Best XBOX 360 Games for Kids 2011

The Xbox 360 is one of the most popular game consoles, and for good reason. With a wide range of games for kids of all skill levels, everyone can find their own perfect game. Some of the games on this list are not only fun for kids, but provide a great workout as well.

Top 5 XBOX 360 Games for Kids of 2011

Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure: A truly unique game, Spyro’s Adventure combine everything we love about Xbox 360 games for kids with real life action figures that are actually incorporated into the game. A docking system is included, and whatever action figure is attached to the platform is the one that the child controls on screen. This is a game full of magic and evil, where good and bad are clearly defined. The goal of the game is to take back the magical realm of the Skylands from the evil Kaos, who has banished all the Skylanders to Earth. Together with the Skylanders, kids will work to reclaim Skyland from Kaos and his minions.

Dance Central 2: While Dance Central 2 has many things in common with the original, there are several big improvements. Most notably, the second installment now has simultaneous multi-player features which allow kids to team up and play with their friends. What’s really neat about this feature is that players can drop out – or join in – at any point during a song, which ensures that it stays fun without getting too competitive. Kids who already have the first installment can import their songs from the first game, which brings the total number of songs available in this game to more than 100 tracks.

Rayman Origins: With over 100 different characters, 12 worlds and 60 levels of play, Raymon Origins is one of the Xbox 360 games for kids that caters to all skill levels. Kids can play alone, or they can play with up to three friends. Additional players can jump in or out at any time, which makes this a very flexible game to play. This game brings together all the traditional things kids love about video games, like boss fights, in a new, updated platform. With so many different choices of characters to play, from Teensies to Globoxes, this is a game that can keep kids interested for years.

Rocksmith: A perfect game for would-be musicians, Rocksmith can actually teach kids to play the guitar. Players must have a guitar, and it must have a standard quarter-inch input jack. They then simply plug it into the game and get real guitar lessons. This intuitive game actually adjusts to the needs of each player – the difficulty level changes automatically as the play improves. A real focus is placed on actually teaching kids to read music, but it’s done in a fun and engaging way that kids respond to. There are quite a few classic bands included in the learning library, such as the Rolling Stones and Nirvana.

Udraw: Budding artists have their own Xbox 360 games for kids as well; Udraw is an interactive, comprehensive art studio that allows them to create, edit and share their unique visions. The game comes with a Tablet upon which players can draw whatever they’d like. They can use the included stylus, or they can free-form finger paint. This is a very intuitive game that responds to the nuances of touch. For example, shading is possible, as a child simply presses harder or softer on the tablet. There is also full touch screen capacity, which allows kids the ability to zoom by pinching-and-stretching.

Other Great XBOX 360 Games for Kids

Kinect Sports Season Two: This is a game that’s as effective at getting kid to exercise as it is at entertaining them. It features both team-based and individual sports, including: tennis, football, golf, baseball, skiing and darts. Each of the games has its own unique activities and special challenges. There are several ways that kids can interact with other users, including having a one-on-one showdown with someone in the same room, playing against people via Xbox Live, or even sending a challenge to be responded to at a later date. Photos videos are snapped and recorded at key parts of the challenges, and kids can download and share them with friends and family.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7: LEGO Harry Potter is one of the best toys for kids who love both of these wildly popular franchises. The game includes over 80 characters that kids can discover and unlock, including: Bellatrix Lestrange, Professor Horace Slughorn and Fenrir Greyback. Duel game play is possible with simple drop in and drop out options that utilize a split screen. Players will make their way through 24 different story events, and will eventually return to Hogwarts where they’ll complete 16 different lessons. The ultimate showdown is of course a master dueling contest with Voldemort himself. This is a game that truly gets a child’s imagination going.

Sonic Generations: Combining new and old alike, Sonic Generations includes all the classic characters as well as Modern Sonic, with his Sonic Boom. Kids will work to complete a series of levels, and as they complete each one, a captured friend of Sonic’s will be released. These friends will help Sonic throughout the rest of the game. The more friends are revealed, the more help he’ll get! The famous moves are here, from the spin-dash and spin attack, while the modern moves are available too, such as homing attack and sonic boost. This is a game that’s especially fun for parents who grew up with the original Sonic.

Need for Speed: The Run: The ultimate racing game, Need for Speed: The Run is a thrilling and exciting game that takes racing games to the next level. There are no speed limits, no rules, and no allies – only the main character Jack can save himself from the police and the men who want him dead. Players race across many cities of the country, including urban and rural areas, from San Francisco to New York. Multi-player racing is available, and new players can jump in during the middle of the race. As levels are completed, players can earn new vehicles, upgrades, and unbelievable abilities.

Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3: This is another of the Xbox 360 games for kids that combines modern video game playing with classic characters. Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 includes all the characters from the original game as well as 12 new faces, for a total of 50 heroes and villains. 8 new stages are available to be explored, and new modes and enhancements offers more depth and accessibility for experienced game players and new game players alike. Many fans of the original cried out for Spectator mode for the online experience, and the game makers have listened. They’ve done an excellent job melding the classic features with modern enhancements.

Just Dance 3: While this isn’t the only dance game on the list, it is the only one that allows you to record your own dance moves and incorporate them into game play. It’s also the first dance game that allows for up to 4 players to play simultaneously for true group play. The songs included range from current chart topping hits to classic dance party songs. Kids can also preview and download new songs for a constantly expanding catalog of dance hits. Players who are looking for a workout can choose the Just Sweat game mode, which offers fun dance moves combined with workout plans.

Kinect Disneyland Adventures: Whether kids have been lucky enough to visit Disneyland Park or they’ve just dreamed of doing so, they’ll love the opportunity to explore the magical park from their own homes. Options include the ability to explore the famous Disneyland attractions like the Matterhorn and Neverland, to meeting the park characters like the princesses, and Mickey Mouse. Players can collect autographs from these interactive characters, or they can accept quests to complete on their behalf. Parents or friends can jump in on particularly difficult challenges to lend a hand. Throughout the playing experience, players collect Disney-themed items, Xbox 360 achievements and rewards.

Disney Universe: Of the Xbox 360 games for kids, Disney Universe offers some of the most interactive challenges. Players can get in on the action while suited up as one of more than 40 different Disney and Pixar characters. Options include Alice, Mike, TRON, and Stitch. There are a total of 6 different worlds that can be explored, and kids are able to play with up to four friends at once. Challenges include solving puzzles, defeating enemies or the ultimate competition – throwing friends into trouble! Because this game includes so many different characters, there is sure to be something for every kid.

Rabbids: Alive and Kicking: This is one of the best toys for kids who need variety in their game play. It’s based on those silly Rabbids, who have come to life and want to destroy our world as we know it. They engage in ridiculous and hilarious antics to try and wreck havoc, but it’s up to players to stop them. A wide range of movements are required to defeat them, from swimming, jumping, dancing, rolling and slapping. 4 players can play together to defeat the silly Rabbids. This is a game that brings hours of fun and can be played by kids and adults of all skill levels.

These games provide hours of entertainment and can teach kids important lessons about team work, following through to finish goals, and can even provide exceptional exercise routines. Many also allow kids to really let their creativity shine, and can help them learn a new hobby like painting, guitar playing or dancing. Visit this page to see more of the best XBOX 360 games for kids.