Boing! Docomodake DS

Papa Docomodake is a mushroom on a mission: to navigate through various "worlds" and reach some sort of festival. But never mind, the plot of Boing! Docomodake isn’t really the focal point. Each world has a very 1980s, two-dimensional feel that requires the player to break Papa into smaller mushroom fractions, which he then throws at bugs or stacks to form a ladder. The stages get progressively more difficult, rather quickly — this makes it feel more like a puzzler than an action game. It's a quirky, new type of thinker's game, which gives scores for each level, posing a tough challenge for grandkids used to scoring high marks in everything. Available exclusively for the Nintendo DS.

Age: 8+
Retail Price: $18
Available at: multiple sellers

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride

If your grandchildren get swept away by fantastical games with castles, magic, and fire-breathing beasts, Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride could be a nice score. While it doesn’t boast the bells and whistles of contemporary action games — where the player usually slings swords, shoots guns, or engages in hand-to-hand combat with enemies — it engages the player in a story. Throughout the narrative, the player converses with the game's characters in a role-play, and in turn, figures out the next goals. The world of Dragonquest is rich with diverse characters, different magic spells to cast on enemies, and many areas that are open for exploration. It's an investment in time, but as good for the imagination as a video game can be.

Age: 8+
Retail Price: $37
Available at: multiple sellers

Blue Dragon Plus

If your grandchildren have ever wondered what it would be like to live in a world where dragons and robots coexist, Blue Dragon Plus offers an answer. The semi-action, semi-role-playing game features dragons that antagonize by wielding dark shadows, and the player builds up an army of robots to combat them. Like Dragonquest V, this game is more about building a strategy and maintaining patience, instead of actually guiding the characters. In other words, the player tells them what to do and watches them do it. A deep storyline slows the action down a bit, but that's not necessarily a bad thing for bookish grandchildren with a penchant for fantasy and adventure.

Age: 10+
Retail Price: $18
Available at: multiple sellers

MySims Party

With more than 50 games in one, MySims Party is sort of a virtual carnival for younger gamers. In the "Fast-Paced Festivals" mode, one of two play modes in this game, you compete with a teammate to gather the most points over a handful of the mini-games. These mostly test reflexes, spotting abilities, and balance. They’re simple, too, like scrambling to find food for a competitive eater, or spotting pizza toppings that would complete the desired image. One of the major problems with MySims Party, which could be a source of frustration for both kids and grandparents alike, are unclear on-screen instructions. Thus, there’s a high probability that after a game is over, you and your grandchildren might look at each other and say, "Wait, what just happened?" But overall, it's a decent substitute if they've already exhausted themselves on Mario Party 8. Available for the Nintendo Wii and DS platforms.

Age: 5+
Retail Price: $19
Available at: multiple sellers