When the Nintendo Wii first game out, it was met with skeptics. How could this little machine compete with the big bad gaming systems which offered mind blowing graphics? Its secret weapon came not with the beautiful eye candy but with how the games were to be played. The Nintendo Wii opted not to compete with the Microsoft Xbox 360 or the Sony Playstation 3, but instead marketed itself to new audiences. In fact, by doing so, it revolutionized how games are to be played for the next generation.

You see, before the Nintendo Wii, video games did not have much appeal to the non gamers. Whether it was from bad press of the violent first person shooter games or images of the stereotypical couch potatoes, those who wanted wholesome family fun shied away from the video gaming consoles. With the Nintendo Wii however, it brought entertainment value back to the family. It did this mostly through the way players navigated their characters on screen: with a remote controller that sensed body movements.

Let’s examine this ground breaking concept. The ramifications of motion detection open the doorways of accessibility for players both young and old. Little kids can quickly grasp that swinging a Wii remote controller will equate to their onscreen character swinging a tennis racket. And older grandparents can join in the fun as well. There is no special sequence of buttons to press in order to execute a “special move”. The Wii gaming console truly redefined how families of all generations can enjoy video games together.

Therefore, when you first look at the top 10 selling Wii games, you’ll always find games that are rated “E” or for everyone. Again, that is a testimony of how family friendly the gaming console is.

Of course, everyone’s list is different and I’ll offer my short list of family friendly Wii games.

Mario Kart Wii is a Wii game fun for the whole family. It comes with its own Wii wheel but you can use the Wii Remote or Wii Remote with nunchuck as input devices as well. There are tons of tracks to choose from and it is well suited for the beginner and more experienced gamer alike. Since the game is so easy to learn, it is very kid friendly as well. Because of its great online support, you can also play with family and friends abroad. It truly brings people closer together.

Here’s another Mario game that is fun for the whole family. In fact, you really can’t go wrong with any Mario title. This little Italian plumber is the face of Nintendo so you know its game design and play are well thought out. In this Mario game, Mario takes to the skies to rescue his damsel in distress Princess Peach. Even though this storyline is similar to other Mario games, it’s also different because now it takes place in space and the graphics are gorgeous. So, while new gamers might not know what Mario is about, old gamers will appreciate the familiarity with a twist. And of course, it’s filled with the same fun you’ve come to expect from all Mario titles.

If you’re talking about bridging one family generation to another, there is perhaps no game that is a better example than Lego Star Wars. Legos has been around forever. So too has Star Wars. Then there came the prequels and the cartoons. While playing the Lego Star Wars game, both young and old alike can relate to these cute blocky cartoon characters as they go through aspects of all six movies. And let’s face it, swinging a Wii remote as a lightsaber is just plain cool. End of story.

This is the sequel to the Wii Sports game that came bundled with a lot of the Wii console. This pretty much showed off what the Wii is truly capable of. In Wii Sports Resort, it promises more fun on a tropical beach setting. The game includes 12 activities 10 of which are new. The carry overs from the original include bowling and golf. The new activities include things like Sword Play, Power Cruising, and Disc Dog. This is another winner for the whole family.

This is a gentle and deceptively simple game that both adults and kids love. You build your own little town and you learn how to make it grow and prosper by cooperation and sharing. You learn the importance of communication and sharing with your neighbors and you also learn about financial responsibilities. Again, this is a simple game but it also offers greater meaning in the little tasks involved. The game never gets old because it’s always changing as the game operates in real time. You family can spend countless hours learning and playing this game.