The Games

If you're shopping for younger players and concerned about inappropriate content, keep an eye out for ratings on the game, which come from the ESRB in the US, the PEGI in Europe, and the OFLC in Australia. Each regulatory body has ratings for content in each rated game. For instance, the ESRB uses the following ratings:

EC

Early Childhood: For Persons 3 and Older

E

Everyone: For Persons 6 and Older

E10+

Everyone 10+: For Persons 10 and Older

T

Teen: For Persons 13 and Older

M

Mature: For Persons 17 and Older

AO

Adults Only: For Persons 18 and Older

Most rated games will also have labeled descriptors that explain why those games got that particular rating, such as "graphic violence" or "explicit language." If you are shopping for younger game fans, we recommend you familiarize yourself with the ratings system for your territory and shop accordingly.

Now, let's get to the games!

New Games

We Recommend: A starter list of new games: New Super Mario Bros. Wii, The Beatles: Rock Band, NHL 2K10, Little King's Story, Punch-Out!!, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, Truma Team.

Here's Why: Out of the box, most Wii bundles contain Wii Sports, Wii Play, or some other kind of group-focused party game. The Wii, more than any other console on the market, is home to a great many more party-style puzzle and music games that are great fun in groups, though the console also offers quite a few games that aren't just for family-friendly groups, including action games, adventure games, and sports games. Above, we've compiled a list of some the best new games available--roll your mouse cursor over each game title to view a screenshot, or just click on the game title to get more information on that game, including a full GameSpot review.

Older Games

We Recommend: A starter list of oldie-but-goodie Wii games: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Super Mario Galaxy, Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition, WarioWare: Smooth Moves, Okami, No More Heroes, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Here's Why: Some of the best games on the Wii came out just a little while ago…but they're still as good as ever. And better still, you can now find them in the bargain bins. Use the list of games featured above to get you a headstart on your classic Wii game treasure hunting by rolling your mouse cursor over each game title to view a screenshot, or just click on the game title to get more information on that game, including a full GameSpot review.

Downloadable Games - Virtual Console and More

We Recommend: A starter list of downloadable Wii games: Super Mario Bros. 3, Paper Mario, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Mega Man 9, Super Metroid, Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Here's Why: In addition to getting great Wii games from off the shelf, connecting your Wii to the Internet will get you access to additional downloadable games by way of Virtual Console--a download service that carries classic console games of yesteryear such as the 8-bit NES, the 16-bit SNES, and others--and WiiWare--a download service that carries smaller-scale, independently-developed games. You'll need to enter your credit card information to purchase "Wii points" which are then used to buy downloadable games, but once you have points in your account, you'll be all set up to download and play the newest independent games for the Wii and all the great classics of yore.