Summer video game releases for kids

Ghostbusters features the return of you-know-who.

We’d never suggest you let your tots while away the warm weather glued to their Wii or hunched over their DS. But a new digital diversion can be a great go-to bribe during stormy weather—or whenever family togetherness is wearing thin. We booted up the season’s best releases and picked our favorites.

Let’s Tap
This Japanese import is easy for youngsters to pick up but challenging for them to master. Just place your Wii remote on the oversized game box, and tap the box top to play. Game modes include Visualizer, a special-effects generator; Tap Runner, a 16-course racing game (the faster you tap, the faster you go); Rhythm Tap (tap out the beats to popular songs); Silent Blocks (players tap to carefully remove blocks from a stack); and Bubble Voyage (players tap lightly to move a ship forward, and smack down to fire a weapon). Sega; $30. Wii. All ages.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Based loosely on the newest film and featuring voice talent from cast members, Half-Blood Prince allows kids to take on Harry’s persona—and many of the powers that come with it. Players get to explore the grounds at Hogwarts, cast spells, mix potions, compete in Quidditch matches and even start duels with classmates. EA; $40–$50. Xbox, PSP, PS2, PS3, Nintendo DS, Wii. Ages 8 and up. Available Jun 29.

Lego Battles
Lego takes a break from film tie-in games (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Batman) and gets back to block-building. Players construct home bases out of virtual Legos, then advance through 90 levels of fighting pirates, aliens, ninjas and more. Thanks to 55 customizable characters, dozens of snazzy vehicles and a slew of unlockable treasures, it’ll be autumn before your tweens exhaust all the possibilities.Warner Bros. Interactive; $30. Nintendo DS. Ages 10 and up. Available Jun 30.

Ghostbusters
They’re too young to remember the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, but your kids will still get a kick out of trapping him. Set two years after Ghostbusters II, the game challenges kids to capture ghosts, upgrade equipment and, of course, save the world. Our favorite part: the vocal talents of original busters Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray. Atari; $30–$130. Xbox, PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo DS. Ages 9 and up.

See more...

• Staying in articles
• Articles from this issue