Video Games for Kids: Wii vs. Xbox 360

December 10, 2007 By

Not sure which game console to get for your family? The Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii may be the answer.

Nintendo Wii Shopping for kids is never easy… even more so when their toys cost $250 or more, and are potentially capable of playing games too graphic for even parents’ consumption. Thankfully, two systems – Microsoft’s online-ready Xbox 360 ($279.99 USD and up) and Nintendo’s motion-sensing Wii ($249.99 USD) – are rapidly emerging as welcome contenders for children’s wish lists this year.

Can’t decide who’s really playing with power? Here’s what you need to know to make an informed decision. Figuring out how to actually find one in stock (hint: order online, which may require purchasing premium bundles, or look to unexpected retailers such as Sears/Kmart located in remote or rural areas) well… We can only play Santa’s little helper, not pull miracles out of his sack.

Situation: Price is An Issue

Choose: The Wii – games cost $20-$50 USD, or $10 less on average than Xbox 360-specific rivals. The system’s 360 degree gesture-tracking capabilities also lend themselves more naturally to social gaming experiences, with titles like Wii Play, Mario Party 8 and Cranium Kabookii offering hours of repeat play. You can even download NES, SNES, Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 classics on demand, starting at just $5. Besides, the Xbox 360 Arcade Pack, while a decent deal at just $30 more, lacks vital features like a hard drive, high-definition video cable and backwards compatibility with original Xbox titles. You’ll pay $400+ USD for a fully decked-out system and accessories, including $50/year for multiplayer connectivity alone.

Situation: Variety’s the Spice of Virtual Life

Choose: The Xbox 360 – for both casual and hardcore enthusiasts, the size of the console’s software library simply can’t be beat. Never mind the sheer variety of game samplers, independently-released offerings or even HD-quality movies and TV shows downloadable via broadband networking services Xbox Live Marketplace and Arcade. From head-banging hits (Rock Band) to sprout-friendly fare (Bee Movie) and high-speed hijinks (Project Gotham Racing 4), you won’t find more choice when it comes to pure thumb-blistering escapades. The only downside: Buy one for tots or teens, and you may find yourself jockeying with them for time behind the controller.

Situation: You’re a Diehard Gamer Yourself

Choose: The Xbox 360 – despite popular misconceptions, games aren’t strictly for children anymore: Adults consume more electronic amusements than anyone, so there’s no shame copping a system featuring plenty of titles for you too. True, family-friendly exclusives like buzzer-powered trivia outing Scene It: Lights, Camera, Action won’t wow compared with Nintendo’s signature smashes, e.g. the must-play Super Mario Galaxy. But unlike the Wii, the Xbox 360’s capable of 1080p (read: eye-popping) high-definition graphics; offers unrivaled on-demand shopping and Internet connectivity; and features more adult-oriented blockbuster home theater showpieces including Halo 3, Call of Duty 4 and Mass Effect. Hey, even big kids need their toys too…

Situation: The Tots Are Too Hyperactive As Is

Choose: The Wii – using its gesture-tracking controllers to enjoy a little boxing via Wii Sports or reel in catches in Fishing Master is guaranteed to help burn off any excess energy that sprouts have got. Fire up the scene-stealing system and, even when not actively geeking out, they’re all but certain to be glued to the TV as well. (Considering how much physical movement’s involved, just watching others get their game on is a fascinating activity unto itself.) Whether simulating a round of bowling, stomping their way through favorite tunes in Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party or knocking homers out of the park by swinging the remote, just thinking about the possibilities will leave them pooped.

Situation: You Worry What Your Kids Are Playing Choose: Tie – both feature robust parental controls that let you block titles with inappropriate age ratings and manage players’ ability to communicate with strangers or access the Internet, period. What’s more, both also feature tons of guilt-free exclusives like the Wii’s Big Brain Academy and Xbox 360’s Viva Pinata: Party Animals, plus third-party favorites including Cars: Mater-National and LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga. Sites such as CommonSenseMedia.org or WhatTheyLike.com offer in-depth content recaps that can help you make informed shopping decisions. But the best way to avoid issues here? Buy either, and spend some quality time playing alongside your kids to understand what sort of games, and playing habits, they prefer.

Showing 20 comments

Steven Oudie at 8:53am 29th November 2010 The xbox is a pretty great system because it has the new kinect and it makes you move and have fun just like the wii and therefore the xbox has some pretty violent games like Call of Duty and Halo and Gears of War but there are fun and if you like classic games and like to have some fun with the family i think you should get the Wii and the wii has super mario and metroid and yah but the wii is a great system
Ikshu at 2:07pm 24th November 2010 I like the wii since we can move around and the game play is simply WAYYYYYYYYYYY better than the Xbox 360 but if you care about graphics, get the dump Xbox 360. We gamers don't care about graphics. Game play matters. GO NINTENDO GO WII Sorry about my previous comment on the subject. I was very tired.
kaju at 8:58am 17th November 2010 my son is 8, acive and fast learner. help me decide Wii/ xbox360 or PSP?
1. Ruchir at 6:30pm 1st December 2010 I recommend the wii because it is awesome and the gameplay is great.
donna at 6:38pm 3rd November 2010 i want to get wii for my 5yr old son for cristmas and i'm not sure if it's suitable for him,all i know is he's very active.
jamesintemecula at 5:48pm 19th October 2010 *****READ THIS***** Wii: will be fun until your kid(s) turns around the ages of 10-12, then what? They will soon want an Xbox Xbox: will be fun until your kid(s) die(s), so there is nothing to worry about all in all, minus will buy Xbox 360 instead of buying the Wii, then your kid(s) get tired of it and want an Xbox 360, so don't waste your money. I'm only 13, and after about 4 months I wanted an Xbox 360. So buy the Xbox 360!
JaYkE at 1:36am 6th October 2010 wii is the best but xbox 360 is good too it depends on what sort of games u want to play wii has a lot of the old game characters and xbox360 has more new game titles so i actually like both. ps i got a wii there better by a bit
Ruchir at 1:09am 12th July 2010 WII IS THE BEST
KYLE at 3:43pm 1st July 2010 WII ROCKS, XBOX SUCKS even though you can talk to your friends while playing thats why the telephone was made.
KYLE at 3:38pm 1st July 2010 xbox gets boring after a few months plus even though you get to talk to your friends that you see everyday. thats why the celphone was invented. overall GET THE WII.
joe at 3:34pm 1st July 2010 wii is way better becase you can move. but if you dont like jumping around and having fun go with xbox 360
Ikshu at 1:25am 28th June 2010 I think a wii is better because it is good for health and the graphics are better. Most of the students in my school vote that a wii is better. In a wii, we get to move around and in an x box 360, we just sit in the couch like a lazy dude and play.
1. burt at 1:34pm 10th November 2010 ....did u say the graphics are better on wii
2. Rilely at 12:22pm 13th December 2010 i agree with you but the graphics are better in an Xbox
Guest at 5:55am 10th June 2010 i know and my freind syas evry rock band game is better on wii except the beatles rock band he says that is a worthless junk peice but everything is better on xbox 360 cuz u can play dvds on it my freind cant his wii ne more cuz one of his dvds broke it and his parents got so mad
david at 11:24am 7th May 2010 well i truly think xbox 360 but if u have small kids like toddlers or like anything under 10 u should get the wii it is more cartoonish but i have met kids who love xbox360more than wii and my self i like xbox and my little brothers do too
Megan at 5:39pm 5th May 2010 For the little ones and kids I recomend The Nintendo Wii.
For teens and adults I recomend The Microsoft XBOX 360.

----Hope this helps
Decon at 2:21pm 5th May 2010 This might be the dumbest comment ive ever read. Though im guessing you're probably 10 years old because of your name "poo" and you had to get mommy and daddy to take you to buy modern warfare because they wouldn't let you buy a rated M game at the store. Wii vs. Xbox360, heres the thing, one has great graphic, but the games are pretty much the same (Halo, Modern Warfare 2, Gears of War) its all violent shooting games. Yea, violent shooting games can be fun, but theyre all exactly the same, give us some variety. Wii has much better gameplay but the graphics arent as good. Honestly, at this point Im starting to think the Wii is better, I got bored of all the FPS's about a month after MW2 came out. At this point I just want to sit back and play some Metroid, Mario, and Zelda. Listening to the people brag about how great they are online just gives me headaches, I want to go back to playing games that actually have a story and aren't so focused on graphics and online.
poo at 10:50am 24th October 2009 The Wii sucks and xbox 360 rules because the Wii does not have Modern Warfare 2.
1. Dan Gaul at 6:37pm 25th October 2009 Yes, Modern Warfare should be pretty awesome, I would have to say for the little ones that the Wii is a much better choice then Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox360. The horror...the horror. Just think of their poor, innocent, little minds.