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 Xbox 360 games: Red Dead Redemption, Super Street Fighter IV, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Mass Effect 2, Bayonetta, Alan Wake, Halo: Reach.

Here's Why: The Xbox 360 has an enormous batch of games to enjoy, including some outstanding first-person shooters such as Halo and excellent third-person action games such as Brutal Legend. There are also racing, role-playing, sports, and music games, as well as fun, arcade-style games you can download from Xbox Live Arcade.

Older Games

We Recommend: A starter list of oldie-but-goodie Xbox 360 games: Halo 3, Fallout 3, Forza Motorsport 3, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Grand Theft Auto IV, Gears of War 2, Burnout Paradise, The Orange Box.

Here's Why: Even though there are some tremendous new games available, if you're just getting started with the Xbox 360, you might want to browse the bargain bins for some of the best games of previous years at cut-rate prices. The above list is a great place to start looking for classic Xbox 360 games, which include more great first-person shooters, role-playing games, and racers, among others. 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.

Downloadable Games - Xbox Live Arcade

We Recommend: A starter list of Xbox Live Arcade games: Braid, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2, Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, Shadow Complex, Castle Crashers, LIMBO, Defense Grid: The Awakening, DeathSpank.

Here's Why: Once you get your Xbox Live account up and running, there's a huge selection of excellent downloadable games on Xbox Live Arcade for sale on the cheap--just make sure you buy some Microsoft points before you go shopping online (or get yourself a points card). We've listed some of the best Xbox Live Arcade games around to get you started, including challenging puzzle games, action games, old-school fighting games, and even some strategic stuff. 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.