Hyper Dash

Wild Planet, $20

This aptly named game turns players young and old into human electrons, making them sprint between five brightly colored targets. Each round is a mad scramble, as a voice calls out the order in which you must tag the targets ("Yellow, blue, red!") and times you in the process. Just how active you want to get is up to you, since there's no limit on the distance between targets. You can even play indoors. Higher levels involve solving math problems to figure out where to run next—great for beefing up body and brains.—Ages 5 and up

Kororinpa: Marble Mania

Konami, for Nintendo Wii, $40

Remember Labyrinth, the classic game in which you tilt the board to steer the ball to the goal? Marble Mania is a lot like that—only the wooden maze has been replaced by more than 40 dynamic, fantastical environments. Whether the course is set in a blooming garden or in a candy land of sugary treats, you balance and shift the Wii remote to control the movement of the "board." The paths you need to follow get trickier as the game progresses, so even the most patient child will have to develop the concentration of a Zen master to get to the highest level.—Ages 6 and up

Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull

Her Interactive, for PC, $20

Oh, Nancy Drew. Did you really think your visit to the New Orleans mansion of a friend whose rich uncle just died mysteriously would turn out to be nothing more than a fun Big Easy vacation? Within moments of Nancy's arrival, everyone's favorite amateur detective becomes embroiled in a mystery involving a contested inheritance and an ominous stranger in a skeleton costume. And you control her every move as she scours dark corners of the eerie estate for clues, interrogates creepy suspects, and calls upon her best friend, Bess, for occasional assistance. The 17th entry in the popular PC game series is rife with secret passages and hidden codes—so getting to the bottom of it all requires a serious brain workout.—Ages 10 and up

Pony Friends

Eidos Interactive, for Nintendo DS, $28

Virtual pets have come a long way since the Tamagotchi—pixilated whatchama-jigs have given way to realistically rendered 3-D animals, as in the hit game Nintendogs. Antd now gamers can move on to much larger animals—horses. Pony Friends, which lets kids tend a stable of up to three equines, offers a nice mix of hard work (brushing, removing pebbles from hooves) and casual fun (teaching tricks, braiding ribbons into manes). You know the combination works when washing mud off your pony is just as enjoyable as entering a race.—Ages 6 and up

Ringgz

Blue Orange Games, $30

This strategy game is beautifully crafted—both physically (it's all solid wood) and logically. Players lay down one piece per turn, aiming to control as many sectors of the board as possible. It seems simple enough, but there's a twist: The pieces include sets of four circles that nest inside one another. And to claim a space, you must own a majority of the pieces on it—so thinking ahead is the key to victory. The game is most challenging, and most fun, with the full complement of four players, but the instructions suggest some clever rule changes that will spice up a two- or three-player game. Mastering Ringgz means learning to use your resources carefully and efficiently—a valuable lesson, no matter how old you are.—Ages 7 and up

Skybridge

Family Games, $27

Chances are, your kids know their way around a set of wooden blocks; a sprawling geometric metropolis should take them all of a few minutes to construct. But layer some rules and strategy onto that playtime standard and you've got yourself an entirely new game. In Skybridge, players each get a different-colored set of blocks and take turns stacking them to build a city of towering skyscrapers. Put a pyramidal roof on any edifice and you own it—but the taller the tower is, the more points you'll get, so delayed gratification is rewarded. Also, no two blocks of the same color can touch, so you'll need your opponents' help to win. Skybridge is definitely a thinking kid's game, but should your youngster want to skip the rules and just make a pretty house—hey, it's great for that, too.—Ages 6 and up

Fishing Master

Hudson Entertainment, for Nintendo Wii, $40

Stand up and get ready for some exercise. After whipping your arm overhead to cast the line, rotating your hand to reel in your catch, and tugging the pole (that is, your Wii remote) back and forth to keep that giant sea bass from getting away, you'll realize what a physically demanding sport fishing can be. In this take-it-at-your-own-pace game, you'll hit dozens of fishing spots all over Japan, exploring salt water and fresh, deciding which types of bait and lures to use, and hauling in more than 100 breeds of fish, from trout and minnows to eels and blowfish. Up to four players can compete for the biggest catch.—Ages 5 and up

Tamagotchi: Party On!

Namco/Bandai, for Nintendo Wii, $40

You probably remember Tamagotchi, the digital pet that '90s tweens kept getting in trouble for playing with at school. Well, these pseudo-animals are still around—but there's no pet-rearing here. In this incarnation, four players hit the campaign trail to see whose Tamagotchi will be elected president. Moving around a game board and engaging in a series of challenges, the candidates shake hands, wave to crowds, make speeches, and, of course, buy decorations for their headquarters. In the end, the most popular one wins.—Ages 5 and up

Kidz Sports Ice Hockey

(Destineer, for Nintendo Wii, $20)

It's ice hockey—but the athletes still have all their teeth. Easy to learn, pick-up-and-play controls allow even inexperienced gamers to take command of a three-person team—boys or girls—and hit the ice for quick-paced action. Playing well earns power points that players can call upon to perform fun fantasy moves that are more Cartoon Network than NHL. Bonus mini-games let you take on some target practice or try your turn behind the goalie mask. —Ages 5 and up