I know it’s time for me to upgrade to Nintendo Switch. But the fact is, I still have my Nintendo Wii and my kids are just reaching the ages where they can have fun with it. So, for anyone like me who still has a Wii hanging around, here’s an old article that might still be relevant to you.
For Christmas 2014, I wanted to buy Nintendo Wii games for two of my kids, at the time ages 5 and 3.
It wasn’t so hard to find a game for my five-year-old daughter. I chose Super Mario Kart.
Three years old is a magical age for kids. That is the age when most kids are finally able to play games… barely. Buying games for a three-year-old is tricky. Most can’t read, and there are certain basic gaming concepts that they might not have grasped yet. For example, one concept that was especially difficult to understand for my kids was the idea of pointing the Wiimote at the screen when you press the buttons. To overcome this, you can either find one of the few Wii games that don’t use that input method, or you can use it as an opportunity to teach your kids a new concept. Both paths are frustrating.
A Google search shows a lot of suggestions. I also found this Amazon.com list that is particularly useful. In the end, I narrowed it down to two choices:
Sesame Street: Elmo’s Musical Monsterpiece
This game lets your toddler rock out with Sesame Street characters. Which toddler out there doesn’t love Elmo? This became my first choice of games, but I couldn’t find it anywhere for a reasonable (non-rip-off) price.
Go Diego Go! Safari Rescue
I found a copy of the second choice at my local GameStop. It was a hit with the kids. Unexpectedly, though, my 5-year-old daughter enjoyed playing it the most, while my 3-year-old son is happy just to be the helper.
Disclaimer: Links to Amazon.com are affiliate links.