Kids often give their parents major grief for crossing “cool” games off of holiday wish lists. In kid logic, games are “cool” when they have awesome graphics and gameplay, envelope-pushing storylines, and all manners of weaponry. And they aren’t wrong. The games they want typically are well-constructed, thoughtful, and exciting. But they’re often inappropriate for the teens who hunger for them.
A lot of this season’s most talked-about games include ones with excessive violence, negative role models, extreme gore, sociopathic behavior, and other things that have been proven to have a negative effect on kids.
So how do you give kids what they want without giving them what you don’t want? Know your options. Follow our tips on a choosing great video games, check out our 2009 video game gift guide, and offer alternatives that don’t veer into unhealthy territory.
We’ve compiled a list of this season’s hottest games, plus ten you can say yes to. In choosing our alternatives, we stuck with T-rated titles geared for ages 12–15, and we matched gaming systems—so if you nix an M-rated PS3 game, you can replace it with a similar T-rated PS3 game.
1. Assassin’s Creed II
Authentically recreated Renaissance cities, near photo-realistic action, and historical accuracy make this a great game for mature players. But playing as an assassin who relies on an arsenal of weapons makes the violence excessive. Alternative: Mirror’s Edge
2. Borderlands
This first-person shooter earned critical acclaim for its innovative use of weaponry, comic-book-like world, and online play. But the game (which has a cover that shows a character shooting himself in the head) has strong language, human enemies used as target practice, mature humor, and lots of blood and gore. Alternative: Infamous
3. Brutal Legend
Cartoon-like in its graphics and delivery, this fantasy action game nonetheless features plenty of violence, including the ability to hack and slash demonic armies with your double-sided axe. Alternative: Ghostbusters: The Video Game
