Disney's A Christmas Carol

$30, Nintendo DS

Teaches: logic, reading

CTR Rating: 86%

CTR Review

Based on the feature film and exclusive to the Nintendo DS, this mystery/adventure game lets you play as Ebenezer Scrooge and interact with Dickens characters including Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the three spirits of Christmas. You explore Scrooge's environments as you guide him on his adventure, blow and shout into the microphone, and use the DS stylus to pull, shake, drag, rattle and tap Scrooge's world. For example, to get the fire started, you must startle a cat, to knock a bit of coal across the floor, so that Scrooge doesn't notice. You can also use the real-time advent calendar to unlock surprises for every day that you play leading up to Christmas, and sing carols, decorate with holiday ornaments, and cook recipes from the Victorian era. The game also features 14 single-player minigames, along with a pass the DS multiplayer game. Games are saved automatically. If you have the time to put into it, this is a fun extension of the movie.