Homeschool World Forum

milehimom · User Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Colorado

Does anyone have any advice for good DS games? The last few we bought for birthdays or Christmas last year, were 'dud's and were too hard, or kids just didn't like them. In my opinion, they are too expensive to just take a chance on with out getting recommendation. So.... does anyone have recommendations of games their kids really enjoy.

My kids are 7, 9, 10 (girl,boy,girl). They currently enjoy Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, Star wars 2, MarioKart and Mario Bros. They each have listed a game on their Christmas "wish list", but I don't want to spend the money if I'm unsure of the game. Thanks!
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milehimom
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

MNKristy · User Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 51 Location: Minnesota

The latest one my son got was Brain Gym...it is actually a series of exercises to supposedly strengthen your brain. He likes it to "wake up his brain" before school. So it's actually educationally-related!
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Retired homeschooling mom/teacher to three wonderful kids

iamnettie · Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:37 am Post subject:

I would check out a used game store to help keep the cost down.

Personally we just have game boy colors because they are cheeper to buy used games for.
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milehimom · User Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Colorado

Both great ideas! Thanks
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milehimom
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

MP3 · User Joined: 29 Nov 2007 Posts: 3 Location: Texas

As far as I know, most of the good DS games are puzzle related. For the best games, try to keep away from the ones with big brand names behind them, like Disney. I recommend looking up reviews on sites like www.gamefaqs.com

milehimom · User Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Colorado

Were you looking for educational games only?I only know of Brain age, which my kids do like, in that category.

I am always happy to hear of good 'fun' games for ds. At $30+ a game, buying a 'dud' game that no one likes is extremely frustrating! Mykids really like Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, and the new Mario Bros. games - MarioKart and MarioParty. I have a 7.5 year old girl, 9 year old boy, and 11 year old girl 11 year old girl really like Fashion Designer game.

I'd welcome fun game ideas too.
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milehimom
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

milehimom · User Joined: 23 Feb 2007 Posts: 67 Location: Colorado

Ha, Ha! I'm laughing at myself right now! I haven't been on the forum in a couple of months! WHen I asnwered this post, I didn't even realize that I'd posted the original topic in the first place! How embarassing!!!!!! I guess it just goes to show, I'm a tired mom, surfing around skimming articles while I watch tv at the same time!!!! That will show me to pay more attention!
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milehimom
Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.

4given · User Joined: 22 Mar 2007 Posts: 735 Location: S.Indiana

Sounds like something I would do! Laughing

Regina Hogsten · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject:

My son suggests going to Game Stop to buy used games which could be $5- $10 cheaper and even 50% cheaper. If a particular game will never, ever be played again, consider selling it back to the game store. (It doesn't have to be the store from which it was purchased.) You get some credit to use towards another item.
My other son bought me Brain Age as a Christmas gift. The problem is that I have not made time to play it - only 2 times. It would help me, so I should put it where I'll remember to play.
All four of my guys pitched in to give me an iPod for my recent birthday. I never had a chance to open the box. They did it for me!
Regina

micheller79 · User Joined: 25 Aug 2006 Posts: 77

i am definitely not advertising for them, but that gamefly online rental has saved my alot of money and grief. i hate to pay the monthly fee, but games cost alot. I have an 11 year old who just started playing video games. we like the sims for nintendo ds and i love cake mania and diner dash. i am addicted to the nintendo ds. someday, i will own one of my own. ha

comusher · User Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 22

At the used store near my home they will let you play them in the store before you buy them. It is cheaper and you get only the ones they like.

Glottis · User Joined: 06 Jun 2008 Posts: 42

i'd suggest professor layton and the curious village... its great, i even play it myself... the characters look fantastic, and what is great about it is that it should develop your children's problem solving skills...
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douglisa · User Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 33

We get our games from Ebay or a place that sells used games.
At the store they allow my son to play the game a bit before he decides if he wants it, which is nice.

lovinmykids · User Joined: 29 Nov 2008 Posts: 4

My children both enjoy Cooking Mama. They get to pick a recipe and create it. I admit that it is fun. I play every now and then.

millerfamilymayhem · User Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 10

This is old but I feel the need to chime in...

There's always Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars! (obvious sarcasm)

really Almost anything Nintendo itself puts out is gold. The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass has puzzle elements to an action adventure game. The mario games are just safe and a good time. Pokemon was used to get my oldest to read. Professor Layton and the curious village is more for the older kids and adults with a storyline based on puzzles.

The podcast DSLife and WiiSpot done by the same two guys is great. They are two hobbyists who put out a family friendly podcast on nintendos game systems. Other podcasts I have heard from professionals used very coarse language. These guys try to keep it clean. There is an occasional "hell" but not the F-bomb onslaught that others publish.

I try to stay away from movie tie in games. there is little love in the development and the product is rushed.

BTW ! Nintendo's Personal Trainer series : http://www.personaltrainercooking.com/
http://www.personaltrainermath.com/

are great!