his youngest grandchild entertained.
Games are a great way of bringing the generations together. Last year it was all about the Wii, but now there’s a variety of options for family gaming, no matter what console you have.
Here are 10 games to bring the family together on Christmas Day.
Just Dance 3
Platforms: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360
Just Dance 3 continues the popular dancing series on Wii, as well as other platforms, but is a little easier for less experienced players with the Wii Remote. It features quartets which allows 4 players and the Wii version even includes a mode were up to 8 people can share 4 Wii Remotes – making it a fantastic party game.
It’s easy for the whole family to play, but will be especially popular with the tween and teen girls at the Christmas party. Nothing brings female cousins between 3 and 23 closer together than dancing with Wii Remotes.
Kinect Sports: Season Two
Platforms: Xbox 360 Kinect
Kinect Sports: Season Two is perfect for the more sporty members of the family when you don’t have enough space in the backyard for a real game of American Football – we Australians can play backyard cricket with makeshift rules and items as fielders in any amount of space.
As well as NFL, it includes golf, darts, baseball, skiing and tennis, all controlled through Kinect for Xbox 360. The technology alone will impress family members who haven’t seen the hands-free controller before, and is easy for anyone to pick up.
Dance Central 2
Platforms: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360
Dance Central was the game that got everyone talking when Kinect was released, and its sequel improves on everything. The gameplay is nearly identical to the first game, but moves are tracked more accurately by the Kinect cameras. It also features competitive and co-op drop in and out multiplayer, but is limited to two players on-screen at once.
Dance Central 2 is a little more complicated compared to Just Dance 3 and might appeal more to already confident dancers. However, the older generations might fancy a shot after a few bottles of wine have been polished off.
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Platforms: Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, PC, 3DS, DS, PSP, iOS
Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is a great new release for Christmas frivolities. It is available on every platform known to man and will be appreciated by every generation. The youngest and the older person at the party will be aware of Harry Potter, and the Lego charm makes it that bit more enjoyable.
The drop-in and out co-op multiplayer makes it a great adventure game to have running all day, and anyone should be able to join in for a few minutes and continue where the last person left off.
Mario Kart 7
Platforms: 3DS
Ask your cousins to bring their 3DS handhelds around on Christmas Day – some of which may be recently acquired, as this is the first Christmas since its release – for some hectic Mario Kart 7.
Mario Kart 7 is one of the best multiplayer games of the year. It can be played locally, or if you all have the game, head online and play together to boost the numbers. Perhaps even post in the MMGN Community thread. Someone who has woken up to it on Christmas morning will be ready to join the action.
Fruit Ninja Kinect
Platforms: Xbox 360 Kinect
Fruit Ninja is best played solo on iOS devices, but as a multiplayer game, you can’t look past the Xbox 360 Kinect port. You use your hands, or any part of your body, to slice fruit as they are thrust into the air, aiming to better the high score. Yes, that includes a sweet roundhouse kick.
It’s cheap as an XBLA game and can be played for 3 minutes or 3 hours, making it the perfect option for short bursts of gaming on Christmas Day, until someone gets horribly addicted.
Fifa 12
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, 3DS, PSP, iOS
The motion games are great for the inexperienced, but what about the gamers? They will want some Fifa action. It’s one of the most competitive games in existence and will do a fantastic job of bring the gaming family members together, only to tear them apart after a controversial goal.
Fifa 12 is best played by experienced players. Don’t invite your uncle who similes suspiciously when you mention “DualShock” to play this one.
AFL Live (AFL)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, (Wii)
For some Australian flavour, inject AFL Live or the Wii version of AFL into the mix. They both stake a claim to being the best AFL game ever made and are likely to captivate any AFL fan.
AFL Live shouldn’t be taken as seriously as Fifa 12 on Christmas Day. Both games have steep learning curves, so take it easy and let those who haven’t played it experience the first in what could be a long-running series.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC
Modern Warfare 3 doesn’t fit into the family theme of games traditionally played after Christmas lunch, but there are going to be mature gamers at this shindig, so ensure you cater for them. Modern Warfare 3 beats other shooters due to its immense popularity, so most people would have played it, its ease to pick up and split-screen online capabilities if you want more people to shoot in the virtual groin.
This is one for attendees over 15 at your festivities, and is perhaps best on a separate TV that is more secluded to avoid tempting the younger viewers.
Wii Sports
Platforms: Wii
The all-time classic. If all else fails, you can always go back to Wii Sports. It’s the game that started the whole casual revolution and has been a family favourite for the past five years.
Wii Sports can be played by absolutely anyone. Better yet, your family might remember it from past years. It could be the game to get the ball rolling, as you slowing begin to move them on to new releases.
By Ben Salter
What games are you playing on Christmas Day?