What DS games are good for 5 and 7 year old boys?

[Disneyplanners]

We are planning on getting DS4 and DS7 a DSi for Christmas this year, and with the B2G1 free sale at Toys R Us, I'd like to start shopping now. I'd like to get each boy one "fun" game and one educational game. DS7 can read very well, so challenging games for him would be ok. DS4 turns 5 right before Christmas, so his games will need to be a little easier. I saw a crayola ds game that looked pretty good. Any other recommendations?

Thank you!

 

[hipchickie]

For fun games, my kids (6 and 9) like any lego games (esp. lego stawars) and super mario
For educational, my older one has scribblenauts - my younger one likes it, but he is not quite at the writing level he needs to be to really play. I did see in the TRU circular that there is a new scribblenauts game coming out very soon too.

 

[merekc]

If they like Pokemon, my boys DS8 and DS5 both love the ds games. Even before DS5 could read, he figured it out by playing his brothers. They've wanted every version that comes out. I do not see a difference in them but they do. I think the most recent were the Soul Silver and Heart Gold. There are also Pokemon Ranger games. A new one just came out. Not sure the difference but my boys don't play their Ranger games as much as the ones with names (SS, HG, Pearl, Diamond, etc).

I don't think you can ever go wrong with Mario games. (New Super Mario Bros is a good one of the top of my head. You might even buy them both the game and they can sync and play together).

As much as my boys love the Lego games on TV systems, they haven't hardly played the ones on the DS. I think they are more difficult.

Most games based on movies are awful. Save your money.

My oldest really likes Scribblenauts. I haven't looked at, so I don't know much about it.

 

[merekc]

Before buying games, I tyically check the reviews on Amazon (or gamer sites). I like Amazon for my kid game reviews since gamers come at them with a different outlook. You can get a good idea of how good/bad/age appropriate a game is by reading a few consumer reviews.

 

[uk_wildcat]

Any Mario games - my 8 year old loves Wario Ware right now. Both of my boys like the Lego games. We have Harry Potter on the Wii and my oldest has asked for it on the DS also. The Pokemon games are a hit with the 8 year old, the 5 year old doesn't play them.

 

[SnowWtch]

If you're going to buy Pokemon DON'T buy the Ranger games. It's nothing like the regular games and it's not fun at all. My husband and I have been playing Pokemon for years and it's the first ones of the series that we don't like. I love the LEGO games especially the Harry Potter. Any of the Mario ones are good as well.

 

[LilGMom]

For the older one if he and his friends are into Pokemon any of the Pokemon games are great because they can 'trade' Pokemons via the DSi wireless. The LEGO games are good for all ages, as are the Mario ones especially the Mario racing games. Scribblenauts is a wonderful game for the older child since you have to be able to read and spell. My five year old loves it but either his older brother (9 yrs. old) or I help him with the words. Scribblenauts is helping the youngest learn new words but at 4 yrs. old he drove his brother crazy with always asking for help.

 

[Disneyplanners]

Thank you for the replies so far! They are not into pokemon, but they really like mario, so I was thinking super mario brothers and mario 64. They both seem to have good reviews on amazon. I was looking at scribblenauts too, however the new one is only on preorder and I don't think it's eligible for the B2G1 sale. Is it possible to order a different game at the same price and then exchange in store after the new scribblenauts comes out?

Most games based on movies are awful. Save your money.

Thank you, this info helps.

How about Phineas and Ferb or sonic games? Are they any good?

 

[LilGMom]

Thank you for the replies so far! They are not into pokemon, but they really like mario, so I was thinking super mario brothers and mario 64. They both seem to have good reviews on amazon. I was looking at scribblenauts too, however the new one is only on preorder and I don't think it's eligible for the B2G1 sale. Is it possible to order a different game at the same price and then exchange in store after the new scribblenauts comes out?



Thank you, this info helps.

How about Phineas and Ferb or sonic games? Are they any good?

We haven't tried the Phineas and Ferb game yet but I imagine that there will be reading involved so it might be too much for your 4 yr. old. The one Sonic game we tried wasn't that great. If you have a Game Stop near you check there for used games, they tend to have good selections and are often cheaper than buying the same game brand new. Most are in the original packaging so kids won't really be able to tell if it is brand new or used.

 

[buzz1fan]

My 6 year old loves Lego star wars and Mario kart.

 

[solfan68]

When my kiddo was in Kindergarten or First grade we picked up Animal Genius through his book order form. Lots of great games with interesting facts about animals. He's in third grade now and loves many of the collecting and battling games like Pokemon, and the lesser known Fossil Fighters and Spectrobes. The FF game has been huge with him since summer, since we're on a major dino kick right now.

 

[luvmy3]

My boys, who are older but have been playing video games since that age, love any Mario game and and Lego game.
I have purchased others, some educaional and some I just thought they would like but they really don't play any of them.

 

[lovintennessee]

Mario 64 has a lot of reading involved. My five year old could not read what he had to do and became very frustrated with the game. It now sits in his ds case.

 

[brobrosmom]

My boys 5 & 3 like the Lego games, especially Batman, and also the Super Heros one with Iron Man, Spiderman, etc.

 

[luvmy3]

My boys, who are older but have been playing video games since that age, love any Mario game and and Lego game.
I have purchased others, some educaional and some I just thought they would like but they really don't play any of them.

Hhmm, maybe I should have gotten some of those educational games for myself.

I came back to add Yoshi's Island, that was a favorite of all my kids.

 

[merekc]

I came back to add Yoshi's Island, that was a favorite of all my kids.

Yoshi's Island is a favorite in our house also. I don't believe you can get it new. It runs about $35 used in our area if you can find it.

For all the people saying their kids like Lego games, I'm curious if they are liking those games on the DS or just on TV systems. Like I said previously, my kids have never liked the Lego games on the DS but love them on their other systems. I've never looked into what the difference is for them. Maybe my kids are just weird.

 

[hipchickie]

For all the people saying their kids like Lego games, I'm curious if they are liking those games on the DS or just on TV systems. Like I said previously, my kids have never liked the Lego games on the DS but love them on their other systems. I've never looked into what the difference is for them. Maybe my kids are just weird.

I have to apologize, now that the kids are home I asked them and they actually do NOT like the Lego games - they love them on the Wii, but they just told me they hate them on the Ds....shows how much i pay attention

 

[labdogs42]

My 5.5 year old likes Super Mario DS and Mario Kart.

 

[cjnix29]

My DS7 loves Spectrobes.

 

[southern_redhead]

If your 5 year old isn't a reader yet the Crayola game is great. DS 6 got a DS last Christmas and he got the Crayola game, a Build A Bear game, and Smart Boys Snowday (or something like that). He plays BAB the most but maybe because he also plays with the stuffed animals. My DD is 8 and other DS is 11, they both like Pokemon and the Petz line of games. They also have a Spyro game that older DS had and then passed down to DD. Youngest DS *says* he loves pokemon and he plays *at* pokemon but I'm fairly convinced he has no idea what he's doing